   Nestled in the valleys surrounding Mount Nittany and Tussey Mountain, State College and Bellefonte are, at their hearts, small Victorian towns inhabited by closely knit neighbors. The warm and welcoming nature of the area extends to visitors, but those who choose central Pennsylvania as their home most greatly benefit from the area's genuine hometown attitude.
   State College bustles with lively Penn State pride and swarms of college students; its activity is a contrast to the quiet charm of nearby Bellefonte. Both communities display the architectural craftsmanship and outstanding natural beauty characteristic of Pennsylvania, and both are comprised of proactive residents engaged directly with local governmental officials. State College swells seasonally with football enthusiasts and Arts Festival attendees, and Bellefonte’s Victorian Christmas display is an event not to be missed.
   Psychology Today ranked State College the lowest-stress city in the United States, and Places Almanac named it the nation's seventh-safest city. Money magazine bestowed the accolade of ”fifth as best place to live among northeast small cities” upon State College, and the traditional toast in Bellefonte is “Bellefonte — Those Who Know It Best Love It Most.”

History

Shawanese and Muncy Indians first inhabited Centre County. In 1758, William Penn acquired the land from the King of England and integrated it into “Penn's Woods,” hence the state name. Penn State was originally founded as the Agricultural College of Pennsylvania in 1863, and when the name later changed to The Pennsylvania State College, the surrounding small town became known as State College.
Bellefonte is so named because early French settlers, upon seeing the source of Spring Creek, exclaimed “La belle fonte,” or “beautiful fountain.” Bellefonte’s 22-acre Union Cemetery is a vast catalogue of the early settlers who made the valley their home, including many state governors and Civil War soldiers. Numerous historical plaques throughout the town explain the stories behind various buildings, parks and streets.

Neighborhoods and Neighboring Communities

Downtown State College
Downtown is certainly where the action is in this busy university town. The downtown area lies adjacent to the front edge of the university grounds along College Avenue, and is bordered by Atherton Street and University Drive. Filled with old-style storefronts, modern rental housing, and fully stocked groceries and pharmacies, downtown is entirely self-contained and an excellent choice for student living. Apartments are available either in dedicated apartment buildings, in converted houses, or above the shops that line sidewalks between College and Beaver Avenues. Students need not own a car because the town is so centrally laid out and so easily accessible by bus transit.
Rental apartment prices range from approximately $630 per month for a two-person, 400-square-foot efficiency to $1,350 per month for a five-person, two-bedroom, 940-square-foot furnished apartment. Rates vary due to the apartment's proximity to campus, age and condition, and certain landlords may refuse to rent units to undergraduate students. Apartment space fills up quickly, so it's advisable to make your deposit well in advance of the time you intend to move into the space. Another drawback to living downtown is the restrictions placed on both pet ownership and parking privileges; both often require an additional monthly payment and often are not an option at all.

Outlying/Surrounding State College
Those wishing a more laid-back living environment still have plenty of choices in State College. Most of the surrounding areas are comprised of a mix of stately two- and three-story wood frame houses and rental units, either in high-rise, block, townhome or Shaker-style buildings. Many homes feature garages and convenient access alleyways, and one of the benefits to living outside the downtown area is the increased ease of parking. Also, the lower population density results in quieter nights and fewer neighborly disputes.
Homes are available at prices between $138,000 for a two-bedroom, two-bath, 1,150-square-foot home to $700,000 for a five-bedroom, three-bath home with nearly 5,000 square feet. There's little unused land available for new construction, though the option remains to purchase an existing structure and either extensively renovate or demolish and begin anew. Lovely old two-story wood or stone homes with shingle roofs and multiple fireplaces line the rolling streets of State College, many with inviting wraparound porches or patios. Most are attractively landscaped and are canopied by stately oaks, maples and evergreens such as hemlock and spruce. State College truly is an extraordinary place to make your home.

Bellefonte
Almost the entire Bellefonte downtown area and many of the surrounding residences are listed as a National Register Historic District. According to a town Web site, “there are no restrictions associated with National Register listing unless federal or state dollars are to be used to alter a building,” which means residents have a wide range of freedom when remodeling or renovating. Many of the homes already have been restored to their original grandeur, which was considerable because Bellefonte was once a settlement rich with the proceeds of its iron production.
The homes of Bellefonte hug the hillsides and feature steeply pitched gable roofs, intricate gingerbread detailing and appealing yards. The average price of a home on Bellefonte is $120,000, and most of the old construction homes have three bedrooms and two baths as a minimum.

