If you have Scandinavian roots - or simply a soft spot for Nordic calm - there’s a good chance your family story (or your neighbors’) crosses the Atlantic.

In the late-1800s and early-1900s, hundreds of thousands of Danes, Swedes, and Norwegians left for the United States, building communities that still shape the cultural map today. 

Here’s a friendly, fact-checked tour of where they went. And a few ideas for weaving that heritage into a cozy, modern home.

Edvard Petersen: Emigrants at Larsens Plads

 

The Big Picture (Quickly)

·       Sweden: ~1.3 million Swedes immigrated, largely between the 1840s–1920s. (Source: neh.gov)

·       Norway: Nearly 1 million Norwegians came 1820–1920—a larger share of the population than any country except Ireland. (Source: The Library of Congress)

·       Denmark: 300,000+ Danes arrived 1870–1930. (Source: Museum of Danish America)

These streams mainly fanned into the Upper Midwest, then rippled westward as railroads, homesteads, and new industries opened.

 

Where the Danes Went

Two Danish stories stand out. First, a faith-driven wave: beginning in the 1850s, thousands of Danish converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints trekked to Utah, creating the largest Danish community in the U.S. by the end of the century. (Source: The Library of Congress)

Second, a broader migration for land and work clustered in Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, the Dakotas, and Iowa, with Iowa long known as especially “Danish.” (Source: The Library of Congress)

You can still see the imprint in today’s data: in 2000, Danish ancestry was notably strong in Utah (6.5%). (Source: www2.census.gov)

 

Where the Swedes Went

Swedish immigrants spread across the wheat belt as farmers and later into mining, railroads, and urban trades. By 1910, almost half of Swedish immigrants and their descendants lived in just three states: Minnesota, Illinois, and New York. Chicago alone counted about 150,000 Swedes and Swedish Americans, often called the world’s “second-largest Swedish city.” (Source: The Library of Congress)

In Minnesota, the story runs deep: more Swedes settled in Minnesota than any other state, and by 1910 it was “the most Swedish of all states.” (Source: Minnesota Historical Society)

 

Where the Norwegians Went

Norwegians followed a familiar arc: early rural settlements in Minnesota and Wisconsin, then west to Iowa, the Dakotas, and sometimes the Pacific coast. Urban communities later grew around the Great Lakes and on the East Coast. (Source: The Library of Congress)

 

A Modern Map of “Scandinavian America”

If you look at ancestry today, the Upper Midwest still lights up. The U.S. Census’ Ancestry 2000 brief highlights high Norwegian shares in North Dakota (30%) and strong Swedish and Danish pockets (e.g., Minnesota 9.9% Swedish; Utah 6.5% Danish). (Source: www2.census.gov)

And when researchers group Norwegian, Danish, Swedish, and Finnish together as “Scandinavian,” that combined ancestry is the most common in 70+ counties across the region. (Source: coopercenter.org)

 

Make It Hygge: Bring the Journey into Your Home

At Hygge by Scandinavia, we curate art that connects everyday spaces to real Nordic stories: Calm forests, coastal light, folklore, and modern classics—printed on demand near you, using premium, FSC-certified (or equivalent) papers to reduce waste and shipping miles. It’s heritage you can feel good about.

Easy Ways to Nod to Your Roots

·       Danish pathways (Utah & the Midwest): Lean into clean scenery and beech woods that echo Denmark’s light - perfect for living rooms that favor warm neutrals and natural textures.

·       Swedish threads (Minnesota & Chicago): Pair sun-washed countryside scenes with a crisp city print for a look that balances rural origins with urban energy.

·       Norwegian moods (Upper Midwest & the coast): Mix dramatic fjord vistas or expressive modern works with soft textiles for a cozy reading corner that still has a little edge.

·       Want to discover? Browse our country collections, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and themed galleries like Nordic Nature, Fairytales, or Norse Mythology to find a piece that quietly tells your story.

 

Sources You Can Trust (and Enjoy)

·       Library of Congress: The Danes; The Swedes; The Norwegians; Scandinavian America (concise, authoritative overviews). 

·       Museum of Danish America: Danish Immigration: An Overview (numbers, maps, town spotlights).

·       Minnesota Historical Society (MNopedia): Swedish Immigration to Minnesota (state-focused history).

·       Wisconsin Historical Society: Danes in Wisconsin (the “Danish belt”).

·       U.S. Census Bureau: Ancestry: 2000 (state & county patterns).

·       UVA Weldon Cooper Center: Ancestry: Who do you think you are? (Scandinavian ancestry across 70+ Upper Midwest counties).

P.S. If a grandparent came through Minnesota, Wisconsin, the Dakotas, Iowa - or your family story runs through Utah - you’re in good company. A well-chosen Nordic art print is a small, beautiful way to keep that journey in view.