Editing New Sweden, Maine (section)

==History==
Starting in 1870, a Swedish-immigrant colony was established by the [[State of Maine]] in Aroostook County.  The State of Maine had appointed [[William W. Thomas, Jr.]], who had served as American Consul in Sweden during the administration of President [[Abraham Lincoln]], to be State Immigration Commissioner. On March 23, 1870, the Legislature passed an Act authorizing a Board of Immigration and Thomas was named Commissioner of Immigration. Thomas went to Sweden, recruited the first 51 immigrants, and led them into the township that became New Sweden. Early hardships were overcome and the colony prospered and grew into the neighboring townships of [[Westmanland]] (1879), [[Stockholm, Maine|Stockholm]] (1881) and the surrounding areas.<ref>[http://www.aroostook.me.us/newsweden/index.html Welcome to the town of New Sweden, Maine] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040816035405/http://www.aroostook.me.us/newsweden/index.html |date=August 16, 2004 }}</ref>
New Sweden has maintained many Swedish traditions since its founding, including the celebrations of [[Saint Lucy's Day#Sweden|St. Lucia Day]] and "[[Midsummer#Sweden|Midsommar]]." Founders Day is also observed on July 23 every year. The Swedish language can sometimes still be heard in the older generation. The New Sweden Folk Dancers typically perform at many of the Swedish celebrations and Swedish foods are known to grace the tables.

New Sweden was the home of [[Einar Gustafson]], who was the archetype of the child for whom the [[Jimmy Fund]] was named. The [[Disappearance of Stefanie Damron]] occurred here in September 2024.