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| Some will excel here. Check here to see if you wi - 6/5/2011
State College is a small "safe" town, you will always see friends, coworkers, physicians, mechanics, supervisors...at the doctor's office, in the store, near your home, at the park, wherever you go. You decide if that is comforting or suffocating. The town is friendly (HAPPY VALLEY), but it is not necessarily nice, at a certain level it is highly political place-wherever you go (prepare to be asked by sales people, "do you work at the university full time?" And then be treated accordingly), a side bar if you are a person of color, you are assumed to be foreign, less aware, needing "help" (you will be like Man Friday in Robinson Caruso)(the local news supports this stereotype). Ask a simple question anyplace and be prepared to hear the history of it and how and why it works (boring as hell, DON'T GET UPSET, everyone wants to prove mental superiority is all...just be prepared). If you're not from State College, or PA, or from the Midwest, this environment may hit you hard. You will need to transition your family into living in the town of Stepford. Watch the movie a few times (old version). If you are in the IN crowd, great place. Don't cross the invisible landmines. If you are in the OUT, you will keep company with the other disenfranchised, silenced, powerless, rumored about, underemployed diverse groups (you can imagine who this group consists largely of...nonconformists based on attitude, age, appearance, and activities). Most (not all) people on the out desperately want to get (back) IN, (think crabs in a bucket); some people in the IN crowd may defiantly befriend/not advocate for you. This is a corporate college town, not a liberal hippy town. Demonstrators tend to be older retired folk. The hot, edgy diversity issues that are acceptable to discuss are gender and uncomfortably it seems orientation issues.
I've lived here (watched people come and some people run) for 7 years. People born and bred in SC (average, mediocre or bright)and have family histories of attendance to the University seem to run this small town..., there is an extraordinary tight network, with a definite hierarchy, people know and accept their place. Fighters do not belong. If things don't go well for you in one arena, like wild fire, they won't got well for you in others...Beware, smile, don't be different, don't complain or expect change, take trips outside the state for diversity-breaths of fresh air, if you’re a woman BOB your hair-things will go better if you dye your hair blonde, shop at TJ Max; if you are a man, be affable, highly intelligent, education-focused, if you are diverse don't EVER expect to be promoted outside the diversity arena-but do not ever express disappointment (think showing emotion in terms of Body Snatchers). LOVE THE UNIVERSITY and of course LOVE FOOTBALL (be very verbal about this love). Past successes in other organizations and states don't matter. If you are a worker, what matters is how you can be consumed in the university environment, your fate in the town will be determined for you as you are watched and as you live. If you thrive in this kind of environment...you will love this beautiful town. SC has wonderful shows that come into town, and relatively short work commutes; also, if you do not have to work, in this town, and have financial means...it is isolated, nice and quiet, lots of outdoor activities.
The public schools in SC prepare students to be serious scholars, many wonderful school choices, (average, diverse or challenged learners May get left out in the cold); ...educational and sports superstars are adored in this town (children); quality wrap-around services if you need assistance with educational needs of autistic spectrum children.
Great structured activities for all children in town. In fact, great place to focus on the children's education and development. There is not much to do if you like the nightlife (beyond college age), so forget about it. Take your child to the bug fair, and help him/her on a school project. This is your new life now :)!
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| NEVER A DULL MOMENT - 4/20/2010
I lived in State College, PA all my life untill 2006 when we finally moved south where it was warmer. State College itself is a fun place to be when it comes to football games,the arts festival and the famous Grange Fair at the end of August. Spring slowly warms up, but the planting season isn't until the end of May (I hated waiting that long to plant flowers). The public school system is currently tied up in politics, however, there are a lot of good private schools in the area.
