Forget the Big Apple, Boston and Seattle. Harrisburg ranks fifth
in a Forbes.com list of America’s most livable cities.

"Harrisburg is such a great city," said Samantha Elliott Krepps, communications
specialist with the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors. "You have the architecture of the older homes and that beautiful state Capitol. You can go down to the Whitaker Center. You have Riverfront Park and so many amenities in one place. It is livable.

College towns , which included Carlisle. tended to dominate the ranks, in part because unemployment was lower there, and in part because of the arts and cultural opportunities.

Harrisburg has eight nearby colleges and universities. Combine that with the region’s strength in the health care industry, which is also somewhat recession-proof, and you begin to see the advantage of a diverse local economy that’s more resilient to market downturns.

Forbes has done this study for several years, and the mid-state does pretty well every time. And of course, there’s quality of life.

The urban amenities of Harrisburg combine with the rural character of the surrounding region to form a unique cultural experience. One can savor the solitude of a local state park in the morning, eat sushi for lunch, ride a roller coaster in the afternoon and enjoy a symphony concert in the evening.

Other publications have also put the Harrisburg region at or near the top of other surveys. Kiplinger’s Personal Finance placed Harrisburg among the nation’s best cities for retirees in 2007.