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Nerstrand’s roots date to the 1870s, but the town wasn't platted until 1885 when the Chicago Great Western Railway reached the area. The community was incorporated in 1897.
Our founding father
““Osmund Omundsen borne March 31st, 1826, at Norstrand, Stavanger, Norge (Norway). Parents: Osmund Omundsen and Astri Gudmundsdatter Osmundsen. One brother: Gudmund Osmunson, borne March 20, 1822; One sister: Maren Osmundsen, borne February 24, 1924.” So reads the records as set down in the church books in Nedstrand (as it is now spelt), Norway.
Osmund left Norway in 1850 and came to the United States. Eventually he settled in Wheeling Township, Rice County, Minnesota.
It is here that he, along with other settlers, built a village which was named Nerstrand, after Osmund’s home in Norway.
We are eternally grateful to those early pioneers whose courage, hard work, and foresight made possible the establishment of our community. Therefore, it is out pleasure to dedicate this book in their memory.”
The Nerstrand Bicentennial Committee- 1976
-Preface from Nerstrand — A History
“Nerstrand is a city of 231 people (1970 Census), located in the northeastern part of Wheeling Township, about one and a half miles from the Goodhue County line. Its main street extends through the township and was once the dividing line between the German and Norwegian settlements.”
Page 4, Nerstrand — A History
“My first remembrance of Nerstrand is my mom taking me to 1st grade at the Nerstrand School in 1934. I was born and raised on the Bonde Farm and farmed for 65 years except for 2 years in the U.S Army Band. I’ve lived in Nerstrand since 1993.”
Nerstrand centennial year 1985
“Nerstrand changed from a Village status to a City status by Minnesota Statue on January 8, 1980. This did not affect in any way the mayor-council form of government.
The Nerstrand area has five places listed in the National Register of Historic Places. They are: Our city founder’s home, the Osmund Osmundson brick house built in 1885 and selected in 1981 for its age and architectural design, still occupied by Osmundson grandchildren, Leonard Osmundson and Ambrosia Osmundson Ruble; The Tosten Bonde stone house built in 1875 and selected in 1981, is now occupied by his great grandson, Gary Bonde; the Thorstein Veblen home built in the 1870’s, the childhood home of the great economist; the Nerstrand City Hall built in 1908, selected for its type of architecture and the Vally Grove Churches, the first one, of stone, built in 1862 and the later wooden structure in 1984.”
Page 1
-Nerstrand Centennial Year 1985 Supplement to the 1976 Nerstrand — A History
“We moved to Nerstrand in 1958 (I grew up on a farm 2 miles East of town). We both worked at Reviers Produce. At that time there was 2 hardware stores, 3 restaurants, 2 grocery stores, meat market, bank, post office, gas station, Lumbar yard and more- was a very busy town. We had a very active Booster Club.”