Where is Stavanger?

Everyone knows that Stavanger is an important Norwegian name and a famous port. Or is it?!

Carolyn Johnson has just discovered that Stavanger is losing population! Gone is the famous one-room school, the blacksmith shop, and the general store. Only the famous Lutheran church remains a famous landmark in the community, but this Stravanger is not in Norway.

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In 1975, this Stavanger church was visited by King Olav V as he toured the area. However, this area is not in Norway, but in Illinois, USA. Numerous bus tours have visited this Illinois community to experience the famous name-sake and view an active Norwegian church that was established in 1876. King Olav was greeted by a Norwegian-singing childrens-choir.

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At one time, 22 Norwegians from Norway, Europe came on their bus-tour. In the words of one community member "A lot of people are into genealogy, and we get a lot of people who call and ask to go through our old records to se if "great-grandpa was here." Sometimes, visitors will end up in Stavanger by following the route taken by early immigrants. The church celebrated it's 125th anniversary by celebrating a service in Norwegian. The populatin of Stavanger, Illinois at the 20 census was 2053 people. Other than the Norwegian Lutheran Church, little evidence of Norwegian influence can be found in this community located about 30 miles southeast of Chicago. The village is also known as Seneca on an Illinois map. What may be the Norwegian connection? Just 25 miles north of Seneca/Stavanger is a place called Norway, Illinois ,and the Norwegian Settler's State Memorial. Things begin to be even more interesting!

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This memorial commemorates the 1834 settlement at Norway, Illinois.

This plaque marks the first permanent Norwegian settlement in the Midwest. This location became the departure point for many Norwegians, who, after organizing here, then left for other locations in the Midwest. It became known as the "Mother Settlement", honoring the area and its founder Cleng Peerson (1783-1865). Peerson helped many Norwegians immigrate to the US. This memorial is one of five commemorative markers in front of the small Cleng Peerson Memorial Cemetery.

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Cleng Peerson was born a farmer's son in Tysvær, Norway. In 1821, he received a request from a religious group in Stavanger, Illinois, which, was then, a settlement of Quakers and followers of Hans Christian Hauge. He traveled to the little settlement and assisted many immigrants to the area. Cleng was a deeply religious man who was convinced of the religious and social structure of the Illinois settlement. Starting in 1838, Peerson made numerous return trips to Norway , assisting groups of immigrants to the new country. His travels brought him as far south and west as Texas, as he aided Norwegians settling in their new country. Cleng Peerson became known as "The Father of Emigration."

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