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From the shape of the town's water tower, you can see that the Swedes like their coffee. The pot is always on in this town. Meet the gang at the local coffee shop and catch up on all the local news. Lindstrom is a pretty town with many lakes and a thriving business district. Many of its residents work in Minneapolis and St. Paul and its suburbs; its about a 45 minute drive to either town.

The Emigrants

Karl Oskar and Kristina Nilsson are fictitious characters portrayed in "The Emigrants," "Unto a Good Land," and "The Last Letter Home," a trilogy written by the Swedish author, Vilhelm Moberg. They symbolize migration to America by Swedish Peasants, who settled in the Chisago Lakes Area, about the middle of the nineteenth century. Here, Kristine is shown facing east, looking back at her native Sweden.

Vilhelm Moberg was one of the foremost Swedish authors of the 20th century. His most famous characters, Karl and Kristina, were representative of the over 1.2 million Swedish emigrants that landed on our shores between 1846 and 1930. During the summer of 1948 he stayed in Chisago City and explored this area by bicycle. That research helped shape his most famous work, the trilogy mentioned above. In Sweden, thanks to Moberg's literary works, this land of Kichi-Saga, the Chisago Lake Area, is probably the best known area of the United States.

The Chisago County Government Center and Court House is located just 2 miles from Lindstrom overlooking beautiful North Center Lake. It's a new and modern facility to serve a growing county.

Up until 40 years ago, these communities consisted of mostly Swedes. Hard working, well educated with strong church and community ties, they are indeed good people.

Today, Lindstrom and Chisago City are fast growing, with most of its residents commuting to the metro area of Minneapolis and St. Paul for employment.

Area schools are some of the states finest. Center City is also blessed with the world class Hazelden Center, known world-wide for its alcohol and drug treatment program.

This is St. Bridget Catholic Church, names for a Saint from Sweden.

Here is the Chisago Lakes Lutheran Church, the first Lutheran Church in Minnesota. Built in the 1850s, the church is one of the highest points in Chisago County. You might also recognize it from the wedding scene in the first "Grumpy Old Men" film.