The Washington Post’s Department of Data, the publication’s section of lighter data-analysis and data journalism, recently published a story on “The collegiest college town in every state.”
Upland clocked in at No. 1 in the state of Indiana and No. 26 in the country.
The criteria was fairly simple. They observed different urban areas that the U.S. Census Bureau provided by outlining population-density patterns instead of simply traditional city-limits. This is due to the unique nature of “college towns.” Oftentimes, they’re separate even from traditional city-limits.
Andrew Van Dam, the columnist for the piece, writes, “College towns feel different. But how do you quantify a feeling? College towns aren’t suburbs or cities. They’re provincial, they’re probably a bit isolated, and if the college closes down, they have no plan B.”
By that criteria, Upland finished comfortably ahead of other Indiana college-towns. Bloomington was second in the state, and sixty-third in the nation. Muncie sits at 169th in the nation.
Other cities within the state that were ranked within the criteria included: Greencastle, Lafayette and North Manchester. Homes of Depauw University, Purdue University and Manchester University, respectfully.
The data found a 42.9% college-student share in the population of Upland. For reference, Muncie is at 18.6%.
The “collegiest” town was Alfred, NY with a staggering 85%. The town of 4,500 people contains a public and private institution: Alfred State College and Alfred University.
The full article is available on washingtonpost.com
