Penn State & State College: Growing Up Together

If you’ve spent any time in State College, you know Penn State isn’t just “over there” on campus—it’s woven right into the heart of our town. Honestly, it’s hard to say where one ends and the other begins. We share the same streets, the same traditions, and the same blue-and-white pride.

How It All Started

Penn State’s story started way back in 1855, when it was the Farmers’ High School of Pennsylvania. (Yep, that’s really what it was called!) It sat on 200 acres of farmland and aimed to mix agricultural training with a strong liberal arts education. Over the years, the name changed—to the Agricultural College of Pennsylvania, then The Pennsylvania State College, and eventually to The Pennsylvania State University.

As the school grew, so did the little village around it. Boarding houses popped up, shops opened, and businesses started serving the needs of students, professors, and visiting families. By 1896, that “little village” was officially incorporated as the Borough of State College. The name pretty much says it all.

Why We Work So Well Together

Penn State brings so much to our town—jobs, research, arts, and, of course, sports that bring national attention (and a whole lot of visitors) to Happy Valley. Game days? The energy in town is like nothing else. Shops and restaurants are packed, streets are buzzing, and you can feel the excitement everywhere.

But the town gives back in its own way. We offer a welcoming, walkable home base with friendly faces, local businesses, and events that bring people together—like the Arts Fest in July or fundraising for THON. It’s a partnership that works because we both put so much into making this a place people love to be.

Not Just a “College Town”

Sure, State College is home to Penn State—but it’s also a great place to live, work, and raise a family. Thanks to the University, we get world-class concerts, lectures, and sporting events. Thanks to the town, we have charming neighborhoods, great restaurants, and a community that looks out for each other. It’s the best of both worlds.

Where We’re Headed

Penn State will keep evolving and so will State College. That’s just the way it goes when you’ve been connected for over 150 years. And here at Town Pride State College, we celebrate that connection every day—through our locally inspired gear, our community giveback initiatives, and our love for this amazing place we call home.