Jordanów was founded in 1564 by Spytek Wawrzyniec Jordan on the salt road from Kraków and Wieliczka to Orava and Hungary.

Its history dates back to a royal privilege, issued in 1564 by King Zygmunt August, upon which Spytek Jordan of Zakliczyn was allowed to found a new town.

After Spytko's death, Jordanów belonged to his wife Anna Sieniawska, and then to several noble families.

Jordanów prospered, with inns, restaurants, artisans, and warehouses of salt and Hungarian wine, a very popular commodity in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.

During Austrian rule the town declined, with the situation slowly improving after 1884, when a railroad line with a station was completed.