Colorado State

Norwegian Presence in the State

For many years, Norwegians and immigrants of other nationalities found employment in Colorado’s mining districts. The source did not regard most mine workers as permanent settlers, however, and made a similar distinction for many of those employed in the cities. In Denver, for example, there were a few Norwegian businessmen, although many had become thoroughly Americanized and were therefore difficult to identify as a distinct Norwegian group.

Early Norwegian Settlers

Among the early Norwegian settlers elsewhere in the state was A. M. Ovren from Lillehammer. He was the first Norwegian known to have settled in Leadville, Lake County, where he arrived in 1878. He worked there as a master painter until his death in 1896.

The first Norwegians at Fowler in Otero County were B. Bendixson from Stavanger and Ole Ericksen from Egersund.

At Longmont in Boulder County, the first known Norwegian settlers were O. G. Rugtvedt from Kviteseid in Upper Telemark and a Mr. Hovlid.

Churches and Congregations

The first Norwegian congregation in Colorado was established in Denver in 1882 by Pastor H. L. Jensen of the Norwegian Synod. The first Norwegian church building in the state was also erected in Denver, by a congregation served by Pastor H. P. Hanson and affiliated with the General Synod. Because of divisions within the Norwegian church community, however, the congregation was unable to meet the church’s debts and eventually lost the building. By 1905, it was being used by the Mormons. By 1905, Denver had three Norwegian congregations, each with its own church. One belonged to the Norwegian Synod, one to the United Church, and one to the Methodist Church.

Elsewhere in Colorado, the Norwegian Synod had congregations at Fowler in Otero County, in Elbert County, and in Grand County. The United Church had a congregation at Longmont in Boulder County, while the General Synod had maintained a congregation at Leadville in Lake County. All of these congregations were small.

Norwegian-American Press

A newspaper called Duen was published in Denver for four years.

Public Office

Consul H. R. Sahlgaard reported that he knew of no Norwegians who had held public office in Colorado and believed there had never been any. Another source, however, stated that the Norwegian T. L. Monson had served for a time as State Dairy Commissioner. Monson lived in Denver.

Norwegian Place Names

Holtwold was a former post office in Elbert County.

Sources:

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