State College

Several indigenous groups inhabited the State College area prior to European colonization. In 1855, ironmaster James Irvin offered 200 acres of land around the Centre Furnace for the construction of an agricultural school. Despite its isolation, the Nittany Valley was chosen to be the home of the Farmers' High School of Pennsylvania in part due to its soil fertility. State College would officially become a borough in 1896, and would continue to grow alongside the university throughout the 20th century. The area was nicknamed "Happy Valley" for its economic resilience during the Great Depression. State College was also largely unaffected by the Great Recession, leading to a construction boom in the 21st century.

Major cultural institutions include the Palmer Museum of Art, the State Theatre, Schlow Library, and the Bryce Jordan Center.