A Norwegian Minnesotan (colloquially sometimes known as a ''Minnewegian'') is a

Norwegian American Norwegian Americans ( nb, Norskamerikanere, nn, Norskamerikanarar) are Americans with ancestral roots in Norway. Norwegian immigrants went to the United States primarily in the latter half of the 19th century and the first few decades of the ...

in the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sove ...

Minnesota Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...

. As of 2009, 868,361

ns claim Norwegian ancestry — equivalent to 16.5% of

's population and 18.7% of the total

population.

Settlement

Many Norwegian settlers arrived and lived in various other locations in the United States before permanently settling in Minnesota. The first Norwegian emigrants to come to the United States often settled in the eastern Midwest. As more and more new immigrants came to America there was a rapid increase in population at the original Norwegian settlements (which was helped along by a high birth rate). Thus, as more and more Norwegian settlers arrived, the original Norwegian settlements would move westward where land was plentiful and less expensive and where new settlements could be created. Norwegian settlement in Minnesota increased after the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states ...

and the

Dakota War of 1862 The Dakota War of 1862, also known as the Sioux Uprising, the Dakota Uprising, the Sioux Outbreak of 1862, the Dakota Conflict, the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862, or Little Crow's War, was an armed conflict between the United States and several ban ...

, especially to the Minnesota River Valley, where land was taken through the

Treaty of Traverse des Sioux The Treaty of Traverse des Sioux () was signed on July 23, 1851, at Traverse des Sioux in Minnesota Territory between the United States government and the Upper Dakota Sioux bands. In this land cession treaty, the Sisseton and Wahpeton Dakota ban ...

. Following the war, the majority of the Dakota people were expelled from

and

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a subcontinent of Eurasia and it is located entirel ...

an settlement subsequently increased rapidly. Because the land of Minnesota was taken by force from the American Indians, land was cheap for European immigrants. Before long, this immigrant population grew exponentially in Minnesota. Norwegians settled all over the state, but they established the first permanent settlements in the southeast. The first Norwegian settlement in Minnesota was Norwegian Ridge, in what is now Spring Grove , Minnesota. Another such settlement was the 1851 colony in

Goodhue County, Minnesota Goodhue County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 47,582. Its county seat is Red Wing. Nearly all of Prairie Island Indian Community is within the county. Goodhue County comprises the Red Wi ...

. They soon settled in Fillmore County as well. By 1860, half of

's 12,000

Norwegians Norwegians ( no, nordmenn) are a North Germanic ethnic group and nation native to Norway, where they form the vast majority of the population. They share a common culture and speak the Norwegian language. Norwegians are descended from the N ...

resided in Goodhue, Fillmore, and Houston Counties. Ten years later, these three counties were home to nearly 25,000 of

's 50,000 Norwegian residents. By 1880, there were Norwegian settlements, beyond what has been previously listed, in the counties of

Freeborn "Freeborn" is a term associated with political agitator John Lilburne (1614–1657), a member of the Levellers, a 17th-century English political party. As a word, "freeborn" means born free, rather than in slavery or bondage or vassalage. Lilbu ...

Steele Steele may refer to: Places America * Steele, Alabama, a town * Steele, Arkansas, an unincorporated community * Steele, Kentucky, an unincorporated community * Steele, Missouri, a city * Lonetree, Montana, a ghost town originally called Steele ...

, and Waseca.

also made settlements in Blue Earth,

Brown Brown is a color. It can be considered a composite color, but it is mainly a darker shade of orange. In the CMYK color model used in printing or painting, brown is usually made by combining the colors orange and black. In the RGB color model us ...

, and Watonwan (the "Linden Settlement"), Lac qui Parle County, the Park Region in west-central

, and the prairies of southwestern Minnesota. Immigrants also came to the Red River Valley in northwestern Minnesota, settling in the counties of

Clay Clay is a type of fine-grained natural soil material containing clay minerals (hydrous aluminium phyllosilicates, e.g. kaolin, Al2 Si2 O5( OH)4). Clays develop plasticity when wet, due to a molecular film of water surrounding the clay par ...

