Charles Marohn
Charles Marohn (known as “Chuck” to friends and colleagues) is the founder and president of Strong Towns. With decades of experience as a land use planner and civil engineer, Marohn is on a mission to help cities and towns become stronger and more prosperous. He spreads the Strong Towns message through in-person presentations, the Strong Towns Podcast, and his books and articles. In recognition of his efforts and impact, Planetizen named him one of the 15 Most Influential Urbanists of all time in 2017 and 2023.
Marohn grew up on a small farm in central Minnesota. On his 17th birthday, he joined the Minnesota National Guard, which he served in for nine years. During this time, he earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Minnesota. He later returned to his alma mater to complete a master’s in Urban and Regional Planning. As well as being passionate about building a stronger America, he loves playing music, is an obsessive reader, and religiously follows his favorite baseball team, the Minnesota Twins.
Marohn and his wife live with their two daughters in their hometown of Brainerd, Minnesota.
Read More From Chuck
Strong Towns: A Bottom-Up Revolution to Rebuild American Prosperity
Many American cities and towns are overwhelmed by debt. “Strong Towns” explains how this happened and lays out the core principles of the Strong Towns movement, empowering readers to take control of their communities’ futures.
Confessions of a Recovering Engineer: Transportation for a Strong Town
North America’s transportation system is broken, and most attempts to fix it only make it worse. In “Confessions of a Recovering Engineer,” Charles Marohn explains how the conventional approach to transportation puts communities in danger, increases debt and worsens transportation issues like congestion. He also shares how residents, local officials and engineers can work together to create real solutions.
Escaping the Housing Trap: The Strong Towns Response to the Housing Crisis
The housing market is trapped in a paradox: For housing to be a good investment, prices must continually rise, but to fulfill its role as shelter, prices must remain affordable. Coauthored by Charles Marohn and Daniel Herriges, this bestseller explains how the tension between investment and shelter led to the current housing crisis and how cities can restore balance to the market.