The County

We are at the geographic center of Pennsylvania, hence the name Centre County. We have four state parks within thirty minutes drive, a downhill ski area, seven golf courses, and have fresh air and fresh water supporting excellent trout streams.

Principle Communities

The primary population center of Centre County is the Borough of State College and five surrounding townships consolidated for public schools under the title of the State College Area School District. They cooperatively provide public services through the Centre Region Council of Governments. The Villages of Lemont and Boalsburg are located within the Region with their own post office identities. Increasingly the area is referred to fondly as "Happy Valley".

The community of Bellefonte is about twelve miles from State College, and is the second most populous area. Victorian Bellefonte, named for its prolific spring, is the county seat and a town rich in gubernatorial history.

Great Living Environment
College towns are popular places for retirement among seniors, because of the high quality of educational and cultural opportunities and relatively low cost of living. Money magazine listed State College as one of the best places to live in America in 1998, placing us fifth among small Northeast cities.

Thanks to the presence of one of the nation's great public universities, we have a symphony, a varied artist series, summer stock theatre, and a host of national acts booked weekly at the new Bryce Jordan Center on campus. Each July the Festival of Arts draws exhibitors and performing artists from the country for five fun-filled days. Oh yes, we have twenty-eight men's and women's Penn State sports teams to thrill in as well.

Economic Development

Business is booming in Centre County. We usually have the lowest unemployment rate in the state, and more new businesses open their doors each month. Many new companies spring out of research done at Penn State's University Park campus, and we have so many electronic-related businesses that we are getting a reputation as a "mini-Silicon Valley."

Senior Living

What's the fastest growing age group in Centre County? With all the college students attending Penn State, you might guess 18-25 year-olds. In fact, the 55 and older crowd is the fastest growing segment of the County's population. In 1990 seniors represented about 15.7% of our residents. By 2000 that figure had grown to 18 percent.

Many of the individuals responsible for these figures are the baby boomers who have lived here all their lives and plan to stay here for their retirement years. Others are Penn State alumni and friends who fall in love with the area all over again when coming back for athletic events, reunions and the Festival of the Arts, and decide to return to their youth in retirement.

In the spring of 2000, Modern Maturity magazine and AARP named the State College area on of the country's top 10 college towns for retirees and one of the 50 best retirement communities in general. We scored especially well in the categories of Getting' Around, Seriously Civic, Sports & Such, Safe Streets, Good Eats and Lifelong Learning.

With so many seniors retiring here housing options have been on the rise as well. We have four life-care facilities, a number of assisted living complexes and condominium developments offering quality one floor living arrangements.

Happy Valley: What's with the name?

The State College area is one of the few places in the country where you can enjoy both small-town pleasures and the cultural and educational opportunities of a city, thanks to Penn State. The area has become known as "Happy Valley" probably as a result of sports commentators looking for an appropriate nickname while reporting on Penn State football.

Lie back on a blanket and listen to folk songs at a free picnic, or subscribe to the Broadway-musical series at multiple theatres at Penn State. Cheer on your 7 year-olds soccer team or Joe Paterno and the Nittany Lion football team. Cast into a great trout stream or swim laps in one of the many pools open to the public. Lick an ice cream cone, or dine on duck 'a l'orange. Listen to Public Radio, or view Public Television. Choose one or choose them all because they are all available.

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