America's Little Switzerland vs. America's Little Sweden
New Glarus and a village in Minnesota called Lindström have built national identities around their European heritage, but a closer look reveals two very different cultures separated by more than a few letters and a football rivalry.
Every so often, someone visiting New Glarus asks a perfectly innocent question that causes local residents to collectively tilt their heads.
"So, this is Swedish, right?"
No, it’s not.
Yet the confusion is understandable. Swiss. Swedish. Both start with "Sw." Both come from northern Europe. Both involve people who take their cheese and traditions seriously. For generations, New Glarus residents have politely explained that America's Little Switzerland is, in fact, Swiss — not Swedish.
That raises an interesting question. If New Glarus is America's Little Switzerland, does it compare to America's Little Sweden?
That title belongs to Lindström, Minnesota, a community of roughly 4,900 residents northeast of Minneapolis-St. Paul. Like New Glarus, Lindström proudly embraces the culture of the immigrants who settled there. Like New Glarus, it draws visitors interested in heritage, festivals, history and Old World traditions. Like New Glarus, it also has built a tourism identity that extends far beyond its population.
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