I think religion is still a touchy subject, after the 1989 riots the local churches got together and had what they called "bless the fest" b/c it was the last night of the arts festival. We served over 2000 hotdogs one evening and it was appreciated by most. If you really want to be entertained and stay out of trouble that night, just sit on the wall on College Avenue and watch the people,it's FREE. The new I99 road has caused a lot of heartache and bitterness, it seems they are taking over the beautiful vast fields that were used for pastures, farms. The houses they build now are HUGE!!! PSU football is the ultimate event from September - November. Although people are determined to get rid of JoePa you still have the Nittany Lion and the Blue Band and they really put on a great show AFTER the game is over. July 4th at the stadium is also a big deal, most people (the ones that think ahead) take their chairs up in the AM and place them on the sidewalk along the backside of the stadium, no one has been known to walk off with the chairs. Take your car and drop it off too, so you don't have to walk forever. After the fireworks to rush to your car, you'll be waiting in long lines to get out...have a snack ready! Overall the people of State College are very nice/friendly/helpful. The best grocery store would be Wegmans, b/c of the large selection of groceries,takeout,eat-in choices. It may be pricey for some but the atmosphere is well worth it. Traffic can be frustrating at times,there are plenty of back roads available, but its still a lot of traffic. ALWAYS do your shopping early in the week for football weekends, and expect long lines during any PSU event, if you MUST go out, do it while the game is going on and get home quickly if the team is losing. A special warning to non-PSU fans....as fans we are SERIOUS a/b our football! Some are even known to bleed BLUE & wHITE! There's also plenty of skiing, horseback riding and other local events happening.
JUST HAVE FUN!
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| Nice enough town, just not for me - 2/24/2009
Well, I've been in State College for about 6 months now, having relocated from Phoenix when my fiance got a job at Penn State. It's definitely got some good points: fairly nice looking town, people are friendly, schools are good, crime is low, etc... Now I keep hearing how wonderful it is here in "Happy Valley," since the area is supposedly immune to the bad economy. However, in almost a year of searching I've been unable to find a job here (I'm an engineer). I now regret having turned down New England area job offers to stay here.
Moving to State College is really kind of like stepping back in time 100 years or so. People's level of devotion to Penn State is almost frightening (the jokes about it being their religion aren't that far off), and there's a "y'all ain't from 'round here" mentality that I'm pretty sure has cost me some job interviews. Talk to the residents about life in other states, or even the fact that you didn't grow up here, and you might as well have told them you're from Mars. Not to mention that Pennsylvania's alcohol laws are the most conservative in the nation. It's easier to buy a 6-pack in the middle of Utah than it is here. And get used to the "P.A. Parades," a daily event in which you are stuck in a never-ending line on the freeway, not because it's busy, but because there are two seniors heading up the parade, taking up both lanes at blinding speeds of 35 miles per hour.
I know it's not really fair to rag on a small town, and that it shouldn't be held to big city standards. And it's too easy to let the little annoyances distract from all the good things a place like State College is capable of providing. It's a nice place, but it just wasn't what I was hoping for.[read more...]
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| Reasons to love State College - 2/10/2009
Having lived in State College since 2001, we have seen the area go through many rapid changes on its way to becoming a substantial city. In the midst of the current economic turmoil in the world, it remains to be seen how State College will fare. Historically, the area has to a large degree been much less affected by recession than countless urban areas.
The anchor, Penn State, is what drives and buffers the local economy, but there are stable growing businesses here such as MiniTab, Raytheon and the Applied Research Lab (which is part of the University but is not funded by the University) that supply a good deal of professional local jobs, not to mention countless other small (25-50 employee) companies throughout the area.
Recent developments such as the connecting of I-99 to Altoona, PA and outlying regions as well as the reconstructed 322 to Harrisburg have opened up State College to commuters and commerce not realizable before at least not in a reasonable capacity.
