Lawrence County, Tennessee

Early Norwegian Settlement

The first Norwegian settlement in Tennessee was established in the vicinity of Lawrenceburg. The first Norwegian known to have settled there was Lars Syversen from Drangedal, who arrived in 1887. He died in 1894. The Norwegian population of Tennessee remained small, and no other substantial Norwegian settlements developed in the state.

Churches and Congregations

In 1892, two Norwegian congregations were established at Lawrenceburg. One belonged to the Norwegian Synod and the other to the United Church. The Norwegian Synod congregation was first served by Pastor O. Skattebøl. In 1894, the congregation built a church, which was the only Norwegian church in Tennessee.

Sources:

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