Swain County

Swain County, North Carolina

PO Box 1397
Bryson City, NC 28713
Phone: (828) 488-2288
Fax: (828) 488-9360
www.swaincounty.org

On the southwestern border of NC, west of Asheville; organized Feb 24, 1871 from Jackson and Macon counties. Name Origin: For David Lowrie Swain (1801-68), NC governor (1832-35) and president of the University of NC (1835-68)

Area (sq mi):: 540.64 (land 528.10; water 12.54) Population per square mile: 24.90
Population 2005: 13,167 State rank: 90 Population change: 2000-20005 1.50%; 1990-2000 15.10% Population 2000: 12,968 (White 65.90%; Black or African American 1.70%; Hispanic or Latino 1.50%; Asian 0.20%; Other 31.80%). Foreign born: 1.00%. Median age: 38.80
Income 2000: per capita $14,647; median household $28,608; Population below poverty level: 18.30% Personal per capita income (2000-2003): $17,369-$19,813
Unemployment (2004): 7.10% Unemployment change (from 2000): -4.10% Median travel time to work: 20.80 minutes Working outside county of residence: 28.50%
Cities with population over 10,000: None
See other counties in North Carolina.