Swain County is a county in North Carolina, United States, in the mountainous far western part of the state, bordering Tennessee. It had a population of 14,117 at the 2020 census and covers 540 square miles (1,399 km2) centred near 35°34′N 83°28′W, most of it within the Nantahala National Forest and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park — Swain holds more park acreage than any other county in North Carolina or Tennessee.
Bryson City is the county seat and its postal code is 28713. The county has one incorporated town, two census-designated places, and a scatter of unincorporated mountain communities. It sits in the Eastern time zone.
Towns & Villages in Swain County
Swain County has one incorporated town (Bryson City), two census-designated places (Cherokee and Whittier), and a long list of small unincorporated communities and hollows across its steep terrain. CDP = census-designated place; Unincorp. = unincorporated community.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bryson City | City · seat | 1,491 | 28713 |
| Cherokee | CDP | 2,138 | 28719 |
| Whittier | CDP | — | 28789 |
| Alarka | Unincorp. | — | 28753 |
| Almond | Unincorp. | — | 28702 |
| Big Laurel | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Birdtown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bryson Place | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Carson Mill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| De Hart Mill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ela | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fairfax | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Franklin Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Halls Ford | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hewitt | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Jackson Line | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Jenkins Place | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lackey Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lauada | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Maple Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Nantahala | Unincorp. | — | 28702 |
| Needmore | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Oconaluftee Indian Village | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Proctor | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ravensford | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Roundhill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Solola Valley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Talc Mountain | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Three Forks | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Unahala | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wesser | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wright Place | Unincorp. | — | — |
Cherokee sits mostly within the Qualla Boundary, the land trust held for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and is governed as tribal land rather than a municipality. Oconaluftee Indian Village is a living-history recreation of an 18th-century Cherokee settlement near Cherokee, not a residential place.
ZIP Codes
- 28713 — Bryson City (also serves most of the county’s unincorporated interior)
- 28719 — Cherokee
- 28789 — Whittier (shared with neighboring Jackson County)
- 28702 — Almond / Nantahala (shared with neighboring Swain-adjacent Graham County addresses)
Most of the remaining unincorporated communities use the Bryson City ZIP for mail.
Geography
Swain County lies in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, its northern half almost entirely inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park — the county holds more park acreage than any other county in North Carolina or Tennessee. Fontana Lake, formed by the TVA’s Fontana Dam, covers much of the southern county and separates Bryson City from the park’s Hazel Creek and Eagle Creek sections, reachable only by boat or trail since the lake’s creation flooded the old road. The Tuckasegee, Nantahala and Little Tennessee rivers run through the county’s valleys.
Swain County borders Sevier County, Tennessee to the north; Haywood County, North Carolina to the east; Jackson County to the southeast; Macon County to the south; Graham County to the southwest; and Blount County, Tennessee to the northwest.
Demographics
Swain County had 14,117 residents at the 2020 census, giving a density of about 27 people per square mile. Bryson City and Cherokee are the two largest population centers, with the balance spread across the county’s mountain hollows. American Indian and Alaska Native residents make up close to 30% of the county’s population, one of the highest shares of any county in North Carolina, reflecting the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ presence on the Qualla Boundary. Median household income in Swain County runs below the North Carolina median of $70,804, typical of the state’s rural western counties.
Economy & Local Life
Tourism drives Swain County’s economy: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Fontana Lake, whitewater rafting on the Nantahala River, and Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort on the Qualla Boundary all draw visitors. The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad runs excursion trains out of Bryson City. Government and tribal employment, forestry, and small-scale agriculture round out the local economy. Bryson City hosts an annual Fourth of July celebration and a Christmas parade that draw crowds well beyond the town’s own population.
History
Swain County was formed in 1871 from parts of Jackson and Macon counties and named for David L. Swain, a former North Carolina governor and University of North Carolina president. The federal government’s construction of Fontana Dam during World War II flooded farmland and roads along the Little Tennessee River, displacing families and later leading to the still-unresolved “Road to Nowhere” dispute over a promised replacement road into the park’s north shore. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has held land on the Qualla Boundary within and adjoining the county since the 19th century, after some Cherokee families avoided removal on the Trail of Tears.
Getting There
US 19, US 74, US 129 and US 441 cross the county, along with the Blue Ridge Parkway’s southern terminus near Cherokee. Nearby places by road:
- Sylva — 20 miles southeast
- Waynesville — 30 miles east
- Asheville — 60 miles east
- Gatlinburg, Tennessee — 45 miles north through the park
The nearest commercial airport is Asheville Regional Airport, about an hour’s drive east.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Swain County, North Carolina?
It is in the far western mountains of North Carolina, bordering Tennessee, mostly within Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
What is the population of Swain County?
14,117 at the 2020 census.
How big is Swain County?
540 square miles (1,399 km2), most of it national park and national forest land.
What is the county seat of Swain County?
Bryson City.
How many towns are in Swain County?
One incorporated town, Bryson City, plus the census-designated places Cherokee and Whittier and numerous unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Swain County?
28713 (Bryson City), 28719 (Cherokee), 28789 (Whittier) and 28702 (Almond/Nantahala).
Is Cherokee, North Carolina part of Swain County?
Most of Cherokee lies within Swain County, on the Qualla Boundary land trust held for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; part of the Qualla Boundary also extends into neighboring Jackson County.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in North Carolina.