- Danish people in Omaha, Nebraska
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Part of a series on
African Americans Czechs Danes Germans Greeks Irish Italians Jews Mexicans Poles Swedes Racial tension Timeline of racial tension Civil rights movement The Danish people in Omaha, Nebraska were a predominant ethnic group in the city in the 1920s, and were notable for that compared to other cities across the United States.[1] Omaha, as well as its neighbor, Council Bluffs, had "major colonies of Danes for many years."[2]
Contents
History
According to the definitive 1882 History of the State of Nebraska, the first Danes in Nebraska arrived at Florence with the Mormons in the 1840s.[3]
A Danish language newspaper called Den Danske Pioneer was founded in Omaha in 1872. 75 percent of its subscribers were Danish farmers in the United States. In 1882, the Danish Brotherhood in America, a fraternity, was founded in Omaha. In 2010, it counts about 8,000 members.[4]
Legacy
A legacy of the continued influence of Danes in Omaha is the Danish Vennelyst Park, a private facility owned and operated by the Danish American Society of Omaha.[5] The park held Denmark's Constitution Day celebrations annually for many decades.[6]
As Danes assimilated into American culture throughout the 20th century, many of their institutions faded and closed. The Trinity Norwegian-Danish Lutheran Church was organized in 1895 and was located on T Street near 28th in South Omaha. It was dissolved in 1914.[7] In 2010, the Dana College, founded by the Danes of Omaha in neighboring Blair, Nebraska,[8] closed as well.
The Springwell Danish Cemetery is located in North Omaha. First used in 1868, this cemetery was formally commissioned in 1889 by local Danes. It was designated an Omaha Landmark in 1996.[9]
See also
- Danish American
- History of Omaha, Nebraska
- Culture in Omaha, Nebraska
- Springwell Danish Cemetery
References
- ^ Barkan, E.R. (1999)A Nation of Peoples: A sourcebook on America's multicultural heritage. Greenwood Publishing Group. p 470.
- ^ Thernstrom, S. (1980) Harvard encyclopedia of American ethnic groups. Harvard University Press. p 276.
- ^ Andreas, A. (1882) History of the State of Nebraska. Retrieved 10/7/10.
- ^ John Mark Nielsen and Peter L. Petersen. "Danish Americans" Everyculture.com. Retrieved 11/3/10.
- ^ "Danish Vennelyst Park" official website. Retrieved 10/7/10.
- ^ Federal Writers' Project. (1939) Nebraska: A Guide to the Cornhusker State. [[Nebraska State Historical Society. p 232.
- ^ "Trinity Norwegian-Danish Lutheran Church", Nebraska State Historical Society. Retrieved 10/7/10.
- ^ Zacher, C.K. and Clayton, A.R.L. (2007) The American Midwest: an interpretive encyclopedia. Indiana University Press. p 212.
- ^ (nd) Springwell Danish Cemetery. City of Omaha. Retrieved 6/17/07.
Ethnic groups in Omaha, Nebraska Groups African Americans · American Indians · Asians · Canadians · Czechs · Danes · Germans · Greeks · Irish · Italians · Jews · Latinos · Mexicans · Poles · Slovaks · Sudanese · Swedes · UkrainiansEthnic enclaves Institutions Czechoslovak Museum · El Museo Latino · Great Plains Black History Museum · Little Ukrainian Catholic Church · Lithuanian Bakery · Omaha Black Music Hall of Fame · Omaha Jewish Community Center · St. John's Greek Orthodox ChurchEvents Timeline of racial tension in Omaha, Nebraska · Timeline of riots and civil unrest in Omaha, Nebraska · Omaha Race Riot of 1919 · Greek Town Riot ·Related Categories:- Danish American history
- Danish people in Omaha, Nebraska
- American people of Danish descent
- Danish emigrants
- Ethnic groups in Omaha, Nebraska
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