Editing State College, Pennsylvania (section)

==History==
===Indigenous peoples===
The [[Lenape|Delaware]], [[Iroquois]], [[Mingo]], and [[Shawnee]] were some of the first native inhabitants who began establishing settlements, farms, and trails throughout the valley and its water gaps.<ref name="peep">{{Cite web |url= https://www.penndot.pa.gov/RegionalOffices/district-2/ConstructionsProjectsAndRoadwork/Documents/Potters/STORYBOARD/storymap.aspx|title= A Journey to Potter Mills|last= |first= |date= August 9, 2021|website= |publisher= The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation|access-date= |quote=}}</ref><ref name="sag">{{cite web|url=https://www.statecollege.com/centre-county-areas/happy-valley/|title= Happy Valley|publisher= StateCollege.com}}</ref>

The name of the [[Nittany Valley]] and its most prominent feature, [[Mount Nittany]], comes from either Shawnee, Iroquois, or Lenape. It is thought to be a place name roughly translating to "single mountain."<ref name="tag">{{cite web|publisher= Centre County Historical Society|title= Mount Nittany|first= Lee|last= Stout|url=https://centrehistory.org/article/mount-nittany/|date= February 19, 2025}}</ref> A common myth suggests the name comes from princess Nita-Nee, who led her people to the fertile valleys of central Pennsylvania. The author of the story, Henry W. Shoemaker, later admitted that the legend was "purely fictitious," although the myth persists to this day.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Pennsylvania State University|title= The Nittany Lion|url= https://libraries.psu.edu/about/collections/penn-state-university-park-campus-history-collection/nittany-lion}}</ref> Waupelani Drive is named after Chief [[Woapalanne]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://centrehistory.org/article/native-americans/|publisher= Centre County Historical Society|date= Sep 27, 2021|first= Ralph|last= Seelay|first2= Lee|last2= Stout|title= Native Americans}}</ref>

===Farmers' High School===
{{Main|Farmers' High School|Bellefonte Central Railroad}}
[[File:State College Train Station.jpg|thumb|left|BCRR station in State College with Mount Nittany in the background]]
The [[Pennsylvania State University|Farmers' High School of Pennsylvania]] was founded in 1855 on 400-acres of land in what was [[Harris Township, Pennsylvania|Harris Township]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://onwardstate.com/2020/11/06/penn-state-history-lesson-james-irvin-centre-furnace-humble-beginnings/|first= Ryen|last= Gailey|publisher= Onward State|title= Penn State History Lesson: James Irvin, Centre Furnace, & Humble Beginnings|date= Nov 6, 2020}}</ref> Although, the area was isolated from most of the state,<ref name="ra"/> the land was reasonably affordable and the Nittany Valley was rich in limestone, causing exceptional soil fertility.<ref name="up">{{cite web|publisher= Penn State University Libraries|url= https://libraries.psu.edu/about/collections/penn-state-university-park-campus-history-collection/history-university-park|title= History of University Park Campus}}</ref> The land was clear-cut for charcoal, powering the adjacent [[Centre Furnace]]. In 1862 the school was renamed to The Agricultural College of Pennsylvania.<ref name="up"/>

In 1875, [[College Township, Pennsylvania|College Township]] formed, taking up most of what is now State College.<ref>{{cite web|title= College Township 1875 Creation|url= https://www.localgeohistory.pro/en/event/college-township-1875-creation/|publisher= Local Geohistory}}</ref> In 1885, the [[Pennsylvania Railroad]] opened a train station two miles from campus in [[Lemont, Pennsylvania|Lemont]] on the [[Lewisburg and Tyrone Railroad]].<ref name="ra"/> Passengers would have to catch an [[autobus]] or a [[Hack (horse)|hack]] to complete the journey to State College from the new station.<ref name="ra">{{cite web|url= https://libraries.psu.edu/about/collections/penn-state-university-park-campus-history-collection/penn-state-illustrated-15|publisher= Penn State University Libraries|title= Vignette - "Equally Inaccessible from All Parts of the State"|first= Micheal|last= Bezilla}}</ref> Construction of the a train station on West College Avenue was finally completed in 1892, connecting State College to the [[Bellefonte Central Railroad]] via [[Struble, Pennsylvania|Struble]]. The journey along the 20-mile-long line took 50 minutes, meandering through the [[Scotia Barrens]] and the [[Buffalo Run Valley]] south of the [[Bald Eagle Ridge]] before making it to [[Bellefonte, Pennsylvania|Bellefonte]].<ref name="rl"/> On August 29, 1896, State College would officially separate from College Township forming a borough.<ref>{{cite web|title= State College Borough 1896 Creation|url= https://www.localgeohistory.pro/en/event/state-college-borough-1896-creation/|publisher= Local Geohistory}}</ref>

