Johnston was first settled in the 1600s. It was incorporated in 1759. The town covers slightly over 24 square miles of land. Providence is a short 15 drive to the east, making the location perfect for commuters.
Johnston is well known for being home to the state’s only landfill, the Central Landfill. It is a 154 acre state of the art facility attracting sanitation experts far and wide. The facility offers tours to Rhode Island Residents free of charge. Out of state residents can tour for a $100 group fee. The facility receives over 90% of the state’s solid waste and only accepts waste produced in Rhode Island. The smell can be off-putting to some residents. It is wise to inquire about air quality issues and understand how the facility operates by visiting the Central Landfill website when considering moving to Johnston.
Johnston is becoming well known for being home to a 123 acre corporate campus. The Citizens Bank Johnston Campus officially opened in 2018. It was built on top of an old landfill (how’s that for ingenuity?). The buildings on the campus were designed and arranged on campus in consideration of the natural beauty and natural light enjoyed. The campus includes 60 acres of preserved woodlands and wetlands.
Residents of Johnston enjoy recreational opportunities at Snake Den State Park (a 1,000 acre park with a working farm and walking trails) and at Johnston Memorial Park. Residents enjoy nightly walks on the one mile paved trail in Johnston Memorial Park (but they have to leave their dogs at home, they aren’t allowed). The park attracts runners, birders, anglers and apple lovers as it is the site of the annual Apple Festival in September. This family friendly community gathering was first celebrated over 30 years ago. The Apple Festival features live entertainment, food trucks, handcrafted items on Artisan Row, pony rides, an apple pie baking contest, and many apples.
If you are a resident, you will keep updated with local affairs from the weekly complimentary newspaper, the Johnston SunRise. If you’re visiting and want to know what’s up, just pick up a free copy at a local business (or simply go new-school and visit the Johnston SunRise website from the comfort of your laptop).
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