Penn State University - La Vie Yearbook (University Park, PA)

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Clockwise, from top left: Houle 26 in Pine Grove Mills; Bald Eagle Host Slop; view from Stone Min.; Centre Hall: Nittany Mall from Skip’s Junkyord: campus view from Penn Towers. HAO0Y u □ jgKWjp rf 1 The idea of State College as the urban capital of the Centre Region may surprise the natives of large cities who temporarily reside in Happy Val- ley. Considering that, in addition to State College, the Centre Region is comprised of local villages and rural township areas, the University's town 1 across the street can indeed be thought of as an urban entity. But State College, as well as the entire Centre Region, must be looked at in con- junction with Penn State — the area's life-sustain- ing force. The rapid rise in local population over recent years is u direct result of the increased expansion of the University’s enrollment. In 1973. the Centre Region had a total population of 57,145. Of this figure, 30,157 were University under- graduate and graduate students. Studies done by the State College Municipal Council have shown that, Since 1940 the ratio of student enrollment to overall population has ten- ded to increase from slightly more than one in three to slightly more than one in two. One reason for such an increase may be that State College, at an elevation of about 1200 feet, is an almost ideal location for a university whose primary purpose is to serve residents of Pennsylva- nia. Nestled within the Ridge and Valley Province, a series of parallel mountains and valleys extend- ing east of the Allegheny front. State College’s central location makes it almost equally accessible from all four corners of the state: 135 miles from Pittsburgh in the southwest, 141 miles from Scran- ton in the northeast, 175 miles from Erie in the northwest and 168 miles from Philadelphia in the southeast. Given such a location, it is easy to see how Penn State has become a melting pot of Pennsylvania’s college students. — Cheryl). Cease 5