College-Town Feel Prevalent in Pittsburg

By Kristi Spencer

Some towns have a college. Pittsburg, Kansas, is a college town.

You can see it in the Gorilla flags on front porches and the way local businesses turn red and gold every fall. You feel it when a stranger brings up Saturday’s game or when Pittsburg State football players greet kids at elementary schools on their first day. Pittsburg and Pittsburg State University share a spirit, a sense of pride and a commitment to growing stronger together.

Built Together

The story of this relationship goes back to the very beginning. At the turn of the 20th century, Pittsburg was a growing industrial town. Coal mining, brickmaking and manufacturing were booming, and the population was climbing fast. But the high school dropout rate concerned Russell S. Russ, the city’s superintendent of schools. In 1897, he introduced woodworking, followed by metalwork, cooking and sewing courses in Pittsburg’s high school to help keep students in school. These practical classes quickly caught on and created a new demand for teachers to lead them.  

“Russ sensed a need for manual, hands-on courses that would reduce the number of high school students in Pittsburg who dropped out of high school before graduation,” said Andra Stefanoni, director of media relations. “The positive results attracted the attention of residents and those from surrounding communities. Other superintendents began following suit.”

Russ persuaded state and local leaders to create a school dedicated to training educators in these subjects. On Sept. 8, 1903, what would eventually become Pittsburg State University opened its doors with just 54 students. Right from the beginning, the community was behind it. They saw the school as something that could shape Pittsburg’s future.

That connection deepened in 1914 when lightning struck Russ Hall, the university’s first permanent building. It burned to the ground. But the community’s response became a defining moment. “Within hours, the community had raised the funds needed to rebuild and ensure the school’s future,” said Blake Benson, president of the Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce “More than $100,000 in pledges came in within 36 hours. Temporary classrooms were set up downtown while construction began. Just over a year later, Russ Hall reopened, stronger than ever.

A Community That Shows Up

That kind of community support hasn’t gone away. “Pittsburg has a distinct college-town feel largely because of how deeply the university is woven into the fabric of daily life, and has been for decades,” said Stefanoni. “The campus is centrally located and accessible, not tucked away or isolated. Students, faculty, staff and visitors directly impact the local economy.”

“There’s a tight relationship between the community and campus,” said Benson. “Locals attend university events like athletics, concerts, theater productions, job fairs, art exhibits and lectures like they’re community happenings.”

That sense of shared celebration shows up every fall with Paint the Town Red, a city-wide tradition that kicks off football season. Businesses compete in a decorating contest, children join Gus the Gorilla for a fun run and residents pour into downtown for a block party and pep rally with the Pride of the Plains Marching Band, Pitt State Cheer and Dance teams, and Gorilla athletes.

Game Days and Gatherings

“Events like Homecoming, pep rallies and seasonal festivals often center around or are hosted by Pitt State and draw big crowds from both campus and the community,” said Stefanoni. “It creates a shared rhythm for the town that echoes the university calendar.”

Homecoming is one of those events that pulls the whole town together. There’s a parade through the streets, the crowning of homecoming queen and king, and student competitions and reunions that bring back generations of Gorillas.

Football season means Gorilla Fest, a tailgating tradition where Gorilla Village fills with music, food and the buzz of students, alums and families catching up. The pre-game pep rally adds even more energy. One of the best parts is when the players make their way to Carnie Smith Stadium, walking a path lined with cheering fans. The Pride of the Plains Marching Band is a huge part of the experience they line the walk and perform at the pep rally, along with the Pitt State Dance Team and the spirit squad. 

Each year at the beginning of the fall semester, the Community Fair brings local businesses and organizations to campus to connect with students. There’s free food, giveaways and plenty of chances to learn what the community has to offer. 

 Local families serve as host families for international students. Churches host welcome dinners. “There’s a blurring of lines between student life and town life that has classic college-town energy,” said Stefanoni.

The connection extends to the arts. The Bicknell Family Center for the Arts draws people from all over the region for theater productions, concerts, speaker series and student showcases. 

Gorillas in the Community

The support goes both ways. Pitt State students show up for the community in all kinds of ways. They organize fundraisers, read to kids on Dr. Seuss Day, volunteer with Special Olympics and help local nonprofits with projects like marketing plans. They’re not just here for a degree, they’re giving back.

“Student organizations, academic departments, student-athletes and individual students have routinely volunteered, spearheaded philanthropic efforts, and collaborated with local businesses, civic groups and residents on special projects,” said Stefanoni. “These are the things that may fly under the radar, but they make a tremendous difference to Pittsburg and to our students.”

City Wide Pride

Those connections have also shaped the city’s economy. Pittsburg State University employs more than 900 people, making it one of the largest employers in the area. Many of Pittsburg’s other major businesses, including Watco, Pitsco, Miller’s Professional Imaging and the Bicknell family of companies, were founded by people who originally came to the city to attend PSU.

That entrepreneurial spirit inspired one of the most ambitious projects in the community’s history. Block22, located at 4th and Broadway, is a mixed-use living-learning district developed in partnership by the university, the City of Pittsburg and the Vecino Group. It gave new life to four historic buildings and turned them into places where students live, businesses grow and ideas come to life.

The initiative was named one of the top university-led economic development projects in the country. And there’s still more in the works. An upcoming project called Gorilla Rising will bring the Kelce College of Business downtown and renovate the historic Besse Hotel by 2026.

Other examples of collaboration include the Music Department’s partnerships with Pittsburg High School and the Southeast Kansas Symphony’s annual Children’s Concert. The School of Construction built park shelters and walking paths for the city. The Art Department co-hosts events for high school and university students.

“We’re truly blessed to be the heart of Gorilla Nation,” said Benson. “The university brings an energy and enthusiasm to Pittsburg that is unmatched and rarely seen in non-university communities.”

From its founding in 1903, Pittsburg State University and the City of Pittsburg have grown together, leaned on each other and built something special. It is a hometown where Gorilla pride runs deep and everyone knows “Once a Gorilla, Always a Gorilla.”

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