Eau Claire County, Wisconsin

Early Norwegian Settlement

It is not known who the first permanent Norwegian settler in the city of Eau Claire was. It is certain, however, that some Norwegians had settled there by the early 1860s. At that time, Eau Claire served more as an entry point and stopping place for immigrants who were seeking homes farther west.

Norseville and Anthony

In the southern part of the county, in the vicinity of Norseville and Anthony, where many Norwegians later settled, the first Norwegian settler was Knut Knutsen from Nes, Hallingdal. He settled there in 1871.

Churches and Congregations

The First Norwegian Evangelical Congregation of Eau Claire was also the first Norwegian congregation in the county. It was established in 1865. Its first pastor was Amund Johnson of the Conference. The church built by the congregation between 1869 and 1871 was the first Norwegian church in Eau Claire County. By 1905, the county had seven Norwegian congregations and six churches. Three congregations belonged to the United Church, two to the Norwegian Synod, and two to the Methodist Church.

Norwegian Place Names:

Norwegian place names in Eau Claire County included Drammen, Ness, and Norseville.

Sources:

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