On May 6, 1965, Carver County was hit by severe tornadoes, as part of a larger tornado outbreak that was occurring across the central United States. The outbreak is considered one of the biggest natural disasters in the county’s recent history.
The tornadoes started in the early evening of May 6. At least six separate tornadoes swept through the townships of Young America, Waconia, Dahlgren and Laketown, destroying a large number of farms. The storms also caused heavy damage upon commercial and residential developments in Chanhassen[1]. The tornadoes, lasting four hours, started near Glencoe in McLeod County, and dissipated after running through the North Suburbs of Minneapolis in Hennepin County. They destroyed approximately 2,500 homes and caused an estimated fifty-two million dollars in property damage. A total of thirteen Minnesota residents died from the tornadoes, including three in Carver County.
The Young America and Waconia townships suffered the worst damage from the tornadoes, with local papers describing the result as “total destruction”. The path of destruction across the two townships was approximately a half to three-quarters of a mile wide and more than eight miles long. Across the two townships, all buildings were completely destroyed on twenty farms. In Young America, nine farms suffered from destruction of one or more of their buildings, as did three farms in Waconia.
Though not hit as badly, considerable damage was done to the townships of Dahlgren and Laketown, and the city of Chanhassen. Five farms in Dahlgren and eleven in Laketown all suffered the loss of one or more buildings. In Chanhassen, the tornadoes destroyed several business buildings and approximately one-third of its rural homes suffered partial damage, with heavier destruction reported on at least one of its farms.
Cleanup operations began on Friday, May 7. Some were able to salvage furniture and personal belongings, but for most it was a complete loss. With ruin and debris spread everywhere, nameplates from mailboxes were frequently the only things identifying one plot of farmland from another. Local organizations helped with the cleanup and recovery efforts, such as volunteer efforts made by students of local schools.
“Tornado Losses”. Waconia Patriot, May, 13, 1965, 1.
“Tornadoes Hit At Chanhassen, 6:28”. Waconia Patriot, May 13, 1965, 3.
“Tornadoes Hit Carver County – Damage Severe”. Weekly Valley Herald, May, 13, 1965, 1, 12.
“Tornadoes Hit Area”. Lester Prairie News, May 13, 1965, 1, 6-5.
[1] In 1965, what is now the city of Chanhassen was divided between the Chanhassen Township and the Village of Chanhassen. The township suffered rural damage, while the village suffered business and residential damage. The two communities merged in 1967 into what is now Chanhassen.
