The site is located in southern Hochstetter Foreland on the western side of Peters Bay, northeast of the mouth of Ardencaple Fjord, about 15 km (9.3 mi) from Cape Klinkerfues.

It was named "Jónsbú" after Norwegian journalist John Schjelderup Giæver (1901–1970), who lived as a hunter and trapper in East Greenland from 1929 to 1934.

[4] Together with Myggbukta, as well as Storfjord, Torgilsbu and Finnsbu further south, Jonsbu became part of the Norwegian contribution to the International Polar Year 1932–33.

[4] The original station was burnt down in August 1943 during World War II in an attack by Greenland Patrol ship USCGC Northland.

[4] In 1948, well after the end of the war, the new Jónsbú Station was built in a new location south of Peters Bay, on the other side of Ardencaple Fjord by the mouth of Kildedal at 75°14.8′N 20°52.6′W / 75.2467°N 20.8767°W / 75.2467; -20.8767.