Main image courtesy of Johnstown Ohio.

Johnstown, Ohio is a small town in Licking County that’s home to around 5,000 residents. Johnstown is full of great culture and friendly residents and is home to an unbelievably delicious restaurant, the Ghostwriter Public House. Johnstown is a great place to live for those who want to be close to all the action without living in a city. Residents can commute to Columbus, Delaware, Newark, and Mount Vernon to visit those cities, while enjoying life in a peaceful town. 

Here’s what you should know about moving to Johnstown:

• History of Johnstown
• Facts and figures about Johnstown
• Local favorite things to do in Johnstown
• And more!

History of Johnstown

Before Moving to Johnstown, Get to Know the History of Your New Home

Johnstown is a small city located in western Licking County in Ohio. Johnstown was founded in 1813 by Dr. Oliver Bigelow, who incorporated Johnstown village. One of many small towns in Ohio, Johnstown is notable for its proximity to many of Ohio’s larger cities. Within a 30-minute drive, you can reach Columbus, Ohio’s capital, Newark, Mount Vernon, and the City of Delaware. 

Johnstown has prospered in the 200 years that it’s been a small town in Ohio. It’s developed a lovely, quaint culture, and it is a great place to live if you are looking for a mixture of peace and quiet while remaining within driving distance of a thriving metropolis. Over the years, Columbus has sprawled about its city limits, with the nearby suburbs urbanizing and growing in population. Johnstown has avoided that, enjoying close proximity to the city without becoming a part of it. 

Johnstown the Numbers

Learn About Johnstown’s Economy, Demographics, and What It’s Really Like to Live Here

Johnstown’s Population

Johnstown has a population of 5,127 people, which comes down to about 1,700 people per square mile. The median age in Johnstown (31.4) is significantly lower than the median age in the United States (31.4), resulting in a vibrant community of young folk.  

Johnstown’s Demographics

Around 94% of Johnstown’s residents are white and around 6% are Hispanic. 

The average home in Johnstown costs a bit over $300,000. 

Johnstown’s Schooling

Students in Johnstown go to the Johnstown-Monroe Local School District, which has an elementary, intermediate, middle, and high school. 

Things to do in Johnstown

Johnstown is situated in the middle of a ton of Ohio’s most beautiful parks, with lots of trails, places to picnic, and places to spend the day exploring Ohio’s nature. There are a lot of restaurants, too, and you can always take a trip to Columbus to explore the city. 

Get to Know Johnstown Like a Local

Where People Shop, Dine, and Hang Out in Johnstown

Johnstown is full of places to eat, drink, and explore. There are a lot of activities within city limits to keep your weekends exciting, and Johnstown’s proximity to so many other cities makes it an amazing place to live. Day or weekend trips into the big cities let you experience a slice of what they have to offer and try amazing restaurants, go to museums, have fun with activities, and then come back to your home in Johnstown to relax. While Johnstown is close to a lot of other cities, it has its own culture and a ton of amazing local businesses like restaurants, wineries, coral farms, and more! 

Autumn Rush Vineyard

Wind down with a glass of wine, great company, and personable owners at this Johnstown winery

5686 Dutch Ln | Johnstown | autumnrushvineyard.com

The Autumn Rush Vineyard is a staple in Johnstown, Ohio for wine lovers everywhere. It is a quaint, family-owned and operated place that serves up fantastic wine all year long. They are situated on a large property where they have the main building, with lovely indoor and outdoor seating. We recommend visiting on a nice day where you can get a table outside and wander through their gardens, paths, and around the pond. All of these walks, of course, are better with a glass of wine in hand. 

This winery doesn’t have a kitchen attached, but sometimes they have a local food truck there. They appreciate advance reservations, and on the day of you can check to see whether you should bring a picnic basket or if they have a food truck ready with delicious food to pair with your wine. 

“The owners are so lovely and personable! That's definitely one of the reasons I would keep coming back here + suggest this winery to my friends and family as well. Good customer service goes a long way. The property is beautiful as well and good wine!” -- Yelp Review

Reef Systems Coral Farm

Coral coral everywhere at this state-of-the-art coral farming facility

8459 Peter Hoover Road | New Albany | reefsystems.com

The Reef Systems Coral Farm is a family-owned business that’s been operating since 2005. They raise and farm coral, live rock, and saltwater fish. For people who have an interest in growing and caring for coral, this place is a dream. They proudly grow their own coral from mother colonies that have lived happily since the store opened. 