As for culture, the area is home to the Bryce Jordan Center, Eisenhower Auditorium, The State Theatre and many other places where names such as Bill Cosby, Janet Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, KillSwitch, Third Day, Chris Tomlin....the list goes on and on...have visited recently or in the recent past. There is always something going on that is worth mentioning. For the size of State College, it really is quite impressive to see the big names that come through locally on a regular basis. If that's not enough for you, there are a few major cities: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Washington DC and NYC all within reach for a day or weekend trip with almost all of them being roughly within a 4 hour drive.
Most of the activities here are sport-centric. Without saying, Penn State offers Football, Baseball (the newly built Spikes stadium comes to mind), Gymnastics, Volleyball, Soccer, etc, for those interested in following College sports. An abundance of local State run parks are within 30 minutes where mountain biking, hiking, fishing, camping, hunting, etc are accessible to all.
Seasons are fairly mild, rainfall and cloud cover tend to be very frequent occurrences but the trade off is a less aggressive winter than much of PA. Growing season is roughly frost free from 5/10 to 10/5 as per the local Extension. Summers can become hot and dry in July and August particularly and the humidity can be high although precipitation may be minimal during those times. Fall and Spring are very mild and quite enjoyable, Spring is usually the rainy season (if you don't count Winter which can become rainy).
Low crime. State College has a very low rate of violent crime, most crimes are alcohol related due to the college town atmosphere. Automobile theft, burglary, murder and other such atrocities are minimal at best and will hopefully remain so in the future.
Housing is one of the sticking points here. Current Median home price is fairly steep but there is a trade off. Even with the current economic situation home foreclosure in the State College school district (which by the way is reportedly a very good district) is pretty much on par with what it has been since we have been here in 2001. So yes prices are high, but the trade off is that the homes hold value even through recession...but we'll see with this one, so far so good at the authoring of this review.
If you can secure a job in State College, it is a great place to raise a family. As with any relocation, having a good job is key and State College is no exception.[read more...]
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| State College and whats wrong with it. - 1/30/2009
First off, state college is a hick town in the middle of hick nowhere that is trying very, VERY hard to convince people otherwise. I was raised in State College and always liked it...then I grew up.
Hope you dont want a decent job. There are over 40,000 students who will work for minimum wage if you dont want to. The professional jobs and other employment opportunities that require more than two brain cells to rub together are RARE to nonexistant. If you can get on at the university, you may have a shot. ALL of the factory jobs are gone..they've closed or moved on...Corning went to china...there is no manufacturing here anymore...and those places were the only hope for non-college educated individuals(you know...90% of the population) to make decent money (corning had good starting jobs in the $10-$15 an hour range in 1987!)
Then there's the culture...or lack of it. Museums?...Live Theatre?...naah. Drunken, halfwit, this-close-to-inbred college children vomiting in public and causing riots?...PLENTY!!! The property taxes are insane, the housing costs are just as bad ($1200 a month for an apartment bigger than a cubicle and not crawling with drunken losers)...and I mean more than a pathetic 900 square feet.
There are no really GREAT restaurants...the Victorian manor is ok if not over-rated...and good luck parking...The tavern is ok...but the rest is all geared for the under 23 crowd. And, sadly...the first thing welcoming you to the fair city as you approach from the east is a glaring huge orange HOOTERS restaurant. I mean can you scream "CLASS" and quieter? (Dont get me wrong...I love the place...I'm just saying.)
The shopping is pretty decent if you dont expect any upscale establishments. State College is a great town to SPEND money in. The school system here is the only one for a 50 mile radius that is worth a flip...and even thats a stretch.
The town has tried to protect itself from the influx of minority criminals by jacking up the prices on everything and driving out all the lower income based stores. (remember GEE BEE'S..excuse me...Value City? Kicked out because they were "bringing down the clientel"...yes, its true.
All the great stores that carried decent merchandise that people could afford are gone (anyone remember Hills and David Weis?...better than our plethera of frickin WAL-MARTS any day!)
