JESSENLAND Township, settled in 1853 and organized on May 11, 1858, is "supposed to have received its name from the fact that Jesse Cameron was the first to arrive; it was for some time known as Jesse's Land" (History of the Minnesota Valley, p. 428). The village Jessen Land, in section 13, had a post office which was located in the section 14 home of postmaster John H. Miller between 1857-62; Doheny's Landing was also at this site and was owned by Thomas Doheny, who had come in 1852. (from www.mnhs.org/mnp
Jessenland Township implemented its own Planning and Zoning in February 2001. Residents wanted the Township to be in control of their growth and not be dependent on the county to make decisions for them.
Jessenland Township realizes that urban sprawl is real. Being so close to the suburbs of the Twin Cities it is important to have an intelligent plan for growth. Preserving the rural quality of Jessenland is what residents of the township have clearly chosen as their goal in planning and zoning.