What Happened to Johnstown Pennsylvania?

The story of the rise and fall of Johnstown PA.
References:
www.britannica...
www.jaha.org/a...
uncoveringpa.c...
www.pennlive.c...
Images:
"20070517 21 Johnstown, Pennsylvania" by davidwilson1949 is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
"Greetings from Johnstown, Pennsylvania - Large Letter Postcard" by Shook Photos is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
"Walker Evans: Johnstown housing, Pennsylvania, 1935" by trialsanderrors is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
"19671110 16 Johnstown Traction Co. Powerhouse" by davidwilson1949 is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
commons.wikime...
"JOHNSTOWN FLOOD OF 19-20 JULY 1977" by Ron Shawley is licensed under CC BY 3.0
commons.wikime...
"JOHNSTOWN FLOOD OF 19-20 JULY 1977" by Ron Shawley is licensed under CC BY 3.0
"19671111 06 JTC 705 Johnstown, Pennsylvania" by davidwilson1949 is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
commons.wikime...
"Johnstown" by Ron Shawley is licensed under CC BY 3.0
"View of Johnstown (PA) from the Inclined Plane August 2017" by Ron Cogswell is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
"20070517 30 Amtrak Station, Johnstown, Pennsylvania" by davidwilson1949 is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

[@christopherscarpino8994]

I grew up in Johnstown and lived for decades there. I recall just how vibrant the downtown was in the 1960's and into the early 1970's. However, the oil embargo of 1973 damaged the economy and the stagflation across the 1970's did permanent damage. Then the flood of 1977 was very serious, damaging not just people's homes but the factories. The nail in the coffin was the tremendous rise in interest rates in the 1980's. At one point, the city had around 24% unemployment. The city never came back. I left in 1990.

[@joannmicik1924]

My beloved home town too. I left in 1980, but Jtown is still HOME. I think one major cause in the city's decline can be laid at the door of city administrators. They did very little to diversify and bring in other industries in the 1960s and 1970s. Although the main center of Johnstown is indeed a very sad, far cry from the vibrant place it was when I was teenager, I'm encouraged to see the outlying areas (Richland area etc,) are still doing well.

[@steelcitytv]

That's the same with McKeesport Pennsylvania it's been a long forgotten we finally got a brush of fresh air now we have a marijuana company that started as pure pen then was bought by a Florida base trulieve they bought 40 acres of the old us tubes work in McKeesport and is building 500,000 ft of growth facility and will employ 800 to possibly over a thousand jobs in the next 3 to 5 years that's given this area huge boost of optimism for the future now after everything is been s*** since 1980s they're actually tearing down all the old buildings and hoping to get some other companies to move in as a Snowball Effect clean everything up fix up the area get the crime under control move the people out that's not willing to work

[@xpndblhero5170]

I still live here and I'm telling you.... You're not missing much, just a lot of drug overdoses and now the teenagers are too scared to fist fight so they're just shooting each other over drugs and over stupid whores. When I was a kid we made appointments to fist fight at the local gravel parking lot by the high school and we always showed up, win or lose the argument was settled after the fight, none of this pussy bullshit where they're shooting innocent people and not getting caught for it.... Lately this town has been making me sick and there's going to be a point where I move and never return, I'd rather live somewhere where people weren't out to rob you or have a gun fights at the local Sheetz. Literally last month I went to the local Sheetz and 2 windows were shot out 5 minutes before I showed up and people were in the parking lot talking about what they saw.... I found a bullet shell in the parking lot and brought it in to the store in a napkin because I didn't want my prints on it and they called the cops instantly. It's pretty ridiculous that it's gotten to this point but as long as the town continues to sell out to the highest out of town bidder then this town is going to be dead very soon.... The local Galleria Mall was just sold to an out of town company and they're most likely not going to build something like that again seeing as how the last 2 malls went out of business after only 10 years each. SMH

[@xpndblhero5170]

@@steelcitytv - They need to do that in Johnstown and use all the aging steel buildings as grow houses.... We have enough old buildings and unemployed people to grow tons and tons of cannabis but we won't be back on the map unless we can ship it out of state and make a new name for ourselves.

[@U.S.A..]

I too grew up in Johnstown Pennsylvania I left Johnstown in 1984 after graduation because there was no work

[@dropofgrey]

I was just there to visit the historic sites and I couldn’t believe how empty it was. It’s like a ghost town. It reminded me of Pottsville Pa which fell apart when coal demand dropped. And the empty steel factories look very similar to the ones in Steelton Pa. But I have never seen so many abandoned buildings as I saw in Johnstown very sad.

[@ruthiekest3218]

I lived in Pottsville.i visit Johnstown 2004 it was alive lil bet

[@NGCS-ej4lz]

Opiate epidemic followed by Heroin/Fentanyl. Lots of sex/drug trafficking rings and criminals being brought in by the people who run the place giving Felons cheap section 8 housing which made it worse and worse. Johnstown decline hit hard by 2006/07/08 and was on fire by 2015 and has remain such ever since. Young people who survived left (and even many of them after leaving didn't survive the trauma of growing up their and subsequent addictions). A lot of horror stories for the Millennials who grew up in Johnstown.

[@U.S.A..]

I grew up in Johnstown Pennsylvania I left Johnstown in 1984 after graduation. Because there was no work I had no choice I had to leave

[@jeffhammer975]

I lived in Johnstown from 1961 until 1980 and last year I returned to Johnstown to run for Mayor. I confounded three energy companies and sold them during my 40 year career and felt my skill set could really help Johnstown. I’ve lived and worked all over the world and have never encountered a city more corrupt than Johnstown anywhere in the world. Johnstown will never rebound and never improve. Very sad.

[@Tylorgng.]

Are you retired?

