Jonathan, Minnesota facts for kids
Jonathan, Minnesota is a special neighborhood in Chaska, Minnesota. It's managed by a homeowners' association, which is like a group that helps run the community. Jonathan was designed as a "planned community," meaning it was carefully thought out before it was built. It's located in Carver County and was named after Jonathan Carver, just like the county itself. In 2008, Jonathan was the largest homeowners' association in Minnesota, with about 2,300 homes.
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How Jonathan Started
The idea for Jonathan came from Henry T. McKnight, a Minnesota State Senator and real estate developer. He wanted to build a new kind of community. The Jonathan Development Corporation started planning it in 1967. They chose a spot outside the main Twin Cities area. This location was near the intersection of Minnesota State Highway 41 and a railroad line.
Jonathan's Early Days
The original plan for Jonathan was very ambitious. It included a large town center with shops, businesses, and apartments, all built around a railway line between McKnight Lake and Jonathan Lake. Smaller villages were planned to surround this main center. The developers hoped that Jonathan would grow to have 50,000 people living there by the 1980s.
In 1970, Jonathan made history. It was the first new town in the United States to get financial help from the federal government. This support came from a special part of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968. This showed how important the project was considered.
In 1971, Jonathan hosted the very first Minnesota Renaissance Festival. Back then, it was called the Minnesota Renaissance Fair. It was promoted as "A Celebration of Nature, Art, and Life!" Later, the festival moved to nearby Shakopee. It has since grown into one of the biggest Renaissance Fairs in the entire country.
Changes and Growth
The company that developed Jonathan stopped its work in 1979. After that, the city of Chaska took over Jonathan. This meant Jonathan became a part of Chaska.
Between 2005 and 2007, some leaders of the Jonathan Association wanted to change how the homeowners' association worked. They thought some neighborhoods might leave the association. However, in February 2008, at the Association's yearly meeting, new board members were elected. These new members did not support breaking up the association.
Key People in Jonathan's Development
Henry T. McKnight, a State Senator, was the main leader behind Jonathan. Julius C. "Jules" Smith, who lived in Chaska, was a lawyer for the project. He later worked for the Metropolitan Council, a group that helps plan for the Twin Cities area. Robert J. ("Bob") Lindall was the president of the Jonathan Development Corporation from 1974 to 1979.
