Johnstown has a rich industrial history in the Mohawk Valley Region
Johnstown is a small city in Central New York’s Mohawk Valley Region that was founded by Sir William Johnson in the 18th century. Over time, it became a center for glove manufacturing, earning the nickname “Glove Cities” alongside its neighbor, Gloversville. While the city is no longer an industrial powerhouse, Johnstown retains much of its historic charm today as the county seat of Fulton County. Victorian-era homes line its streets, and a few small leather businesses and tanneries keep the legacy of craftsmanship alive. At the heart of the community, downtown Johnstown offers a handful of local businesses, and the city’s location just south of the Adirondacks means outdoor recreation is nearby.
From Victorian charm to traditional ranch-style and split-level homes
Homes built throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries lend historic charm to Johnstown’s tree-lined streets. Architectural styles here include well-preserved Italianate and Victorian-style homes with wraparound porches. Workers cottages and American Foursquares are also common. Johnstown’s median lot size is around a quarter-acre, but split-level and ranch-style homes on the city’s outskirts tend to have larger lots. Prices generally range from $120,000 to $340,000, with investment properties selling for $40,000 to $100,000. Prices for multi-family properties typically fall between $110,000 and $250,000. On average, houses sell after just over a month on the market.
Local favorites on Main Street and shopping centers with essentials
Main Street has a small business district with shops and restaurants. Toying Around sells comic books, action figures and video games, while Palmer Pharmacy stocks various home necessities. Residents can run errands at the Johnstown Shopping Center, which has chains like T.J. Maxx and Dollar Tree, or the Johnstown Mall, which features Price Chopper and the Johnstown Movieplex.
The local dining scene revolves around family-owned spots like Miss Johnstown Diner, known for its all-day breakfast. Other local favorites include Vince’s Pizza & Pasta and Partner’s Pub, a local hangout where neighbors gather at the bar.
Downtown Johnstown has concerts, a farmers market and more
Sir William Johnson Park anchors downtown as an event destination, with a small stage where the city hosts its seasonal summer concert series. The Johnstown Farmers Market brings fresh produce and craft vendors to Main Street each week from June through October, while annual events like the Harvest Festival and Vintage Café Classic Car Show bring community members together throughout the year.
Low student-to-teacher ratio in the Greater Johnstown School District
The Greater Johnstown School District earns an overall grade of C-plus from Niche and has an average student-to-teacher ratio of 12-to-1. The C-minus-rated Pleasant Avenue Elementary School serves prekindergarten through first grade, while the B-minus-rated Warren Street Elementary School serves second through fourth grade. Knox Middle School began serving fifth through seventh graders during the 2023-24 school year and doesn’t yet have a Niche rating. Older students can attend Johnstown High School, which receives a C-plus and offers Advanced Placement and dual enrollment courses that allow teens to simultaneously earn high school and college credit through a partnership with Fulton-Montgomery Community College, which is about 5 miles from Johnstown.
Recreation includes parks, trout fishing and trails by the Adirondacks
Green spaces include Partners Park, which sits in the city’s southeastern corner and has a gazebo, basketball court and open grassy area with room for outdoor activities. Washington Street Park is a popular spot for fishermen looking to access Cayadutta Creek, a brown trout fishery that the New York Department of Environmental Conservation stocks each spring. The park also provides access to the Fonda, Johnstown & Gloversville Rail Trail (FJ&G Trail), whose main path spans 8 miles between the Glove Cities.
Indoor recreation includes bowling at Perry Lanes and all-ages programming at the Johnstown Public Library. The city serves its adult population at the Shirley J. Luck Senior Citizen Center. For golfers, the Hales Mills Country Club has a public 18-hole course about 4 miles from the city. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy four full seasons of outdoor recreation in the Adirondacks, with spots like the Royal Mountain Ski Area and Great Sacandaga Lake within 15 miles of Johnstown.
GTS offers bus service, while I-90 leads to bigger cities like Albany
Many streets have narrow sidewalks, allowing residents to walk to downtown Johnstown or nearby Gloversville Transit System (GTS) bus stops. GTS buses connect riders to destinations throughout Johnstown and Gloversville, as well as to Fulton Montgomery Community College. Residents live several miles north of Interstate 90, which runs around 45 miles southeast to Albany and 108 miles west to Syracuse. The closest major airport is Albany International Airport, located about 40 miles from Johnstown. For healthcare needs, Nathan Littauer Hospital is roughly 6 miles away.
The Johnstown Industrial Park occupies the city’s southwestern corner. It’s primarily home to warehouses and distribution centers, including a Walmart distribution center that provides approximately 750 full-time jobs to the region.
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Written By
Sally Stimpson