[@jeffhammer975]

@@Tylorgng. I'll soon be 62 years old and plan to retire next year. I'm working for a Zurich based sustainable energy company right now because I want to - not because I need to. I'm the Director of all North America operations. I would have retired if I was electred as Mayor of Johnstown and paid a stipend of $ 9 per day. Johnstown remains the # 2 fastest US shrinking City, # 1 Poorest City in PA, # 7 Poorest US City, Top 3 % Crime Rate among all US Cities, # 1 City in PA for Opiod Hospitalization, highest unemployment, lowest real estate values, # 2 Blighted US City, lowest education rates, highest Government subsidized housing, etc - the list goes on and on. This year Johnstown received almost $ 100+ million in Federal Funds to rebuild the City - and no one seems to know what happened to the money. No surprise there.

[@r.pres.4121]

Johnstown PA sounds exactly like Niagara Falls NY, in steady decline, crime infested, corrupt, and hopeless.

[@PAGoTribe1963]

So, Youngstown without the mob...allegedly?

[@Cfoust-o7h]

@@PAGoTribe1963 who said there isn't a mob

[@jesusbeloved3953]

I moved to the Johnstown area 2 years ago. I’d never been to the city before I moved here and truly almost missed it when I had to cut through it. People around here frequent some of the outer suburbs like Richland, Ebensburg and Windber. There’s where the shopping and good eateries are located. It certainly is a very depressed area.

[@wendelynanderson9517]

Lived there with my parents & brothers in 1967-68. I was only 7 but remember it clearly. The incline plane, the sight where the first flood happened & learning about Clara Barton. I went to Meadowvale Elementary.

[@patriciaschuster1371]

I grew up in Johnstown, now living in Pittsburgh. There were 3 major floods under 70 years or so. I lost my job after 1977 flood and moved to Pittsburgh to find my fame and fortune. Didn't find either, but I did get the education I always dearly wanted. I have the degrees I always wanted, but my heart still lives in Johnstown.

[@stevenvitte]

Great video here! Johnstown used to be home to a Frontier League (Indy Minor League) baseball team called the Steal/Johnnies. Point Stadium had by far one of the most bizarre (in a good way) ballpark dimensions fans ever saw. Of course, Johnstown lost the Johnnies due to weak fan attendance and have had to settle for a Summer-Collegiate League team ever since. (I have a huge opinion on that, but I'll save that for another time.) It's sad to see so many places like Johnstown fade away into nothing because people don't want to take responsibility for all the mistakes that were made while the town had a chance to be something.

[@williamrocca5333]

The flood and job loss at the steel mills where briefly mentioned In the hockey movie slap shot with the late Paul Newman and hockey Hanson brothers

[@Bleusk1ez]

I use to go to Johnnie's games all the time when I was little.

[@NGCS-ej4lz]

@@williamrocca5333 Try Opiate epidemic and then Heroin/Fentanyl, subsequent prostitution and no jobs/mental illness, from 2006/7/8 onwards it became a desperate place.

[@MelancoliaI]

It's always fun to catch a Tomahawks game

[@Richcbuck]

I was born there in 53,left in 58,and ended up back there in 70. Got married,work was good and loved the hunting and fishing. The city had a robust pop. and there was a TON of money floating around from the mines and mills and other jobs. Then 77 flood hit!! Nobody wanted to rebuild,cheap coal was shipped in and the bottom started falling out. Some might remember John Murtha who brought in some areonautical manufacturing which really helped out and the banks were full of retirement money which also helped to keep things going. I left in 84 to eastern Pa. for a job that I just put in 33 yrs. and retired

[@xblazinsteaksxblaise4608]

I moved to Johnstown PA in 2021 on my own, I’m 20. I love it here, this is my home.

[@nickfromdasack]

@@GregTrainerto be fair with you it isnt as racist as it used to be

[@iscreamcandytv9642]

I’m thinking of buying a cheap house there I live in nyc but I travel so much and also work online So I was just basically looking for the cheapest city I could live in I don’t want to pay a big mortgage or anything like that. I want some cheap cheap, cheap living. lol 😂 and I want to be able to drive to an airport with An hour to fly wherever

[@josephhoover4542]

@@iscreamcandytv9642Move there if you want. It's cheap for a reason, and infested with junkies, and has almost no good-paying jobs also it's been losing residents since Jimmy Carter was in office

[@U.S.A..]

I grew up in Johnstown PA. I left in 1985. Johnstown pa is 💩 . Johnstown never was the same after the 77 flood.

[@maha77]

@xblazinsteaksxblaise4608 Wow that is so young to decide to move to Jtown, from where? I left Jtown as a teenager decades ago, couldn't get out fast enough

[@anthonybatulis6516]

Johnstown like Altoona (my hometown) has gone straight downhill. Back in the 60's and early 70's Altoona and Johnstown used to have some good football games.

[@tattooedman42]

It's depressing driving around Johnstown and seeing all the silent mills and steel manufacturing buildings just sitting, slowly rotting away. I actually live in a rural area about 20 miles from Johnstown, but I go there regularly.

[@DrQuagmire1]

i'm actually planning on going there at the end of May, which ironically marks it the 135th Anniversary of the Johnstown Flood, because I had missed out on visiting the Grandview Cemetery last year, as the Inclined Plane was shut down for restoration work.

[@tommyjohns9987]

Actually there are still several manufacturers in full operation right now! Gauthier Steel and Specialty Metals, Johnstown Wire Technologies, JWF, Johnstown Mill Liners, Gap Vax

[@dmoon7348]

Grew up there in the 80s/90s, Loved it! Perfect small town upbringing 👍 Saw back then that jobs were moving elsewhere and the World is too tempting to be left unexplored.

