Swedes Built The Second City

by Theresa Carter

In 1912, when Sweden hosted the 5th modern Olympic Games, 20% of Swedes lived in the United States, many of them in Chicago. Now almost 100 years later there’s still a community of over 120,000.

The first Swedish settlement was in 1846. Some immigrants were on their way to Bishop Hill, Illinois, where there was already a large Swedish religious colony, but this group decided to stop and set up camp here. Over the next few decades more and more joined them until this area was home to more Swedes than any other in the U.S.

At first they lived in enclaves surrounding downtown. Swede Town was in the area now known as River North, but there were also pockets on the south and west sides. Fortunately these immigrants were skilled in construction. After the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 so many of them helped to rebuild the city it was said “the Swedes built Chicago”.

That fire also prompted their move to the north side and Andersonville. An ordinance prohibiting the construction of wooden structures made housing so expensive they had to move outside the city limits. Today Andersonville is a thriving community that, while welcoming other ethnic and cultural groups, also honors its Swedish residents by celebrating traditional holidays. The annual Midsommarfest is one of the most popular street festivals of the year. The Swedish American Museum educates visitors about the immigrant experience, and local businesses reflect their heritage.

Famous Swedes that called Chicago home include Pulitzer prize winning author Carl Sandburg and drugstore magnate Charles Walgreen. Next time you sit under a shady tree, consider that it might have been planted by Pehr Samuel Peterson. He began the Rose Hill Nursery, which supplied trees to the city at the turn of the last century.

By keeping their heritage alive while being influential in the community as a whole, our Swedish population exemplifies the immigrant experience in Chicago. One way they make their presence felt is through their cuisine. Next I’ll profile a Swedish restaurant favorite, and no, it’s not Ann Sather’s!