Marshall Marshall may refer to: Places Australia * Marshall, Victoria, a suburb of Geelong, Victoria Canada * Marshall, Saskatchewan * The Marshall, a mountain in British Columbia Liberia * Marshall, Liberia Marshall Islands * Marshall Islands, an i ...

Norman Norman or Normans may refer to: Ethnic and cultural identity * The Normans, a people partly descended from Norse Vikings who settled in the territory of Normandy in France in the 10th and 11th centuries ** People or things connected with the Norm ...

, and

Polk Polk may refer to: People * James K. Polk, 11th president of the United States * Polk (name), other people with the name Places * Polk (CTA), a train station in Chicago, Illinois * Polk, Illinois, an unincorporated community * Polk, Missou ...

. During the early 1870s, the St. Paul and Pacific Railroad helped increase migration to the Red River Valley. As a result, by 1875 Norwegian immigrants made up a 30 percent of the total population of the counties of

and

. Later, immigrants also made homes in

Grant Grant or Grants may refer to: Places *Grant County (disambiguation) Australia * Grant, Queensland, a locality in the Barcaldine Region, Queensland, Australia United Kingdom * Castle Grant United States * Grant, Alabama * Grant, Inyo County, ...

, Pennington, Red Lake,

Roseau Roseau (Dominican Creole: ''Wozo'') is the capital and largest city of Dominica, with a population of 14,725 as of 2011. It is a small and compact urban settlement, in the Saint George parish and surrounded by the Caribbean Sea, the Roseau Ri ...

, and Kittson Counties. Much of this land belonged to the

Lakota Lakota may refer to: * Lakota people, a confederation of seven related Native American tribes *Lakota language, the language of the Lakota peoples Place names In the United States: * Lakota, Iowa * Lakota, North Dakota, seat of Nelson County * La ...

and

Nakota Nakota (or Nakoda or Nakona) is the endonym used by those ''Assiniboine'' Indigenous people in the US, and by the Stoney People, in Canada. The Assiniboine branched off from the Great Sioux Nation (aka the ''Oceti Sakowin'') long ago and moved f ...

peoples. The city of

Duluth , settlement_type = City , nicknames = Twin Ports (with Superior), Zenith City , motto = , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top: urban Duluth skyline; Minnesota ...

was also a center for Norwegian immigration. Its location on

Lake Superior Lake Superior in central North America is the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface areaThe Caspian Sea is the largest lake, but is saline, not freshwater. and the third-largest by volume, holding 10% of the world's surface fresh wa ...

provided Norwegian fishermen with ample employment. As a result, the Norwegian population of Duluth increased dramatically between 1870 and 1900. In 1870, 242

were counted in Duluth. By 1900 the population had reached 7,500 people of Norwegian ancestry. By the middle of the 1880s, Norwegian migration to Minnesota began to shift to the cities. There was a large influx of Norwegian immigrants into the city of Minneapolis from the 1880s to early 20th century, along with a less substantial migration to

St. Paul Paul; grc, Παῦλος, translit=Paulos; cop, ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ; hbo, פאולוס השליח (previously called Saul of Tarsus;; ar, بولس الطرسوسي; grc, Σαῦλος Ταρσεύς, Saũlos Tarseús; tr, Tarsuslu Pavlus; ...

Demographics

's population in the year 2000, 850,742 said that they have Norwegian ancestry. Of them 414,901 (48.8%) were male, and 435,841 (51.2%) were female. As of 2008, the

median age A population pyramid (age structure diagram) or "age-sex pyramid" is a graphical illustration of the distribution of a population (typically that of a country or region of the world) by age groups and sex; it typically takes the shape of a pyramid ...