[@rich7787]

Another great video, it’s sad how the rust belt has fallen.

[@Blastsbeatstilldeath]

I left that place 17 yrs ago after living their for 35. I never looked back.

[@howardp924]

Great motorcycle rally each June, ‘Thunder In The Valley’. Great riding and great people. Been going out to the rally for the last 20 years.

[@sammichaels4703]

Thunder’s dead. the owners didn’t want to do it anymore

[@londonjeffers20lj]

​@@sammichaels4703 its something else now.. they are experimenting with a one day event that was pretty successful this past june

[@crazygirl101able]

I just moved ot johnstown about 2 months ago. besides having trouble finding a decent job i love it here. i am glad i moved. the town has such beauty that coming from the city doesn't have.

[@nickfromdasack]

@@GregTrainerdont be silly you know the answer to your question

[@DoyleHargraves2024]

There are zero logical reasons to move to Johnstown.

[@jackwilson2304]

I lived in Richland Twp. and loved to go to Jets games and ice skating on Friday nights at the War Memorial Arena. Thanks for the memories.

[@ravent8951]

@2:30 I lived just 1 block away from that pile up caused by the 1977 flood. I was only 10, but I remember that day well.

[@sjm3430]

I have been to 41 states and four foreign countries, but I still love Johnstown the most. There is a very low cost of living, light traffic and a wealth of places for hiking/nature walks.

[@DrQuagmire1]

when I vacationed there about 2 months ago, I did notice alot of abandoned buildings within the downtown area just about, and i'm guessing people hauled ass outta there years after the 1977 flood. With that said, the experience during my week-long stay while there was rather pleasant and the locals there were nice, even took a tour of the Johnstown Flood Museum with a close friend of mine while there. I'm planning on going back out there around my 44th birthday, because I didn't get a chance to visit the Grandview Cemetery during my initial visit, because the Inclined Plane (which provided a direct route to the cemetery) was still shut down from the renovations that they're doing on it. So hopefully they'll get it up and running again.

[@NGCS-ej4lz]

​@@DrQuagmire1 The place is on fire with the opiate crisis since 2006 to today, that's why all the young people who could leave, have apparently left, starting as early as 2010 to now. Huge amounts of them died because of Fentanyl as well, entire generation addicted/dead/immigrated. With that followed record levels of prostitution and mental illness. Isn't most the population on some form of Disability?.

[@DrQuagmire1]

@@NGCS-ej4lz that i'm not sure, to be perfectly honest with you. But I do believe you about the part of the drug problem, as MSN had a news article just before my trip out there, that the Johnstown Police actually broke up a huge drug bust that was happening out there.

[@NGCS-ej4lz]

@@DrQuagmire1 From my understanding there has been quite a few large drug rings as well as many individual drug dealers (a lot of them addicts themselves) and all for such a small town.

[@DrQuagmire1]

@@NGCS-ej4lz which is a shame really, because the town didn't look as bad and merely went out there to learn a little bit more about the history of the Johnstown Flood of 1889 (on top of visiting my friend out there), when I took Amtrak out there.

[@paincalledliving]

Was friends with a girl who grew up just outside of Johnstown in Windber. Her and her daughter passed away 12 days apart from one another in 2018. RIP Laura and Emily

[@calbob750]

The rich folks upstream didn’t properly maintain their dam and it broke?

[@makenziecroyle9177]

Correct.

[@chadmaggs4189]

I think this was planned. The rich playing with the peasants. You know like with COVID money pox food shortage the gay agenda. We are a science experiment. How get the rich steal taxpayers money. I'm not even gonna get into the pedophilia. With Sir Sniffalot as president. The bullshit continues. Nothing new under the sun

[@aaronrhoads9251]

Yes. That was 1889. We also had flood in 1936 and 1977... Hence the name Flood City

[@Bleusk1ez]

Exactly

[@hightops77]

Blame it on the rich people, what a dumb statement

[@MissRailfan]

Hello from Clinton County PA. I found your video by chance thanks to KZbin. I used to live north of JTown on the mtn top. The floods and businesses killed jtown. The movie slapshot shows the good times of the city. 😔

[@ThatOneKriegGrenadier]

21 and living here now. Definitely gives a lot of good facts. Just a shame that it's gotten to this point lol.

[@jake-cq7vv]

hey mate is it bad? ive been wanting to move on the east coast and was thinking jt

[@St3al]

@@jake-cq7vv dont do it, no jobs and everywhere but richland and westmont are run down or abandoned

[@NGCS-ej4lz]

@@jake-cq7vv The place is on fire with the opiate crisis since 2006 to today, that's why all the young people who could leave, have apparently left, starting as early as 2010 to now. Huge amounts of them died because of Fentanyl as well, entire generation addicted/dead/immigrated. With that followed record levels of prostitution and mental illness. Isn't most the population on some form of Disability?.

[@londonjeffers20lj]

I wouldnt recommend it right now but the city is actually on the up and up

[@felixyusupov7299]

Domestic non-union minimills killed Johnstown's steel industry. The steel industry didn't die. It moved down south.

[@themopar426]

the union killed johnstown!

[@josephhoover4542]

Nah it moved overseas

[@bigpasty1582]

Cool video. The city definitely looks way bigger than 20,000 people

[@Guest_Toxicity]

I am currently in the Greater Johnstown High School. I love being here, I love the people. While some people may get on your nerves sometimes, most people in the city will have your back. Also, I would like to mention I was born and raised in this city so that has an effect on my love for it (meaning a reason I like it is because I was born and raised here).

[@JadeKeirn]

You know Malachi Kennedy?

[@Guest_Toxicity]

@@JadeKeirn Sounds familiar

[@hightops77]

After your out of school you’ll have a different opinion of Johnstown, either that or be living in public housing collecting welfare for the rest of your life. Get with the program.

