Swain County, North Carolina | |
|---|---|
 Swain County Courthouse | |
 Seal | |
| Motto(s): "A natural gem set in the Great Smoky Mountains." "Live here. Play here. Thrive here." | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofNorth Carolina | |
 North Carolina's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:35°34′N83°28′W / 35.57°N 83.47°W /35.57; -83.47 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  North Carolina |
| Founded | 1871 |
| Named after | David L. Swain |
| Seat | Bryson City |
| Largest community | Cherokee |
| Area | |
• Total | 540.25 sq mi (1,399.2 km2) |
| • Land | 527.73 sq mi (1,366.8 km2) |
| • Water | 12.52 sq mi (32.4 km2) 2.32% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 14,117 |
• Estimate (2024) | 13,945 |
| • Density | 26.75/sq mi (10.33/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 11th |
| Website | www |
Swain County is acounty located on the far western border of theU.S. state ofNorth Carolina. As of the2020 census, the population was 14,117.[1] Itscounty seat isBryson City.[2]
Four rivers flow through the mountainous terrain of Swain County: theNantahala River,Oconaluftee River,Tuckaseegee River, and theLittle Tennessee River. Their valleys have been occupied for thousands of years by various societies of Indigenous peoples, including theSouth Appalachian Mississippian culture era, and theCherokee people. Native Americans, mostly members of the federally recognizedEastern Band of Cherokee Indians, comprise 29% of the population in Swain County.
This area was occupied for thousands of years by cultures of indigenous peoples, who successively settled in the valleys of the three rivers and their tributaries. During theWoodland andSouth Appalachian Mississippian culture period, the latter beginning about 1000 CE, the peoples built earthworkplatform mounds as their central public architecture. The more influential villages were each organized around a single mound with smaller villages nearby. The earliest European explorers, including two Spanish expeditions of the mid-to-late 16th century, are believed to have encountered Mississippianchiefdoms in some parts of the interior of the Southeast.
The historicCherokee people emerged as a culture, and they became the primary occupants of a large homeland taking in what is now known as western Virginia, western North and South Carolina, southeastern Tennessee, northeast Georgia and northern Alabama. Numerous Cherokee towns were located along theTuckaseegee River in this area, includingKituwa above the confluence with theLittle Tennessee River. It is considered the Cherokee 'mother town'. TheEastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) acquired the Kituwa mound and former town site in 1996, and preserve it as sacred ground.
After the American Revolutionary War, more European Americans moved into this territory, seeking new lands west of the Appalachian Mountains. They came into increasing conflict with the Cherokee and other tribes whose territory they encroached on. Under PresidentAndrew Jackson, Congress passed theIndian Removal Act of 1830, to force theFive Civilized Tribes out of the Southeast. He used federal army forces to round up and accompany most of the Cherokee toIndian Territory west of the Mississippi River (the area was later admitted in 1907 as the state of Oklahoma).
Population growth was slow in the more isolated Swain County. It was not organized by European Americans until 1871 during theReconstruction era, when it was formed from parts ofJackson andMacon counties. It was named forDavid L. Swain,governor of North Carolina from 1832 to 1835 during the time ofIndian Removal, and president of theUniversity of North Carolina from 1835 to 1868.
Present-dayBryson City, designated as the county seat, developed on both sides of the Tuckaseegee River, which passes and completely surrounds the Bryson City Island Park. After that, it enters Fontana Lake and flows into the Little Tennessee River.
In 1868 the federal government recognized theEastern Band of Cherokee Indians, made up of people who had stayed at the time of removal and their descendants. In the 1870s, they purchased within what is now Swain County the land area that became known the "Qualla Boundary" land trust.[3][4] They are the only federally recognized tribe in North Carolina.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, Swain county has a total area of 540.25 square miles (1,399.2 km2), of which 527.73 square miles (1,366.8 km2) is land and 12.52 square miles (32.4 km2) (2.32%) is water.[5]
The county is located in farWestern North Carolina in theGreat Smoky Mountains. It holds more of theGreat Smoky Mountains National Park than any other county in North Carolina or Tennessee. The highest point in the county isKuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome), elevation 6,643 feet (2,025 m), which is the third-highest peak in North Carolina and is located on the NC/TN border. A walkable observation tower is located on its summit. The highest mountain in North Carolina and in the United States east of the Mississippi River isMount Mitchell, 6,684 feet (2,037 m), located northeast ofAsheville, North Carolina, in Yancey County.[6]
Three rivers ultimately feed the Little Tennessee River, which flows through the mountains into Tennessee. TheNantahala River is one of the most popularwhitewater rafting rivers in the nation.[7] It is a tributary of the Little Tennessee River.
