Swain County, North Carolina

Swain County
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 / 35.57; -83.47
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.swaincountync.gov

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.