[@lorie8437]

I grew up in Johnstown. Moved away in 1979. I miss the Johnstown of the 60's and early 70's, but it is gone forever. No jobs, section 8 housing, and drugs have taken over the city. I would never go back. It's really a shame what has happened there.

[@Cfoust-o7h]

Only a few drugs

[@themopar426]

@@Cfoust-o7h ??????????????????? are you nuts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@NGCS-ej4lz]

@@themopar426 The place is on fire with the opiate crisis since 2006 to today, that's why all the young people who could leave, have apparently left, starting as early as 2010 to now. Huge amounts of them died because of Fentanyl as well, entire generation addicted/dead/immigrated. With that followed record levels of prostitution and mental illness. Isn't most the population on some form of Disability?.

[@chip9298]

Lived in Johnstown for 30 years. Hated every second of it.

[@c1rcl3s]

I was born in Johnstown and lived there until I was 13. I left in 1993. It was a horrible place. I hear it still is.

[@catibree1]

I lived, and live again nearby Johnstown. After the 1977 flood, the city not only suffered severe damage , but the leaders in Johnstown had no idea of how to recoup. Several major businesses offered to come in but was turned down. Those businesses would have taken Johnstown into a different direction other than that of steel making. But, the leaders decided they wanted to maintain the Steel Making as its fame. Alas, the wrong decision. When finally they realized their mistake, the once interested businesses no longer were interested. It's a welfare city now, with tons of newly arrived immigrants receiving federal monies to live there. There are ways the city could get healthier and regrow, but the council members now there need to be removed, and replaced in inventive persons rather than the ones afraid of losing the income. which who wouldn't? But they aren't doing Johnstown any benefit, so they should be removed from office.

[@themopar426]

beth steel was the best and worse thing to j town!

[@AlexPriceMusician]

I lived in Johnstown for 7 years and never really understood the timeline other than the major events. It is a very corrupt and poor city. A great place to buy a first home, and a terrible place to try and sell one as I'm learning right now. I travel the rust belt a lot and Johnstown feels eerily similar to Wheeling, WV and Youngstown, OH - a massive city with no one in it.

[@alanstrong55]

Heartbreaking at the very least.

[@Jabberstax]

There's a great documentary about the Johnstown flood on KZbin

[@cvaline]

Johnstown definitely had the cards stacked against it in the 70s ans 80s. Moving on from a dominate and high paying industry is difficult. That said lack of innovation and looking to government related initiatives has hindered the cities ability to move on.

[@dawnalawrence6584]

I was born and raised there. I remember when we won a nationwide SAFE CITY award. We never locked our doors in those days. I grew up in Ferndale and Geistown. In my senior year of highschool my best friend and I dated black guys. THAT is when the "sh-t hit the fan!" & I got slapped with REALITY! We were treated like CRIMINALS! The principal called us in the office and gave a lecture about the evils of inter racial dating. Our geography teacher announced in class that if "anyone brings one of our friends from Bedford Street to the prom, you'll be stopped at the door, parents called and SENT home!" (Bedford Street was code word for the "black neighborhood") The GUIDANCE COUNSELOR told me stories about blacks having great CARS but living in HOVELS etc! My mother had always taught me that PREJUDICE was a result of being UNEDUCATED. I learned quick, fast and in a hurry THAT was NOT true! I moved to NC in the mid 80s and have NOT encountered anywhere NEAR the level of racial prejudice and HATE here that I did in Johnstown! I consider it to be an EVIL city!

[@markslezak4714]

U are so right I grew up in Ferndale.... Went bishop Mccort Cop in Franklin Remember the Ferndale Jubilee People came from ALL over to come to the Jubilee.... THOSE WERE GREAT DAYS 😄 Went in the Navy should have came back.....but my wild streak I went to AZ. nother story 🗣️ But Johnstown now that's SAD !

[@JamesZero]

Any other Johnstown folks getting this video (rightly) recommended to them?

[@Bleusk1ez]

I'm 30 years old born Thanksgiving of 1991. Born and raised in Johnstown & proud💙 it is a very corrupt place tho of were being honest. I've been gone for about a month and I don't miss it. It's just where I'm from..

[@prushinfox4563]

Everyone keeps saying “back in the day”. Johnstown isn’t coming back until you get rid of the public housing and gentrify the rest. Big industry is done there. The drugs, blight and crime are the front piece to the city. Anyways there’s a channel called Event Horizon Exploration that covers some really cagey stuff in the area.

[@kirbyyourenthusiasm]

I'm 17 living here and I plan to move out as soon as possible. There's literally nothing here, the businesses we DO have are closing one by one, people are moving out, it'll be a ghost town before you know it. And it sucks too, because this town had great potential.

[@ansoncraig9525]

And that problem will continue thanks to people like you. Be something better than a complainer. There are plenty of new businesses thriving in Johnstown. You can do it too

[@kirbyyourenthusiasm]

@@ansoncraig9525 Looked up places that were hiring around here so I could work and contribute to this town. But unfortunately, the few jobs I could work for here wouldn't accept me. So I'm left with three choices. One, just not work, which is definitely not the choice I'll make because I wholeheartedly want to work. Two, wait until someone is opening. Or three, try opening up a business in the area, which would definitely help, even if it's just a little bit.

[@ansoncraig9525]

@@kirbyyourenthusiasm I can think of 15+ places in town with "help wanted" signs up. Take a drive, stop at each one and talk to them.

[@kirbyyourenthusiasm]

@@ansoncraig9525 Yeah maybe they just aren't hiring online. Will check.

[@garyalensr]

Every place hiring wants to pay minimum wage

[@sistermadrigalmorning233]

This is my new home. I think it's on its way to a comeback.