As of 2024, Swain County has 3,930 acres of agricultural land – the fourth-lowest amount in the state.[8]
TheOconaluftee River flows through Swain County and the town ofCherokee, where the federally recognizedEastern Band of Cherokee Indians is based. TheirQualla Boundary occupies territory in both Swain and Jackson counties. The Oconaluftee is a tributary of theTuckaseegee River. Ancient Cherokee towns were located along both of these rivers. The Tuckaseegee flows into theLittle Tennessee River before it leaves North Carolina. It also had important Cherokee towns, each developed around an earthwork mound. The Cherokee built their communaltownhouse on top of these mounds.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 3,784 | — | |
| 1890 | 6,577 | 73.8% | |
| 1900 | 8,401 | 27.7% | |
| 1910 | 10,403 | 23.8% | |
| 1920 | 13,224 | 27.1% | |
| 1930 | 11,568 | −12.5% | |
| 1940 | 12,177 | 5.3% | |
| 1950 | 9,921 | −18.5% | |
| 1960 | 8,387 | −15.5% | |
| 1970 | 7,861 | −6.3% | |
| 1980 | 10,283 | 30.8% | |
| 1990 | 11,268 | 9.6% | |
| 2000 | 12,968 | 15.1% | |
| 2010 | 13,981 | 7.8% | |
| 2020 | 14,117 | 1.0% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 13,945 | [10] | −1.2% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[11] 1790–1960[12] 1900–1990[13] 1990–2000[14] 2010[15] 2020[1] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[16] | Pop 2010[17] | Pop 2020[18] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 8,544 | 9,168 | 8,541 | 65.89% | 65.57% | 60.50% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 214 | 75 | 102 | 1.65% | 0.54% | 0.72% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 3,711 | 3,587 | 4,030 | 28.62% | 25.66% | 28.55% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 20 | 66 | 53 | 0.15% | 0.47% | 0.38% |
| Native Hawaiian orPacific Islander alone (NH) | 0 | 4 | 10 | 0.00% | 0.03% | 0.07% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 9 | 1 | 44 | 0.07% | 0.01% | 0.31% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 279 | 540 | 745 | 2.15% | 3.86% | 5.28% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 191 | 540 | 592 | 1.47% | 3.86% | 4.19% |
| Total | 12,968 | 13,981 | 14,117 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the2020 census, there were 14,117 people, 5,620 households, and 3,615 families residing in the county.
At the2000 census,[19] there were 12,968 people, 5,137 households, and 3,631 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 25 people per square mile (9.7 people/km2). There were 7,105 housing units at an average density of 14 units per square mile (5.4 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 66.33%White, 1.70%Black orAfrican American, 29.03%Native American, 0.15%Asian, 0.01%Pacific Islander, 0.49% fromother races, and 2.28% from two or more races. 1.47% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 16.3% were ofAmerican, 8.0%Irish, 7.6%Scots-Irish, 6.9%German and 6.6%English ancestry according toCensus 2000. 95.2% spokeEnglish, 2.9%Cherokee and 1.3%Spanish as their first language.
There were 5,137 households, out of which 30.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.30% weremarried couples living together, 13.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.30% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.30% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 26.70% from 25 to 44, 25.40% from 45 to 64, and 15.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 94.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $28,608, and the median income for a family was $33,786. Males had a median income of $26,570 versus $20,722 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $14,647. About 13.30% of families and 18.30% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 25.60% of those under age 18 and 19.10% of those age 65 or over.
