Johnstown, Colorado#History

{{short description|Town in Weld and Larimer counties in Colorado, United States}}

{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}

{{Infobox settlement

| name = Johnstown, Colorado

| settlement_type = Home rule municipality

| nickname =

| motto = Community that Cares

| image_skyline = Johnstown, Colorado Town Hall.JPG

| imagesize = 250px

| image_caption = Town Hall

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| image_map = File:Larimer County and Weld County Colorado Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Johnstown Highlighted 0839855.svg

| mapsize = 250px

| map_caption = Location of Johnstown in Larimer County and Weld County, Colorado.

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| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = {{USA}}

| subdivision_type1 = State

| subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Colorado}}

| subdivision_type2 = Counties{{cite web |url=http://www.dola.state.co.us/dlg/local_governments/municipalities.html |title=Active Colorado Municipalities |publisher=State of Colorado, Department of Local Affairs |access-date=September 1, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091212060308/http://www.dola.state.co.us/dlg/local_governments/municipalities.html |archive-date=December 12, 2009 }}

| subdivision_name2 = Larimer, Weld

| subdivision_type3 =

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| government_footnotes =

| government_type = Home Rule Municipality

| leader_title = Mayor

| leader_name = Michael Duncan

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| established_title = Platted

| established_date = 1902

| established_title2 = Incorporated (town)

| established_date2 = May 13, 1907{{cite web | url = http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/muninc.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20030823045734/http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/muninc.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = August 23, 2003 | title = Colorado Municipal Incorporations | publisher = State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives | date = December 1, 2004 | access-date = September 2, 2007}}

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| unit_pref = Imperial

| area_footnotes = {{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_08.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 1, 2020}}

| area_total_km2 = 35.84

| area_land_km2 = 35.62

| area_water_km2 = 0.22

| area_total_sq_mi = 13.84

| area_land_sq_mi = 13.75

| area_water_sq_mi = 0.09

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| population_as_of = 2020

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| population_total = 17303

| population_footnotes = {{cite web |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Johnstown_town,_Colorado?g=160XX00US0839855 |title=Johnstown town, Colorado |author=United States Census Bureau|date= |website= |publisher= |access-date=April 19, 2023 |quote=}}

| population_density_km2 = auto

| population_density_sq_mi = auto

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| timezone = Mountain (MST)

| utc_offset = -7

| timezone_DST = MDT

| utc_offset_DST = -6

| coordinates = {{coord|40|20|13|N|104|54|44|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}

| elevation_footnotes =

| elevation_m = 1479

| elevation_ft = 4852

| postal_code_type = ZIP code{{cite web |url=http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/citytown.jsp |title=ZIP Code Lookup |format=JavaScript/HTML |publisher=United States Postal Service |access-date=October 14, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101104123722/http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/citytown.jsp |archive-date=November 4, 2010 }}

| postal_code = 80534

| area_code = 970

| blank_name = FIPS code

| blank_info = 08-39855

| blank1_name = GNIS feature ID

| blank1_info = 180701{{GNIS|180701}}

| website = [http://www.townofjohnstown.com/ Town of Johnstown]

| footnotes =

}}

Johnstown is a home rule municipality in Weld and Larimer counties in the U.S. state of Colorado. The population was 17,303 at the 2020 United States census.

History

The Town of Johnstown began with the vision of Harvey J. Parish before its platting in 1902. When Parish realized that the Great Western Railway was building close to his homestead, he purchased land for $11/acre and platted the land that would later be known as Johnstown. The original plat of Johnstown contained no more than 10 acres. Lots were 25'x140' with 20' alleys. Johnstown's main street, now known as Parish Avenue, was originally named Greeley Avenue Public Road.{{Cite book |last=Wailes Bennett |first=Sandy |title=Images of America Johnstown |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-7385-8119-4 |pages=2–8, 59}} Incorporated in 1907, Johnstown was named for Parish's son, John. When asked what he would call his new Town, he replied, "It will be my son's town. Let's call it John's Town." John Parish would later serve as Mayor from 1929 to 1934.

File:JohnstownDiogenite.jpg meteorite.]]

A meteorite fall in the adjacent former town of Elwell on the afternoon of July 6, 1924, became known as the Johnstown meteorite. It was notable with a number of large pieces of the broken-up asteroid recovered, including one of {{cvt|23.5|kg}} that impacted into the Earth to a depth of {{cvt|5.5|ft|m|disp=flip}}. The meteorite fell during an outdoor funeral service with more than 200 people attending who witnessed the event or heard the several stones falling.{{cite journal |last=Hovey|first=Edmund Otis |author-link=Edmund Otis Hovey |title=A New Meteoric Stone from Johnstown, Weld County, Colorado |journal=American Museum Novitates |location=New York City |publisher=The American Museum of Natural History |date=November 30, 1925 |quote=The first piece unearthed fell in the highway about thirty feet from the doors of a little church at Elwell. }} The meteorite is classified as an "achondrite stony meteorite of the diogenite class in the HED group" of meteorites that are believed to have hived off of the asteroid Vesta approximately one billion years ago.{{cite news |last=Horejsi|first=Martin |url=https://www.meteorite-times.com/the-johnstown-meteorite-crater-symbolism/ |title=The Johnstown Meteorite: Crater Symbolism? |work=Meteorite Times |date=July 1, 2019 |access-date=October 11, 2019 |quote=Johnstown is an achrondite stony meteorite of the diogenite class in the HED group. H, or howardites are a mix of diogenites and eucrites, with diogenites being the lower or deeper material in an asteroid, and eucrites being more surface originating.}}

