a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
 
 

Oyen

Oyen: East of Drumheller, on the way to the Saskatchewan border, is the town of Oyen. The town was named for Andrew Oyen, who arrived in 1909, and he was the first of three brothers from Norway who settled in this area. Andrew originally immigrated to the United States in 1887, at the age of 17. He visited the Oyen area in 1908 and returned for good the following year. Andrew's brother Simon emigrated from Norway in 1911 with his three children and settled on a homestead three miles northeast of Oyen. Brother Melcor accompanied Andrew to the United States, but later returned to Norway to marry. In 1910 he, his wife, and their son emigrated to Saskatchewan. And the following year he too moved to a farm just northeast of Oyen. So they were all reunited in one spot. The village of Oyen was built on Andrew's land. He was well known and highly esteemed as one who never turned a wayfarer from his door. The community of Oyen continued to prosper and grow, and in 1965, it was incorporated as a town.

For more information on place names in Alberta, visit Alberta: Home, Home on the Plains.