Finnish Heritage: In March 1638, Finnish and Swedish settlers arrived in the Delaware Valley

Finnish Heritage
In March 1638, Finnish and Swedish settlers arrived in the Delaware Valley aboard the ships Kalmar Nyckel and Fogel Grip, establishing the colony of New Sweden. This marked the first permanent European settlement in the area, with the initial fort, Fort Christina, built at the site of present-day Wilmington, Delaware. The colony eventually extended along both banks of the Delaware River, encompassing parts of present-day Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, according to The Swedish Colonial Society