Geography

Johnstown is located just west of the confluence of the Big Thompson River and the Little Thompson River.Johnstown, CO, 7.5 Minute Topographic Quadrangle, USGS, 2016 Greeley is about ten miles to the east-northeast and Loveland is approximately nine miles to the northwest.Colorado Atlas & Gazetteer, DeLorme, 12th ed. 2015, pp. 30-31 {{isbn|0899332889}}

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town in 2010 had a total area of {{convert|13.52|sqmi|km2}}.{{cite web |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/08/0839855.html |title=Johnstown (Town) QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau |access-date=August 22, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616064205/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/08/0839855.html |archive-date=June 16, 2012 }}

Demographics

{{Update|part=section|date=December 2022|reason=2020 census data is out at https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/johnstowntowncolorado/LND110210#LND110210}}

{{US Census population

| align = left

| 1910 = 198

| 1920 = 274

| 1930 = 767

| 1940 = 961

| 1950 = 897

| 1960 = 976

| 1970 = 1191

| 1980 = 1535

| 1990 = 1579

| 2000 = 3827

| 2010 = 9887

| 2020 = 17303

| estyear = 2023

| estimate = 19511

| estref = {{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html |access-date=March 24, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}

}}

As of the census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |title=U.S. Census website |access-date=November 7, 2013 }} of 2010, there were 9,887 people, 3,356 households, and 2,738 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|731.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 3,554 housing units at an average density of {{convert|262.9|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 91.7% White, 0.8% African American, 1.4% Native American, 1.4% Asian, and 7.3% from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.8% of the population.

There were 3,356 households, out of which 42.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.7% were married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.4% were non-families. 13.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.95 and the average family size was 3.25.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 31.2% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 32.3% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 8.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $69,919, and the median income for a family was $75,000. Males had a median income of $55,426 versus $40,536 for females. The per capita income for the town was $26,324. About 5.4% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.4% of those under age 18 and 5.1% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

{{Unreferenced section|date=February 2024}}

= Major industry and commercial activity =

The Town of Johnstown has over 470 businesses that include small family-owned businesses, service companies, high-tech manufacturing, and distribution, as well as national headquarters. Johnstown's economy continues to expand and grow with major companies such Kroger's Fulfillment Center, Buc-ee's Travel Center, and Woods Grocer expanding into the community.{{Cite web |date=January 1, 2024 |title=Town of Johnstown Economic Development Profile 2024 |url=https://johnstown.colorado.gov/sites/johnstown/files/documents/ED%20Profile%202024%20FINAL.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240322195414/https://johnstown.colorado.gov/sites/johnstown/files/documents/ED%20Profile%202024%20FINAL.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 22, 2024 |access-date=March 22, 2024 |website=Johnstown Colorado}}

Regional economic development partners include Johnstown Downtown Development Association, Upstate Colorado, Northern Colorado Regional Economic Development Initiative, and Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation.{{Cite web |title=IIS Windows Server |url=http://www.johnstownco.gov/ |access-date=February 26, 2024 |website=www.johnstownco.gov}}

class="wikitable"

! Top Employers

! Employment

Scheel's

|600

Weld County School District, RE-5J

|371

Northern Colorado Long Term Acute Care

|310

FedEx Ground Packaging

|250

Canyon Bakehouse

|250

High Country Beverage

|245

Swire Coca-Cola

|202

{{Cite web |title=Home {{!}} Town of Johnstown |url=https://johnstown.colorado.gov/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120224151/https://johnstown.colorado.gov/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 20, 2020 |access-date=February 26, 2024 |website=johnstown.colorado.gov}}

Education

Johnstown is served by two school districts.{{Cite web|url=http://www.townofjohnstown.com/79/Schools|title=Schools {{!}} Johnstown, CO - Official Website|website=www.townofjohnstown.com|access-date=March 22, 2020}} The majority of residents fall within Weld County School District RE-5J, though the northwest section of the town falls within Thompson R2-J School District.

=Johnstown=

  • Letford Elementary School (closed)
  • Elwell Elementary School
  • Pioneer Ridge Elementary School
  • Roosevelt Middle School
  • Roosevelt High School (moved)
  • Riverview PK-8 School

=Milliken=

  • Knowledge Quest Academy
  • Milliken Middle School (moved)
  • Milliken Elementary School

Notable people

Reed Doughty (NFL player – Washington Commanders). Doughty was raised in Johnstown and played varsity football at Roosevelt High School.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/players/reeddoughty/profile?id=DOU194035|title=Reed Doughty|website=NFL.com|language=en|access-date=March 22, 2020}}

See also

References

{{reflist|22em}}