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Minnesota |
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The reasons why people left Sweden for homes elsewhere are called "push" factors. These factors are varied and often work in conjunction with the "pull" factors (reasons to migrate to particular area) of a certain part of the world, such as Minnesota. One reason people left Sweden was due to a lack of available land. By the mid-1800s, the population of Sweden was on the rise due to improvements in modern medicine and a more stable food supply. This increase in population led to a strain on the amount of land available, especially for farming, forcing many Swedes to leave their homeland and to search for land in other countries. To make matters worse, work was scarce because of the invention of labor-saving machinery. Religious persecution was another factor that pushed Swedes to leave their homeland. The government of Sweden was connected to the State Lutheran Church, and, until 1858, people who practiced another religion faced being fined, put in jail, or exiled from the country. Even though these practices stopped in 1858, many Swedes continued to be intolerant of their fellow countrymen and -women who practiced a religion other than that of the state. Because of this, many Swedes left Sweden between 1840 and 1860. Some people chose to leave Sweden because of the mandatory military service required by the government. In 1860 young men were required to train in the Swedish military for 30 days out of the year. The Swedish conscription laws of 1885, 1887, and 1892 became increasingly strict and demanding. Some young men decided to leave the country rather than to face this conscription. Other reasons include a lack of social mobility in Sweden due to its social system, as well as a political system which was unfriendly to certain groups, such as Socialists, until after the First World War. Other people may have had their own personal reasons for leaving Sweden. Such reasons may have included problems with one's family or with the law, debt, or a tarnished reputation. For these myriad reasons, many Swedish migrants sought out new lives in the United States. Several waves of migration into Minnesota brought these Scandinavian settlers. |
Minnesota was an attractive location for settlement by Swedish migrants. There are several "pull" factors which enticed Swedes to come to Minnesota. One of the most enticing was Minnesota's rich and affordable farmland. This land was taken from the Native peoples of Minnesota during the mid-nineteenth century. Since the treaties were sometimes signed by force, the U.S. government paid next to nothing for the land and passed the low cost on to European immigrants. Thus, many Swedish migrants were able to purchase land of their own and establish family farms.
One of the most attractive benefits of the area was the availability of employment and the higher wages offered to workers. Employment opportunities included the timber industry, which offered work during the winter months. Much of the area west of St. Croix River was heavily wooded and offered plentiful resources for the timber industry. Iron mining, especially toward the end of the 1800s, also offered employment to those individuals who did not wish to farm or who found that land was becoming scarce during this period. During the 1860s, railroad development in Minnesota provided not only transportation of Swedish immigrants and agricultural goods, but employment for Swedes as well.
The railroad companies were instrumental in enticing Swedish migrants to come to Minnesota and establish colonies. As the railroad companies expanded west of the Mississippi, they needed new colonies to promote traffic and make the railroad business profitable. The Land Department of the North Pacific Railroad sent representatives overseas to recruit people to immigrate and establish colonies in America. One prominent representative was Dr. J. P. Tustin, a Scandinavian minister. Dr. Tustin convinced the ministers of the Church of Sweden and the Swedish Baptist Church to become leaders of colonies to Minnesota. Also, "America letters" were often sent to Sweden to the friends and relatives of earlier Swedish migrants encouraging them to join the new colonies.
Another factor which brought Swedish migrants to the region was the geographic similarity of the Chisago Lake and Red Wing areas. These areas, with their rivers, lakes, and forests, reminded many new settlers of the Swedish provinces of Småland, Halsingland, or Dalarna.
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Scandia, Minnesota is a rural community located in northern Washington County, at the edge of the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area. Known as New Scandia Township until its incorporation on January 1, 2007 as the City of Scandia, the community has a rich history as the first Swedish immigrants to Minnesota settled here. The historic village area (located around the intersection of Oakhill Rd. and Olinda Trail) business community provides many goods and services and is the focal point of community life. Scandia's 39 square miles represent a scenic, rolling landscape dotted with lakes, woodlands, farms and low density rural development. The St. Croix River and Big Marine Lake are two of the natural gems that attract residents and visitors to our area. Scandia's population (2009 official estimate) is 4,195 persons in 1,502 households. |
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Saint Paul East of the Mississippi River, was originally surveyed into 6x6 mile squares called townships. This survey was done by James M. Marsh in October of 1847. The townships were then surveyed into 1x1 mile squares called sections by Issac Higbee, Deputy Surveyor, during the months of October & November of 1847. Saint Paul, west of the Mississippi River, was surveyed into sections by Jesse T. Jarrett in September of 1853. The area now covered by Saint Paul was surveyed off the 4th Principal Meridian which runs through Wisconsin. Saint Paul covers parts of Townships 28 & 29 North and Ranges 22 & 23 West of the 4th Principal Meridian. The City of Saint Paul was originally established as the "The Town of St. Paul" by an act of the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Minnesota in November of 1849. Saint Paul remained a town until March of 1854 when it became the "City of Saint Paul, Minnesota Territory". In May of 1858 when Minnesota became a state the city became known as "The City of Saint Paul, State of Minnesota". When "The Town of St. Paul" came into existence in 1849, it occupied approximately 280 acres. The original town site consisted of two subdivisions (plats) "Town of Saint Paul" (sometimes referred to as the "Saint Paul Proper") and "Irvine & Rice's addition" filed as Rice and Irvine's addition to Saint Paul. The plat of "The Town of St. Paul" was filed on the 28th day of February 1849 in County of St. Croix, Wisconsin Territory and was surveyed by Ira B. Brunson. The plat of "Rice's and Irvine's addition to Saint Paul" was filed on the 16th day of May 1849 in the County of St. Croix, Minnesota Territory and was surveyed by Benjaman W. Brunson. As result of an Act of Minnesota legislature on February 14th, 1866 the town plat was brought to St Paul and filed with the Ramsey County Recorder's Office on March 17th, 1866. The original town site boundaries were Elm Street on the west, Smith Ave & East Seventh Street on the north, Wacouta Street on the east, and the left bank of the Mississippi River on the south. Between years 1849 and 1887 Saint Paul has gone through 14 boundary changes. |
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