Swain has voted Republican the last six Presidential elections, but historically has been a swing county, with no candidate from either major party obtaining under 37 percent of the county's vote between 1976 and 2012, and no margin larger than twelve percentage points occurring in any election between 1984 and 2012. In 2016Donald Trump won the county by twenty-three percentage points with the typical strong anti-Democratic swing of most counties inAppalachia, though his margin decreased in the 2020 election. Swain was solidly Democratic during the Third Party System, but thePopulist movement dramatically increased the success of progressive Republicans between 1896 and 1928. However, the victory in the county ofProgressive Party candidateTheodore Roosevelt in 1912 and subsequent dominance of liberal Democrats likeFranklin D. Roosevelt andAdlai Stevenson suggest that the county's voters were drawn more to the relatively progressive agendas of these candidates than they were to any party label.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 220 | 11.93% | 766 | 41.54% | 858 | 46.53% |
| 1916 | 1,128 | 57.64% | 829 | 42.36% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1920 | 2,239 | 60.96% | 1,434 | 39.04% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 2,178 | 54.85% | 1,769 | 44.55% | 24 | 0.60% |
| 1928 | 2,484 | 59.04% | 1,723 | 40.96% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 1,893 | 43.78% | 2,412 | 55.78% | 19 | 0.44% |
| 1936 | 2,084 | 44.31% | 2,619 | 55.69% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 1,425 | 37.04% | 2,422 | 62.96% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1944 | 1,505 | 41.63% | 2,110 | 58.37% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 1,389 | 41.25% | 1,908 | 56.67% | 70 | 2.08% |
| 1952 | 1,680 | 46.29% | 1,949 | 53.71% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 2,026 | 53.04% | 1,794 | 46.96% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 2,112 | 49.31% | 2,171 | 50.69% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 1,534 | 40.07% | 2,294 | 59.93% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 1,494 | 45.86% | 1,227 | 37.66% | 537 | 16.48% |
| 1972 | 2,052 | 64.45% | 1,101 | 34.58% | 31 | 0.97% |
| 1976 | 1,608 | 42.64% | 2,151 | 57.04% | 12 | 0.32% |
| 1980 | 1,457 | 41.39% | 1,987 | 56.45% | 76 | 2.16% |
| 1984 | 2,012 | 50.02% | 2,000 | 49.73% | 10 | 0.25% |
| 1988 | 1,795 | 49.52% | 1,821 | 50.23% | 9 | 0.25% |
| 1992 | 1,640 | 37.88% | 2,117 | 48.89% | 573 | 13.23% |
| 1996 | 1,444 | 38.80% | 1,869 | 50.21% | 409 | 10.99% |
| 2000 | 2,224 | 50.89% | 2,097 | 47.99% | 49 | 1.12% |
| 2004 | 2,593 | 51.41% | 2,419 | 47.96% | 32 | 0.63% |
| 2008 | 2,900 | 50.02% | 2,806 | 48.40% | 92 | 1.59% |
| 2012 | 2,976 | 51.96% | 2,618 | 45.71% | 134 | 2.34% |
| 2016 | 3,565 | 58.21% | 2,196 | 35.86% | 363 | 5.93% |
| 2020 | 4,161 | 58.87% | 2,780 | 39.33% | 127 | 1.80% |
| 2024 | 4,311 | 61.13% | 2,643 | 37.48% | 98 | 1.39% |
Swain County is governed by an elected Board of Commissioners. The County Manager oversees the day-to-day management of the county and supervises the administration of all County offices, departments, boards, commissions and agencies. The county manager attends all meetings of the Board of Commissioners, recommends measures that he considers expedient, and executes decisions made by the Board. As of 2024, Swain County has the lowest per-capita tax levy in the state – $535 per person – and the second lowest total levy ($7.4 million in tax revenue).[21]
Swain County is a member of the regionalSouthwestern Commission council of governments.
The town of Cherokee is within theQualla Boundary, land purchased by theEastern Band of Cherokee Indians in the 1870s.[22] It has its own government, consisting of an elected chief and elected council members from each community within the tribe. The tribe is considered sovereign and only adheres to its own laws and the laws of thefederal government. This allows the town of Cherokee to have a casino, despite casinos being outlawed in North Carolina. This was conditional on the adoption of a tribal-state gaming compact agreed to by both the tribe and the state, as well as approved by the federal government.
The Swain County Sheriff provides court protection, jail administration, patrol and detective services for the unincorporated areas of the county. Bryson City has a municipal police department.
Swain County Schools serves all of the county except for the part in the Qualla Boundary, which is inCherokee Central Schools.[23]Swain County High School serves the former andCherokee Central High School serves the latter.
TheSmoky Mountain Times is published in Bryson City.[24] In 1889 and 1890 the community was served by theSwain County Herald.[25]
Geographic data related toSwain County, North Carolina atOpenStreetMapPlaces adjacent to Swain County, North Carolina | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofSwain County, North Carolina,United States | ||
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| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Indian reservation | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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