Norwegian Crown Prince Haakon is marking the 200th anniversary of organized emigration from his homeland to the United States, highlighting the deep connections between the two countries with a visit to the heart of Norwegian America.
The Upper Midwest has some of the largest concentrations of Scandinavian Americans in the U.S., and his tour takes him Tuesday to Minnesota, where well over 800,000 residents claim Norwegian ancestry, according to state demographers. That's more than any other state, though less-populous North Dakota actually has a higher percentage of residents with Norwegian roots. Members of the royal family have made several visits to the region over the years.
