Tuesday, September 19, 2023

New Sweden

New Sweden was the first European colony in the Delaware Valley, established in 1638. It was a short lived colony meant to be Sweden's answer to the New Netherland colony (now New York). 

via Wikipedia

 "Nya Sverige" or "Niew Sweden" was originally proposed by Peter Minuit, a native of Germany who had served as director of New Netherland. The Swedish government was eager to promote itself as a great power and approved the creation of the colony. They set up a trade relationship with the native Lenape peoples of the area and built Fort Christina, named for the Swedish Queen at the mouth of the Christina River, where Wilmington, Delaware is now located. 

via Wikipedia
 The colony only lasted a couple of decades before the Dutch took over the area. More on this colony can be found in the Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia.

The above map is from the New York Public Library - here is a detail or the river's mouth, rotated to better fit the page.

I found one more interesting and colorful map in this video but have not been able to find it elsewhere online.


 

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