They have over 10,000 pieces of coral on sale! This store, even if you aren’t planning on buying any coral, is amazing to walk through. The owner is nice and can answer any questions you have, making this a great place to get some coral knowledge if you ever decide to return and get some coral of your own. Creating an aquarium around coral is a great way to create your own little ecosystem, as coral is healthiest with the right combination of fish and other aquatic animals. 

“An amazing place for saltwater aquarium enthusiasts.. the staff knows the and offers not only the best selection of healthy corals and fish but also top-notch advice and instructions.. it is absolutely worth a visit.  A great value” -- Yelp Review

Hot Spot Coffee House

Drop in for a cup of coffee at Johnstown’s premier cafe!

94 W Coshocton St | Johnstown | clover.com/hotspotcoffeehouse

The Hot Spot Coffee House in Johnstown fills a crucial niche that every community needs — a place to meet, get some great coffee, and hang out. Hot Spot has an incredibly wide selection of drinks. Coffee, of course, tea, mocha, smoothies, lemonade, and all manner of flavors, syrups, and toppings to spice things up. This is a prime place to stop when your friends come to visit, or when you are meeting up for an afternoon cup of coffee. It is surprisingly spacious, with a lot of places you can set up with your laptop or your favorite book to enjoy a few hours there if you so choose. 

“We went to Hot Spot for the first time today. The baristas/workers were very friendly and helpful. The place itself was pretty open, yet still felt intimate and like a chill coffee house vibe. I feel like this would be a good place to read, work, or just hang out.” -- Yelp Review

Ghostwriter Public House

The finest food in Johnstown 

49 ½ S Main St | Johnstown | business.com

The Ghostwriter Public House is one of the finest restaurants in the area. They serve a variety of American entrees with their own personal flair and a seasonal menu. The environment inside is beautiful, in an elegant, modern style. The service there is impeccable, with personable and kind waiters that are always willing to give their recommendations and advice on what to order to eat and drink. 

Ghostwriter Public House is the perfect destination for a special occasion to celebrate with friends and family. They also have a full-service bar with excellent cocktails, wine, and beer. This restaurant is so good that it receives a lot of clientele from Columbus! A city with almost a million people and they are choosing to drive the half-hour out to Johnstown to have a meal at this wonderful establishment. 

“Beautiful decor, impeccable service, perfectly prepared food! This is worth the trip. We came for brunch and the outdoor patio was cool and comfortable. I can't wait to come back for dinner!” -- Yelp Review

Morris Woods Nature Preserve

Johnstown is surrounded by nature

7495 Dutch Lane NW | Johnstown | ohiodnr.gov/morris-woods-state-nature-preserve

The Morris Woods Nature Preserve is a small nature preserve with around 1.5 miles of trails through amazing Ohio nature. There are a wide variety of animals and plants that call this preserve home, and through the walk, you can come to a small lake that’s fed by a stream. This is one of the many preserves and parks that are close to Johnstown. There’s a park for every occasion, with easy trails, steep trails, short trails, and long trails. 

A site like Alltrails is a great place to find nearby places to hike or enjoy a day out in the sun. Johnstown’s small-town vibe gives the residents ample opportunities to see nature in their day-to-day, but there’s something special about going to a park and walking in it. Johnstown’s proximity to so many parks and so many cities means residents can truly get the best of both worlds. 

‍

Johnnies Pizza Villa

For all things pizza

105 W Coshocton St | Johnstown | johnniesvillapizza.com

Johnnies Pizza Villa is a wonderful place to become a regular for all of your pizza-eating needs. Pizza is amazing. It is the perfect food for so many occasions, like a night in with close friends, game day, parties, late-night snacks, and so much more. Johnny has you covered on all of those fronts, and the staff of his pizza villa has provided Johnstown with high-quality pizza for over 40 years. 

There are a few pizzerias in Johnstown, but we think that Johnnies is the best. They have a ton of pizzas, subs, and sides so that each time you visit you’ve got options. They also have a gluten-free pizza, and a bake-at-home pizza, which is great when you’ve got a ways to go before you can chow down on the delicious pie. Their service is excellent, and the staff is always happy to deliver fresh pizza pies every time you stop in. 

“Been eating here my whole life; there is nothing like a Villa pizza. When you start craving it you'll know what I mean. Pep or taco is the way to go.” -- Yelp Review

So, what do you think of Johnstown, Ohio? It has a lot to offer and is a great place to move to be close by to Columbus while enjoying the slower lifestyle of a small town. Its proximity to Columbus is often the big talking point when it comes to this town, but it has a lot to offer on its own!