Near Sheridan in LaSalle County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Cleng Peerson

First permanent Norwegian settlement in the US, by pioneers Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Luci j Baker Johnson

1. First permanent Norwegian settlement in the US, by pioneers Marker

Inscription. Here is commemorated the 100th anniversary of the first permanent Norwegian settlement in the United States by Cleng Peerson and other pioneers from Norway. They and their descendants, who still live here have contributed largely to the development of this section of Illinois.

Erected 1934 by State of Illinois.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Immigration • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Norwegian-Americans series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1834.

Location. 41° 27.444′ N, 88° 40.422′ W. Marker is near Sheridan, Illinois, in LaSalle County. It is at the intersection of Cleng Peerson Memorial Highway (Route 71) and East 2631st Road, on the right when traveling south on Cleng Peerson Memorial Highway. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3608 Cleng Peerson Mem Hwy, Sheridan IL 60551, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern Illinois

and specifically in the Illinois River Valley.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is

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in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Hauge Lutheran Church c. 1852 (approx. 0.7 miles away); Charles A. Lindbergh (approx. 5.6 miles away); Marseilles Veterans Memorial (approx. 9 miles away); Marseilles Veterans Monument (approx. 9.1 miles away); Marseilles Civil War Memorial (approx. 9.1 miles away); Sgt. James Sanborn (approx. 9.1 miles away); First Marine Division FMF Memorial (approx. 9.3 miles away); Mistaken Shoot-out at Marseilles Dam (approx. 9.3 miles away).

Photographed by Luci j Baker Johnson

2. First permanent Norwegian settlement in the US, by pioneers Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on May 13, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 11, 2025, by Luci j Baker Johnson of Seattle, Washington. This page has been viewed 151 times since then and 39 times this year. Last updated on May 13, 2025, by Luci j Baker Johnson of Seattle, Washington. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 11, 2025, by Luci j Baker Johnson of Seattle, Washington. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.