Palo Alto County, Iowa

Norwegian Settlement

John Jensvold from Nordre Land was the first Norwegian settler in Palo Alto County. He came from Wisconsin and settled in the vicinity of Emmetsburg, although the year of his arrival was unknown. Andrew Olsen from Askvoll Parish settled at Depew in 1876 and was the first Norwegian settler in that area.

Churches and Congregations

By 1905, Palo Alto County had ten Norwegian congregations and seven churches. Seven congregations belonged to the United Church and three to the Norwegian Synod.

Sources:

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