They call it Happy Valley for a reason.

Between the energy students bring to downtown every night of the week, the miles of tailgates taking over the town on weekends, and beautiful Mount Nittany piercing through the sky, State College may just hold the key to living a longer, happier life.

According to the Center for Rural Pennsylvania, Centre County has the highest average life expectancy in all of the Keystone State.

The average life expectancy throughout Pennsylvania in 2025 was 77.5 years. The average life expectancy in Centre County sits at 81.7 years.

Commissioners said proximity to Penn State, healthcare, and other socioeconomic factors likely contribute to the high life expectancy, but what are some other reasons for it?

Football Saturdays

During the fall, fans from all across the country make the trip to State College to watch the Nittany Lions play at Beaver Stadium.

The sleepy town becomes the fourth-biggest city in Pennsylvania, as the nation’s eyes are on the Nittany Lions. The small-town hospitality keeps visitors coming back year after year, as they learn that no other place in the world does tailgates like Happy Valley.

Whether it’s a hot August noon kickoff against Buffalo or a White Out in freezing playoff temperatures, the Nittany Lion faithful have earned a reputation as some of the most die-hard fans in the country. Their passion and extreme energy rub off on everyone around them, creating a buzz on campus that can last for weeks.

If happiness really is the secret to a long life, spending Saturdays in State College might be the closest thing Centre County has to a fountain of youth.

Fall Foliage

As the days get shorter and nights get colder, all of Centre County watches as what were once green, lush forests turn into a sea of red, orange, and golden leaves.

Whether you are walking across campus, driving through town, or hiking up Mount Nittany, it is hard not to appreciate the beautiful scenery around you. 

There is something about seeing those colors cover the mountains and campus that is good for the soul. It makes you want to curl up in a cozy blanket with friends around a fire. For a few weeks, even the most stressful walk to your 9 a.m. feels a little more peaceful.

The Berkey Creamery

With over 120 flavors, the Berkey Creamery has an ice cream for every mood and person in the county.

Whether it is a scoop of Peachy Paterno after a long day or you just want an excuse to treat yourself to some Monkey Business, the Creamery has a pretty good way of making everyone a little happier.

Of course, doctors wouldn’t necessarily agree that ice cream is the secret to a long life, but it certainly can’t hurt.

Whether you’re celebrating a great exam score or trying to cheer yourself up after another big game loss, the Berkey Creamery knows how to treat you right. After all, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield took a $5 course on making ice cream right here on campus before launching Ben and Jerry’s.

Seems like Penn State knew what they were talking about in that lecture.

Bald Eagle State Park

The time between May and August can seem like it lasts for years, as you and your friends split up for summer break. As you catch up over the summer and plan a big group reunion, the first thing on everyone’s mind is, of course, Bald Eagle State Park.

There’s nothing like spending one of your first few days back on campus out on the lake with your friends. The sun beats down on you, the water sparkles and sprinkles in the breeze, and country music blasts from the boat.

Cold drinks float around as someone tans on the front of the boat you and your friends scrounged up some change to rent for the day.

For a few hours, there’s no exam or 9 a.m. anywhere in sight. It’s the kind of summer day that reminds you why you missed Happy Valley in the first place.

Christmas Season

You could set a Hallmark movie in State College during December, and no one would bat an eye.

The town does an unbelievable job spreading the Christmas spirit to everyone who walks its streets. From the huge, beautifully lit evergreen tree outside the school gates to the trees downtown with string lights winding across their branches, every corner you turn looks straight out of the North Pole.

Winter can be rough in rural Pennsylvania, but knowing a warm, glowing downtown is waiting for you makes those freezing walks a little easier. Seeing carolers and listening to the music coming from the mom-and-pop shops downtown as flurries fall from the sky is a magical, yet common Centre County experience.

All those lights and decorations make the cold feel less miserable and remind you that even in the darkest months, Happy Valley can still warm the soul.

The State College Bar Scene

Whether you’re a freshman, fifth-year, or townie, downtown has a bar for everyone.

Almost every student who walks the halls of Penn State remembers freshman-year Sylly Week, going to the 18-and-older events (probably at Stage West or The Basement) with random people on your floor. Those random Tuesdays and Thursdays at The Den where you spent way too much money on two-dollar long islands.

The joy you get from seeing an old face from a class you had last semester, or being way too chatty with a classmate to the point it’s almost awkward in class the next day, are both canon events for every Penn Stater.

Everyone remembers going to the Phyrst to take your new favorite hat and your first legal shot, then holding onto your hat for dear life as your older friends take you bar hopping in the same bars you’ve been dreaming about since your first night in the dorms.

Even if you don’t like country music, you would never miss a Pickles’ Country Night; watching everyone sing and dance on tables is a lot of fun.

Belting your favorite songs at the Gaff after a loud, energetic night at Champs earlier in the day is how you usually choose to end your nights. Waking up on a cool Sunday morning as the sun shines on the valley calls for another trip to Doggies or Cafe.

At the end of the day, it is not really about the bars themselves, but the people you meet and the memories you make along the way. State College gives everyone a reason to get out, be social, and enjoy the moment.

Mount Nittany Medical Center

Mount Nittany Medical Center is a 260-bed hospital with more than 2,400 employees, 220 providers, and more than 30 specialties. While a less glamorous secret behind the long life expectancy in Centre County, Mount Nittany’s emergency room treats nearly 55,000 people every year. 

Access to top-tier specialists who graduated from Penn State, plus primary care and mental health services, means people can address health problems before they become much bigger.

Whether you need a routine checkup, emergency care, too much to drink the night before, or something more serious, having premier healthcare right down the road certainly doesn’t hurt your chances of sticking around a few extra years.

Bryce Jordan Center Events

You would never expect the amount of talent performing in the middle of nowhere in Pennsylvania.

For people from Centre County and students from all different backgrounds, the Bryce Jordan Center gives everyone a chance to see some of the biggest stars they grew up listening to right in their own backyard.

From Elton John and Billy Joel to Bruce Springsteen, Taylor Swift, Jay-Z, and soon John Summit, the arena has delivered unforgettable nights for fans.

The talent the Bryce Jordan Center brings in covers almost every interest someone could have. Monster Trucks, Ella Langley, and comedy shows with stars like Will Ferrell and Kevin Hart give people from all walks of life a reason to come together and enjoy themselves.

There is something very special about not having to leave your new home county to see the biggest stars on the planet. Nothing is a better reminder that if there were ever a county that could help you achieve these dreams, Centre County would not be a bad place to start dreaming.