Johnsons Landing is an unincorporated community in the West Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia. The former steamboat landing comprises scattered rural properties adjacent to the mouth of Gar Creek. To the north is Gardner Creek and to the south is Fry Creek, the three creek mouths on the northeast shore of Kootenay Lake. The locality, via BC Highway 31 and Argenta Rd, is about northeast of Nelson. Name origins The earliest newspaper mention of Johnsons Landing is April 1911, and the census in that year recorded Swedish immigrant Algot Johnson and Robert McKinney as the only residents. However, May 1911 and April 1912 newspaper references placed Johnson at Fry Creek, then regarded as a separate locality. Fry Creek, likely named for prospector, trapper, and entrepreneur Richard Amherst Fry, is first mentioned regarding the Fry River in 1889, which was demoted to a creek by 1891. The earliest newspaper mention of that settlement was April 1911, and the census in that year recorded a population of 12, 10 of whom were a road building gang. Consequently, it is not unusual for a newspaper to adopt the more established name for the general area when defining Johnson's residence. In 1906, Johnson is believed to have built the first house at Johnsons Landing. During the early 1910s, Fry Creek Gardens was one of the questionable Kootenay Lake orchard developments promoted by Fred (Honeymoon) Harris. The Fry Creek steamboat landing operated at least until 1923. The 1921 census included Fry Creek as part of the more significant Johnsons Landing. Walter James Gardner bought at Gardner Creek before 1909. Gardners Landing recorded a population of five in the 1911 census, but the Gardner household was not present at that time. Gardiner Landing was the spelling used for the steamboat landing operating at least between 1913 and 1918. By that time, residents were included under Johnsons Landing in the civic directory, as was the Gardner household in the 1921 census. Early community Arthur C. Raper was the inaugural Johnsons Landing postmaster 1917–1949. The locality was known for its apple orchards. In 1928, a telephone line was installed to Lardeau. The next year, the wharf was replaced. The final year the steamboat flag stop existed was 1949. A general store operated from the late 1940s at least into the mid-1950s. The population, which was largely farmers, was about 20 by 1918, 35 by 1927, 48 by