Johnsburg, in the heart of the Adirondacks, grew from a first clearing about 1790 on Elm Hill after John Thurman bought 25,200 acres in 1788, was formed from Thurman on April 16, 1805, and developed through rail transportation along the Hudson River, garnet mining centered at North River and continued by Barton Mines Corp., and tourism centered in North Creek, where Theodore Roosevelt learned on September 14, 1901, that McKinley’s death had made him President. Its six hamlets each developed distinct identities, including Bakers Mills, Riparius with its National Historic Registry railroad station, Wevertown with homes near Thurman’s burial place, and North Creek with its restored depot museum, while Gore Mountain, the Siamese Ponds Wilderness Area, and the Hudson River watershed support skiing, snowmaking, rafting, train excursions, and other year-round recreation.