Johnstown
Around Johnstown
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Metro area · Pennsylvania · 130k people
Johnstown
Locals say Laurel Highlands · “Flood City”
Steeped in history, rising from the flood.
City flag blueCity flag gold
Welcome to Johnstown, the heart of the Laurel Highlands! Whether you're here for the history, the outdoors, or just a slice of our famous pizza, you'll find folks who are proud of this resilient city. Take a ride on the Incline, walk the trails, and enjoy the small-town charm with big-city stories.
Clubs for Johnstown
No clubs for Johnstown yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Johnstown. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Johnstown. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Johnstown Inclined Plane Steepest vehicular inclined plane in the world, connecting downtown to Westmont.
- Johnstown Flood Museum Tells the story of the 1889 flood with exhibits and a film.
- Point Stadium Historic multi-use stadium along the Conemaugh River.
- Cambria County War Memorial Arena Home of the Johnstown Tomahawks hockey team.
- Johnstown Flood National Memorial Preserves the site of the South Fork Dam and flood aftermath.
- Ghost Town Trail Rail trail along the former railroad corridor, popular for biking.
- Outdoors Hike the Laurel Highlands
- Outdoors Ride the Inclined Plane
- With kids Ride the Inclined Plane
- With kids Tour the Flood Museum
- Evenings Catch a concert at the War Memorial Arena
- Evenings Pub crawl downtown
- Locals love Pizza shops
- Locals love Pierogi joints
Through the year
- Johnstown FolkFest June Annual folk music festival in June in downtown Johnstown.
- Thunder in the Valley June Large motorcycle rally with rides, vendors, and live music.
- PolkaFest Summer Polka music and dancing celebration, typically in summer.
- Johnstown Flood Commemoration May Memorial events on May 31 marking the 1889 flood.
- Johnstown Pizza Fest Fall Tastings and contests celebrating local pizza style.
Johnstown has a humid continental climate with four distinct seasons. Winters are cold and snowy, summers warm and humid, and spring and fall are mild and pleasant. Best: Spring and fall are pleasant, with mild temps and fewer crowds.
Talk like a local
- “Flood City”
- Nickname for Johnstown, referencing the 1889 flood.
- “yinz”
- You all, common in western Pennsylvania.
Getaways
- Somerset Small town with the Flight 93 National Memorial nearby.
- Altoona Home of the Horseshoe Curve and Railroaders Memorial Museum.
- Indiana College town with the Jimmy Stewart Museum.
- Pittsburgh Big city with pro sports, museums, and nightlife.
Local flavour
Teams
- St. Francis Red Flash NCAA Division I
- Johnstown Tomahawks NAHL
Eat and drink
- Johnstown-style pizza Thick, square-cut pizza with a sweet sauce and mozzarella
- Pierogies Eastern European dumplings, often filled with potato and cheese
- Haluski Cabbage and noodle dish, a local comfort food
- City chicken Pork on a stick, breaded and fried, a regional specialty
Where people go
- Johnstown Inclined Plane The world's steepest vehicular inclined plane, a local icon
- Flood memorials Sites commemorating the 1889 Johnstown Flood, including the National Memorial
- Mountain overlooks Scenic viewpoints in the Allegheny Mountains surrounding the valley
Heritage and traditions
Johnstown is proud of its immigrant heritage, resilience after the 1889 flood, and unique local foods like Johnstown-style pizza and pierogies.
This time of year in Johnstown
- Tomahawks hockey season Fall/Winter Fall and winter, junior hockey games.
Say it like a local: “Holler” — A term for a small, narrow valley or hollow.
Festivals
- Johnstown FolkFest June Celebrates ethnic heritage with music and food.
- Thunder in the Valley June Motorcycle rally with concerts and events.
- PolkaFest July Polka music and Polish food.
- Johnstown Flood Commemoration May Remembers the 1889 flood with ceremonies.
- Johnstown Pizza Fest September Taste local pizza styles.
- Cambria County Fair August Agricultural fair with rides and exhibits.
Landmarks with a story
- Johnstown Flood National Memorial Commemorates the 1889 flood and its victims.
- Johnstown Inclined Plane World's steepest vehicular incline, a flood escape route.
- Johnstown Flood Museum Tells the story of the flood and the city's recovery.
- Staple Bend Tunnel First railroad tunnel in the US, on the Allegheny Portage Railroad.
- Cambria City Historic District Ethnic churches and row houses from immigrant era.
- St. John Gualbert Cathedral Historic Catholic cathedral in Johnstown.
Food traditions
- Johnstown-style pizza Thick crust, sweet sauce, and cup pepperoni.
- Pierogies Eastern European dumplings, often with potato and cheese.
- Haluski Cabbage and noodles, a Slovak comfort food.
- City chicken Pork on a stick, breaded and fried, from the Depression era.
- Sticky buns Sweet rolls often served at community events.
Music and arts
- Polka music Rooted in Polish and Slovak heritage.
- Folk music Appalachian and immigrant traditions blend.
- Ethnic folk dancing Performed at festivals and events.
A little history
- 1889 The Johnstown Flood
- Late 1800s-early 1900s Immigration of Eastern European and Italian workers
- Late 1800s-mid 1900s Steel and coal industry boom
- 2012 Johnstown Tomahawks hockey team founded
- 1852 Cambria Iron Company established
- Game day Tomahawks hockey games
- Game day High school football rivalries
- Outdoors Hike the Laurel Highlands
- Outdoors Ride the Inclined Plane
- With kids Riding the Inclined Plane
- With kids Visiting the Flood Museum
Locals speak with a Western Pennsylvania accent, known for 'dahntahn' for downtown and 'yinz' for you all. The dialect is influenced by the region's Eastern European and Italian immigrant heritage.
Only here
- The Inclined Plane is the steepest vehicular incline in the world.
- Johnstown-style pizza is a local invention, not found elsewhere.
- The city is built on steep hills, with many stairways and inclined planes.
- The 1889 flood is one of the deadliest in US history, shaping the town's identity.
New here? A few tips
- Embrace the hills: learn to drive on steep streets and use the Inclined Plane for a shortcut.
- Try the local pizza: it's a unique style with a sweet sauce and thick crust.
- Attend a festival like FolkFest or Thunder in the Valley to meet neighbors and taste ethnic foods.
- Prepare for snow: winters are harsh, and the area is known for lake-effect snow.
- Explore the outdoors: the Laurel Highlands offer great hiking, biking, and fishing.
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Part of Johnstown area
Nearby
Every areaSomersetPennsylvaniaWhere the mountains meet the maple.IndianaPennsylvaniaWhere the groundhog predicts spring and the hills hold you close.BedfordPennsylvaniaGentle hills, covered bridges, and the quiet rhythm of farm life.AltoonaPennsylvaniaWhere the rails climb the AllegheniesPunxsutawneyPennsylvaniaSmall towns, deep woods, and a groundhog's promise of spring.CumberlandMarylandWhere the mountains meet the riverHuntingdonPennsylvaniaHeart of the Juniata ValleyPittsburghPennsylvaniaThree rivers, endless bridges, and a big heart
Johnstown, PA. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.