In 1909 the hilly area south of Downtown began to be developed under the name "Highland Park."<ref>{{cite web|publisher= Highlands Civic Assosiation|title= History|url= https://statecollegehighlands.org/history/}}</ref> The borough began expanding in 1916 with annexations from Ferguson and College Township. In 1917 the borough added the "Hamilton,"<ref>{{cite web|publisher= Local Geohistory|url= https://www.localgeohistory.pro/en/event/state-college-borough-ordinance-39-and-50/|title= Hamilton Addition}}</ref> "Highland Park,"<ref>{{cite web|publisher= Local Geohistory|url= https://www.localgeohistory.pro/en/event/state-college-borough-ordinance-35-and-51/|title= Highland Park Addition}}</ref> and "South Side"<ref>{{cite web|publisher= Local Geohistory|url= https://www.localgeohistory.pro/en/event/state-college-borough-ordinance-52/|title= South Side Addition}}</ref> additions to its boundary. Regular passenger trains were discontinued in 1917, while mixed passenger and freight trains would continue until 1945.<ref name="rail"/>

===Great Depression and WWII===
[[File:Allen St. looking south at night, State College, Pa (80897).jpg|thumb|Allen St. looking south at night circa. 1930]]
In 1930, the BCRR built a line from State College to [[Fairbrook, Pennsylvania|Fairbrook]], though it ceased using line in 1933 due to the economic impact of the [[Great Depression]].<ref name="rail"/> Compared to the rest the country, State College was much more economically stable due to the expanding Pennsylvania State University.<ref name="tt">{{cite web|date= May 23, 2023|url= https://centrehistory.org/tough-times-and-lasting-legacies-the-great-depression-the-new-deal-and-centre-county/|title= Tough Times and Lasting Legacies|publisher= Centre County Historical Socirty}}</ref> This led to State College and the surrounding townships being nicknamed "[[Happy Valley (Pennsylvania)|Happy Valley]]."<ref name="hv">{{cite web|publisher= Happy Valley Adventure Bureau|url= https://happyvalley.com/towns/state-college|title= State College}}</ref> The borough expanded throughout the 1930s with three more annexations, including Lytle's Addition.<ref name="PENSOU"/> In 1940, State College would eclipse Bellefonte in population with around 6,226 people.<ref name="tt"/>

The influx of veterans returning from the war led to a post-war building boom from 1946 to 1947 especially around the Highlands and South End.<ref name="PENSOU"/> Windcrest, a trailer park community built to accommodate returning veterans, was rented to married student veteran families.<ref>{{cite web|title= Post-World War II and eager for a Penn State education|publisher= Penn State|url= https://www.psu.edu/news/campus-life/story/post-world-war-ii-and-eager-penn-state-education}}</ref>

===Cold War and civil rights era===
In 1951, the [[Penn State Nittany Lions men's soccer|Penn State Nittany Lions men's soccer team]] flew to [[Iran]] following a request from [[U.S. State Department]]. The team was meant to play several exhibition matches in an attempt to "further goodwill" between the United States and Iran. The Nittany Lions lost their first match in [[Isfahan]] 2–0 in front of 5,000 spectators.<ref>{{cite web|first= Jim|last= Davidson|publisher= Onward State|date= Sep 18, 2017|title= Cold War, Happy Valley: Penn State Soccer And The Quest To Stop Communism|url= https://onwardstate.com/2017/09/18/cold-war-happy-valley-penn-state-soccer-and-the-quest-to-stop-communism/}}</ref>

On January 21st, 1965, [[Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.]] gave a speech on [[desegregation]] to an audience of about 8,000 coumminty members and students in [[Rec Hall]].<ref>{{cite web|first= Kiera|last= Ginn|date= Feb 13, 2025|url= https://www.psucollegian.com/news/campus/attendees-reflect-on-rev-martin-luther-king-jr-s-speech-at-rec-hall-60-years/article_9db1999c-e9ae-11ef-a576-179495cd8f6d.html|publisher= The Daily Collegian|title= Attendees reflect on Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech at Rec Hall 60 years ago}}</ref>

In 1970 attempts were made by university students to divest money from the [[Pennsylvania State University Applied Research Laboratory|Applied Research Laboratory]], which produces [[torpedos]]. A sit-in at Old Main led to the arrest of at least 30 people. Protests aiganst the ARL escelated in 1972 when about 2,000 protesters blocking College Avenue and North Atherton Street were met with police in [[riot gear]]. The following day more than 5,000 protesters marched to the ARL, which would temproily shut down at the request of the university and [[Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania|Lieutenant Governor]] [[Ernest Kline]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.psucollegian.com/news/campus/penn-state-alumni-highlight-heroes-from-vietnam-war-protests-in-1972/article_aefc21c0-2142-11ef-9077-4f7c6ebeeb74.html|title= Penn State alumni highlight heroes from Vietnam War protests in 1972|first= Daniela|last= White|publisher= The Daily Collegian|date= Jun 3, 2024}}</ref>

In 1973, State College adopted a home rule charter which took effect in 1976;<ref>[[Pennsylvania Code]] [http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/314/chapter41/chap41toc.html Title 314, Sec. 41.1–101 ''et seq.''] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051201034742/http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/314/chapter41/chap41toc.html |date=December 1, 2005 }}</ref> since then, it has not been governed by the state's Borough Code, although it retains "Borough of State College" as its official name.

