Information about Morgantown and the surrounding area
WVU is the academic home to 29,000 students and is one of 10 U.S. land-grant institutions with an academic medical center. Morgantown is a prosperous community and a true college town. It is a great place to live, play, and raise a family. The city is consistently ranked high on national lists assessing quality of life and educational and business opportunities. For example:
- Best small city in the east, and 3rd best in America: Guide to Life in America’s Small Cities
- #1 dreamtown in America: BizJournals.com
- 2nd best college town for job growth: Forbes
- 3rd best small town in America: Men’s Journal
- 5th “Top 20 Small Cities” with populations under 150,000: Inc.com
- 6th “25 Best Places to Find a Job” list: Careerbuilder.com
- 25th Best Sports City: Sporting News
- One of twelve “Distinctive Destinations”: National Trust for Historic Preservation
The Wellness Councils of America has named Morgantown an elite “Well City.”
One of the nation’s “Best Workplaces for Commuters” by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Transportation for its innovative and effective transportation services for employees and students.
Morgantown has an thriving Farmer’s Market.
The university has a new daycare center, The West Virginia University Child Learning Center.
For more information visit morgantown.com and www.tourmorgantown.com.
Cultural Activities
As a college town, Morgantown has an abundance of cultural activities at all times of year. There are two major theaters that have local and regional touring productions:
The WVU Creative Arts Center hosts multiple national touring shows as well as free performances by students and faculty in the College of Creative Arts.
In addition, Morgantown is only 80 miles from Pittsburgh, which is a world-class city with an abundance of sporting and cultural amenities. Morgantown is also well within driving distance of Washington, D.C., Cleveland, OH, and New York, NY.
Outdoor Activities
One of the primary advantages of living in Morgantown is it is set within one of the most spectacular natural settings in the eastern United States. West Virginia is the second-most forested state in the nation, and the area is renowned for the beauty of its mountains, rivers, and forests.
Some highlights are:
- Morgantown Rail Trail System
- Cheat Lake & Cheat River
- Cooper’s Rock State Forest (10 miles away)
- Ohiopyle State Park (46 miles away)
- Deep Creek Lake State Park (49 miles away)
- Audra State Park (65 miles away)
- Canaan Valley/Blackwater Falls State Parks (75 miles away)
