Bloomsburg: The Community

The communities surrounding Bloomsburg University give residents the choice of small town, suburban or rural life. Homes and property are affordable, while the public and private schools are recognized for their quality.

Just one block from campus, the Town of Bloomsburg has more than 70 businesses clustered around Main and Market streets, and a wide array of shopping centers and major chain stores line Route 11, one-half mile south of campus. An enclosed shopping mall is located four miles from campus.

The tree-lined residential areas are home to 12,000 people. A community hospital is across the street from the university.

The fruits of community involvement can be seen in the town's park, a new YMCA building and fire station and a recently expanded library.

The Town Park offers a large playground built by community volunteers. For recreation, there are swimming pools, baseball and soccer fields, tennis courts, basketball courts, fitness and bicycle trails and a new skating park. Pavilions and charcoal grills are ready for outings with family and friends. The park's pond is stocked with fish for an annual fishing derby.

For more serious outdoor recreation, four major state parks within an hour's drive of the campus offer opportunities for fishing, boating, swimming, hiking and camping.

Arts and culture organizations include the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble, a professional resident company that stages half a dozen shows each year and teaches workshops to school children throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania. The Five and Dime Cultural Center brings speakers, art exhibits, films and musical performances to the intimate coffee house atmosphere of Phillips Emporium on Main Street.

The Bloomsburg Public Library specializes in children's reading programs with storytelling sessions and a reading club. In the summer, a Children's Museum lets children learn about nature through hands-on exhibits.

Annual celebrations include the Town Park Ice Cream Festival in summer, Renaissance Jamboree in spring, Community Street Festival in the fall and the Bloomsburg Fair in September. In the early summer, free outdoor concerts are offered at Town Park.

Regional attractions include major concert venues, professional baseball and hockey, ski areas, amusement parks, outlet malls, and several national parks.

The region is served by a number of radio stations and five television stations representing all the major networks, including PBS.

See a map of downtown Bloomsburg

Rural and suburban living

The areas immediately outside of Bloomsburg consist of suburbs, shopping areas, along with some manufacturing plants and farms.

Rural traditions are alive and well in the nearby small towns of Catawissa, Millville, and Benton. These communities host annual pumpkin and peach festivals, rodeos and carnivals.

Ten miles northeast of Bloomsburg is Berwick, a larger community renowned for its excellent high school football team. Ten miles west of Bloomsburg, the town of Danville is home to Geisinger Medical Center.

Area Housing

Home prices range from $40,000 to $250,000 -- averaging about $115,000 with property taxes of $1,000 a year. Typical rents are about approximately $500 a month.

The Economy

In addition to the university, major employers of the area include health care, education, information technology and manufacturers, particularly of carpets, plastic, books, pet food and aluminum products.

Distances

School Districts

Public Schools

• Benton
• Berwick
• Bloomsburg
• Central Columbia
• Danville
• Millville
• Southern Columbia

Private Schools

• Saint Columba, Bloomsburg
• Bloomsburg Christian School, Bloomsburg
• Greenwood Friends School, Millville