Swain County | |
|---|---|
 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 of North Carolina | |
 North Carolina's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 35°34′N 83°28′W / 35.57°N 83.47°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  North Carolina |
| Founded | 1871 |
| Named for | 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 (2023) | 13,916 |
| • 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 a county located on the far western border of the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,117.[1] Its county seat is Bryson City.[2]
Four rivers flow through the mountainous terrain of Swain County: the Nantahala River, Oconaluftee River, Tuckaseegee River, and the Little Tennessee River. Their valleys have been occupied for thousands of years by various societies of Indigenous peoples, including the South Appalachian Mississippian culture era, and the Cherokee people. Native Americans, mostly members of the federally recognized Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, comprise 29% of the population in Swain County.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
2020CensusQuickFactswas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.