The community's beginnings date back to the California Gold Rush and it prospered during the era of hydraulic mining at nearby Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park from 1850–1884.

[7] The community is also important to Welsh-American history, as the first eisteddfod in the State of California was organized by Thomas Gwallter Price, whose Bardic name was "Cuhelyn", and took place in North San Juan on July 4th, 1860.

[8] According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP covers an area of 2.4 square miles (6.3 km2), all of it land.

[9] The 2010 United States Census[10] reported that North San Juan had a population of 269.

There were 146 housing units at an average density of 60.3 per square mile (23.3/km2), of which 62 (47.7%) were owner-occupied, and 68 (52.3%) were occupied by renters.

[12] Federally, North San Juan is in California's 1st congressional district, represented by Republican Doug LaMalfa.