The Chisago Lakes Area is named after an Indian phrase, "Ki Chi Saga," which means "fair & lovely waters." The Swedish simply called it "The Big Lake," as many of today's lakes were once one large lake. Swedish immigrants settled in the Chisago Lakes area in the mid-19th century. The area became a popular tourist area, with the lakes and railroad coming through. The Depression years dried up the lakes and the tourists. There was a growth of tourism in the late 1940s, as the lakes began to prosper once again.
Sister-city to Algutsboda, Sweden Originally platted in 1855, Chisago City was replatted at another location in 1892 and incorporated in 1906. Chisago City became a tourist resort destination after the 1880 railroad was built. Chisago City was home to Vilhelm Moberg during the summer of 1947, while he rode his bike through the area researching for what would become his four-volume saga of Swedish Immigrants in North America, The Emigrants suite: The Emigrants, Unto a Good Land, The Settlers and The Last Letter Home. The city has dedicated a park and a statue, housed in the park, to Vilhelm Moberg.
Sister-City to Tingsryd, Sweden Lindström, the largest city in the Chisago Lakes area is Sister-city to Tingsryd, Sweden. Lindström was platted in 1880 and officially founded in 1894 and named after Daniel Lindström from Hassela, Hälsingland, Sweden. Karl Oskar and his wife, Kristina are central to the city's celebrations. They are fictitious characters, representing the many immigrant families that settled in the "land of kichisaga" in the mid-19th century. They'd fled from a life of struggle in their homeland of Småland, Sweden to rebuild their lives in an unclaimed territory. A statue of Karl and Kristina symbolize the Swedish peasants who migrated to America over one hundred years ago, settling in the Chisago Lakes area.
Shafer, Minnesota
Sister-City to Nöbbele, Sweden Shafer is a farming community and was once a potato hub. Shafer was first organized as part of Taylors Falls, Minnesota. In 1853 the town was renamed after a transient farm worker, Jacob Shafer, from Sweden. The Shafer community is proud of its heritage. Throughout the year, events are held in a "town square" type of atmosphere.
