Have you ever heard of Jordan, Minnesota? It’s not Jordan, the country, but a charming town brimming with history and small-town charm right here in the heart of Minnesota. Imagine a quiet town built on the banks of the Sand Creek and the mighty Minnesota River. It’s full of friendly faces and a strong community spirit.
The story of Jordan began back in the mid-1800s when it was first settled by pioneers. The town was originally named Holmes’ Landing thanks to one of its first settlers, Thomas A. Holmes. He decided to build a sawmill here in 1853, which quickly made Jordan’s name known. The town became a central spot for the region, but the sawmill wasn’t the only reason for its growing popularity. Flour mills soon popped up, attracting even more people to the area.
A year after the sawmill was built, Thomas’ brother William Holmes also joined the community. He began platting a settlement. In 1855, William surveyed the new town and decided to officially name it Jordan City. He wasn’t a fan of the name Holmes’ Landing, and he was smitten with the Jordan River in Palestine and decided to honor it with the new name. The Jordan River in the Bible was always known for nourishing and bringing prosperity to the surrounding regions, and William Holmes was hoping to give Jordan City the same divine favor.
The town became a successful and bustling place. It had a post office and a handful of businesses. By 1872, the neighboring settlement of Brentwood was surveyed by S. A. Hooper, J. H. Gardner, and R. W. Thomas, and it started to compete with Jordan City. The competition between the two was fierce until a legislative action consolidated them into the village of Jordan. This was a great step for the community, and by 1880, Jordan was booming with a population of 915 and numerous businesses, including breweries, that were especially successful until prohibition in 1919. That was a sad day for the community, but things didn’t stay quiet for too long. In 1891, Jordan was incorporated officially as a city and it’s been growing ever since.