More CC Research Help Needed. This time: Great college towns that aren't major cities

[IBclass06]

<p>

@abcderinkay

Also…Appalachian State University in Boone, NC</p>

<p>I’ve spent a lot of weekends up there and let me tell you, everyone there utilizes the beautiful surroundings! Anyone who loves being active and outdoorsy will never fail to find a new trail to hike/ski and someone to do it with. That, combined with the cutesy-yet-quaint shops area makes a great town!

I second this. Boone is highly underrated as a college town. </p>

<p>King Street is nearly as nice as Franklin and considerably cheaper.</p>

<p>Asheville is fairly nice, but I wouldn’t call it a college town. The city doesn’t really revolve around UNCA like a true college town would.</p>

[Pizzagirl]

<p>I second barrons on Lawrence, Kansas. Really charming.</p>

[phonyreal98]

<p>Another vote for Chapel Hill. Source: I go to UNC.</p>

[Colorado_mom]

<p>Somebody beat me to Boulder CO (CU, Colorado University). Also Fort Collins (CSU) is nice, less competitive but a more sprawling and green campus.</p>

[huskem55]

<p>I adore Northamtpon, MA (Smith College, but easy access to the other Five Colleges)- quirky stores, wide variety of affordable restaurants, awesome live music scene, friendly people, beautiful quaint setting</p>

[morrismm]

<p>Seconding Saratoga Springs and Ithaca, NY.</p>

[katliamom]

<p>Berkeley!
University of California… OK so the population may be over 100K (but not by much) but it’s one of the great college towns complete with a youthful, intellectual vibe that also appeals to many boomers and older types who stayed in town decades after graduating. Great restaurants & markets, unique shopping, all in a stunning natural setting.
Go Bears.</p>

[wrkhard]

<p>West Lafayette, Indiana home of Purdue</p>

<p>population: ~30K</p>

<p>like it 'cause: large college, compact town and diversity.</p>

[mafool]

<ol>
<li>Hope College</li>
<li>Holland MI (city population 35,000/ 95,000 in the larger area)</li>
<li>I live there</li>
</ol>

<p>A thriving downtown business area <a href=“@SavingPlaces | National Trust for Historic Preservation”>@SavingPlaces | National Trust for Historic Preservation; is directly adjacent to the college campus. I would not call it a “great college town” of the sort of Ann Arbor, Madison, or Chapel Hill. Instead, it is pretty, very close to the white beaches of Lake Michigan (10 minute drive), [Google</a> Image Result for <a href=“http://www.teton618.com/Holland_State_Park_Shoreline_MI.jpg[/url]”>http://www.teton618.com/Holland_State_Park_Shoreline_MI.jpg](<a href=“http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.teton618.com/Holland_State_Park_Shoreline_MI.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.teton618.com/holland,_mi.htm&usg=__Hydabr0qEVAsa9F6NYzr9sqtPJw=&h=600&w=800&sz=72&hl=en&start=96&um=1&tbnid=h80kKaw6jLCCbM:&tbnh=107&tbnw=143&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dholland%2Bmi%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26gl%3Dus%26start%3D90%26um%3D1]Google”>http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.teton618.com/Holland_State_Park_Shoreline_MI.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.teton618.com/holland,_mi.htm&usg=__Hydabr0qEVAsa9F6NYzr9sqtPJw=&h=600&w=800&sz=72&hl=en&start=96&um=1&tbnid=h80kKaw6jLCCbM:&tbnh=107&tbnw=143&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dholland%2Bmi%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26gl%3Dus%26start%3D90%26um%3D1)</a> and so appealing that the local High School students who prefer to go elsewhere (either to spread their wings away from home or because Hope is more conservative than they would like) are disappointed that they cannot find a comparably sized college within a block of such a robust and nice town.</p>

[olderwisermom]

<p>Adding another vote for Columbia, Mo. Campus flows into downtown with good shopping and food. Very good town-and-gown relationships. And a two-hour drive to either St. Louis and Kansas City.</p>

<p>Went to school there, lived there as an adult. Considering living there in retirement years.</p>

[slipper1234]

<p>I also recommend UNC Chapel Hill. Just can’t be beat for the campus, town, and overall feel. Chapel Hill is just amazing. I’ve spent time at Cal, UCLA, Michigan, and lots of other places. Nothing comes close (except maybe UCLA).</p>

[ThoughtProvoking]

<p>Another vote for Chapel Hill, NC.</p>

<p>I’ve visited a fair number of college towns (probably about two dozen), but this is one of the most idyllic – beautiful almost any time of the year, great arts scene, etc.</p>

<p>I also liked Amherst, MA but have to agree with someone earlier to noted that Oberlin, OH on the other hand is pretty barren other than the college itself.</p>

[shay_888]

<p>Iowa</p>

<p>Population: unknown, in Iowa City.</p>

<p>I know from visiting, have 10+ friends that go there.
Lots of bars, night life, the university is big on drinking, malls, places to each. The college practically makes the city, and Iowans are nice. :)</p>

[polyglotmom]

<p>Another vote for
Northampton, MA
Smith College</p>

<p>Very artsy, full of young people, lots of culture and many restaurants and a great walking city.</p>

[Think_Different_1]

<p>Westwood, CA- UCLA; lots of coffee-shops, caf</p>

[firesoul17]

<p>Denison University in Granville, Ohio. Population? 3,000 ish.</p>

<p>Adorable little town. Tiny, walkable, great frozen yogurt (Whit’s!), lots of Denison stuff all around, nice people. And it’s very, very cute for Christmas.</p>

<p>My sister goes there and we visit often.</p>

[yorkyfan]

<p>A nice college town in a rural/semi-rural setting was high on my DD’s list of priorities when we went looking for colleges and I am pleased to see several of her choices on this list. She has applied to IU (Bloomington), OU (Athens), UVM ( Burlington), Clemson (Clemson). She visited and absolutely loved IU, OU, and Clemson for the opportunities at the university and the neat college town atmosphere. She is looking forward to visiting UVM this January!</p>

[coureur]

<p>Berkeley may well be a great college town but it’s definitely part of a major city. Not only is it over 100K itself, but it’s also a contiguous part of the Bay Area mega-city that has more than 7 million people.</p>

[midmo]

<p>^^^I have to agree with coureur. If one can easily escape the confines of a “college town” to enjoy nearby big-city features on a regular basis, then one is not really spending four years ‘in a college town’–with all the advantages and disadvantages of towns that center on college/university life.</p>

[monydad]

<p>I agree with some previously posted nominees:
Iowa city- visited twice, briefly
Columbia, Mo- visited maybe five times
Lawrence, KS- was there a lot, lived not too far away, D1 attended during summer
Ithaca, NY- lived there for a number of years, wish I still could
population: you’ve got google & wikipedia just like I do, look it up yourself.</p>