New Sweden

New Sweden is a town in Aroostook County.

History
On July 23, 1870, a Swedish Colony was established by the State of Maine in the virgin forest of Aroostook County. Maine had appointed William Widgery Thomas, Jr. (who had served as Lincoln's Civil War Consul in Sweden) as State Immigration Commissioner. He 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 (1881) and the surrounding areas.

Location
Just northwest of Caribou on Maine Route 161, the town is just south of Stockholm.

Celebrations
The two major communities of the Colony have preserved their heritage through several historical societies and hold festivals to recall their Nordic roots. Midsommar is one of those celebrations, held in mid-June each year.