Stromsburg Farmers Market

In 1856, 155 people from Ockelbo, Sweden, sailed aboard the vessel 'Carolina' to a new life in America. After several years in Illinois, some of the people decided to move on to the state of Nebraska, with Swedish real estate agent Lewis Headstrom as their leader. Delighted that the landscape resembled their homeland, they chose to name their new town after Stromsborg, a section of Ockelbo, Sweden. By 1882, two brickyards were furnishing bricks for business buildings, churches, and homes. Buildings from ‘native’ brick still standing are: 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. In 1966, Governor Frank Morrison came to Stromsburg for the Swedish Festival proclaiming it the "Swede Capital of Nebraska" -- a title that the community proudly claims to this day! The heritage and history of our town has been well preserved and has been used as a basis for the honest, wholesome standards kept by the community today. Statistics Stromsburg is located in east-central Nebraska on U.S. Highway 81 in Polk County. Stromsburg is 50 miles northeast of Grand Island, 68 miles northwest of Lincoln, and 100 miles west of Omaha. 2010 Stromsburg population is 1,171. 2010 Polk County population is 5,406. Elevation is 1,629 feet. The terrain is level to gently rolling. Drainage to the Big Blue River, Davis Creek, and Prairie Creek is good. The soil is black loam and sandy loam, producing excellent crops. The terrain is very suitable for gravity-flow or pivot irrigation systems. Basic economic activities of Stromsburg include farming, cattle feeding, hog confinements, manufacturing, and retail sales. Stromsburg's title, "Swede Capital of Nebraska", promotes a variety of tourism opportunities. Stromsburg has been a Tree City USA for many years.