Browns Place was established in 1852 when Milton Brown settled on the north fork of Willow Creek near this location, and his cabin was one of the first homes built in the area. As miners and stockmen came in, they used his homestead to store wagons and supplies and returned for them as needed. The first road into the area ran from Fort Miller to Crane Valley and was preferred because snow melted almost a full month earlier than on the northern route. In 1888, through the efforts of the North Fork Lumber Company, a post office was established in Albert Brown's home with him as postmaster. In 1893 the US Forest Service was formed and its headquarters was based here, now known as North Fork. Around 1910, all freight and passengers came by stage and wagons, and 16 horses or mules were needed to pull the two wagons to this stage stop. The timber industry was instrumental in North Fork's development, bringing jobs and families to town.