Stromsburg, Nebraska
Encyclopedia
Stromsburg is a city in Polk County
, Nebraska
, United States
. The population was 1,232 at the 2000 census
.
settlers coming from the town of Ockelbo
arrived in the 1860s after several years in Illinois
. This group had a leader named Lewis Headstrom, who was a real estate agent. Seeing some similarities to their old Swedish homeland the settlers formed what would be called Stromsburg, named after a section of Ockelbo, Sweden. By the 1880s two brickyards were in operation in the town. Many buildings from ‘native’ brick still stand, including the Viking Center, now a community center that was originally The Opera House; the Cornerstone Bank; two businesses on the east side of the square; and several homes. Brick streets still surround the city square in Stromsburg. A brick Carnegie library was built in Stromsburg in 1918. The downtown area of Stromsburg has a town square in its center. This square forms a park, with lawns and mature trees, where festivals and events are held. In the center of the square is a two story Swedish style building made of brick with decorative toll painting and the phrase "Välkommen" (Swedish for "Welcome").
In 1966 the Nebraska Governor came to Stromsburg for the annual Swedish Festival proclaiming it the "Swede Capital of Nebraska", a title that the community still claims. Featuring traditional Swedish food and dancing, the Swedish Festival remains a popular attraction to this day, the crowning jewel of which is the Swedish Festival parade. In 2011, the parade included an appearance by the Cheese-Slingin' Swedish Dragon, a hero of Swedish mythology.
Stromsburg Public School
has serviced the community since 1887. In 2002, the Stromsburg district consolidated with Benedict, Nebraska
to form Cross County Community School
, which serves the educational needs of the community's children.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1 square miles (2.6 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 1,232 people, 487 households, and 320 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,214.2 people per square mile (471.0/km²). There were 533 housing units at an average density of 525.3 per square mile (203.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.19% White, 0.08% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.16% from other races, and 0.49% from two or more races. 0.65% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 487 households out of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.1% were married couples
living together, 4.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.1% were non-families. 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.9% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 20.5% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 31.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,250, and the median income for a family was $45,250. Males had a median income of $32,132 versus $18,600 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,235. About 4.0% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.9% of those under the age of 18 and 3.5% of those 65 and older.
Polk County, Nebraska
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 5,639 people, 2,259 households, and 1,570 families residing in the county. The population density was 5/km² . There were 2,717 housing units at an average density of 2/km²...
, Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 1,232 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
.
History
Stromsburg was settled early in Nebraska history. A group of SwedishSweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
settlers coming from the town of Ockelbo
Ockelbo
Ockelbo is a locality and the seat of Ockelbo Municipality, Gävleborg County, Sweden with 2,709 inhabitants in 2005.The name Ockelbo, spelt "De oklabo" in 1314, contains an old marine name *Ukle, referring to modern- day lake Bysjön. The name derives from the old Swedish word "ukla" meaning swell,...
arrived in the 1860s after several years in Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. This group had a leader named Lewis Headstrom, who was a real estate agent. Seeing some similarities to their old Swedish homeland the settlers formed what would be called Stromsburg, named after a section of Ockelbo, Sweden. By the 1880s two brickyards were in operation in the town. Many buildings from ‘native’ brick still stand, including the Viking Center, now a community center that was originally The Opera House; the Cornerstone Bank; two businesses on the east side of the square; and several homes. Brick streets still surround the city square in Stromsburg. A brick Carnegie library was built in Stromsburg in 1918. The downtown area of Stromsburg has a town square in its center. This square forms a park, with lawns and mature trees, where festivals and events are held. In the center of the square is a two story Swedish style building made of brick with decorative toll painting and the phrase "Välkommen" (Swedish for "Welcome").
In 1966 the Nebraska Governor came to Stromsburg for the annual Swedish Festival proclaiming it the "Swede Capital of Nebraska", a title that the community still claims. Featuring traditional Swedish food and dancing, the Swedish Festival remains a popular attraction to this day, the crowning jewel of which is the Swedish Festival parade. In 2011, the parade included an appearance by the Cheese-Slingin' Swedish Dragon, a hero of Swedish mythology.
Stromsburg Public School
Stromsburg Public School
Stromsburg High School was a public high school located in the community of Stromsburg, Nebraska. It was founded in 1887 and closed in 2002, after consolidation with Benedict, Nebraska . The school's mascot was the Vikings. In 1999, the Stromsburg Vikings football team won the Nebraska Class C-2...
has serviced the community since 1887. In 2002, the Stromsburg district consolidated with Benedict, Nebraska
Benedict, Nebraska
Benedict is a village in York County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 278 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Benedict is located at ....
to form Cross County Community School
Cross County Community School
Cross County Community School is a consolidated school district in Nebraska. In 2002, the communities of Benedict, Nebraska and Stromsburg, Nebraska consolidated their school districts to form Cross County Public Schools. The school's team mascot is the Cougar.- External links :*...
, which serves the educational needs of the community's children.
Geography
Stromsburg is located at 41°6′56"N 97°35′37"W (41.115580, -97.593551).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 1 square miles (2.6 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 1,232 people, 487 households, and 320 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,214.2 people per square mile (471.0/km²). There were 533 housing units at an average density of 525.3 per square mile (203.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.19% White, 0.08% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.16% from other races, and 0.49% from two or more races. 0.65% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 487 households out of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.1% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 4.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.1% were non-families. 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.9% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 20.5% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 31.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,250, and the median income for a family was $45,250. Males had a median income of $32,132 versus $18,600 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $17,235. About 4.0% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.9% of those under the age of 18 and 3.5% of those 65 and older.