The Scandinavian Riviera, or Hovland, Minnesota

Largely developed by Norwegians, Swedes, and Swedish-speaking Finns who spread in a short time across eight distinct settlements, the isolated community of Hovland, Minnesota, quickly established a reputation for its natural beauty and the lively activity and hospitality of its people. Excerpted and adapted from the book Norwegians and Swedes in the United States: Friends and Neighbors edited by Philip J. Anderson and Dag Blanck.