The town has also made it impossible to be a low income person too. Which is pretty much how they want it. And while that is good for property values and crime rates it is terrible for middle class families that love the area, are from here, and whose familys have been here since the beginning of the grange fair, but now can't seem to figure how to pay for a $300,000 house with $4000 a year in property taxes while killing themselves at a 19K job.(and that represents the higher $9.00 and hour side of things)...and if that blessing of a job has benefits...well, you better get to church and start thanking the almighty.
The city I knew and loved is gone. It always has been a college town with college ideals and thats fine. But now thats all it is. And it strives to be nothing else. The message State College is trying to make is abundantly clear: If you have LOTS of money, come on in. If you dont get out. (OK, spend what you have and then get out)...and if the 3rd world, crime adled, slum that is WILLIAMSPORT is any indication as to what can happen to a decent community when the trash takes over, then its no surprise that State College is trying to become more than the sum of it's parts.
We may be PENN STATE but we're also fed up. I have a degree (from PSU for that matter) and I cant find a job in my field anywhere near state college...or Altoona...or ...sheesh do I even have to say Bellefonte?...in another 20 years this place will be nothing but a retirement community with a college in the middle of it...and once good'ol saint JOE passes on (sadly within the next 10 to 15 at BEST Im guessing)...PENN STATE will probably suffer its greatest decline ever...maybe even return to what it was 50 years ago...virtually onheard of...the story of what once was and the stardard of what not to do. Then that "must have a net-worth of at elast $1,000,000 or you cant live here" retirement home they built a few years ago might have to lower that to ...what? a couple bucks?
To summerize...Nice town but growing nowhere, dont come if you dont have money (dont even try to stay here at any hotel at a time when the university is doing...anything. The town has a wonderful little program where, for example, the $50 motel 6 on north atherton is at least $150 a night or higher if Penn State has a home game...'cause, you know, if you're trying to stay here, you must be going to game....and that goes for all the hotels. Somehow this is legal...Industry:Gone...Skilled Trades Jobs: gone....Culture: can not having one actually be one in a twisted sort of way?
Do youselves a favor...go out and earn a real living somewhere else...build up a couple ROTHS or other 401's...do the stock and shuffle thing, and bankroll a couple mil and then come here and live like the royalty you think you are. Then realize its 20 below with the windchill in January get fed up and move to the outter banks...you have to have a decent income here too but at least you have something to do without tripping over empty beer cans and grease coated pizza boxes.
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| Getting Around - 6/24/2008
The bussing around town is excellent. Pretty much anywhere you need or want to go, CATA is there and usually on time.
Things get hectic on campus, whether driving or going by bus, as it's a very congested area, they're re-routing a lot of the roads away from campus, and there's always construction somewhere.[read more...]
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| housing in state college - 1/25/2008
State college is not being effected as much as areas in cities and other states, with the new housing situation, new homes are steady, but are slightly down, now is the best time to build, Low Rates and competitive building prices[read more...]
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| Relocation - 9/10/2007
My fiance and I are considering a move to State College. I have a job lined up, but she does not. She is a secondary English Teacher with 12 years experience, 2 masters degree's and a certificate in guidance counseling. Does anybody have any information on education jobs and what the pay in the area???[read more...]
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| some good, but more bad - 4/30/2007
After living in State College for about 7 years, I finally decided to move out. I don't really have a chip on my shoulder about the place, but I'd rather raise my kids in a "real" town.
If you aren't a college student, an employee of the university, or a pizza shop entrepreneur, it's really hard to get yourself established. There aren't very many middle to high paying job opportunities outside of the education and research segments of the job market. In other words, unless you are a teacher, meteorologist, or engineer, don't bother coming to this town, (unless you want a career as a wal-mart employee or waiter).
The State College school district is very good, BUT THAT IS IT. DON'T SEND YOUR KIDS ANYWHERE ELSE! If you don't have the money to live in the State College school district (which you won't unless you work in a professional field at the University), don't move here if you have kids. The housing costs are very high compared to the rest of the surrounding area. If you are coming from the Philly 'burbs, Balt.-DC, NYC, New England, or the west coast, you will think housing is really cheap. But from anwhere else in the country, it's very expensive for the location, and taxes are getting to be really high.