was 36, in contrast to 35 for the whole Minnesotan population, 36.7 for the whole American population, and 39.4 for Norway's population. Among Norwegians in Minnesota, 54,411 were younger than the age of 5 (or 6.9% of all those with Norwegian ancestry); of the whole

n population, 327,988 were younger than the age of 5 (or 6.6% of all Minnesotans). Among Norwegian Minnesotans, 65,039 were between 5 and 17 years of age (or 7.6% of all those with Norwegian ancestry), compared to 365,136 between 5 and 17 for the whole Minnesotan population (or 7.4% of all Minnesotans). Among the group, 628,343 were between 18 and 64 (or 73.8% of all Norwegian Minnesotans), compared to 3,632,940 between 18 and 64 for the whole Minnesotan population (or 73.8% of all Minnesotans). Among the group, 102,949 were older than 65 (or 12.1% of all those with Norwegian ancestry), compared to 593,415 older than 65 for the whole Minnesota population (or 12.0% of all Minnesotans). The household population number 835,511, when the group quarters population number 15,231. The average household size is 2, when the average family size is 3. Occupied housing units number 335,537; of them, owner-occupied housing units number 263,911 and renter-occupied housing units number 71,626. 550,208 are 25 years, or over. Of them, 503,360 are high school graduate or higher, and 156,568 bachelor's degree or higher. 82,959 is civilian veterans (civilian population 18 years and over). 105,537 has disability status (population 5 years and over). 2,034 are foreign born. 191,907 is male, now married, except separated (population 15 years and over) and 197,012 is female, now married, except separated (population 15 years and over). Approximately 24,235 said they speak a language other than English at home (population 5 years and over). 479,191 are in labor force (population 16 years and over). Mean travel time to work in minutes (workers 16 years and over) is 21. Median household income in 1999 (dollars) were 48,441, while median family income in 1999 (dollars) were 57,893, per capita income in 1999 (dollars) were 23,443. Families below poverty level number 7,421, while individuals below poverty level number 43,935. Single-family owner-occupied homes number 207,799. Of them, median value (dollars) number 118,700, median of selected monthly owner costs is not applicable, with a mortgage (dollars) number 1,010, while not mortgaged (dollars) number 263.

Norwegian communities in Minnesota

The 25

n communities with the highest percentage of residents claiming Norwegian ancestry are: # Fertile, Minnesota 54.4% #

Spring Grove, Minnesota Spring Grove is a city in Houston County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,330 at the 2010 census. It is part of the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area. History A post office has been in operation at Spring ...

52.0% #

Twin Valley, Minnesota Twin Valley is a city in Norman County, Minnesota, United States, along the Wild Rice River. The population was 723 at the 2020 census. Minnesota State Highway 32 and County Highway 31 are two of the main routes in the community. Minnesota ...

49.9% # Rushford, Minnesota 46.5% # Starbuck, Minnesota 45.0% # Hawley, Minnesota 44.5% #

Ada, Minnesota Ada ( ) is a city in Norman County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,740 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat. Minnesota State Highways 9 and 200 are two of the main routes in the city. History Ada was laid out in 1874 a ...

42.9% # Ulen, Minnesota 42.2% # Dawson, Minnesota 42.2% # Fosston, Minnesota 42.1% #

Bagley, Minnesota Bagley is a city in Clearwater County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,285 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Clearwater County. History A post office called Bagley has been in operation since 1898. The city was named ...

41.0% #

Karlstad, Minnesota Karlstad is a city in Kittson County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 710 at the 2020 census. U.S. Route 59 and Minnesota State Highway 11 are two of the main arterial routes in the city. The city's slogan is "The Moose Capital ...

39.4% #

Thief River Falls, Minnesota Thief River Falls, sometimes referred to as Thief River or abbreviated as TRF, is a city in Pennington County in the northwest portion of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 8,749 at the 2020 census. Thief River Falls is the county ...

39.0% #

Dane Prairie Township, Otter Tail County, Minnesota Dane Prairie Township is a township in Otter Tail County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 892 at the 2000 census. Dane Prairie Township was organized in 1870, and named for its prairies originally settled chiefly by natives of Denmark ...

39.0% #

Madison, Minnesota Madison is a city in Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota, Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota, United States, along the 45th parallel north, 45th parallel. The population was 1,518 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It is the county seat of ...

38.8% # Harmony, Minnesota 38.4% # Sparta Township, Minnesota 38.1% # Clarkfield, Minnesota 38.0% #

Wanamingo, Minnesota Wanamingo is a community in Goodhue County, Minnesota, United States, incorporated as a city. It lies along the North Fork of the Zumbro River. The population was 1,086 at the 2010 census. The ethanol company POET LLC started on the farm of ...