[@Richcbuck]

Sister,I will pray for you!!!

[@themopar426]

no way area run by demonrats!

[@Gloryboyz13]

Funny how this in my recommended and my cousins from newark moved there in 2007 i was happy sl when they came back to jersey in 2015

[@NGCS-ej4lz]

The place is on fire with the opiate crisis since 2006 to today, that's why all the young people who could leave, have apparently left, starting as early as 2010 to now. Huge amounts of them died because of Fentanyl as well, entire generation addicted/dead/immigrated. With that followed record levels of prostitution and mental illness. Isn't most the population on some form of Disability?.

[@FamilyBlackSheep]

My mother’s side of the family is from Johnstown; Woodvale Heights. My sister and I used to spend summers there with my grandma, aunts, uncles and cousins. I used to dread going there as a kid- bad smell, dirty, nothing to do, eerie feeling, people (including family) were stand-offish, very secretive and mean to outsiders (some family members were especially like that towards me and my sister). Most people I knew were straight-up alcoholics (especially family). There was nothing to do in town except go to bars and get drunk. My grandparents moved there from New Jersey in 1916 for work, after emigrating from Poland and I still have family there to this day. I haven’t been back since 2005 and I don’t have any plans to return-ever. The overall atmosphere is depressing, dark, secretive and unfriendly. I remember the flood of 1977. We couldn’t drink tap water for years afterwards due to the pollution. It would come out of the faucet a dark brown color, like a mixture of mud and minerals. I just want to mentally block the whole experience. Johnstown = 👎🏻👎🏻🤢🤮.

[@seeburgm100a]

My mother is from Johnstown, she left for Philadelphia in late 50's to finish her nursing career and there she stayed. Like you I spent summers in JTown with my grandparents. They lived in Moxham on Cypress Ave. Unlike you I had a great experience there during the mid 60's and early 70's. I had cousins that lived right over the hill in Dale on McMillan st.. we could almost walk back and forth. Grandpa was a retired Bethlehem Steel worker, he and grandma lived a simple life, they were just plain good folks. I'm thankful for spending summers there and being able to get away from Philadelphia. I did however see the decline as I got older, sad..

[@NGCS-ej4lz]

The place is on fire with the opiate crisis since 2006 to today, that's why all the young people who could leave, have apparently left, starting as early as 2010 to now. Huge amounts of them died because of Fentanyl as well, entire generation addicted/dead/immigrated. With that followed record levels of prostitution and mental illness. Isn't most the population on some form of Disability?.

[@shenanigans8799]

@@seeburgm100a My mom lived in Moxham when she was a child in the mid 40's , and my grandpa and his family worked for Bethlehem Steel, I have only been there a few times back in the 80's, but would love to go there again some day.

[@jrose-xp6tf]

I'm in J-Town RN, it's nice and quiet with none of the insanity I see happening everywhere else...say what you will but if you are in a city...you're in danger.

[@ThatOneKriegGrenadier]

True 'nuff. It's certainly a place good for getting away from a lot of stresses.

[@danweyant707]

Yes, nothing bad ever happens in small towns

[@antrellhopkins3263]

Yeah right no money there ,, everybody on dope.. shootings every weekend. Philly and nj transplants thinking there tough and gangsters. Every body on food stamps and it's like a fish bowl that never get filtered.

[@r.pres.4121]

Small towns are not perfectly safe or problem free so get out of your Norman Rockwell fantasyland.

[@NGCS-ej4lz]

@@danweyant707 The place is on fire with the opiate crisis since 2006 to today, that's why all the young people who could leave, have apparently left, starting as early as 2010 to now. Huge amounts of them died because of Fentanyl as well, entire generation addicted/dead/immigrated. With that followed record levels of prostitution and mental illness. Isn't most the population on some form of Disability?.

[@coachloubrown-22]

Johnstown was Krafts 'Hockeytown' winners a few years ago and hosted the D-3 college hockey eastern regionals

[@xpndblhero5170]

My family has been in Johnstown since 1895 and I'm planning on leaving ASAP, this town is fkn toxic and all of the historical buildings are gone and drugs are running rampant.... This town is dying quickly since 25% of the population is dying from drug overdoses and the rest are either leaving after high-school or they stay here and end up dying from some weird illness that pops up in the late 50s or 60s. I've watched too many good people turn into junkies because of this town, I'd love to see it completely wiped off the map but some big companies are buying up a lot of properties and turning them into offices or parking lots.... Literally just lost our only decent restaurant in the area because the local hospital wanted it for parking space, the only reasons people come here are just small town events like Thunder in the Valley and to sell drugs, we need something to happen that makes this town worth it again like a making it a MTB hub of the state. We have BEAUTIFUL woods in Central PA and a lot of MTB riders or ebike fans would love it here.... You just have to get used to the steep hills and Huge potholes. LoL

[@NGCS-ej4lz]

The place is on fire with the opiate crisis since 2006 to today, that's why all the young people who could leave, have apparently left, starting as early as 2010 to now. Huge amounts of them died because of Fentanyl as well, entire generation addicted/dead/immigrated. With that followed record levels of prostitution and mental illness. Isn't most the population on some form of Disability?.

[@robertnewton5343]

Weird illness? That is quite odd. Are there any articles talking about the mystery illness?

[@matthewnoel9237]

There is a small, but dedicated, group of people trying to revitalize Johnstown. Go to places like The Bottleworks and you'll see it. The biggest issue is that Johnstown needs jobs. Given the low cost of living even in the nicest parts of town and I've long thought we should market ourselves as a teleworking paradise, but we need more technology infrastructure.

