Brief History of Johnstown

Johnstown was established at its present site in 1902 by Harvey Jay Parish, on land that he had homesteaded since 1883. The town was named after his son, John, who lay ill in a Denver hospital during the town’s christening. After recovering from his illness, young John returned home to the new town named after him, and later served as its mayor from 1929 to 1934.

A post office was established in 1903, and in 1904 the bank was established, the first church started and the Johnstown Breeze began publication.

The Town incorporated in 1907. Two important industries developed: a milk condensory and a unique year-round sugar factory, a result of foresight and efforts of Willard E. Letford (whom the Elementary School is named after). The Mohawk Milk Company, later the Carnation Milk Company was built in 1913 and the Great Western Sugar Factory, was built in 1925. Up until the early 1980’s, Johnstown had a population of approximately 1500. With the growth of Northern Colorado, the population is now over 8,800! Johnstown welcomes all its new residents.

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