38.0% #

Lake Park, Minnesota Lake Park is a city in Becker County, Minnesota, Becker County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 728 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. History The area upon where Lake Park was founded, started to be settled in 1841 by ...

37.2% #

Montevideo, Minnesota Montevideo is a city in Chippewa County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 5,383 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Chippewa County. The town's mayor is Erich Winter and the Council President is Nathan Schmidt. The area ...

35.9% # Dunn Township, Minnesota 35.2% # Cormorant Township, Minnesota 34.9% # Oakport, Minnesota 34.3% # Houston, Minnesota 34.1%

Norwegian counties in Minnesota

The 25 Minnesotan counties with the highest percentage of residents claiming Norwegian ancestry are: #

Norman County, Minnesota Norman County is a county in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 6,441. Its county seat is Ada. The county is in Minnesota's Red River Valley region. History The county w ...

58.9% #

Pennington County, Minnesota Pennington County is a county in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,992. Its county seat is Thief River Falls. History The Wisconsin Territory was established by the federal gover ...

50.6% #

Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota Lac qui Parle County () is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,719. Its county seat is Madison. The largest city in the county is Dawson. History The name of the county is French for "Lake who ...

47.9% #

Marshall County, Minnesota Marshall County is a county in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 9,040. Its county seat is Warren. Marshall County was the location of a claimed UFO incident in 1979, the Val John ...

46.9% #

Grant County, Minnesota Grant County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,074. Its county seat is Elbow Lake. History The county was created on March 6, 1868. It was named for Civil War General and US President Ul ...

43.8% #

Polk County, Minnesota Polk County is a county in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. Its population was 31,192 at the 2020 census. Its county seat is Crookston, and the largest community is East Grand Forks. Polk County is part of the Grand For ...

43.3% #

Clearwater County, Minnesota Clearwater County is a county in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,524. Its county seat is Bagley. Clearwater County is home to Lake Itasca, the source of the Mississippi Rive ...

42.6% #

Roseau County, Minnesota Roseau County () (pronounced row - so) is a county in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Minnesota, along the Canada–US border. As of the 2020 census, the population was 15,331. Its county seat is Roseau. Roseau County borders the C ...

42.3% #

Clay County, Minnesota Clay County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 65,318. Its county seat is Moorhead. Clay County is part of the Fargo, ND-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area. History The county was formed on ...

42.2% #

Pope County, Minnesota Pope County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,308. Its county seat is Glenwood. The county was formed in 1862 and organized in 1866. History Pope County was identified by the state legisl ...

39.7% #

Chippewa County, Minnesota Chippewa County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 12,598. Its county seat is Montevideo. The county was formed in 1862, and was organized in 1868. History Chippewa County was organized on M ...

39.4% #

Fillmore County, Minnesota Fillmore County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 21,228. Its county seat is Preston. Fillmore County is included in the Rochester metropolitan area. History Fillmore County was created on ...

39.0% #

Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota Yellow Medicine County is a county in the State of Minnesota. Its eastern border is formed by the Minnesota River. As of the 2020 census, the population was 9,528. Its county seat is Granite Falls. The Upper Sioux Indian Reservation, related ...

38.9% #

Freeborn County, Minnesota Freeborn County is a county in the state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 30,895. Its county seat is Albert Lea. Freeborn County comprises the Albert Lea Micropolitan Statistical Area. History Freeborn Cou ...

37.1% # Kittson County, Minnesota 35.4% #

Red Lake County, Minnesota Red Lake County is a county in the Northwestern part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,935, making it the third-least populous county in Minnesota. Its county seat is Red Lake Falls. History Red Lake ...

33.9% #

Houston County, Minnesota Houston County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. At the 2020 census, the population was 18,843. Its county seat is Caledonia. Houston County is included in the La Crosse–Onalaska metropolitan statistical area. History The area ...

