Oconto County, Wisconsin

Early Norwegian Settlement

In the vicinity of Strand Post Office, where a small Norwegian settlement developed, Lars Slang and Martin Slang from Fredrikshald (Halden) were the first Norwegian settlers. They came from Negaunee County, Michigan, and settled there in 1873. Later that same year, Martin Hansen and Torger Hansen, also from Fredrikshald, arrived.

Logging, together with potato and hay farming, became the settlement’s principal sources of income. During the first years, Oconto, about thirty miles away, was the nearest market, and the settlers traveled there by ox team. The author also noted that the religious devotion of the new settlers could be clearly felt in the community.

Churches and Congregations

At the time this account was written, Oconto County had three Norwegian congregations, each with its own church. One congregation belonged to the United Church, one to the Evangelical Free Church, and one to the Methodist Church.

Norwegian Place Names

The Strand Post Office received its name from Norwegians.

Sources:

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