Hype for the Future 98E: Notable College Towns Explained

Introduction

While there exists no such list of colleges and universities of the United States of America based on “college towns,” the definition of a “college town” often depends on communities revolving around a particular college or university (or, in some cases, multiple such institutions).

Table of Contents

1. Hanover, NH
2. Ithaca, NY
3. Princeton, NJ
4. Middlebury, VT
5. Alfred, NY
6. Oberlin, OH
7. Northfield, MN
8. Williamstown, MA
9. Amherst, MA
10. Brunswick, ME
11. Lewiston, ME
12. Waterville, ME

Hanover, NH

Located along the Connecticut River in Grafton County, New Hampshire, is the community of Hanover, which is currently associated almost exclusively with Dartmouth College in the area. The larger City of Lebanon is located nearby along the Connecticut River; however, not much is commonly known about the community from outside the region.

Ithaca, NY

Home to Cornell University, the City of Ithaca is most notable for the university presence in particular, with a significant town-gown divide and the community outside the Ivy League presence often feeling subordinate.

Princeton, NJ

Though Princeton is located within Mercer County and in close proximity to the City of Trenton, the capital city of the State of New Jersey, the particular community of Princeton is almost exclusively associated with the university, with many of the events of historical significance within the county often located nearer Trenton.

Middlebury, VT

An extremely small town centrally located within Addison County, Vermont, to serve as the county seat, the Town of Middlebury is perhaps best known for the presence of Middlebury College in the area. Middlebury College is located directly east of the New York state line and west of the Montpelier and Barre areas. Burlington and Rutland are larger cities quite a distance away, to the north and to the south, respectively.

Alfred, NY

Unlike the other college towns listed, both above and below, Alfred, located in Allegany County, is nearly exclusively associated with the universities within the area, namely Alfred University (private) and Alfred State College (public SUNY). The rare off-campus significance of Alfred is ceramic art and related opportunities in such a rural area, within the Appalachian Mountains yet north of the region typically considered part of “Appalachia.”

Oberlin, OH

Located in the north-central portion of the State of Ohio, Oberlin is a smaller and somewhat more isolated community within relative reach of the City of Cleveland around an hour to the east. Situated within Lorain County, the community home to Oberlin College is south of Lorain and Elyria but north of the community of Wellington—all within the area historically known as the Connecticut Western Reserve.

Northfield, MN

The City of Northfield, Minnesota, is home to not one, but two, distinct colleges within the community. While both Carleton and St. Olaf Colleges are private, Carleton is typically identified as prestigious while St. Olaf is identified more as a religious collegiate community. St. Olaf was originally named by the Norwegian community of the region, and both colleges are conveniently located around an hour south of the Minneapolis—St. Paul area, also known as the Twin Cities, largely analogous to the relative locations of Oberlin and Cleveland in northern Ohio.

Williamstown, MA

While Williams College is not the exclusive cultural significance of the Town of Williamstown, the collegiate community is often identified for the significant prestige associated with campus. Even outside campus, the Town of Williamstown is most notable for the liberal arts community, which also expands into the Clark Art Institute within the town and the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA) within the adjacent City of North Adams, also near the Vermont state line.

Amherst, MA

Though officially a city, the Town of Amherst, Massachusetts, officially prefers to retain the traditional “town” naming system. As such, the Town of Amherst remains notable and true to the historical significance of the colleges and universities within the town and surrounding regions. While Mount Holyoke College is located in the Town of South Hadley to the southwest and Smith College is located across the Connecticut River in the City of Northampton to the west, the Town of Amherst is almost exclusively defined by Amherst College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass).

Brunswick, ME

Though Brunswick is located within Cumberland County, the county home to the City of Portland and the largest share of the population of the State of Maine as a whole, the community is most commonly identified as the home of Bowdoin College first. Harriet Beecher Stowe was perhaps one of the most significant historical figures with connections—even if indirectly so—with Bowdoin.

Lewiston, ME

The second-largest city in the State of Maine and one-half of the urbanized area of Androscoggin County, the City of Lewiston is most notable for being home to Bates College, while the adjacent City of Auburn serves as the county seat. Interestingly, however, Lewiston serves as a city in the State of Maine with a Francophone population base out of the ordinary for such a southern latitude located within.

Waterville, ME

Located within the general vicinity of the City of Augusta in Kennebec County, the City of Waterville, though primarily associated with Colby College, is also home to Thomas College located nearby. Only Colby College is typically categorized with Bates and Bowdoin, with the role of a consortium for select intents and purposes.