33.4% # Swift County, Minnesota 33.4% #

Otter Tail County, Minnesota Otter Tail County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, its population was 60,081. Its county seat is Fergus Falls. Otter Tail County comprises the Fergus Falls micropolitan statistical area. With 1,048 lakes in i ...

32.9% #

Wilkin County, Minnesota Wilkin County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population of Wilkin County was 6,506. Its county seat is Breckenridge. The county is named for Colonel Alexander Wilkin, a lawyer who served as Minnesota's ...

32.2% #

Becker County, Minnesota Becker County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 35,183. Its county seat is Detroit Lakes. Part of the White Earth Indian Reservation extends into the county. The county was created in 1858 an ...

28.7% #

Dodge County, Minnesota Dodge County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 20,867 as of the 2020 census. Its county seat is Mantorville. Dodge County is part of the Rochester, MN Metropolitan Statistical Area. History The area of presen ...

28.6% #

Kandiyohi County, Minnesota Kandiyohi County ( ) is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, its population is 43,732. As of November 20, 1871, its county seat is Willmar. Kandiyohi County comprises the US Census Bureau's "Willmar, MN Micropolita ...

28.6% #

Douglas County, Minnesota Douglas County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 39,006. Its county seat is Alexandria. Douglas County comprises the Alexandria, Minnesota, Micropolitan Statistical Area. Dougl ...

27.1% #

Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota Lake of the Woods County is a county in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,763, making it the second-least populous county in Minnesota. Its county seat is Baudette. The county co ...

27.0%

Notable people

* Lars K. Aaker *

Johan Arnd Aasgaard Johan Arnd Aasgaard (April 5, 1876 – January 13, 1966) was an American Lutheran church leader. Biography Johan Arnd Aasgaard was born in Albert Lea, Minnesota. He was educated at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota (class of 1901). He ...

* Douglas K. Amdahl *

Richard Dean Anderson Richard Dean Anderson (born January 23, 1950) is a retired American actor and producer. He began his television career in 1976, playing Jeff Webber in the American soap opera series '' General Hospital'', and then rose to prominence as the lead ...

* Sydney Anderson *

Roger Awsumb Roger Awsumb (July 10, 1928 – July 15, 2002) was an American television show host and radio broadcaster in Saint Paul and Brainerd, Minnesota. He is most known for his lead role in the children's television show he created, ''Lunch With Casey ...

Dan Bakkedahl Dan Bakkedahl (born November 18, 1969) is an American actor and improvisational comedian. He is best known for starring as Tim Hughes on the CBS sitcom '' Life in Pieces'', as Congressman Roger Furlong on the HBO series ''Veep'', and as Steve Nu ...

Earl Bakken Earl Elmer Bakken (January 10, 1924 – October 21, 2018) was an American engineer, businessman and philanthropist of Dutch and Norwegian American ancestry. He founded Medtronic, where he developed the first external, battery-operated, trans ...

* Beatrice Gjertsen Bessesen * Theodore C. Blegen *

Robert Bly Robert Elwood Bly (December 23, 1926 – November 21, 2021) was an American poet, essayist, activist and leader of the mythopoetic men's movement. His best-known prose book is '' Iron John: A Book About Men'' (1990), which spent 62 weeks on ' ...

Haldor Boen Haldor Erickson Boen (January 1, 1851 – July 20, 1912) was an American congressman from Minnesota. Biography Boen was born in Sør-Aurdal, Valdres, a traditional district in Oppland county, Norway. He immigrated to the United States i ...

* C. L. Brusletten *

Dustin Byfuglien Dustin Byfuglien ( ; born March 27, 1985) is an American former professional ice hockey player. He previously played for the Chicago Blackhawks, Atlanta Thrashers and Winnipeg Jets. Drafted as a defenseman, he has played both forward and defens ...

* Frederick William Cappelen * Alf Clausen *

Larry Cole Larry Rudolph Cole (born November 15, 1946) is a former American football defensive lineman in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys. He played in five Super Bowls, winning Super Bowl VI and XII. He played college football at the U ...

Theodora Cormontan Theodora Cormontan (9 June 184026 October 1922) was a Norwegian American pianist, music publisher and composer, one of the first Norwegian women to have her classical compositions published and widely performed, and the first woman to start a mus ...

