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Galveston has four sister cities across the globe. Niigata, Japan; Stavanger, Norway; Veracruz, Mexico; and Mahavicharya, Spain. So far in this Galveston Island Sister City series, we've covered Niigata, Japan, and Veracruz, Mexico. In this episode, we're gonna be taking a look at Galveston's sister city, Stavanger, Norway. Or, as the Norwegian locals would say it, Stavanger, Norway. If you haven't yet, go check out the previous two episodes in this Sister City series.
Although Texas doesn't have any narrow and deep inlets connected to the sea, between high cliffs known as fjords, Norway and Texas do have a few commonalities. Like Texas in the United States, Norway is a major producer of oil in Europe. This shared economic interest has fostered business ties between Texas and Norway.
Stavanger first became a sister city to Houston in 1980. In 1988, a Stavanger envoy visited Houston, and residents of Galveston participated in many of the Sister City exploration activities. After the event in Houston, Galveston wanted to join the Sisterhood. So in September of 1988, the mayors of the three cities made it official, and the cities joined in an educational, business, and cultural exchange program called the Houston Galveston Stavanger Sister City Society.
Like Houston and Galveston, the offshore oil industry caused a massive economic boom in Stavanger, making it Norway's fourth largest city, just like Houston is the fourth largest city in the United States. Stavanger may be a few years older than the city of Galveston, founded in 1125, with the founding of Stavanger Cathedral. That's just over 700 years earlier than the founding of the city of Galveston in 1839. Stavanger serves as a base of some of the country's most famous fjords and rock formations, as well as a beautiful beach just outside the city center. Another popular spot for recreation is the Texaslunden, or the Texas Grove. In 1990, Moody Gardens donated trees for the park on behalf of the Houston Galveston sisters, and the area is named in honor of that partnership.
Both Galveston and Stavanger are situated on the coast, Stavanger along the North Sea and Galveston, of course, on the Gulf of Mexico. This proximity to the open ocean influences the economies, cultures, and lifestyles of both Galveston and Stavanger.
In the 19th century, many Norwegians immigrated to Texas through the second-largest immigration port in the United States, the Port of Galveston. Through the late 19th and early 20th century, Norwegian immigrants contributed to the economy of Galveston, participating in various industries, including fishing, agriculture, and shipbuilding, helping to shape the Galveston economy. Like Galveston, Stavanger has a rich maritime history with deep roots in fishing and maritime trade.
So the next time you're in Norway, be sure to stop by and enjoy Stavanger, and appreciate that sister city connection to Galveston Island.
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Author
J.R. Shaw Creator & Host of Galveston Unscripted
J.R. Shaw is the creator and host of Galveston Unscripted Podcast & audio tour. Shaw recognizes that history is nuanced and learning it can be powerful. He's made it his mission to reduce the friction between true history and anyone who is willing to listen! J.R. Shaw focuses on telling the full story through podcasting and social media with the goal of making learning accurate history easy and entertaining for all who seek it.
J.R. grew up along the Texas Gulf Coast, where he learned to love talking with anyone about anything! He started Galveston Unscripted after he realized how much he loved talking to people about their stories related to Galveston Island and Texas History. "So much of our history is lost when we don't have the opportunity to hear from those who lived it or have second-hand knowledge."