Other Nearby Communities
   Both Lemont and Houserville lay between State College and Bellefonte, and these small towns benefit from their nearness to shopping and business districts while maintaining their relaxed pace. They're both common places of residence for graduate students at Penn State, though they're primarily inhabited by locals.
   Centre Hall, located along Route 144 near Pleasant Gap, hosts an annual Grange Fair that's the talk of the county. People from all over Pennsylvania descend on the town in September to sample homemade food and view the newest agricultural methods and equipment.
   With a population just more than 3,000, Philipsburg is larger than the aforementioned towns and a little farther away, about 40 minutes from State College. The stately Victorian homes and beautiful Union Park set this town apart, as does the old-time Rowland Theatre movie house.

Demographics and Climate

   Central Pennsylvania is not only a pleasant place to call home; it's also an economical winner. Both violent and property crimes are rare incidents in the peaceful Susquehanna River basin, and the area's average health care costs are more than 10 percent below the current national average. There is no state or local tangible personal property tax, and therefore there is no property tax on either inventories or machinery and equipment. Outstanding air and water quality means healthier bodies and fewer worries. Centre County sees an average of 40 inches of rainfall and 42 inches of snowfall yearly, and the temperatures range from 84 degrees in July to a chilly 19 degrees Fahrenheit in January.
   Spanning 4.5 square miles, State College experiences a significant population fluctuation between periods of university session and holidays or summer. The borough approximates the resident population at 11,500 and the student population at 29,270, though other sources indicate both numbers should be significantly higher. The undergraduate enrollment alone at University Park is 40,000 students, and that's not counting many graduate students, professors and administrators.
   Bellefonte is home to approximately 7,000 residents (as of the year 2000) nestled in the Allegheny Mountains and three miles south of Interstate 80. Bellefonte was the home to seven of Pennsylvania's governors and is the current home of the District 34 senator. The median income in the central Pennsylvania area is nearly $40,000 yearly.

Economy

   Centre County has a diverse base of commerce, with strong agricultural, retail, service, education, high technology, construction and manufacturing sectors. At $37,275, the median income, coupled with the region's low cost of living, allows residents to provide all the necessities of life while putting away extra cash for home improvements or vacations and leisure items. The average commute of around 12 minutes to and from work means less time accumulating stress in traffic and more productive time, whether at home or at the office.
   State College boasts Pennsylvania's lowest unemployment rate for two years running, and the concentration of high-tech companies in the vicinity provide new jobs at the rate of 10 to 15 percent annually. Corning, Raytheon, Restek and Murata occupy the town's outlying areas and produce television tubes, data collection and organization systems, ceramic capacitors and more. Penn State Research Park is expected to provide 5,000 jobs upon its completion, and the university itself is a major employer.
   Bellefonte is based more on small community businesses and its active chamber of commerce. The town was once famous for its production of iron, though environmental concerns have largely curtailed this industry. Today, Bellefonte still sells a large amount of high-quality limestone, and there are several strip mines in the area that have become popular with rock climbers and hikers. However, the whole of central Pennsylvania remains notable for its production of timber, coal, oil and natural gas.

Education

   Public schools in Centre County spend an average of $6,608 per student per year, and each teacher oversees only 17 students. The 88 percent high school graduation rate is well above the U.S. standard of just 78 percent.
   Of course, State College is most notably the home of academically and athletically renowned Penn State at University Park, which serves as the school's primary and largest branch. Many libraries, theaters, galleries and eateries can be found on campus, and most are open to the general public. Another benefit to living in a college town is that a whopping 42 percent of your neighbors hold master's degrees; with those odds, you're sure to get all your questions answered promptly and accurately!
   There are 11 public and 10 private schools in State College, as well as the South Hills School of Business & Technology and the Empire Beauty School.
   Bellefonte provides a public elementary, middle and high schools, plus St. John’s Catholic School and a number of pre-school and daycare facilities. The Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science & Technology offers advanced technical and entrepreneurial programs.
   Both towns have a library: The Centre County Library and Historical Museum is located in Bellefonte; the Schlow Memorial Library in State College. Other branches are found in nearby Aaronsburg, Centre Hall and Phillipsburg.

