Alabama State

Norwegian Presence in Mobile

The identity of the first Norwegian settler in Alabama was not known. For many years, however, Mobile had been visited by large numbers of Norwegian seamen. Because they came and went continually, it was difficult to regard them as a permanent population. By 1905, Mobile also had a number of Norwegian businessmen and tradesmen, as well as a Norwegian Seamen’s Home with a reading room and a Norwegian Seamen’s Church.

Norwegian Settlement at Thorsby

A small Norwegian settlement developed at Thorsby in Chilton County. The first Norwegian settler there was Andrew Wamben from Hardanger, who arrived in 1896 and still lived there in 1905. A Norwegian congregation belonging to the United Church was established in 1897, with Pastor H. Engh as its first pastor. The congregation built its church in 1902.

Other Norwegian Settlement

A small Norwegian settlement also existed in Cleburne County, where there was a congregation belonging to the United Church.

Norwegian Place Names

Thorsby was the only Norwegian place name identified by the source in Alabama.

Main Sources of Income

The principal industries in Alabama included iron and coal mining, together with the cultivation of cotton, grapes, and sugar cane.

Sources:

[Ulvestad, Martin. Nordmændene i Amerika. Utg. History Book Company's Forlag. Minneapolis, Minn. 1907.]