Its nickname is “Little Sweden USA,” and when you pull into Lindsborg, it’s clear why. Pole banners and road signs greet visitors with a friendly “Välkommen.” Many businesses display replicas of Swedish dala horses, the town mascot. The word “SWEDES” is painted in yellow on the blue stands of the Bethany College football field. The street benches downtown possess a distinctly Scandinavian design quality. Lindsborg, located in a central Kansas region called the Smoky Valley, has long punched above its weight. Settled by Swedes in 1869, it is a town that has preserved its heritage to a degree rarely found in the American Midwest. In an era of atomization and polarization, Lindsborg has held tight to its communitarian roots. It’s paying off. Unlike most small towns in Kansas, Lindsborg is growing. The real estate market is on fire, the schools have a great reputation, downtown is on the upswing, and students from the small liberal arts college continually breathe new life into the to...