[@matthewnoel9237]

@@rhythmsteve that's the easiest thing to do, but not the best. The town can be saved and there are people working hard on it. Whether they will succeed is TBD. That said, I don't blame anybody who decides to leave in the meantime.

[@matthewnoel9237]

@@rhythmsteve this is a story that has played out all over the country. Some towns make it and some don't. That said, the people working on it are anything but meek. We'll see how it plays out. I think it ultimately comes down to access to good paying jobs.

[@matthewnoel9237]

@@rhythmsteve well, you're welcome to your opinion on it all. I don't happen to share it. The deep negativity is probably one of the biggest problems in the area. I'm going to stick with the positive folks. Take care.

[@matthewnoel9237]

😬 I’m just going to back away slowly.

[@inconnu4961]

@@matthewnoel9237 No, run! Run for your sanity! LOL

[@nancyhempel8964]

My hometown love it

[@ohevshalomel]

There are good and bad things about Johnstown, but the best thing is the people. The pandemic dealt another blow to local businesses, but not everyone here is giving up on J-town yet.

[@ConrailSD80MAC]

As a Johnstownian railfan, railfanning here is pretty good.

[@erikvaldur3334]

No mention of the Hanson brothers

[@rwcrsarrc]

The greatest Sports movie ever made was filmed in Johnstown PA in 1976

[@sabresman31]

Riding through this place as a kid on the way to visit family I always called it "Stinkytown" because of all the smog and pollution. It's nowhere near as bad as it was but I'd hate to be stuck in this place.

[@gavinsheridan4680]

Like a lot of rust belt cities though, the “stinky” years were the good times. Everyone had a good job, good pay, a pension.

[@sabresman31]

@@gavinsheridan4680 now they gotta deal with the cancer

[@joannmicik1924]

Maybe "stinky" to you, but the steel that came out of Jtown gave your family the car you were in to ride through it. Ingrate.

[@sabresman31]

@@joannmicik1924 I highly doubt it

[@1940limited]

To this day PA residents still pay the "Johnstown Flood Tax" whenever they by alcoholic beverages.

[@craigstiles5186]

It all started with NAFTA. Within a few years all the mills and factories closed. I watched it happen. Sad to see such a vibrant place fall.

[@johnmiller4282]

NAFTA was signed in 1993. I was laid off from Bethlehem steel in 1979 along with 1800 other steelworkers. By 1982 the unemployment rate was around 30%. 2000 people lined up for a few jobs at Sheetz. All this before NAFTA although NAFTA put the final nail in the coffin that is Johnstown

[@craigstiles5186]

@@johnmiller4282 I was just 21 in 93. I do remember it being way better before NAFTA. I didn't know the layoffs before were that bad. I guess I was too young. I just remember it completely tanking in just a few years.

[@kingrich5567]

Love this place, always considered it my true home, will return one day after me and the wife finish raising our boy

[@marioruggieri]

Went to college in the dirty J. It's hard a hard life, but proof through JP Murtha that one man can make a difference... Well him and the Mafia 🤣

[@TheActualFinn]

They got a statue down at the war memorial of Murtha with his hand out. Fuckin classic

[@principalmcvicker6530]

The rust belt will rise again! Maybe in 20-40 years is my guess. Slow and steady. Cheapish land and great climate

[@Fahrenheit38]

@Enmity the Kindhearted remote work will bring some life to these areas. When you can get 10 acres and 2500sqft house for the same you pay for a row home in philly a lot of people are going to take that, me included. Got 2 years and a few months left on my contract then I'm going to the rust belt.

[@user-hm1zb8js5i]

The reason why land is so cheap there is because of the high crime rates and poverty.

[@Fahrenheit38]

@@user-hm1zb8js5i have ya been to Philly lately?

[@principalmcvicker6530]

@Enmity the Kindhearted the "takes time" part is why I guessed 20-40 years. I didn't say next week lol

[@gregorycyr9272]

I live in Raleigh NC which is a boomtown and was in Altoona Pennsylvania back in April.The housing is cheap there compared to Raleigh.

[@bustercheeks3070]

Try one on McKeesport it’s a real dumpster fire. You can use atms there without people begging you for money

[@user-yy9gd5iu2w]

You have Kelly George working there. Her entire family has been in the county jail.. she's working in city hall

[@mikesmovingimages]

Growing up in the western US, which is littered with ghost towns (or the sites of them), the answer to this question for virtually all of the rustbelt is the same: the purpose for their existence ended. Mines played out, transport routes changed, once-innovative products and manufacturing become commoditized, the US standard of living rose above that which they could support (would so many Americans want to work in the dirty, dangerous mines, mills and comparatively inefficient factories of yesteryear? Hell no!). Throw in a little corruption or lack of vision and an inevitable decline becomes a death knell. So many of these cities should consolidate services, remove blight, plant trees, go small and stop trying to be more than they are. In the meantime, US has become richer than ever and continues to spin out opportunities. Just not in coal mining, steel and river transport. Nothing is forever.

[@WilliamWeicht]

I remember Glosser Brothers and Gee Bees especially the Gee Bees in Geistown. Too bad they had to close.

[@beverlydiltz2604]

They came, they destroyed, they profited, they left .

[@jstoli996c4s]

So Mother Nature and flooding is industry’s fault?

[@markslezak4714]

I was born and raised in "J" town in a boro and the action the vitality. I went to school there work and became a law enforcement officer in Franklin....now that was like the wild West on the weekends 9 bars just on main street and no churches I left in 1980 to the DC area Now that I'm retired my homing instinct is calling me back 🤔 B. U. T. ..... and big but.... is the crime desolation.... THERE'S never been a murder... If there was very very seldom. NOW ! U read about it all the time DRzUGS ☠️..... My Johnstown going... going... FK.n Going ! ☹️😩😠it's 🐂💩 Makes me Sad..so..so..sad 😿💔

[@RollerCoasterLineProductions]

Decades upon decades of failed democrat rule in Johnstown and Pennsylvania is what happened.

