Swain County, North Carolina
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Swain County is a county located in the state of North Carolina. As of 2000, the population is 12,968. Its county seat is Bryson City6.
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History
The county was formed in 1871 from parts of Jackson County and Macon County. It was named for David L. Swain, governor of North Carolina from 1832 to 1835, and president of the University of North Carolina from 1835 to 1868.
Law and government
Swain County is a member of the regional Southwestern Commission council of governments.
The town of Cherokee, North Carolina is on a tribal reservation run by the eastern band of Cherokee, and is therefore subject mostly to tribal law rather than county or state.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,400 km² (541 mi²). 1,368 km² (528 mi²) of it is land and 32 km² (13 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 2.32% water.
The county is located in the western part of North Carolina in the Great Smoky Mountains and has the largest proportion of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park compared to any other county in North Carolina or Tennessee.
Towns
Townships
The county is divided into three townships: Charleston, Forneys Creek, and Nantahala.
Adjacent Counties
- Sevier County, Tennessee - north
- Haywood County, North Carolina - east
- Jackson County, North Carolina - southeast
- Macon County, North Carolina - south
- Graham County, North Carolina - southwest
- Blount County, Tennessee - northwest
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 12,968 people, 5,137 households, and 3,631 families residing in the county. The population density is 9/km² (25/mi²). There are 7,105 housing units at an average density of 5/km² (14/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 66.33% White, 1.70% