Translated from 'Nordmændene i Amerika' by Martin Ulvestad. 1907. Ramsey County Who were the first Norwegians in Ramsey County, which includes Minnesota's capital, St. Paul, is not known. But it is known that St. Paul and its neighbour, St. Anthony Falls (now Minneapolis) were the end of civilisation until the end of the 40s. West of these cities, that are cut through by the Mississippi River, there were no white people before one got to Utah with its Mormons and to the Pacific coast with its fortune hunters and adventurers. However, that there were Norwegian workers in the sawmills in St. Paul by the beginning of the 50s is fairly certain As well at that time, the immigrant flow to Minnesota was fairly strong - especially via the Twin Cities. John A. Hansen from Mo i Ranen had the honour of working on the first railway bridge crossing the Mississippi River (in Minnesota), that was built in St. Paul in 1867. Earlier he was a ship's carpenter but at the aforementioned time came the railroads with their bridges and ruined shipping, he said. (We have found Hansen mentioned before - under Polk County, Wis., where he was one of the first settlers and where he still lives. The first Norwegian congregation in St. Paul (and Ramsey County) was established in 1858 by Pastor (later professor) Laur. Larsen, belonging to The Norwegian Synod, and he also served it for a time from Rush River, Wis., where he was then the priest. The first Norwegian priest who settled in St. Paul was O. A. Norman, who also belonged to The Synod. He took over serving the abovementioned congregation in 1869. Until that time it was served by itinerant priests. Its church - the first Norwegian church in the city and county - was built in 1881. Now there are 11 congregations and 9 churches in Ramsey County, 2 belong to The Norwegian Synod, 2 to Hauge's Synod, 2 are Independent Lutheran, 1 to The United Church, 1 to The Lutheran Free Church, 1 to The Evangelical Free Church, 1 to the Methodists and 1 to the Baptists. For information about 'Nordvesten', Theologisk Tidskrift', 'Jubilate', 'Smuler', 'Valdris Helsing', 'Den Evangeliske Basun', 'Heimdal' and 'St. Paul Tidende' etc, see the section,'Norwegian-American newdpapers and periodicals'. And for information about The Norwegian Synod's seminary (Luther Seminary) in Hamline, The United Church's seminary in St. Paul Park and Luther Hospital in St. Paul itself, see their respective sections. About Norwegians in public office, one can find information is a special section elsewehere in the book. At the State Agricultural College, Scandinavians have, as a rule, ranked as No. 1, which is certainly of great significance. That they have been seen as 'practical farmers', we have always knoen, but that they stand at the top in the theoretical aspect has been less known. It is with happiness that such things can be noted.