The town of Shepherdstown is a small, but large, community.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Shepherdstown is currently home to 1, 749 people, but that isn’t counting the residents that live at Shepherd University. Currently, the university houses more than 4,000 students. Year after year, students flock from around the country to Shepherd to continue their quest for an education. However, like most towns located around colleges, the students at Shepherd go slightly off campus to enjoy themselves with what Shepherdstown has to offer.

So, what do the students like about Shepherdstown?

“The town is appealing because of the history of it, and the events that happened here,” said Zach Rounceville, a senior at Shepherd, “The town is the oldest in the state and it is that historical heritage that is important in terms of appreciating how the town was built.”

Chelsea Demello, a junior at Shepherd, finds a specific part of Shepherdstown appealing.

“I like the canal. It’s quiet and historic in a sense and I enjoy taking my dog there,” said Demello.

Demello also noted that the people of Shepherdstown are nice and there wasn’t any concern when it came to safety.

The shops in Shepherdstown have been one the town’s biggest draws. Nathan Yessler, a junior, named Retropolitain and Needful Things his most appealing shops, but he did note a downside to shopping in Shepherdstown.

“Most of the shops, I feel, charge too much for their merchandise,” said Yessler.

Like most college towns, there needs to be places that appeal to an more “adult” crowd and Shepherdstown provides those. Rounceville recommends places like Tony’s and Devonshire for the over 21 crowd.

“They give the of age students a nice place to hang out,” Rounceville said.

Demello recommended the Blue Moon as a good hangout for the students. However, Yessler noted one of the glaring negatives about the Shepherdstown area.

“I usually visit town often because there’s not much to do in the area,” said Yessler

Regardless if there is much to do in town, the students do take a real shine to Shepherdstown. The repeated business from the students has helped, and in some cases, hurt, many establishments. While most of them don’t live in town as citizens, the students at Shepherd University do consider themselves citizens.

“It’s kind of cheesy to say, but it’s one of those towns you can imagine on a Hallmark movie, because it’s quaint and I appreciate that,” said Demello.