[@NGCS-ej4lz]

Exactly. The place is on fire with the opiate crisis since 2006 to today, that's why all the young people who could leave, have apparently left, starting as early as 2010 to now. Huge amounts of them died because of Fentanyl as well, entire generation addicted/dead/immigrated. With that followed record levels of prostitution and mental illness. Isn't most the population on some form of Disability?.

[@mattmc5069]

I think one major thing is it seems while older folks have pride In rebuilding thier town in 1977 there's many young adults-and some middle age-who where not around for it. The "old timers" (I say so respectfully) remember the pride of rebuilding in 1977 and the glory days of downtown. They remember glossers , booming mines and a busy downtown. Many spent thier whole lives here. But there's a whole new generation- or 2- who does not identify with any of this. Long time residents recall good jobs at one time and have pride in what once was. This is Is little comfort for today's young adults looking for work. All they see Is run down buildings. Business close left and right. There IS work here. But one must look hard and be patient.

[@ravent8951]

I was only 10 when the '77 flood came but I remember seeing all the people ban together to clean it up and start rebuilding. I even remember the free t-shirts that were handed out. One said "Together, we WILL rebuild" and the other said "Flood free my a$$"

[@mattmc5069]

@@ravent8951 I wasn't around for that but my parents, who lived in Lancaster then, came to check on my grandparents. My dad said at one post a cop was sleeping (it was 3 am) and he and a friend pushed the car past him lol a cop later on escorted them to the dale firehall.

[@tattooedman42]

@@ravent8951 I was 12 when it happened, but lived about 20 miles away. We had a teacher who was helping clean up, found his whole family dead, and killed himself. We had just moved up here the year before from Texas.

[@ravent8951]

@@tattooedman42 how tragic. I simply couldn't imagine the pain of seeing that.

[@NGCS-ej4lz]

The place is on fire with the opiate crisis since 2006 to today, that's why all the young people who could leave, have apparently left, starting as early as 2010 to now. Huge amounts of them died because of Fentanyl as well, entire generation addicted/dead/immigrated. With that followed record levels of prostitution and mental illness. Isn't most the population on some form of Disability?.

[@KarunaSatoriASMR]

I’m still here!! haha

[@NGCS-ej4lz]

The place is on fire with the opiate crisis since 2006 to today, that's why all the young people who could leave, have apparently left, starting as early as 2010 to now. Huge amounts of them died because of Fentanyl as well, entire generation addicted/dead/immigrated. With that followed record levels of prostitution and mental illness. Isn't most the population on some form of Disability?.

[@brettkerr1624]

I live here I never saw this

[@pamiGQ]

My family moved here after being priced out of housing in Pittsburgh. We got a large house for a steal. Husband still works out of Pittsburgh. Johnstown looks to be safe from future climate change models. Too bad there's no jobs here.

[@Tylorgng.]

That's a good commute every morning lol

[@2harleybub]

Pa has the Johnstown Flood tax (18%) on alcohol. Nothing goes to Johnstown. It goes to a slushfund to be spent on whatever. This is taxation without representation!!!

[@mikesmovingimages]

Uh, the flood was what, 140 years ago? The tax may be misnamed, but Johnstown has had its chance.

[@tammyheld1462]

I still in Johnstown and I don't want to leave this is my home and we have a great deal of places for new businesses if they just would check us out

[@josephbennett3482]

Yeah right, everything that is brought here is always put in richland.

[@NGCS-ej4lz]

The place is on fire with the opiate crisis since 2006 to today, that's why all the young people who could leave, have apparently left, starting as early as 2010 to now. Huge amounts of them died because of Fentanyl as well, entire generation addicted/dead/immigrated. With that followed record levels of prostitution and mental illness. Isn't most the population on some form of Disability?.

[@josephhoover4542]

No one wants to do business in a place overrun by tweakers which is what Johnstown is so keep dreaming because it's never gonna happen

[@josephhoover4542]

Businesses don't want to set up shop in Johnstown because half the population there is on drugs it's as simple as that.

[@user-om3xo9ck6c]

I'm glad to live in Johnstown PA

[@ruthiekest3218]

How long u lived there

[@nanashorts8196]

Do a what happened to East Liverpool, Ohio video.

[@janeoleksak4733]

Comments like many of these depress me. I wish i hadn't seen them.

[@NGCS-ej4lz]

The place is on fire with the opiate crisis since 2006 to today, that's why all the young people who could leave, have apparently left, starting as early as 2010 to now. Huge amounts of them died because of Fentanyl as well, entire generation addicted/dead/immigrated. With that followed record levels of prostitution and mental illness. Isn't most the population on some form of Disability?.

[@ChristianGomez-ep5gi]

Does this place still flood?

[@blakegoldstein3014]

With those mountains in the background of this city , why can’t they make it into a resort city ? Skiing in the winter and use that river for kayaking … just a thought from an outsider

[@forgottenplaces9780]

There is a ski resort not far from there actually (Blue Knob) I believe.

[@mikesmovingimages]

Those are ideas so bad they just might go for them! Turn Johnstown into a Poconos ghost town. No one builds a resort city around snow unless they can reliably get it for 4-6 months annually - and lots of it. Think the Sierras, Alps, Rockies, etc. Rafting is even more of a seasonal blip. And none of it is in Johnstown.

[@blakegoldstein3014]

@@mikesmovingimages ok , how about selling it to the Chinese ?

[@mikesmovingimages]

@@blakegoldstein3014 Selling what?

