Jacob Hägg on Wikimedia

Before there was New Jersey, there was New Sweden. Well, technically, before that there was Lenape land known as Scheyichbi, but, after that, there was New Sweden. And, while we're being pedantic, the first colonial settlement in New Jersey was a Dutch outpost in what is now Jersey City.

With those details out of the way, let's dive into the history of the first (and only) Swedish colony in America!

Establishing Colonial Footholds

Cady, Henry Newell on Wikimedia

Today, Sweden is primarily known for its cultural exports such as flat-pack furniture, meatballs, and Abba. However, in the 17th century, when our story starts, it was a major player on the European stage. Led by the "Lion of the North", Gustavus Adolphus, Sweden ended the Thirty Years War in a much better place than it started.

Primed to be a world power, Sweden began to expand its colonial holdings. It already controlled much of the Baltic, including the entirety of Finland and Estonia. The New World held not only the promise of land for colonial expansion, but also tobacco and fur to exploit, further cementing their power.

On March 29, 1638, the Swedish South Company dropped anchor in the Delaware River. The expedition was overseen by Peter Minuit, the man who purchased Manhattan. Dismissed from his post by the Dutch West India Company, Minuit had no qualms about offering his services to the Swedes.

Technically, we've misled you up to this point. The first settlement in New Sweden was in Delaware rather than New Jersey. However, seeing as how the colony ate up a massive chunk of south Jersey, we don't feel bad about overlooking Delaware and Maryland this one time.

Minuit oversaw the construction of Fort Christina (named after Sweden's teenage queen), left the colony with its first settlers, and promptly sailed back to Sweden to brag about his success. Unfortunately, Minuit went down with his ship when it was wrecked in a hurricane. This omen did not bode well for New Sweden's future.

Set Up For Success Or Doomed To Fail?

Albert Myers Cook on Wikimedia

Minuit chose New Sweden's location with care. Not only was it currently unoccupied by other Europeans, but it was perfectly positioned for trade with the natives. The Swedes quickly established friendly relationships with the Lenape who were sedentary, living agrarian lives similar to what the Swedes would be used to.

The Swedes also established relations with the Minquas, whose coexistence along the Lenape was troubled, to say the least. Unfortunately, there were far bigger enemies threatening their gates. Settler-Indigenous relations may have been cordial, but that was not the case for relationships between settlers.

Almost immediately, the Dutch made a fuss about how the Swedes were on their land. However, neither group had much of a military. So, tensions were forced to simmer until they reached a boiling point.

While things were looking up for the Dutch, the same could not be said for the Swedes. Immigration held little draw back in the motherland. New Sweden's population peaked at around 600, but was closer to 200 most of the time.

Additionally, the colony's autocratic governor, Johan Printz did not endear himself to the locals. While the Dutch were threatening New Sweden's borders, Johan Printz was pushing people out from the inside. Almost as soon as the colony was established, it began hemorrhaging its population.

The Forgotten Legacy Of New Sweden

Zachary Kyra-Derksen on Unsplash

Miraculously, New Sweden held on until 1655. The Dutch had more manpower and more firepower, quickly conquering their neighbors. While the Swedes were allowed to maintain their land and their customs, there was never another Swedish colony in America.

New Sweden was, to put it mildly, a failure. The colony lasted only 17 years and never grew beyond a couple hundred people. When people think of Swedish immigration to America, they think of Minnesota, not south Jersey.  

On the other hand, New Sweden had significant impact for such a short-lived colony. It helped facilitate the spread of Lutheranism, which now accounts for 8% of American protestants. It also gave us one of the most long-lasting symbols of the American frontier: the log cabin!