Mayor's Welcome

Ezra Nanes – Mayor’s Welcome

Welcome to State College, the heart of Happy Valley!

The Borough of State College features a dynamic mix of town and gown, with friendly, walkable neighborhoods, tree-lined streets, and a vibrant downtown that borders the main campus of the world-class Pennsylvania State University.

Encompassing just over four square miles, the Borough is filled with restaurants serving cuisines from a variety of cultures, locally-owned businesses, innovative entrepreneurs, diverse shops and stores, and a lively nightlife scene. Our downtown boasts a terrific cultural arts district that is home to theaters, galleries, mural art along the streets, and more. Every summer, State College hosts the renowned Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, an exciting five-day event that draws crowds from around the world, who come for the unique art, diverse vendors, and fun events and entertainment.

State College is a regional leader in sustainability and climate action. Our community has an active bike and outdoor culture, benefitting from our proximity to three beautiful state forests. We have incredible people working to advance our bike and pedestrian safety, renewable energy usage, recycling efforts, and net-zero carbon neutrality goals. State College was ranked the ninth most bicycle-friendly city in the United States and we have the second-highest percentage of pedestrian commuters among major cities in the nation.

We take pride in the excellent and innovative municipal services we provide to our residents, thanks to the tireless work of our professional staff that has decades of experience in every department, from Community Engagement to Public Works.

In State College, we have people from many diverse cultures and backgrounds from across the globe, and as Mayor, nothing is more important to me than valuing and empowering all the people who live, study, work, and visit here.

State College is a wonderful place – come find your reason to #LoveStateCollege.

Very truly yours,

Ezra Nanes