[@blakegoldstein3014]

@@mikesmovingimages sell the whole city

[@Seri-Katil]

After the first flood you'd think they would've relocated the town to a higher elevation by starting over vs rebuilding in the exact same spot and even after multiple other floods they still aren't smart enough to move to a higher elevation away from the floor zone

[@joannmicik1924]

It's not a matter of "smart enough." Show me how to move MILES of steel mill plants, railroad lines, and highways to a "higher elevation" when the city is surrounded by steep hillsides. That's a ridiculous and unkind thing to say.

[@Seri-Katil]

@@joannmicik1924 easy, start from scratch when the first flood killed over 2,200 people and destroyed everything

[@calvinyahn2840]

The higher elevations in the area are suburbs of Johnstown.

[@joshua.recovers]

Drugs. Drugs is what happened to J-Town.

[@burnswhenpees]

*public housing

[@commandosolo193]

my Dad is from there, went up every year until he left in 2008. the house he and the 11 kids built is still there. My plan is to buy the old house and retire there in the snow. Costs are so cheap there it's not even funny. Plus it's only a few hours to pittsburg and gettysburg.

[@ReichanK]

11 kids.... the house that I'm living in also used to house a dozen kids or so. I could never imagine that because it feel small just for my family of 6. I guess having a lot of kids in Johnstown isn't that out of the ordinary.

[@commandosolo193]

@@ReichanK yep, and they built it after the war. Also, of course it has a basement with a toilet randomly sitting out in the middle of nowhere. we came over in three waves from Italy. 1917, 1921, 1928

[@BROU-bb2uc]

What happened NAFTA.

[@hightops77]

They only reason anyone moves to Johnstown is basically because of the plentiful public housing. Then there sorry they came because there’s really nothing here. Drive up Main Street on a Saturday nite and you may very well be the only car there. Johnstown is a city hanging by its fingertips on the edge of a cliff. Financially it’s not going to make it more than 10-20 years. No jobs, no housing. Nobody to pay taxes. A city can’t survive without a tax base and johnstown just doesn’t have it and never will. It’s a city that should just be left to fade away and disappear.

[@JadeKeirn]

Johnstown pa gang!!

[@RobertForcey]

While I appreciate the video for its history, it doesn't talk about the boom in businesses coming into the area or the huge renovation that is being done. We've got some incredible things happening here now. And as far as Democrat versus Republican, I would think we could leave the politics behind as we move forward in making a better place for all

[@catibree1]

the boom in business's is not in Johnstown itself, but up in Richland, the neighboring community with Johnstown has tried to combine with, but, Richland says NO. Can't blame them. Apparently the people in Richland aren't afraid of inviting businesses in.

[@RobertForcey]

@@catibree1 Don't you think growth in any area of the city benefits the whole area? Folks who have never lived in the area would swear Richland is 50 miles from downtown, but it's like 2 miles, with the way we talk about it. 😊

[@karencharny1497]

it has no affects On WESTMONTS wealth

[@raywalteroutdoors]

Murtha died

[@skipskilligan7077]

Hey man, did you see that? Those poor cats are sure messed up I wonder what they were gettin' into Or were they all just lost in the flood?

[@phaedrabacker2004]

Coney Island hotdogs! Vic's Blue Room across the river.

[@drewscowfromthewhoscow6320]

I'm from Johnstown nothing but a drug homeless town now

[@NGCS-ej4lz]

The place is on fire with the opiate crisis since 2006 to today, that's why all the young people who could leave, have apparently left, starting as early as 2010 to now. Huge amounts of them died because of Fentanyl as well, entire generation addicted/dead/immigrated. With that followed record levels of prostitution and mental illness. Isn't most the population on some form of Disability?.

[@ryanwike2780]

I live near Johnstown and I avoid going there. Also there are jobs in the coal mines today, but no one wants to do it.

[@jstoli996c4s]

Who own da Chiefs? “Owns” *Ownzzzz… Ownzzz*

[@3516C]

It was a great place to grow up, but it's gone to hell.

[@NGCS-ej4lz]

The place is on fire with the opiate crisis since 2006 to today, that's why all the young people who could leave, have apparently left, starting as early as 2010 to now. Huge amounts of them died because of Fentanyl as well, entire generation addicted/dead/immigrated. With that followed record levels of prostitution and mental illness. Isn't most the population on some form of Disability?.

[@3516C]

@@NGCS-ej4lz I don't know what percentage of Johnstown is on disability.

[@aubreykeys9396]

And I’ve been thinking of moving here just for some peace away from Philadelphia

[@DelbertGrady2024]

The last thing Johnstown needs is more riff raff from Philadelphia. They’ve done enough damage with their drug dealing and other criminal activities in Johnstown.

[@TheActualFinn]

@@DelbertGrady2024 true story

[@GeronimoLogistics]

The disaster was created by the dude carnegie hired

[@eahudimac]

I was born and raised near Johnstown. Left when I was 23 and never looked back. Had good times growing up, but overall, it is a miserable place to live. 0/10. Would not recommend.

[@email5023]

A setback indeed!

[@LemThurdy420]

Never date a Johnstown girl!!!

[@NGCS-ej4lz]

The place is on fire with the opiate crisis since 2006 to today, that's why all the young people who could leave, have apparently left, starting as early as 2010 to now. Huge amounts of them died because of Fentanyl as well, entire generation addicted/dead/immigrated. With that followed record levels of prostitution and mental illness. Isn't most the population on some form of Disability?.

[@nonsense289]

look what's happening in europe , coal could come back

[@Icanbyorsuprman1]

Maybe it needs another flood

[@nasirjones9758]

First

[@GeeEm1313]

to jump off of John Hancock tower? Go for it

[@ap1hondaking]

What happened...lol Democrats