Attractions

   Besides Beaver Stadium and the Nittany Lion football team, State College hosts several annual festivals that bring visitors from across the state. The Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts is held in July and sprawls throughout the downtown area and campus grounds, and the associated 10K and children's races circle the university. Members of the arts festival judge two gallery shows, and live performance entertainment is provided throughout the five-day event. Ranked among the finest outdoor fine art and craft shows in the country, the arts festival's sidewalk sale draws nearly 100,000 yearly who enjoy browsing, discussing and purchasing art from the vendors.
   First Night State College, held each year from Dec. 30 to Jan. 1, affords an alcohol-free alternative to the traditional drunken revelry of New Year's Eve. The celebration focuses on family-oriented activities and productions, and encourages art appreciation by decorating downtown with extraordinary ice sculptures. There are art workshops, stage shows and a 5K “Resolution Run” to jump start New Year's weight loss.
   Bellefonte hosts its own arts and crafts festival the third week in August, but the town's most famous and anticipated annual event is the Victorian Christmas celebration, held the second week of December. The three-day festival includes a gingerbread house competition, a historic walking tour and tours of historic homes, breakfast with Santa, elaborate Christmas tree displays, and horse-drawn buggy rides. Bellefonte Historical Railroad runs special holiday trips, and the town is spectacularly beautiful when lit with millions of lights and draped in crystalline snow. The grand finale is always the breathtaking Bellefonte Community Christmas Concerts at St. John The Evangelist Catholic Church on Bishop Street, and it's so popular that revelers are advised to secure their seats early.
   The Farmers' Market on Allegheny Street near the Bellefonte courthouse runs from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays. The market features locally homegrown produce and flowers, and homemade baked goods. State College hosts a similar farmers' market on Fridays in season from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Leisure

   Every Friday with a clear sky, you can jaunt over to the astronomy lab at Penn State for a close-up view of celestial bodies and stars. For adults, the award-winning Mount Nittany Vineyard and Winery gives tasting tours and frequently holds winemakers' dinners.
   Board the Bellefonte Historical Railroad and snap photographs as it winds its way along Spring Creek and north to Lock Haven or south to Tyrone. Dinner trains head for Tyrone and an evening at Burley’s Fine Dining and Spirits, with their trademark Mediterranean chicken roulade or juicy filet mignon. Train excursions are particularly beautiful during the early spring and fall weeks, when the fresh blossoms or leaves all shades of red blanket the countryside.
   The Garman Opera House Theatre is the best place around to watch a movie. The renovated 1890s vaudeville house, which hosted such notables as Houdini and George Burns, now shows art house, classic, foreign and mainstream films. Construction of a new megaplex is in the works for downtown State College, but in the meantime, stop at the Starlite Drive-In on Benner Pike, one of the few remaining drive-in theaters in the country.
   The Rhoneymeade Arboretum & Sculpture Garden in Boalsburg provides inspiration for your home garden, and the Penn State Deer Park is sure to delight the kids.
   Both communities are home to a variety of churches and their associated organizations, such as youth groups and outreach programs. The Bellefonte Garden Club works to beautify the community grounds by plantings and is dispersing daffodil bulbs throughout the town that will make a stunning impression in the springtime. Local fire stations welcome volunteers, and the Alpha Fire Company of State College is one of the largest and best equipped in the country.

