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Life in the State College Area
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Our Area

 

The Pasture Systems and Watershed Management Research Unit is located on the Campus of the Pennsylvania State University in State College, Pennsylvania. State College is in Centre County, which is located at the center of the State. Central Pennsylvania is a beautiful region with small mountains, rolling hills and farms spread throughout the valleys. We are a one and a half hour drive from Harrisburg, the capital of Pennsylvania, and about a three hour drive west of Philadelphia or east of Pittsburgh. Although State College is in a somewhat secluded area, it offers its residents and visitors amenities often found only in larger cities.

 

State College is a small city with about 40,000 residents. Other nearby communities include Boalsburg, Bellefonte, Centre Hall and Phillipsburg. The population of all of Centre County is about 135,000. The county offers a strong public school program as well as opportunities for private education.

 

Our region offers a wide range of events and activities for tourists and residents throughout the year. Penn State University provides the community with many activities including major and minor sporting events, concerts, and similar activities. Other annual community events have included the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, Central Pennsylvania Fourth Fest and the First Night festival on New Years Eve.

 

The mountains surrounding State College provide extensive outdoor recreational activities including hiking, down hill skiing, and cross country skiing. Nearby reservoirs also provide boating, water skiing, and related water activities. Several State Parks and the Stone Valley Recreation Area of Penn State are within a 30 minute drive of State College.

 

Current information for our region can be found at our local adventure bureau