Shippensburg’s rural roots and the university shape daily life
Established in 1730, Shippensburg is the oldest community in Cumberland Valley. Over the following century, it grew into the region’s industrial and farming hub, and by 1871, it welcomed a teaching school, now known as Shippensburg University. Today, much of this history continues to shape life in the borough. “Us locals think of Shippensburg as a mix of two things— a small, rural town and an exciting college town,” says Lisa Mack, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Realty who has been a resident since the 1990s. Locals often spend their days cheering on the university’s track and field team, meeting with friends at cozy restaurants downtown or hiking along Appalachian Mountain trails. “A lot of people move here to raise kids away from cities, or they become permanent residents after they graduate from Ship,” Mack says. “We’re quaint, but not boring, and that’s what really seems to attract people.”
Shippensburg has historic homes and farmland
Students have to live in dorms for their freshman and sophomore years, and then they usually rent apartments or houses close to campus. “Ship is a house party school, so anybody who lives close to it should expect a little noise from time to time,” Mack says. Housing styles near downtown Shippensburg include rowhouses and Colonial Revivals dating back to the early 1900s. Manufactured homes, ranch styles and New Traditionals are also common around Shippensburg. Homes on the borough’s outskirts sometimes sit on farmland with grain and produce crops. Renovation projects and smaller homes can cost between $30,000 and $180,000. Newer houses typically range from about $200,000 to around $450,000, with some larger properties surpassing $550,000. The median single-family home price is around $310,000, which is less than the national median.
Sports and performing arts attract locals to Shippensburg University
Around 5,000 students attend Shippensburg University, which offers degree programs in fields like computer science, criminal justice and education. Several buildings on campus date back to the late 1800s, including Old Main, a Georgian-style structure that originally housed the entire school and is now administrative offices. This architecture, combined with mountain views, makes the university a popular place for locals to stroll around. “Non-students are always on campus,” Mack says. “There’s a lot for us to do, between all the sports and cultural centers.” Fans decked out in blue and red pack Seth Grove Stadium to cheer on the Raiders’ track and field team, while the H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center hosts Broadway shows, symphonies, and comedians.
There’s an agriculture program at Shippensburg Area Senior High
The Shippensburg Area School District serves the community. Kids can attend James Burd Elementary and Shippensburg Area Intermediate, both of which earn Bs from Niche. They may continue to B-minus-rated Shippensburg Area Middle and B-graded Shippensburg Area Senior High, where the agriculture program includes classes like horticulture, equine studies and wildlife management.
Diners and college bars make up downtown Shippensburg
Restaurants, boutiques and college bars fill downtown Shippensburg’s Georgian and Victorian-style storefronts. People fill the booths at King Street Diner to eat hearty omelets and pancake stacks. University Grille is a popular student hangout with musicians regularly performing on the patio. A few houses of worship are also downtown, including Christ United Methodist Church’s Romanesque Revival-style building, which has been around since 1903. The borough’s grocery stores include Giant, Walmart Supercenter and Aldi. Chambersburg, about 11 miles south, is home to more big-box shopping options and the nearest hospital.
Outdoor recreation is a big part of life in Shippensburg
Shippensburg is known for its scenic location, tucked between the Blue Mountain and South Mountain. “If you ask someone what they’re doing on the weekend, they’re probably doing something outside,” Mack says. Hiking trails stretch past springs and around an Italianate-style manor from the 19th century at Dykeman Park. The Cumberland Valley Rail Trail also runs through Shippensburg, starting downtown and ending about 13 miles north in the town of Newville. Several state game lands, state parks and state forests are less than 15 miles away. Oak, maple and birch trees densely cover these mountainous plots, where visitors can typically ski, hunt and fish.
Rides and rural events celebrate Shippensburg Community Fair
Every July, the Shippensburg Community Fair brings carnival games, rollercoasters and a Ferris wheel to the borough. Drag races and tractor pulls happen at the fairground’s raceway, while the livestock ring has events like alpaca and swine shows. Downtown Shippensburg also hosts several community events throughout the year, including the Corn Festival, which is celebrated with a parade, a corn-eating contest and a car show.
Cars share the road with horse-and-buggies
Though college students often walk to class, Shippensburg also has a public bus system and easy access to Interstate 81. A 43-mile drive north on the highway reaches Harrisburg, home to Harrisburg International Airport. A small Amish community lives near the borough, and drivers regularly share the road with them. “I have to cut off someone driving a horse-and-buggy at least once a week because they move so slowly,” Mack says.
