Thorsby in Chilton County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Scandinavian Cemetery

Photographed by Mark Hilton, April 25, 2014

1. Scandinavian Cemetery Marker

Inscription. In 1896 Swedish settlers organized the Concordia Methodist Church and acquired this land for the Concordia Cemetery, later known as the Lutheran Cemetery. This is the former site of Strassburg School. In the 1980s it became known as the Scandinavian Cemetery since most of those laid to rest here were Lutherans, not only of Swedish descent, but of Norwegian, Danish and Finnish. They were primarily from the upper mid-western United States and desired a better climate and living conditions to work in and raise their families. They cleared the land, built homes, planted orchards and vineyards, established businesses, schools and churches. They developed a thriving town where they enjoyed social gatherings, band concerts, festive celebrations, and built life-long friendships. This marker was placed here in 2010 by descendants of the Scandinavians laid to rest here and the Thorsby Historical Preservation Committee to remember these people who founded the Town of Thorsby.

Listed in the Alabama Historic Cemetery Register.

Erected 2010 by the Thorsby Historical Preservation Committee.

Topics. This historical marker is

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listed in this topic list: Cemeteries & Burial Sites. A significant historical year for this entry is 1896.

Location. 32° 54.43′ N, 86° 42.888′ W. Marker is in Thorsby, Alabama, in Chilton County. It is on Alabama Avenue 0.1 miles north of County Road 74. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 560 Alabama Avenue, Thorsby AL 35171, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Birmingham Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

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

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Thorsby Remembers Our Veterans (approx. half a mile away); Thorsby: A Scandinavian Colony in the South (approx. 0.7 miles away); Central Alabama Vietnam Veterans Memorial (approx. 6.8 miles away); Chilton County History

Scandinavian Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, April 25, 2014

2. Scandinavian Cemetery

(approx. 6.8 miles away); Chilton County Police Memorial (approx. 6.8 miles away); USS Chilton (approx. 6.8 miles away); Chilton County Veterans Memorial (approx. 6.8 miles away); City of Clanton (approx. 6.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Thorsby.

Scandinavian Cemetery (aka Concordia Cemetery) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, April 25, 2014

3. Scandinavian Cemetery (aka Concordia Cemetery)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 25, 2018. It was originally submitted on April 25, 2014, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,225 times since then and 61 times this year. Last updated on May 15, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 25, 2014, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.