College Towns That Have Unexpected Celebrity Connections

9. Eugene, Oregon – The Indie Music & Literary Refuge

Eugene, Oregon, is quirky, creative, and unapologetically independent, making it a sanctuary for indie musicians, countercultural writers, and artistic outcasts. One of its most famous literary connections is to Ken Kesey, the author of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, who grew up just outside of Eugene. Kesey was a defining figure in 1960s counterculture, and his ties to the area continue to inspire a thriving underground arts movement. Today, Eugene’s indie music scene flourishes, attracting artists who prefer to stay off the mainstream radar. Local bands and underground musicians thrive in this town, performing at legendary venues like WOW Hall, a historic performing arts center that has hosted big names before they hit it big. The annual Oregon Country Fair, an arts festival celebrating music, poetry, and alternative lifestyles, further cements Eugene’s reputation as a haven for creatives and nonconformists.