Our History
The Origins of Community Associations, CAI, and the Foundation
Understanding our roots. Informing our future.
From early planned neighborhoods to today’s condominiums, cooperatives, and homeowner associations, community associations have shaped how Americans share and care for the places they call home.
Community associations have evolved over nearly two centuries. Although their ownership structures differ, they give residents a way to manage shared property, fund common expenses, and make decisions about their communities.
How Community Associations Evolved
Planned Communities: 1820s
What it is: Homeowners own their individual homes and lots and belong to an association that manages shared property, amenities, or services, such as parks, pools, or private roads. Owners pay assessments to support these responsibilities and follow the community’s governing documents.
How it began: Planned communities began appearing in the United States in the 1820s and became more common after the Civil War. Early examples used shared open space and property agreements to guide development.
Housing Cooperatives: Late 1800s
What it is: Residents own shares or a membership interest in a corporation that owns the property, giving them the right to occupy a particular home under an occupancy agreement. The cooperative manages the property, and residents pay regular charges toward operating costs, maintenance, and other shared expenses.
How it began: Cooperatives emerged in New York City in the late 1800s. While some early buildings were luxury residences, cooperatives later provided housing for working families as well.
Condominiums: 1960s Growth
What it is: Owners hold title to their individual units and share ownership of common elements, which may include roofs, hallways, elevators, grounds, or recreational facilities. A condominium association manages these shared elements, and owners pay assessments toward their maintenance and other common expenses.
How it began: Although some condominiums existed earlier, this form of ownership expanded rapidly in the 1960s as state laws and federal mortgage insurance supported its development.
Why Community Associations Grew
As residential development changed, associations offered a practical structure for caring for shared property. They could maintain common areas, collect assessments, plan for repairs, and provide amenities or services for residents. In some developments, associations also became responsible for private roads, landscaping, or stormwater facilities.
By the mid-20th century, larger master-planned communities demonstrated how this model could serve entire neighborhoods. Condominiums and cooperatives broadened the housing choices available to people who wanted a different approach to ownership and shared maintenance.
Research for a Growing Housing Model
The Foundation for Community Association Research was created in 1975 to advance understanding of this growing form of housing. Through research, surveys, data, and publications, the Foundation helps homeowners, volunteer leaders, managers, and others understand community association trends and make informed decisions.
The Foundation’s Byron Hanke Fellowship honors his legacy by supporting graduate research on community associations.
Community Associations Today
Community associations now serve people in a wide range of homes and communities. According to the Foundation’s 2025 statistical review:
U.S. associations
*2025 estimates
million residents
%
of U.S. housing
Explore the research behind the numbers. Visit the Community Association Fact Book to see national and state data, historical trends, and more.