The university has a post office address in [[University Park, Pennsylvania]]. When it changed its name from Pennsylvania State College to The Pennsylvania State University in 1953, its president, [[Milton S. Eisenhower]], sought to persuade the town to change its name as well.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://libraries.psu.edu/about/collections/penn-state-university-park-campus-history-collection/penn-state-illustrated-10|title=Quest for National Recognition|date=September 15, 2016|work=Penn State University Libraries|access-date=September 21, 2018}}</ref> A referendum failed to yield a majority for any of the choices proposed as a new name, so the town remains State College.

===Construction boom===
State College remained resistant to the economic shocks of the 2008 [[Great Recession]]<ref>{{cite web|publisher= Cornell University|url= https://crea.cornell.edu/2020/12/01/the-post-pandemic-future-of-collegetowns/|title= The Post-Pandemic Future of Collegetowns: Leveraging Innovation and Entrepreneurship}}</ref> as it did during the Great Depression.<ref name="hv"/> This led to a wave of investment into [[Tower block|high-rises]] and other construction projects in the area.<ref>{{cite web|first= Sarah|last= Sacker|title= Downtown State College High-Rises Changing 'Small Town' Feel|date= Mar 9, 2021|publisher= Onward State|url= https://onwardstate.com/2021/03/09/downtown-state-college-high-rises-changing-small-town-feel/}}</ref> The tallest building in State College, the Fraser Centre, was finished in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.lsfiore.com/project/fraser-centre/|title= Fraser Centre|publisher= Leonard S. Fiore, Inc.}}</ref> There have been several other high-rises built in Downtown State College since the Fraser Centre was completed, and one in the West End.<ref>{{cite web|publisher= Centre Daily Times|first= Josh|last= Moyer|date= Oct 16, 2022|url= https://www.centredaily.com/news/local/community/state-college/article267320382.html|title= What is the future for high-rises in downtown State College? Council set for critical vote}}</ref>

