Johnson, a township in the Canadian province of Ontario, is nestled within the Algoma District. According to the Canada 2016 Census, the population of Johnson, Ontario was 751, a slight increase from 750 in the 2011 census.
Desbarats, the main community in Johnson, Ontario, is conveniently located on Highway 17, just 54 kilometres (34 mi) east of Sault Ste. Marie. The community is home to Central Algoma Secondary School, a high school serving over 250 students from Echo Bay to Thessalon. In 2013, a grade 7 and 8 program was introduced at the school, further enhancing its educational offerings.
West of Desbarats on Highway 17, visitors can marvel at Ripple Rock, a unique rock formation uncovered during the creation of the Trans-Canada Highway. This sandstone formation, featuring ripples created two billion years ago by waves in a shallow body of water, is a testament to the area's ancient geological history.
Puddingstone Road in Johnson, Ontario is named after the local Jasper conglomerate, often found in the area and at nearby St. Joseph Island. This unique rock, known as St. Joseph Island Puddingstone, is a mixture of different sized grains and pebbles held together by finer sand, containing red and brown pieces of jasper.
Since the early 2000s, about 20 Mennonite families from Southern Ontario have made their home in the Desbarats area. Along with other local farmers, they sell their produce at the Desbarats Farmers' Market on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings, contributing to the vibrant local community.
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Johnson, Ontario had a population of 749 living in 272 of its 422 total private dwellings. This represented a slight decrease of -0.3% from its 2016 population of 751. With a land area of 119.47 km2 (46.13 sq mi), Johnson, Ontario had a population density of 6.3/km2 (16.2/sq mi) in 2021.
The population trend in Johnson, Ontario has been relatively stable over the years:
Ontario Northland provides intercity motor coach service to Desbarats, the main community of Johnson, Ontario. The service operates along the Sault Ste. Marie–Sudbury–North Bay–Ottawa route, with one bus a day each headed eastbound and westbound from Sunday to Friday. There is no service on Saturdays, ensuring residents and visitors have reliable transportation options throughout the week.
