Johnstown

geographical name

Johns·​town ˈjänz-ˌtau̇n How to pronounce Johnstown (audio)
city on the Conemaugh River east of Pittsburgh in southwest central Pennsylvania population 20,978

Note: Johnstown was the site of a catastrophic flood in 1889 when an earthen dam upstream gave way after heavy rain, releasing a wall of water that inundated the city and killed 2209 people.

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Cite this Entry

“Johnstown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Johnstown. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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