After a series of fires in the benedictine abbey of St. John's in the upper Toggenburg, the monastery was moved to Neu St. Johann near Sidwald in 1626.

The railway connecting Ebnat-Kappel to Nesslau-Neu St. Johann was opened in 1912, resulting in development of tourism in the region.

Of the rest of the land, 3.2% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (6.6%) is non-productive (rivers or lakes).

[8] The former municipality was located on both sides of the Thur river between the Speer and Stockberg and from the Silberplatten in the Säntis range over the Schwägalp Pass to Mistelegg.

Of the rest of the land, 2.2% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (3.3%) is non-productive (rivers or lakes).

[11] The house at Sidwaldstrasse 6 and the former Benedictine Abbey of Neu St. Johann are listed as Swiss heritage sites of national significance.