Yankton County, South Dakota

Early Norwegian Settlement

Christian Pedersen Marindahl from Ringsaker is identified as the first Norwegian settler in Yankton County. He settled in 1860 at a place that later took his name, Marindahl. For a time, Indians were his nearest neighbors. He was followed by Ole Pedersen, M. J. Minde, John J. Aalseth, C. H. Brurud, Frans Shager, Gulbrand Levorson, Haldor Bryngelsen Løen, Lars Olsen, Simon Petersen, Torger Nelson, T. Aalseth, Mathias Larsen, Peder Einarsen, and Torbjørn Torbjørnsen. These settlers also served in a defensive capacity against the Indians. The government provided them with carbines and saddles.

Connection with Clay County

The earliest Norwegian immigration to Yankton County came from and through neighboring Clay County, under where there is a more detailed account of the settlement.

Churches and Congregations

South Dakota’s first Norwegian church was located in Yankton County. It was built by Vangen Congregation at Mission Hill in 1869. By 1905, Yankton County had eleven Norwegian congregations and nine churches. Three congregations belonged to the Norwegian Synod, three to the United Church, three to Hauge’s Synod, and two to the Independent Lutheran Church.

Norwegian Place Names

Townships and post offices with Norwegian names included Brudvig, Marindahl, Hansen, and Norway.

Sources:

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