Stromsburg Map
Stromsburg is a city in Polk County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 1,232 at the 2000 census.
Stromsburg was settled early in Nebraska history. A group of Swedish 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.
Nearby cities include Shelby, Gresham, Clarks, Silver Creek, Hordville.