Beginning in 2015 the borough council voted to change the name of State College to "City of THON" for 46 hours in honor of [[Dance marathon#Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON)|THON]], the largest student-run philanthropic organization in the world,<ref>{{cite web|publisher=StateCollege.com|title= State College To Become 'City of THON'|first= Zach|last= Berger|url= https://www.statecollege.com/articles/local-news/state-college-to-become-city-of-thon/|date= Feb 10, 2015}}</ref> a tradition that would continue every year since.<ref>{{cite web|title= State College Once Again Named 'City Of THON'|first= Joe|last= Lister|publisher= Onward State|url= https://onwardstate.com/2025/02/21/mayor-ezra-nanes-again-declares-state-college-city-of-thon/|date= Feb 21, 2025}}</ref>
[[File:Downtown State College Protest.jpg|thumb|Protesters outside the State College Municipal Building in 2020]]
On March 20, 2019, State College police officer Jordan Pieniazek shot and killed Osaze Osagie, a 29-year-old man, during a [[wellness check]].<ref>{{cite web|title= If You Are Black and in a Mental Health Crisis, 911 Can Be a Death Sentence|date= September 29, 2019|url= https://theintercept.com/2019/09/29/police-shootings-mental-health/|first= Shaun|last= King}}</ref> An investigation by the [[Pennsylvania State Police|state police]] was passed down to the [[district attorney]] of Centre County, Bernie Cantorna, who determined that the shooting was justified.<ref name="sm">{{cite web|publisher= State College Magazine|first= Sarah|last= Rafacz|url=https://www.statecollegemagazine.com/articles/remembering-osaze/|title= Remembering Osaze|date= March 1, 2020}}</ref> Protests began after the [[district attorney|district attorney's]] report was released on May 8, 2019.<ref name="sm"/> On May 31, 2020, thousands took part in a protest downtown against [[police brutality]] with an emphasis on the killings of [[George Floyd]] and Osaze Osagie.<ref>{{cite web|publisher= Centre Daily Times|date= June 1, 2020|first= Bret|last= Pallotto|title= Penn State, State College leaders continue to speak out after Floyd's death, protests|url= https://www.centredaily.com/news/local/community/state-college/article243165256.html}}</ref> It became one of the largest protests in the county's history.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://radio.wpsu.org/race-identity-and-culture/2020-05-31/large-protest-in-state-college-demands-accountability-for-george-floyds-death|date= May 31, 2020|title= Large Protest In State College Demands Accountability For George Floyd's Death|last= Xian|first= Min}}</ref> Demonstrations would continue for years such as a 24-hour occupation of the State College Borough municipal building in November 2020,<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.psucollegian.com/news/borough/3-20-coalition-stages-24-hour-state-college-municipal-building-occupation-for-justice-for-osaze/article_4d5e8c94-209e-11eb-bb9c-07bc2f583841.html|date= November 6, 2020|title= 3/20 Coalition stages 24-hour State College Municipal Building occupation for 'Justice for Osaze'|publisher= The Daily Collegian|first= Erin|last= Hogge|first2= Megan|last2= Swift}}</ref> a march outside the Marvin Garden's apartments where Osagie was fatally shot in 2021,<ref name="jm"/> and so on.<ref>{{cite web|last= Yocum|first= Haylee|date= March 15, 2024|url= https://onwardstate.com/2024/03/15/3-20-coalition-to-host-events-in-honor-of-osaze-osagie/|publisher= Onward State|title= 3/20 Coalition To Host Events In Honor Of Osaze Osagie}}</ref> In 2023, the [[United States federal judge|federal judge]] for the [[United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania|Middle District of Pennsylvania]], [[Matthew William Brann]], dissmised a lawsuit against the borough and police involved.<ref name="jm">{{cite web|title= Judge dismisses lawsuit against State College, police involving death of Osaze Osagie|url=https://www.centredaily.com/news/local/community/state-college/article282418633.html|publisher= Centre Daily Times|first= Josh|last= Moyer|date= November 8, 2023}}</ref> March 20 was declared “Osaze Osagie Day of Remembrance” by the State College Borough in 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spotlightpa.org/statecollege/2023/03/state-college-police-osaze-osagie-mental-health-racial-bias/|first= Sarah|last= Rafacz|title= Police killed Osaze Osagie four years ago. Here's what has and hasn't happened since.|date= March 17, 2023|publisher= Spotlight PA}}</ref> Osagie's parents established two scholarships, The Osaze's Heart Community Service Scholarship for racially underrepresented [[State College Area High School|State High]] seniors,<ref>{{cite web|date= Jun 4, 2024|url= https://www.statecollege.com/articles/community/state-high-senior-receives-2024-osazes-heart-scholarship/|publisher= StateCollege.com|title= State High Senior Receives 2024 'Osaze's Heart' Scholarship}}</ref> and The Osaze Olufemi Osagie Memorial Scholarship for Educational Equity for Penn State students with intellectual and mental health diagnoses.<ref>{{cite web|title= Scholarships for students with disabilities|publisher= Pennsylvania State University|url= https://equity.psu.edu/offices/student-disability-resources/scholarships}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title= Proclamation, OSAZE OSAGIE DAY OF REMEMBRANCE MARCH 20, 2023|date= March 6, 2023|publisher= Borough of State College|url= https://content.civicplus.com/api/assets/e792462a-f7ad-4139-a238-82c3934d4e99?cache=1800}}</ref>

The borough became the first municipality in Pennsylvania to pass a [[Municipal resolutions for a ceasefire in the Israel–Hamas war|resolution for a ceasefire]] in the [[Gaza war]].<ref name="gz">{{cite web|title= State College Borough Council Passes Resolution Calling for Ceasefire in Israel-Hamas War|publisher= StateCollege.com|url= https://www.statecollege.com/articles/political-news/state-college-borough-council-passes-resolution-calling-for-ceasefire-in-israel-hamas-war/|first= Geoff|last= Rushton|date= December 21, 2023}}</ref> The measure passed unanimously on December 20, 2023<ref>{{cite web|url= https://pa.cair.com/pressrelease/state-college-ceasefire/|publisher= CAIR-Philadelphia|title= CAIR-Philadelphia Welcomes State College Borough Council Resolution to Support Gaza Ceasefire|date= December 21, 2023}}</ref> after months of marches and demonstrations.<ref>{{cite web|date= October 12, 2023|first= Abigail|first2= Ethan|last= Shanley|last2= Capitano|publisher= The Daily Collegian|url= https://www.psucollegian.com/news/campus/members-of-state-college-community-students-rally-in-support-of-palestine/article_b14b8ca0-6977-11ee-bdd8-970fedc731f8.html|title= Members of State College community, students rally in support of Palestine}}</ref> A copy of the resolution was forwarded to President [[Joe Biden]]; senators [[John Fetterman]] and [[Bob Casey Jr.]]; and representative [[Glenn Thompson (politician)|Glenn Thompson]].<ref name="gz"/>