The people that live in the town tend to be a little on the arrogant side, but I also have found that to be the case in almost every college town I ever visited. The town gets really old after a while. If you are in your late 20's-early 40's and want to go have a night out on the town with your spouse, the "American Ale House" is about your only option. There's also a theatre downtown, but they only have about 4 plays a year and 2-3 of them usually suck. Other than that, ALL the entertainment is catered to college students. If you need any amenities of a big city, you have to travel 2 1/2- 3 hours to Pittsburgh, Baltimore, or Philly.
Unless you have a really good job with the university lined up, you're better off just paying the extra couple bucks and living in a big city suburb. That's all that State College is: A suburb of nothing, with 40,000 college kids. Unless you are really in to fishing, hunting, or mountain biking, you might as well just live in a real suburb and have all the amenities you need nearby. Plus you don't have to worry about your underage high school daughter going to frat parties on the weekends.[read more...]
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| Great Place to Raise a Family - 3/12/2007
Having grown up in a more urban environment, one that I still go back to visit, I really appreciate the livability of the State College area. The schools, the parks and outdoors, the ease of getting around, the attractions that a major university brings...all combine to make this a great place to live.[read more...]
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| For quite some time now - 1/25/2007
I have family in the state college area and it always draws people in because the schools are good and the crime is low. For young people starting out it is mostly a nightmare. It is difficult to find a job that will give you the hours you need or the pay that you deserve. In my experience if you work hard you can move up quickly but the pay typically will not reflect the added responsibilities. I have worked in many different types of work and all and all I think that state college is a hampster wheel. The whole town caters to the students because they make up such a large percent of the population but if you don't work at the university it is difficult to find opportunity here. It is a nice place to raise children but if you don't have a great job lined up prepare to live paycheck to paycheck until you decide to move.[read more...]
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| Gloomy city - 11/30/2006
I've lived in State College for seven years and it's the gloomiest place I've ever been. The sun rarely comes out here from November through April, and statistics show we get more rain than Seattle. Be sure that you don't have Seasonal Affect Disorder if you decide to move here or you might become suicidal. We are trying to get out of here as soon as possible.[read more...]
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| Crime and Schools. - 9/3/2006
Low Crime, Great Schools.[read more...]
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| College Town through and through - 7/9/2006
I live here as a young adult, as a mother, as a worker and as a wife to a college student. I love how family orientated it is, and how safe it is...I think thats whats attracting people here...hence, the housing boom... however, I am bored here as a young adult. I've already been through college, Im not in that population anymore, therefore Downtown has no appeal to me. After living here for 6 months, I feel like I've gotten to see what State College has to offer --> Bored. My next move will look to combine the great family feel of State College, but within distance of Adult activities/attractions. I thought I'd have an escape from the boredom with shopping, but not even that is fulfilling here -->lack of good retail shops.
Not only that, State College is growing FAST, they need to becareful with their Urban Planning / Development Projects. Some of the plans I am seeing include tight narrow streets with houses built nearly on-top of each other and then commercial properties located within family neighborhoods. This one particular land-owner is willing to sacrifice the dynamic of a neighborhood for a big pay-off. Its a good thing I wont live here for long --- sigh of relief![read more...]
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| eh, not quite.... - 6/27/2006
I'm a professor at Penn State, and I went to an Ivy League school. PSU students are below par (and I was at a different state university previously, so I'm not just comparing it to the Ivy League schools, which would be a joke).
Bottom line is, there are a lot of people who swear allegiance to State College, but the comments I made earlier are quite true. The fact that you had a good college experience is quite telling. It is a good town to be a college student, not so much an adult...especially if you have taste buds, or just good taste in general. Get over it.[read more...]
