The American College Town

By Laura Knoy on Sunday, April 12, 2009.

College towns are “an academic archipelago,” says UNH professor Blake Gumprecht, “similar to one another, they differ in fundamental ways from other cities and regions." Colleges bring culture, jobs and economic growth to towns, but can also bring crime, crowds or resentment between residents and the academic community. We’ll take a look at the college town, what makes them unique, the roles they play in the state and the love hate relationship between the college and the community.

Guest

  • Blake Gumprecht, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Geography at the University of New Hampshire and author of The American College Town
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College Town
Marge Hallyburton, Lyndeborough - Mon, 04/13/2009 - 08:31

I grew up in Peoria, Illinois, home of Caterpillar Tractor and Bradley University, a reputed engineering school. Bradley gave us a hub for sports interest and for science, as the fieldhouse was used for the science fair for all ages... also, the Cat basketball games were played at the fieldhouse. Each year, the fraternities and sororities decorated their houses for homecoming, and it was a huge attraction for townsfolks as well as students. The school brought in students from all geographies, and thus enriched the demographics of this midwest "flatland."