The village is a barrier island spread across coastal chenieres which were formed by deltaic sedimentation by the shifting of the Mississippi River.

On September 13, 2007, Hurricane Humberto made landfall west of Johnson Bayou at High Island, Texas, bringing heavy rains to the community.

On September 13, 2008, Hurricane Ike made landfall on the upper Texas coast, causing extensive damage to the region (NOAA).

Johnson Bayou is located on a barrier island on Louisiana Highway 82, 12 miles (19 km) west of Holly Beach, and 28 miles (45 km) southeast, across the Sabine Pass channel, of Port Arthur, Texas.

Cameron Parish Public Library operated the Johnson Branch at 4586 Gulf Beach Highway in the area until the Mandatory Evacuation for Hurricane Laura in August on 2020.