[C19fan]

My thinking about the larger cities with a college, Knoxville, Austin, and Boulder, is if for some reason the school just disappeared the town would still be there. Growing up in NYC metro area, Boston was considered the ultimate “college town”; more for the prestige of getting into Harvard, MIT or Tufts.

[dfwgator]

I will say, Tennessee’s fans stick with the team through thick and thin.

I cannot say the same for UF fans, they tend to be very fair weather fans (and sometimes I’m guilty as charged).

[CommerceComet]

You are correct - there is a big difference between a college town and a town with a college in it. Pullman, Washington, for example, would be a town with a couple of gas stations on the drive between Lewiston, Idaho and Spokane, Washington if it were not for Washington State University. Without Wazzu there, Pullman wouldn't even be as big as Colfax, fifteen miles up the road.

Most all those towns on the list would be substantial towns or suburbs of larger cities without the university there. Boulder, Colorado is the most true college town I see on their list.