This weekend, the Ducks are traveling to Happy Valley to play one of the biggest football games of the year so far.
Saying that to someone in Oregon might be a little confusing. To us, Happy Valley is a tree-lined suburb of Portland, plagued with horrendous traffic jams — and home of the annual alternative music festival Pickathon.
On the East Coast, Happy Valley conjures completely different visions. To east-siders, Happy Valley is the nickname of the borough of State College, Pennsylvania. It’s also the home of the Penn State Nittany Lions and, just to add to the confusion, Beaver Stadium.
So when Oregonians hear that Oregon is traveling to Happy Valley, it is a much different thing than they might first think.
Even the local experts had flashes of befuddlement. When High School Sport Editor, Nik Streng, first read about the Ducks traveling to Happy Valley he joked, are they “training at Nelson High School or something.”
In an effort to clear up this national confusion, The Oregonian staff decided to come with a list of differences between the two Happy Valleys, aside from the 2,674 miles that separates the two.
Founding
Happy Valley, Ore., was first settled in 1851 by when the Deardorff family claimed hundreds of valley acreage as donation land claims in 1851.
Penn State was founded as Farmers’ High School, a college for agricultural science, in 1855.
Officially incorporated:
Oregon 1965 (Sixty years ago)
Pennsylvania 1896; (129 years ago)
Origin controversies
Folklore claims Happy Valley, Ore., received its name because, “Boys from the Hollow enjoyed drinking Grandpa Deardorff’s delicious apple cider before attending church services.” Skeptics believe the name was actually coined by real estate agents.
Happy Valley, Penn., still wonders if the name was coined because the area’s economy was virtually unaffected during the Great Depression or because a pair of journalists began promoting it as so in the 50s.
Population
Happy Valley, Ore., has a population of 28,969
Happy Valley, Penn., has a population of 41,228 (That said, their stadium holds over 100,000!)
Elevation
Oregon 497 ft
Pennsylvania 1,154 ft
Education