* Edgar Christensen * Theodore Christianson * Charles A. Christopherson *

George Dahl George Leighton Dahl (May 11, 1894 – July 18, 1987) was a prominent American architect based in Dallas, Texas during the 20th century. His most notable contributions include the Art Deco structures of Fair Park while he oversaw planning and con ...

David Ellefson David Warren Ellefson (born November 12, 1964) is an American musician, best known for his long tenure as the bassist for thrash metal band Megadeth. Ellefson initially became an accomplished bassist and honed his songwriting skills while leadi ...

Arlen Erdahl Arlen Ingolf Erdahl (born February 27, 1931) is an American commercial farmer and former politician. He served as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1963 to 1970, Minnesota Secretary of State from 1971–1975 and was a U. ...

Hal Erickson (American football) Harold Ingvald Alexander Erickson (March 10, 1898 – January 27, 1963) was an American football Back (American football), back who played for three teams over eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL), four with the Chicago Cardinals ( ...

* Willis H. Flygare * Jacob Fjelde *

Paul Fjelde Paul Fjelde (August 12, 1892 – May 3, 1984) was a noted American sculptor and educator. Background Paul Fjelde was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was the son of Jacob Fjelde, who was a well-known sculptor in Norway when he emigrated ...

John Flittie John Flittie (March 22, 1856 – January 21, 1913) was a U.S. politician who served as North Dakota's first Secretary of State from 1889 to 1892. Johan Flittie was born in Lesja, in Oppland, Norway. He was the son of Johannes Throndson Flittie ...

Gerhard Forde Gerhard O. Forde (September 10, 1927 – August 9, 2005) was an American Lutheran theologian who wrote extensively on the Protestant Reformation and Lutheran theology and tradition. Background Gerhard Olaf Forde was born in Pope County, Minn ...

* Herbjørn Gausta *

Knut Gjerset Knut Gjerset (September 15, 1865 – October 29, 1936) was a Norwegian-American author, historian and college professor. Biography Knut Gjerset was born at Fræna in Møre og Romsdal, Norway. He was the son of Ole Sørensen Gjerset and Karen Marie ...

* Oluf Gjerset * Henry J. Gjertsen * Alexander Grinager *

David Grose David F. Grose (November 21, 1944 – October 13, 2004) was an American archaeologist and Professor of Classics and Archaeology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He was an authority on the classification of early ancient glass from the Ro ...

Ingebrikt Grose Ingebrikt Fredrick Grose or Ingebricks F. Grose (1862 – October 10, 1939) was an author, college professor and founding president of Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota. Background Inglebrikt was the first child of Johan and Ingeborg Grose. ...

* Bjarne Elgar Grottum *

Deb Haaland Debra Anne Haaland (; born December 2, 1960) is an American politician serving as the 54th United States secretary of the interior. A member of the Democratic Party, she served as chair of the New Mexico Democratic Party from 2015 to 2017 and a ...

* Carl G. O. Hansen *

Josh Hartnett Joshua Daniel Hartnett (born July 21, 1978) is an American actor and producer. He first came to attention in 1997 for his role as Michael Fitzgerald in the television crime drama series '' Cracker''. He made his feature film debut in 1998 in th ...

* Sig Haugdahl * Gabriel Hauge * Louis J. Hauge Jr. *

Marty Haugen Marty Haugen (born December 30, 1950) is an American composer of liturgical music. Biography Marty Haugen was born December 30, 1950, in Wanamingo, Minnesota. He was raised in the American Lutheran Church (ALC) in Minnesota, and became a member ...

Garrett Hedlund Garrett John Hedlund (born September 3, 1984) is an American actor. His films include ''Troy'' (2004), '' Friday Night Lights'' (2004), '' Four Brothers'' (2005), ''Eragon'' (2006), ''Death Sentence'' (2007), '' Tron: Legacy'' (2010), ''Country ...

Tippi Hedren Nathalie Kay "Tippi" Hedren (born January 19, 1930) is an American actress, animal rights activist, and former fashion model. A successful fashion model who appeared on the front covers of ''Life'' and '' Glamour'' magazines, among others, Hed ...

