The Swedish Community in Bloomington

Bloomington Swedes comprised a small but influential ethnic community in the later half of the nineteenth century and into the early twentieth century.  They arrived in August 1872 to work the McLean County Coal Company mines on the city's west side.  They congregated in the Stevensonville company town to the south of the coal company, and a fair number of Swedes enjoyed success as downtown merchants and in other businesses.

Time:  45 minutes

Speaker:  Bill Kemp