Morgantown is located in Monongalia County in West Virginia. It has an estimated population of about 118,000 people with about 30,000 students annually. It is home to West Virginia State University. It was founded by Zackquill Morgan in 1772 when he built his homestead in the area that is now Fayette Street and University Avenue. Expect an area that truly represents all four seasons when it comes to climate. Summers will be hot and humid. Winters are cool with an average temperature of about 31 degrees. Snow is common during the winter months. The town also rests upon the Monongahela River.
When to Search
This area has a large student body population which can make competition for apartments stiff. You want to keep a close eye on the academic calendar. As soon as you are accepted into the school you wan to begin to scout out areas of town to determine where you want to live. Applying for an apartment early will be very beneficial for you because once the influx of new students starts heading in, it could be challenging to get an apartment.
Life in Morgantown
Transportation
Morgantown is a relatively good area that is easy to navigate and get around. Biking is a great way for many students in the area. Having a vehicle is a benefit but there is also public transportation if needed. The Mountain Line Transit Authority provides transportation in Morgantown as well as the county. You can find out more information on the public transportation system by going to www.busride.org/.
Where to play
Morgantown is a great place to live. Local eateries are full of some of West Virginia's most amazing foods. If you are an outdoor fanatic then you will one to check out some of the many scenic trails for a great hike through the hills. White water rafting is a popular pastime. If you love performing art, Broadway comes to Morgantown every year and features some amazing live performances.
Attractions
The primary attraction in Morgantown is definitely West Virginia University. Whether it is taking in a game at one of the many athletic venues, or touring the historic buildings and museums, the University is sure to keep you busy for some time. If you're the outdoors type, visiting the Core Arboretum should be on your list. The area covers more than 91 acres of forest that is laced through with trails for walking, running or biking. There are also a handful of interesting and unique museums in Morgantown, including the Cook-Hayman Pharmacy Museum, which is designed to look like an old-fashioned pharmacy.
Dining
Like every serious college town, in Morgantown, pizza is one of the most popular local foods. Pizza Al’s is consistently among most people’s favourite places to grab a slice in Morgantown. Barbecue fans should be sure to visit the Atomic Grill, as well known for the great atmosphere as for the delicious smoky barbecue. Black Bear Burritos is a fun restaurant that is very popular with the college crowd. Falling somewhere between the category of bar and restaurant is the Table 9 Gastropub. This place is a wonderful option for supper with highly developed flavours alongside an excellent drink menu.
Bars
Pies & Pints is exactly what it sounds like. If you just want to cut through the nonsense and enjoy some great pizza and a cold beer, then you need to try this place when you get to Morgantown. If you're the type of person who enjoys a large beer list when you go out, then you should head to the Apothecary Ale House & Café. They have the largest beer list in town by a good measure. There aren't a lot of dance clubs in Morgantown, but there are a few. Karma Nightclub is one of the best, and people are usually out on the dance floor all the way until three in the morning.
Culture
Like many college towns, one of the largest repositories of cultural activities in Morgantown is to be found on the University Campus. The West Virginia University’s Creative Arts Center is where several different departments involved in the arts make their homes on campus. There are four different performance venues within the complex, and a constantly rotating art shows featuring the work of graduates. The Morgantown History Museum offers another type of culture, by preserving local history and offering a glimpse into the past of this West Virginia town. There is also a small Museum of Geology and Natural History in Morgantown.
Events
Every fall, downtown Morgantown is home to an Arts Walk, where the community comes out to visit with local artists and tour the local galleries. If you love Chocolate, you should also be right at home in Morgantown, where they love it so much they take a day each year to celebrate it. For more than 15 years, Morgantown has hosted Chocolate Lovers Day each April. This is your chance to go wild and sample a huge array of chocolate treats. For many people, the perfect evening is comprised of a glass of wine and some great jazz music. Morgantown takes the entire concept one step further by holding a festival that celebrates this classic pairing, with the West Virginia Wine and Jazz Festival, held each September.
Shopping
Morgantown is well known for the more than 30 glass factories that used to make their home there. The Seneca Center is a classic store that allows you to browse antique Morgantown glass from the many out of commission factories. The Morgantown Mall is a large indoor shopping mall with approximately 80 options, including typical mall fare like Victoria’s Secret, JC Penney, and Sears. Morgantown is a small enough center that it still offers that fantastic, ‘Main Street America’ shopping experience, and walking the downtown district to do your shopping can be an extremely relaxing and fun way to spend an afternoon.
Sports
The Big 12 is one of the most popular, and most competitive conferences in the NCAA, and West Virginia University is a proud member of the storied conference. Fans from town fiercely support their teams in football, baseball, basketball and every other sport you can imagine. The West Virginia Mountaineers football team plays at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Home games are always an event, and the tailgating is as much fun as the game itself. Geno Smith, starting quarterback for the New York Jets of the NFL, is an alumnus of the WVU program.
Outdoors
There is a beautiful state forest just outside of Morgantown in Cooper’s Rock State Forest. There are miles of bicycle trails around the city that connect to each other to make for a nearly 50-mile continuous trail route, if you choose to go that far. You can even go fishing in Morgantown if you want, by heading over to Cheat Lake. If you don't have your own gear, you can find places that will rent you tackle and equipment, along with boats. There are a couple of breathtaking golf courses in the Morgantown area, including the Mountaineer and the Lakeview Resort.