Skitch Henderson Lyle Russel "Skitch" Henderson (January 27, 1918 – November 1, 2005) was a pianist, conductor, and composer. His nickname "Skitch" came from his ability to "re-sketch" a song in a different key. Bing Crosby suggested that he should use the ...

* Adolph Herseth * Ivan Hinderaker * Einar Hoidale *

John O. Johnson John O. Johnson (January 10, 1875 - February 1963) was a Norwegian-born, American boat builder, early aviator, and inventor in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. Early life and boat building Johnson was born in Oslo, Norway. His mother died when he ...

* Leon H. Johnson *

Ron Johnson (Wisconsin politician) Ronald Harold Johnson (born April 8, 1955) is an American accountant, businessman, and politician serving as the senior United States senator from Wisconsin, a seat he has held since 2011. A Republican, Johnson was first elected to the U.S. Se ...

* V. Trygve Jordahl * Carl O. Jorgenson *

Hannah Kempfer Hannah Jensen Kempfer (December 22, 1880 – September 27, 1943) was a Minnesota schoolteacher, farmer and politician. She was a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1923 to 1930 and from 1933 to 1942, representing District 50 a ...

* Albert C. Knudson *

Odin Langen Odin Elsford Stanley Langen (January 5, 1913 – July 6, 1976) was an American politician from the state of Minnesota. He served six terms in the United States House of Representatives from 1959 to 1971. Early life and career Odin Langen wa ...

* Arthur B. Langlie *

Keith Langseth Keith Langseth (born January 20, 1938) is a Democratic Farmer Labor Party politician and former member of the Minnesota Senate, representing District 9 since 1981 until 2013. Prior to his election to the Senate, he was a member of the Minnesota ...

* Robert E. A. Lee * C. Walton Lillehei *

Warren Magnuson Warren Grant "Maggie" Magnuson (April 12, 1905May 20, 1989) was an American lawyer and politician who represented the state of Washington in Congress for 44 years, first as a Representative from 1937 to 1944, and then as a senator from 1944 to 1 ...

Pearl McIver Pearl McIver (June 23, 1893 – 1976) was an American nurse and public official. She was noted for her work with the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) and was the first nurse to be employed by the body in providing consultation services ...

* Ernest O. Melby * David Minge *

Walter Mondale Walter Frederick "Fritz" Mondale (January 5, 1928 – April 19, 2021) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 42nd vice president of the United States from 1977 to 1981 under President Jimmy Carter. A U.S. senator from Minnesota ...

Adolph Murie Adolph Murie (September 6, 1899 – August 16, 1974), the first scientist to study wolves in their natural habitat, was a naturalist, author, and wildlife biologist who pioneered field research on wolves, bears, and other mammals and birds in Arc ...

Olaus Murie Olaus Johan Murie (March 1, 1889 – October 21, 1963), called the "father of modern elk management", Teachers > Culture > Living in Kenai Fjords was a naturalist, author, and wildlife biologist who did groundbreaking field research on a variety ...

* Wayne Nordhagen *

Karen Nyberg Karen LuJean Nyberg (born October 7, 1969) is an American mechanical engineer and retired NASA astronaut. Nyberg became the 50th woman in space on her first mission in 2008. Nyberg started her space career in 1991 and spent a total of 180 days ...

* Ingerval M. Olsen * Julius J. Olson *

Mark Olson (musician) Mark Olson (born September 18, 1961 in Minneapolis, Minnesota) is an American musician and singer-songwriter. He was a founding member of alternative country bands The Jayhawks and the Original Harmony Ridge Creekdippers. Career Olson formed t ...

Sara Jane Olson Sara Jane Olson (born Kathleen Ann Soliah on January 16, 1947) is an American far-left activist who was convicted of an attempted murder charge related to a failed bombing plot and a second-degree murder charge related to a botched bank robber ...

Henry Orth Harold (Henry) William Orth (April 14, 1866 - March 5, 1946) was an American architect. Background Harold William Orth was born on a ship en route to the United States from Christiana (Oslo), Norway, on April 14, 1866. His exact date of arrival t ...

