Jamestown Area Information

Jamestown is located in the southwestern corner of New York State. It is 70 miles southwest of Buffalo, 40 miles northeast of Erie, Pennsylvania, 140 miles north of Pittsburgh, and is approximately halfway between New York City and Chicago. It is at the base of the picturesque Chautauqua Lake and serves as the regional hub for a myriad of social and recreational opportunities. The city covers an area of 10 square miles, and its highest point is 1,620 feet above sea level. The city maintains a population of around 30,000, within an urban area of 85,000 residents.
            Jamestown also serves as the center of a region blessed with an abundance of outstanding outdoor recreational opportunities, including hunting, fishing, boating and camping opportunities and the 65,000 acre Allegany State Park.
            Jamestown is fortunate to maintain a large variety of cultural facilities and activities for the enjoyment of residents and visitors alike. World renowned Chautauqua Institution, founded in 1874, continues to offer a vast assortment of religious, educational, recreational, and artistic activities throughout its nine-week summer season. Beautiful Victorian architecture lines the quaint streets and quiet setting of this unique community along the shores of the Chautauqua Lake.
            In the heard of downtown Jamestown is the Reg Lenna Civic Center. This 1,250 seat, beautifully restored former vaudeville house offers a variety of musical, theatre and community events for young and old alike. A few steps away within the city’s growing entertainment district is the Lucille Ball Little Theatre of Jamestown, the largest community membership theatre in New York State. Also located downtown is the widely acclaimed Lucille Ball/Desi Arnaz Museum, and the multimillion dollar Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena. Jamestown is also home to the Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame, an organization formed in 1980 to honor Chautauqua County, New York area sports celebrities. Honorees are chosen by a committee under which a volunteer has as much an opportunity to be selected as an outstanding athlete in the professional or amateur ranks.
            Both Jamestown Community College and Jamestown Business College are located within city limits. Jamestown Community College is a two-year institution under the State University of New York system.
            Jamestown has been awarded the “Tree City USA” designation award by the National Arbor Day Foundation for twenty consecutive years and is proud of its 20 parks consisting of 540 acres of land. Along with its ball diamond, picnic areas, tennis courts, playgrounds and soccer fields, Jamestown’s parks system features the 4,200 seat Russell E. Diethrick, Jr. Park, where baseball lovers watch the Jamestown Jammers, a Florida Marlins Class A affiliate, each season.