History
Bosque County was home to a significant Norwegian immigrant community starting in 1854
Starting in 1854, Norwegian immigrants settled in a triangle around present-day Clifton, Norse, and Cranfills Gap, creating a lasting cultural presence still visible in the area today.
In 1854, Norwegian settlers began arriving in Bosque County along the Bosque River. Scouts had found the land good for farming. The settlers gathered in an area near the modern towns of Clifton, Norse, and Cranfills Gap. People kept coming from Norway until about 1872.
The community stayed tight-knit through the Civil War. Most of Bosque County supported secession, but the Norwegian settlers held Union views. They built Our Savior's Lutheran Church, which was dedicated in 1878. The Norwegian language stayed in everyday use there into the early 1900s.
You can still see the Norwegian roots in this part of Bosque County today. An annual smorgasbord is held each November near Norse. The town of Norse and the land around it carry the mark of this wave of immigration. The Texas State Historical Association has detailed records of this history.
Source to confirm: TSHA Handbook — Norwegians in Texas