* Oscar S. Paulson * J. A. O. Preus II * Carlton C. Qualey * Al Quie *

Max Ramsland Magnus (Max) Ramsland (January 30, 1882 – November 17, 1918) was a Canadian politician. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan in the 1917 provincial election as the Liberal MLA for Pelly, but died of the Spanish fl ...

Ole Ramsland Ole T. Ramsland (1854–1930) was an American politician, who served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1905 to 1907.Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge, ''History of Renville County Minnesota, Vol. 1''. H. C. Cooper Jr, & Co., Chicago (1916). A ...

Sarah Ramsland Sarah Katherine Ramsland, née McEwen (July 19, 1882 – April 4, 1964) was a Canadian politician, the first woman ever elected to the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan. She was born in Boon Lake, Minnesota, the daughter of local politician ...

* Harley Refsal * Anton J. Rockne *

Karl Rolvaag Karl Fritjof Rolvaag (July 18, 1913 – December 20, 1990) was an American diplomat and politician who served as the 31st Governor of Minnesota from March 25, 1963, to January 2, 1967, as a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party. H ...

* Ole Edvart Rølvaag * Nils Nilsen Ronning *

Esther Rose Esther Elvina Rose (April 1, 1901 – July 16, 1990) was an American painter who worked in oils, collage, silkscreen and watercolors. She was best known for her impressionist renditions of California coastal images. Early life Esther Elvina H ...

Erick Rowan Joseph Ruud (born November 28, 1981) is an American professional wrestler performing as Erick Redbeard. Having previously wrestled in Japan, where he trained and performed for Pro Wrestling Noah, Ruud signed a contract with WWE in 2011. He was s ...

* Peter O. Sathre * Conrad Selvig *

David Senjem David Howard Senjem ( ; born December 20, 1942) is an American politician and member of the Minnesota Senate. He served as its majority leader from 2011 to 2013. A moderate Republican, Senjem has crossed party lines on many occasions, notably e ...

Henrik Shipstead Henrik Shipstead (January 8, 1881June 26, 1960) was an American politician. He served in the United States Senate from 1923 to 1947, from the state of Minnesota. He served first as a member of the Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party from 1923 to 1941 an ...

* Dale Smedsmo * Konrad K. Solberg *

Ossie Solem Oscar Martin "Ossie" Solem (December 13, 1891 – October 26, 1970) was an American football player, coach of football and basketball, and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa (1 ...

* Charles Stenvig * Carl F. Struck * Arnold Sundgaard * Bud Svendsen * Steve Sviggum * Laurits Swenson * Oscar A. Swenson * Henry O. Talle * Kari Tauring * Herman Thorson *

Bud Tingelstad Bud Tingelstad (April 4, 1928 – July 30, 1981) was an American racecar driver. Born in Frazee, Minnesota, Tingelstad drove in the USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1960–1971 seasons with 120 starts, including the Indianapolis 500 i ...

Shantel VanSanten Shantel VanSanten (born July 25, 1985) is an American actress and model. As a model, she has been featured in the magazines ''Teen Vogue'' and '' Seventeen''. On television, she played the role of Quinn James in the CW teen drama series '' One ...

Andrew Volstead Andrew John Volstead () (October 31, 1860 – January 20, 1947) was an American member of the United States House of Representatives from Minnesota, 1903–1923, and a member of the Republican Party. His name is closely associated with the N ...

Lindsey Vonn Lindsey Caroline Vonn ( ; born October 18, 1984) is an American former World Cup alpine ski racer on the US Ski Team. She won four World Cup overall championships — second only amongst female skiers to Annemarie Moser-Pröll — with three ...

Owen Harding Wangensteen Owen Harding Wangensteen (September 21, 1898 – January 13, 1981) was an American surgeon who developed the Wangensteen tube, which used suction to treat small bowel obstruction, an innovation estimated to have saved a million lives by the tim ...

* Harold Windingstad

References

{{European Americans * * * Minnesotan

Settlement

Demographics

Norwegian communities in Minnesota

Norwegian counties in Minnesota

Notable people

See also

References