Clarion Athletics

 
Recognized as the Autumn Leaf Capital, Clarion is located off exits 62 and 64 of Pennsylvania's Interstate 80, about 80 miles northeast of Pittsburgh and 100 miles southeast of Erie.

Why is Clarion considered the Autumn Leaf Capital?

Because the annual "Autumn Leaf Festival", held in Clarion in early October, is an extravaganza that celebrates the natural beauty, quality of life and prominence of the borough as well as Clarion county. For more than 60 years the week-long celebration, which uses Fall's colorful foliage as a backdrop, draws 350,000 people - including 110,000 on Homecoming Saturday. The week features craft shows, sidewalk sales, an antique auto show, motorcycle and tractor show, carnival, concessions, talent pageant, the United Way Run, ALF Golf Tournament and is capped by a parade.

The borough of Clarion, incorporated on April 6, 1841, has a population of approximately 7,000 and offers a wide-range of employment, support services and cultural opportunities. The quintessential American small town, Clarion was named Pennsylvania's "Outstanding Community" in 1997.

Clarion University of Pennsylvania is the area's largest employer with a work force of 800, while Clarion Hospital employs nearly 400 and is a complete health care, 100-bed facility.

Clarion University, one of the leading public institutions in the nation and ranked 44th in the United States by Money Magazine, is the crown jewel of the cultural environment.

Clarion lies on a plateau above a great curve in the Clarion River, which gives a panorama of the river and the rolling Allegheny Mountain foothills.

Clarion County, which was formed in 1839 by an Act of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, has a population today of approximately 42,000. Including 10.3 square miles of state parks and 21.72 square miles of state game lands, facilities abound for boating, camping, fishing, hunting, riding and swimming, most notably Cook Forest State Park, which annually attracts over 800,000 visitors.

Seven public school districts, two private schools, a vocational-technical training school and an Intermediate Unit serve Clarion County residents.

Clarion, Pa. and Clarion County combine a priceless mix of peaceful surroundings, abundant resources, cultural richness, productive people and stalwart patriotism that have made America and Pennsylvania so strong. We know you will like what you see when you come to Clarion and we hope you will become part of our family.