Recreation

   Centre County offers myriad opportunities for outdoorsmen and provides a variety of terrain for nearly every activity. Local rivers and streams swift with snowmelt beckon canoes and kayaks; there's even an annual Dog Days Slalom Race on Bellefonte’s Spring Creek. Other area rivers, such as the Susquehanna, are large enough to accommodate whitewater rafts. The many lakes dotting state park lands are ideal for calm canoeing trips.
   Twelve miles south of State College, Whipple Dam State Park permits snowmobiles, ice skating, fishing, boating, swimming, camping and nearly every other outdoor activity the beautiful landscape suggests. Bald Eagle State Park is located between Milesburg and Lockhaven along Route 150, and Black Moshannon State Park is outside Phillipsburg. In addition to the state parks, eight nearby camping grounds afford your family the "great outdoor experience."
   Hunting is also permitted within limited boundaries of state park land and by the schedule of the hunting season, which determines which species are open for hunting. Pennsylvania animals included in the season are white-tail deer, quail, turkey, pheasant, bear, rabbits and other small game. The trapping of beavers, coyotes, weasels, raccoons, mink, possums and skunks is permissible in season. All hunters and trappers must have a valid permit that requires renewal yearly.
   Perhaps most interesting of all the area's natural attractions are the caves. The stunning stalactites of Penn's Cave developed underground and are accessible only by boat, and aboveground there's an animal park that displays bear, wolves, deer, bison and other indigenous wildlife. Indian Caverns, Lincoln Caverns and Woodward Cave also offer guided tours.
   Relax on the gently rolling greens or in the posh comfort of the clubhouses of one of the eight golf courses in the immediate area. The Penn State golf course, comprised of two separate courses right in the center of State College, is open to the general public and features an award-winning pro shop inside its 6,000 square-foot Walker clubhouse.
   During the winter, grab your skis or snowboard and head to Tussey Mountain for a couple runs on their slopes at the low rate of $15 per day. In the summer, the mountain opens its skate park and hosts concerts and performances. If it's 80 degrees outside and you need refreshment, head to the Penn State Ice Pavilion for skating or to the university's newly constructed White Building for a dip in the 25-yard pool. Both are open to visitors, and you can even rent your skates. Pool access is available through daily or yearly passes and includes spa and sauna areas.
   Bellefonte’s Governor's Park features 10 picnic pavilions, a baseball field, a soccer field, a public swimming pool and a children's play area. It's open from May to October. The YMCA and various martial arts training studios in both communities are sure to get your heart rate up.

Dining

   The Hotel State College is constantly on postcards of the area and is home to both The Corner Room upstairs, which has a great view and serves more formal dishes, and the casual and comfortable Allen Street Grill at street level. The dining room at the beautiful Nittany Lion Inn, located on the corner of campus across from the golf course, is the perfect place for impressing a date. The Autoport Restaurant on South Atherton Street is known throughout the region for its veal dishes, and The Tarragon at the Atherton Hotel emanates casual elegance. Other fine dining establishments include The Tavern, Zola New World Bistro, Le Papillon at Toftrees and The Victorian Manor in Lemont.
   The Diner across from campus is another local icon, and they sell the most delicious grilled cinnamon sticky bread you've ever had. Irving’s serves great coffee treats in every variety imaginable, plus they've got great baked goods and sandwich counters. The Original Waffle Shop is absolutely packed weekend mornings, and Baby's Burgers and Shakes provides a '50s retro setting with good service and good food. Spats Speakeasy and Café serves up seafood with Creole style every day except Sunday. The Deli and Hi-Way Pizza are great for a late-night bite, and Champs Sports Grill and the Sports Café are the best places to watch the game. No trip to State College is complete without a stop at The Creamery on campus, where the ice cream (including Peachy Paterno) is handmade by students from the milk of university cows.
   Any tour of dining in Bellefonte should begin at the Gamble Mill, a fine dining establishment in a restored grist mill. The brick, stone and warm wood surroundings set the mood for the opulent international cuisine, encompassing everything from Thai shrimp to Creole chicken to confit de canard -- and that's just the lunch menu! For dinner, the seared red snapper filet and the rack of lamb are outstanding, and the Mill's extensive wine list is sure to match every meal and please every palate.
   La Bella Trattoria, a charming eatery featuring classic Italian and Nouveau cuisine, sits below the Garman Opera House and across from the courthouse. Schnitzel's Tavern and Kaffee Haus serves authentic German fare in an authentic Old World setting inside the historic Bush House building. Spring Creek runs right alongside Schnitzel's patio, providing possibly the most aesthetically pleasing lunch in the town. The Bellefonte Wok is another local favorite, featuring a selection of Chinese cuisine available at your table or in a to-go bag.
   If you're in the mood for a quick drive, Duffy’s Tavern in Boalsburg is probably the best place to go. The rough-hewn timber beams and colonial atmosphere set the stage for excellent casual meals from hearty sandwiches to tender roast prime rib au jus.

