Norway in America - British Columbia

Engen, BC
Norway in America - British Columbia Post office names in USA and Canada with Norwegian origin. Research by Hallvard Slettebø and Dag Henriksbø. This page was updated 3 November 2025
Engen, a small populated place in Nechako Valley, British Columbia, named for Fred Engen, early pioneer. The Engen post office started 1919 with C.F. Barkman postmaster. Closed (unknown year 2014-2021?). Fredrik Engen, born 1863 Nesna, Nordland, Norway, emigrated to USA and came 1902 to Saskatchewan. He had tried his luck being a farmer and as an agent but had not registered a lot of success in either of these endeavours, came in contact with Mennonites and fell in love with their principle of pacifism. He was likely in the party of Mennonites from Saskatchewan who ventured westwards April 1918 to settle in the Braeside area, west of Vanderhoof, BC. In 1919, Engen travelled to Paraguay on behalf of the Mennonite migration project. He died 1929 in Paraguay
Hagensborg, BC
Hagensborg, town in Coast Chilcotin, Skeena, BC. In 1894, some 100 Norwegian colonists journeyed from Minnesota to the Bella Coola Valley and founded a settlement first called Kristiania, then Hagensborg, named for Hagen Christensen, an early Norwegian settler. The post office started as Bella Coola 1895 with Thore Thorson as postmaster, and in 1900 changed name to Hagensborg. Still in operation. Its census population in 2006 was 248.

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