Hovland was settled during the late 1880s by fishermen of primarily Scandinavian ancestry. Hovland post office was established in 1889, named after settler Ole Brunes' place of origin in Norway.[2] The Trefoldighets Evangelisk Norsk Lutherske menighet, a Hauge Synod Lutheran congregation, was organized in 1909. The congregation continues as Trinity Lutheran and is noted for the distinctive architecture of its stone church, begun in 1947.