, Delaware, USA
1638 - New Sweden was founded as a colony and is recognized as the first permanent colony on Delaware soil.

In 1638, New Sweden was founded as a colony along the Delaware River, marking the first permanent European settlement on Delaware soil. The colony was established by Swedish and Finnish settlers under the leadership of Peter Minuit, who famously purchased Manhattan Island from the Lenape Native Americans while serving as director of the Dutch colony of New Netherland. New Sweden's main settlement was Fort Christina, named after Queen Christina of Sweden, located near present-day Wilmington, Delaware. The colony's primary purpose was to establish a profitable fur trade and expand Sweden's influence in the New World.

New Sweden faced challenges from its neighbors, particularly the Dutch, who also sought to control the lucrative fur trade in the region. In 1655, the Dutch captured New Sweden, incorporating it into New Netherland. However, the legacy of New Sweden endured, as many of its settlers remained in the area and played a significant role in the cultural and economic development of the Delaware Valley.

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