Nightlife

   Widely known as a party town, State College received the designation of “America's Best Party Town” from Bacardi rum. Downtown is lined with bars of every sort from New York nightclubs to small-town taverns. A local favorite is Zeno’s, which features an extensive beer selection and several fantastic local blues and jazz performers who appear on a weekly schedule. Located centrally at College Avenue and Allen Street beneath the Corner Room restaurant, Zeno’s laid-back atmosphere and intimate setting make it a relaxing choice.
   Another absolute favorite of locals, alumni and students alike is “The Skeller,” or the Rathskeller bar, on the corner of College Avenue and Pugh Street. This underground tavern serves beer and cocktails to the sounds of both local and regional performers. It's a great stop for a late-night meal, too.
   The Crowbar is the best choice for punk and rock music and draws some surprisingly large national artists for being such a small venue. They've featured The Misfits, The Vandals, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Marilyn Manson, Helmet and hundreds of other national and local bands.
   Café 210 West serves the best fries around and is famous for its dangerously low-priced pitchers of Long Island Iced Tea. It's got a nice patio area in case the music inside gets too loud. If loud music and energetic dancing are what you're looking for, Players is probably the place you'll want to be. The Gingerbread Man and The Saloon also play the latest dance beats.
   The Atherton Hotel is an excellent lounge for those who prefer a quieter saloon and the challenge of a game of pool. The Big Easy Bar & Bistro allows Northerners an escape into the freewheeling mentality of a Crescent City jazz bar. If this New Orleans-themed retreat isn't your style, there's still Sharkey’s pool hall, The Darkhorse Saloon, and nearly a dozen others to choose from.

Shopping

   Shopping in Centre County is nearly as easy as anywhere else in the country, yet often more entertaining and varied. All the usual chain and megastores are present, most located either in the Park Forest area or along SR 150 between State College and Bellefonte. But it's the unique little out-of-the-way places that really make shopping in Centre County an activity to be enjoyed.
   Appalachian Ski & Outdoors and Tussey Mountain Outfitters can equip the adventurous to their heart's content. Bookstores and Penn State memorabilia abound and can make great gifts. The Artisan Connection on College Avenue displays a wide and engaging variety of artwork for sale, and Webster’s Bookstore Café offers a fine assortment of new and used books as well as warm coffees and pastries.
   Pennsylvania is among the finest places in the country to go searching for the perfect antique piece for your home, and Centre County is no exception. With more than 40 antique shops in the vicinity, one is sure to have the Victorian hutch or Craftsman table you've been seeking. The many annual craft fairs and frequent estate auctions are other great ways to fill your leisure time and your home.
   McLanahan’s, with now two locations downtown, is a State College icon. The shops carry everything from groceries to school supplies to drugstore items, and they have one of the best delis around. Also worth mentioning is the Wegman’s grocery on North Atherton, which is one of the nicer supermarkets in the area. It features a pizza bar, a sushi selection, fine meats and cheeses, a large health food section, and all the staples.

Transportation

   State College features one of the most well-traveled bus lines in the country, or so it seems when you step onto one of the CATA vehicles. Bustling with students, professors and townspeople, the buses provide a quick, cheap and reliable way to move around without the hassles of parking or winter driving. The Centre Area Transportation Authority operates 17 extensive routes in addition to the wildly popular campus circuits, the Loop and the Link.
   University Park Airport outside State College connects to Cincinnati, Washington/Dulles, Detroit, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia for quick access to neighboring cities. Air enthusiasts can take piloting lessons in Piper and Cessna aircraft, and jet setters can hire charter planes. Other nearby airfields include Bellefonte, Unionville, Centre Park and Altoona.
   The addition of a highway named Interstate 99, which connects the Pennsylvania Turnpike at Bedford to Centre County, will eventually reach Interstate 80 and drastically reduce transit time for automobiles. Local navigation in the area is fairly simple once you get the hang of a few major roads: Atherton Street, College Avenue and Beaver Avenue in State College; and U.S. Route 322, SR 150 and Whitehall Road leading out of the town. State Route connects State College to Bellefonte and passes Lemont and Houserville along the way.

Where are State College and Bellefonte?

Written by Kelly Culbertson exclusively for HomesParadise.com.

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