Christina, Christeen, Christiana: A Delaware Connection

Abstract

Fort Christina, named for Queen Christina of Sweden, was the site of the first Swedish settlement in America. The name shifted to a major tributary of the Delaware River and several other features. In later years the name underwent changes, and in an unprecedented act the Delaware Legislature in 1937 attempted to legalize the original form. Historical documentation over a 353-year period illustrates the name changes that have occurred.