Dartmouth College - Local Atmosphere

College Prowler Take

Hanover is a tiny, postage-stamp-sized town that is culturally very different from the surrounding towns and countryside that make up the Upper Valley region. The College’s influence over the character of the town is unmistakable. It is an elegant, well-groomed, cosmopolitan place, a little reminiscent of the Alpine villages of western Switzerland. Hanover's commercial district (if it can be said to have one, because it’s so small), comprises various international eateries, gourmet coffee shops, and fashionable, high-end retailers, and the town has no more than two or three stoplights. Venturing outside of Hanover proper is a 10- to 15-minute drive to the closest real commercial center—the town of West Lebanon. A drive into West Lebanon, which is a little on the divey, strip mall side, can be a revealing experience for a sheltered, upper-middle class college kid. The socioeconomic and cultural disparity between collegiate Hanover and the rest of the community is immediately apparent. Luckily, or perhaps unluckily, most of this town/gown discontinuity is safely relegated to areas just beyond Hanover town limits. The vast majority of Hanover’s inhabitants are associated with the College in one way or another, whether they are professors, researchers or medical professionals who work nearby at the world famous Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, or wealthy alumni who have returned to live out their golden years within sight of Dartmouth’s emblematic clocktower.

Hanover can be appropriately described as a “quaint,” “charming,” and “quintessentially New England” college town. It is also a very isolated place that can feel even more isolated when the winter snows set in. How much a particular student benefits from Dartmouth’s unique location really depends on the individual and his or her interests. Dartmouth does tend to attract a greater proportion of the outdoorsy, back-to-nature types than does, say, Columbia. The sheer natural beauty of the place is breathtaking.

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Students Speak Out

DarIM says: Dartmouth College 2013 Other

Hanover is one of the most... Hanover is one of the most comfortable, nice, crime-free places I've been. It's really pleasant, and the nearby towns of Norwich, Quechee, and Lyme, to name a few, are also very nice. It can feel really small at times, but it's definitely not claustrophobic. 12345 Local Atmosphere: February 20, 2009 Report

DartmouthPerson says: Dartmouth College 2014 History

The best things to do in New... The best things to do in New Hampshire are hiking, driving 20 minutes away to explore quaint Vermont towns such as Woodstock, and checking out restaurants in other nearby towns. 12345 Local Atmosphere: February 18, 2009 Report

DarMC says: Dartmouth College 2013 Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Hanover is a very small, quaint... Hanover is a very small, quaint college town. There isn't much to do in town—there's a couple of bars for the 21+ and a handful of restaurants. University of Vermont is the closest at about 1.5 hours away. I've been up to Burlington for concerts before, but there isn't much interaction on a regular basis. 12345 Local Atmosphere: February 16, 2009 Report

Anonymous says:

The Upper Valley’s a beautiful... The Upper Valley’s a beautiful place, and there are fun places in the area if you’re willing to do a little exploring. Lots of people take day trips to Quechee or other small towns in New Hampshire and Vermont. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

Hanover is pretty dull unless... Hanover is pretty dull unless you’re a big outdoorsy person, the local area won’t be a big bonus. The school’s atmosphere is quite nice and idyllic—it’s hard even as a jaded and bitter senior to not think warmly of the campus. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Facts

Did You Know?

Five Fun Facts about Hanover:
• Hanover is located in a scenic region known as the Upper Valley, which includes the scenic area in both New Hampshire and Vermont that borders the Connecticut River.
• Eager for a hike? The Appalachian Trail runs right through town.
• The town charter was granted in 1761 by King George III to settlers from Connecticut.
• Hanover and Norwich, VT formed the first interstate school district in the United States.
• Hanover was recently ranked the seventh best college town in the nation by Outside magazine.

Famous Hanoverian:
Bill Bryson – The author of A Walk in the Woods.

Some say JD Salinger is cooped up right outside of Hanover, but no one knows for sure.

Most Recent Contributing Author

Name: Kirk Greenwood
Hometown: Warrington, PA
Major: Compartive Literature

Kirk likes to talk and listen (almost in equal measure), drink green tea and experiment, and is a lover of many things: people and Nature, innocence and wisdom, beauty, pain, happiness, experience.

Contributing Author Internship

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