Jackson Homes and the Great Depression

All of this growth was set back in 1918 because of a large forest fire that practically left no building standing in Hermantown and 36 other townships. The Red Cross gave assistance for the township to rebuild however it would not see a large growth in population again until the Great Depression Era in the decade before World War II. This growth was due to the Jackson Project which was a federally sponsored initiative to build sustenance homes for poverty-stricken families in the city. The idea was to give families who fell on hard times a new start. They were given a farmhouse, barn, cow, pig, and 35 chickens. They could raise their own food and sell the surplus back to the government in order to satisfy government debts they had. It turned out to be a very successful project and the homes were sold to the occupants on liberal terms. These homes still stand today although with additions built on over the years.

Hermantown in Recent Years

After World War II and during the 1950s, Hermantown began to be increasingly popular for those who wanted to live the suburban life. The Hermantown Project improved the quality of all homes making the community an even more attractive place to live. Then, the Air Force set up a base in 1953 adding 105 new housing units. Today, that base is home to the Minnesota Air National Guard 148th Fighter Wing. Hermantown was finally incorporated in 1975.

One of the identifying terrain features of Hermantown, MN is that is covered by 30 to 40% wetlands. Whereas these were once considered wasteland, they are protected today. This is because they provide natural benefits such as flood control, groundwater recharging, filtering of pollutants, and a habitat for wildlife.