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Swedish Emigration Databases and Indexes (view source)
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Some of the earliest Swedish emigration to North America took place in the 1840’s when groups under the direction of charismatic leaders, often from a single geographic area, established communities in the New World. Peter Cassel a farmer and miller from Kisa in Östergötland was typical of these figures leading a group of emigrants to found a colony in Iowa they called “New Sweden”. The religious leader, Erik Jansson from Biskopskulla in Uppland led a group of followers from Hälsingland to Illinois and founded Bishop’s Hill. A third example of this group emigration was the company of students that Gustaf Unonius brought with his family to Pine Lake in Wisconsin. <br> | Some of the earliest Swedish emigration to North America took place in the 1840’s when groups under the direction of charismatic leaders, often from a single geographic area, established communities in the New World. Peter Cassel a farmer and miller from Kisa in Östergötland was typical of these figures leading a group of emigrants to found a colony in Iowa they called “New Sweden”. The religious leader, Erik Jansson from Biskopskulla in Uppland led a group of followers from Hälsingland to Illinois and founded Bishop’s Hill. A third example of this group emigration was the company of students that Gustaf Unonius brought with his family to Pine Lake in Wisconsin. <br> | ||
The first wave of significant movement from Sweden to the United States occurred during the 1850’s. This emigration occurred primarily from the counties of Östergötland, Blekinge, Kristianstads län, Älvsborgs län and certain parts of Småland. Many of the 14,000 Swedes who came to the U.S. during this decade prior to the Civil War settled in the upper portion of the Midwest, especially Minnesota. <br> | The '''first wave''' of significant movement from Sweden to the United States occurred during the 1850’s. This emigration occurred primarily from the counties of Östergötland, Blekinge, Kristianstads län, Älvsborgs län and certain parts of Småland. Many of the 14,000 Swedes who came to the U.S. during this decade prior to the Civil War settled in the upper portion of the Midwest, especially Minnesota. <br> | ||
The second significant wave of emigration was largely motivated by three consecutive years of crop failure in Sweden (1866—1868) and the availability of free land in the United States afforded by the Homestead Act of 1862. It extended from the end of the Civil War to the financial crisis of 1873 and involved primarily farm people. 120,000 emigrants came to America during this period. By this time, improved methods of transportation had begun to facilitate movement from Europe to America. “It was now possible to travel by steamship with American or English carriers from Liverpool to New York (also Boston and Quebec). To get to Liverpool, Swedish emigrants often traveled by boat from Göteborg (Gothenburg) Sweden to Hull (England) and then by rail across England to Liverpool.” <br> | The '''second significant wave''' of emigration was largely motivated by three consecutive years of crop failure in Sweden (1866—1868) and the availability of free land in the United States afforded by the Homestead Act of 1862. It extended from the end of the Civil War to the financial crisis of 1873 and involved primarily farm people. 120,000 emigrants came to America during this period. By this time, improved methods of transportation had begun to facilitate movement from Europe to America. “It was now possible to travel by steamship with American or English carriers from Liverpool to New York (also Boston and Quebec). To get to Liverpool, Swedish emigrants often traveled by boat from Göteborg (Gothenburg) Sweden to Hull (England) and then by rail across England to Liverpool.” <br> | ||
The third and by far most significant wave of immigration from Sweden to the United States occurred starting in 1879 and extended to the beginning of World War I. “The years 1879—1893 are usually considered to be the culmination of emigration. During these 15 years approximately 450,000 Swedes traveled over the Atlantic.” <br> | The '''third and by far most significant wave''' of immigration from Sweden to the United States occurred starting in 1879 and extended to the beginning of World War I. “The years 1879—1893 are usually considered to be the culmination of emigration. During these 15 years approximately 450,000 Swedes traveled over the Atlantic.” <br> | ||
As illustrated above, the great majority of Swedish immigrants came from the forests and farmlands of middle Sweden. Fewer came from the areas around larger cities such as Stockholm, Norrköping or Uppsala where economic opportunities were more plentiful. <br> | As illustrated above, the great majority of Swedish immigrants came from the forests and farmlands of middle Sweden. Fewer came from the areas around larger cities such as Stockholm, Norrköping or Uppsala where economic opportunities were more plentiful. <br> | ||
==Swedish Emigration Databases== | ==Swedish Emigration Databases== | ||