Lindsborg

Lindsborg is a city in McPherson County, Kansas, United States.[1] As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 3,776.[3] Lindsborg is known for its large Swedish, other Nordic and Scandinavian Americans (Nordic-Scandinavian), and German heritages, It is home of the biennial Svensk Hyllningsfest.

For many millennia, the Great Plains of North America were inhabited by nomadic Native Americans. From the 16th to the 18th century, the Kingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts of North America. In 1762, after the French and Indian War, France secretly ceded New France to Spain, per the Treaty of Fontainebleau. In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France. In 1803, the land for modern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France for 2.83 cents per acre as part of the 828,000 square-mile Louisiana Purchase.

In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized and in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. McPherson County, which included the land for the future Lindsborg, was established in 1867. Lindsborg was settled in the spring of 1869 by a group of immigrants from the Värmland province of Sweden led by Pastor Olof Olsson. In 1879, the same year Lindsborg incorporated as a city, the first railroad came through.[6]

Lindsborg translates as Linden Castle from Swedish to English,[7] referring to a tree name known in Europe for a species of tilia (Swedish: lind). The community is named for four men whose surnames included "Lind", N. P. Linde, S. P. Lindgren, S. A. Lindell, and J. O. Lindh, who had held prominent positions in a Chicago organization of Swedish farmers (Svenska Lantbrukskompaniet or First Swedish Agricultural Company) which was involved in the settling of Lindsborg until 1877.[8][9]

Thirty percent of the current residents are of Swedish descent. Because the town has retained so much of the heritage of its founders, it has become known as "Little Sweden".[10] The downtown features gift shops that specialize in Swedish souvenirs, including various sizes of Dala horses. Lindsborg has long been noted for the Svensk Hyllningsfest, a biennial celebration held in October of odd-numbered years since 1941, and other efforts to honor its heritage.[11]

Lindsborg is the home of the Swedish Pavilion, which was originally constructed as an international exposition building for the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. After the fair, it was purchased by W. W. Thomas, U.S. Minister to Sweden and Norway, and presented to Lindsborg's Bethany College as a memorial to his friend Dr. Rev. Carl Aaron Swensson, the school's recently-deceased founder. At Bethany, it was used by the art department as a classroom, library, and museum. It was moved to the McPherson County Old Mill Museum, also in Lindsborg, in 1969.[12]

The Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery is located in Lindsborg. Dedicated on October 20, 1957, on the Bethany College campus, it showcases the works of the artist Birger Sandzén who lived in the city. The gallery houses the largest and most extensive collection of his paintings, prints, and drawings found anywhere in the world.[13]

Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf visited Lindsborg in April 1976 during his royal tour of the United States.[14]

In 2004, Lindsborg was named Chess City of the Year by the United States Chess Federation.[15]

Lindsborg is located at 38°34′25″N 97°40′28″W  /  38.57361°N 97.67444°W  / 38.57361; -97.67444 (38.5736176, -97.6744838).[1] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.69 square miles (4.38 km2), of which 1.67 square miles (4.33 km2) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km2) is water.[16]

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Lindsborg has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[17]

As of the census[18] of 2010, there were 3,458 people, 1,303 households, and 829 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,070.7 inhabitants per square mile (799.5/km2). There were 1,414 housing units at an average density of 846.7 per square mile (326.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.8% White, 1.7% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.8% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.5% of the population.

There were 1,303 households, of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.3% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.4% were non-families. 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.88.

The median age in the city was 37.8 years. 20.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 17.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 18.7% were from 25 to 44; 23.6% were from 45 to 64; and 19.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.5% male and 52.5% female.

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 3,321 people, 1,227 households, and 775 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,155.5 people per square mile (832.6/km2). There were 1,331 housing units at an average density of 863.9 per square mile (333.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.05% White, 1.11% African American, 0.39% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.30% from other races, and 0.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.60% of the population. 36.0% were of Swedish, 22.3% German, 8.4% American, 6.4% English and 5.7% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.[19][20]

There were 1,227 households, out of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.8% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 20.5% under the age of 18, 18.7% from 18 to 24, 21.0% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 20.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,500, and the median income for a family was $46,250. Males had a median income of $32,500 versus $25,145 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,415. About 4.9% of families and 8.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.0% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.

The community is served by Smoky Valley USD 400 public school district.[21][22] Lindsborg is the home of:

K-4 highway passes through Lindsborg. Bus service is provided daily towards Wichita and Salina by BeeLine Express (subcontractor of Greyhound Lines).[24][25]

Old Lindsborg Railroad Station, 2007

Swedish Pavilion from 1904 Saint Louis World's Fair, 2009

Fremont Lutheran Church near Lindsborg

Höglund Dugout, a former sod house, on 12th Avenue off Wells Fargo Road one mile from Lindsborg