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| To the ignorant post below - 6/23/2006
Wow, you are one ignorant person. I take offense to what you say about Penn State students. I am a proud engineering graduate from Penn State and have a great job Colorado. I HAVE lived in other places, and traveled many places. Originally, from Pittsburgh, I have lived in Philly and the Washington area as well. I also was born and raised in a small town in Central Pennsylvania. I am sorry State College does not have the international restaurants you get in big cities, but it is a SMALL TOWN. Also, for being a SMALL TOWN you get a lot of options there then you would in most. State college has one of the best small town atmospheres I have seen. I knew many people whom badmouthed Penn State and the town. They lived in State College, failed out of the good school Penn State, and can’t get any of the beautiful Penn State Women to talk to them, so you badmouth it. Not saying, this is you. I have no idea why somebody who doesn’t go to Penn State would living there if they didn’t like the town. If you do not like it, then move out. If you don’t move then don’t bad mouth the school and students. Yes, there are people who drink and do not go to class. That is in every big ten school. I know it’s not Ivy League, but it is a good school, and I take offense to your insults of my school. College students drink, EVERYWHERE, I would rather be drunk then ignorant.[read more...]
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| Pathetic pathetic pathetic - 6/3/2006
I like how posters here have been raving about the great "international" food choices...can you actually name some beyond Indian Pavillion? Oh, here's the catch....they have to be good restaurants...not the cheesy "oriental" cuisine that is a hodge-podge of many types of mediocre foods...Zola's is good, but pricey. If you are a vegetarian, you can enjoy their 1-2 vegetarian options...that won't get old.
This place is built for students. Not high quality students, Penn State students. If you are a student and you enjoy being drunk and not attending classes, this is a place you best check out.
The social scene here for adults is pathetic. Perhaps it is a good place to raise kids.
The housing market is out of control. People ask exorbitant prices for ugly homes. Guess when you are the only "city" in the middle of nowhere, people want to be in that location. It also helps that SC has the only school district in the region where students are encouraged to keep all their teeth.
The redeeming quality of State College is that it is within 3.5 hours to DC or Philly. I have enjoyed reading the blind allegiance some on this board have shown for this region though...must have never lived anywhere interesting.[read more...]
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| state college, pa - 5/22/2006
It is difficult to make ends meet in this area if you do not have an established career. The rental rates are very high compared to what employers are willing to pay. This is a college area and the students usually have there parents pay there rent and then work for spending money, if that is financially the situation you are in then this place is as good as any.[read more...]
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| Good Family Town - 5/17/2006
Being a military family, we have lived in several towns before State College. After nine months here, I think it is a really good place for a family. Granted, we stay away from the downtown area during the school year due to the students, but the city has many activities for the kids. I do think the school district is over-rated, given the amount of property tax we have to pay.[read more...]
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| Sarah has it all wrong - State College is the plac - 5/12/2006
Sarah - what neighborhood do you live in? Yes - if you live within the heart of student housing you are asking for variable risks that relate directly to student lifestyles. They are, in fact, what drives the Penn State community and economy. If you would look around at other locations that have been established in State College but not within walking distance to campus (IE Park Forest) or some of the newer developments within Ferguson and Patton Townships (still State College) you will find a very peaceful, clean living environment with all the advantages of the town. Parking is not a problem, either.
And Red Lobster??? Where the heck are you getting your data. There are plenty of high quality restaurants in the region, along with grocery stores, and the means to learn how to prepare your own unique dishes.
Good luck finding a better place to live. The heart of Pennsylvania is truly one of the greatest places to be, and it will only get better. Yes, the winters are sometimes tough, but that is for all of PA.
If you don't like cold weather, then Happy Valley is not for you. If you don't mind it and are looking for a vibrant, active small city with very low crime rates and a bright future with further expansion, check out State College, PA.[read more...]
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