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Sweden Emigration and Immigration (view source)
Revision as of 10:02, 12 December 2008
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=== The History of Emigration from Sweden === | === The History of Emigration from Sweden === | ||
The first Swedish emigrants to the United States left Sweden in 1638 and founded | The first Swedish emigrants to the United States left Sweden in 1638 and founded the colony of [[New Sweden|New Sweden]] at present-day Wilmington, [[Delaware|Delaware]]. [[New Sweden|New Sweden]] soon include villages and forts in what is now [[Pennsylvania|Pennsylvania]], and [[New Jersey|New Jersey]]. Although Sweden held the colony for only 17 years, to 1655, this was the start of Swedish immigration to the United States. These Swedish and Finnish emigrants brought the first [[Sweden: Church Records#General Historical Background|Lutheran]] ministers, and first log cabins to America. | ||
Swedes who emigrated from Sweden between 1638 and the early 1800s usually traveled through other European ports. An estimated 1,300,000 people left Sweden between 1820 and 1920. Most of them were farmers, but some were craftsmen and others professionals. | |||
Emigration was minimal until the 1850s, after which large numbers left Sweden. Emigration peaked in the 1880s. Swedes settled in every state, but most settled in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois. | Emigration was minimal until the 1850s, after which large numbers left Sweden. Emigration peaked in the 1880s. Swedes settled in every state, but most settled in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois. | ||
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The Swedish-American Line began carrying passengers directly from Sweden to America in 1915. Before that, ships left Swedish ports and went to other European countries where the passengers changed ships for their transatlantic voyage. | The Swedish-American Line began carrying passengers directly from Sweden to America in 1915. Before that, ships left Swedish ports and went to other European countries where the passengers changed ships for their transatlantic voyage. | ||
Swedes emigrated for several reasons. Among them were poor economic conditions, avoidance of military service, glowing accounts from emigration agents, availability of free land and encouragement from other family members in the new land, and religious persecution. | Swedes emigrated for several reasons. Among them were poor economic conditions, avoidance of military service, glowing accounts from emigration agents, availability of free land and encouragement from other family members in the new land, and religious persecution. | ||
=== Finding the Emigrant's Parish of Origin === | === Finding the Emigrant's Parish of Origin === | ||