IMMIGRATION FROM LAND
750,000 Norwegians left their homeland for America between 1840 and 1915. Of those, 83,000 came from Oppland County. 6,500 of the Oppland emigrants were from Nordre and Sondre Land. This is a brief overview of immigration from these home kommuner for Landingslag.
Nordre Land includes the parishes of:
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Sondre Land includes the parishes of:
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Who were the immigrants?
Those who left Land included members of all social classes
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Landingslag members can see a list of emigrants from Land here (id and password required).
Why did they immigrate?
Many forces were at work that encouraged Norwegians to leave their country and come to America. Negative forces at work in Norway included economics and the class system, alcoholism, and crop failure. America offered the promise of a favorable economic future, and this belief was bolstered by the free land available through the Homestead Act of 1862. "America Letters" were circulated throughout Norwegian communities and generated great enthusiasm about the prospects of a better life in America.
What did the life they left behind look like?
Farms were subdivided into smaller plots which were assigned to tenants. The tenants were required to work for the owner and/or share produce from their plots and animals with the owners as payment for their living space.
Tenant farmers (husmann) lived in small cabins.
Farm owners had more substantial homes.
For many immigrant women, their fondest memories of the 'Old Country' were of summers at the seter
How did they prepare for the journey to America?
Early emigrants had to reserve space for cargo aboard ship well in advance
•Collect a comprehensive supply of equipment
What did it cost?
For the earliest emigrants:
1840’s and 50’s fare to New York was 20 speciedalar for adults - children traveled for half price
The voyage could last 2-3 months, depending on wind and storms
Over land transportation to Wisconsin (a 12 day trip) was about $9, plus the traveler needed an additional $5 for food.
A family of two adults and two children would spend about $100 for the trip plus food for the sea voyage. (Wages for a farm laborer were about 30 speciedalar a year.)
In later years:
Prices became more reasonable: beginning in the 1860's, the fare for an adult was 15-17 spd. for an adult passage from Christiania to Quebec (about a year's wage for a hired man)
By the 1870's sailing ships were a thing of the past; steamships carried most passengers, with food and bedding included in the price
The voyage typically lasted only 1 to 2 weeks
Individuals and families usually banded together in groups and made the journey to America together. The vast majority of immigrants were "sponsored" by friends or family already established in America.
As many as half the immigrants from Land traveled on pre-paid tickets. The tickets were paid for by family or friends in America.
3 out of 4 cotter's sons and daughters traveled on pre-paid tickets
Once they arrived at their destination, new immigrants often stayed with those who had purchased their tickets and worked to pay off that debt before moving west.
How did they get from Land to the ports?
Early departures (1840s and 1850s) were from Drammen
Many rowed or took a steamboat down the Randsfjord to Jevnaker, and walked from there to Drammen
Many walked the entire distance to Drammen
Later emigrants sailed from Gjøvik to Eidsvold and then took a train to Christiania where they boarded the ship
In 1868 the Randsfjord railroad opened and became the common means of transportation to Oslo
Many rowed or took a steamboat down the Randsfjord to Jevnaker, and walked from there to Drammen
Later emigrants sailed from Gjøvik to Eidsvold and then took a train to Christiania where they boarded the ship
In 1868 the Randsfjord railroad opened and became the common means of transportation to Oslo
What was the voyage like?
The Argo - 1868
Where did immigrants from Land settle in America?
Rock County/Rock Prairie Wisconsin
Wiota, Wisconsin
Allamakee County, Iowa
Coon Valley, Wisconsin
Zumbrota, Minnesota
Norway Lake, Minnesota
Richland County, Wisconsin
Trempeleau County, Wisconsin
Bode, Iowa
Hillsboro, North Dakota
What were the effects on life back in Norway?
Loss of cotters/laborers drove labor costs up
Emigration relieved the problems of overcrowding
Landingslaget i Amerika |