Portal:Pennsylvania/Cities/10

State College is the largest borough in Centre County, with a population of 38,420 as of the 2000 census. It is most notable for being the home of The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State). State College grew around the University, originally founded as a "Farmers' High School" in 1855. The areas around State College contain historic landmarks and villages, as well as large tracts of farmland. The region is often called "Happy Valley", a term which originated during the Great Depression, since State College was not hit as hard by the economic downturn as other areas were. State College is in the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians and is bordered by several mountains, including Mount Nittany, the namesake of the Nittany Lion.

State College's largest employer is Penn State, as well as AccuWeather, which is based in the town. The town has several cultural events each year, notably the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts. In 2009 State College was ranked as the safest metropolitan area in the United States by Congressional Quarterly. (Read more...)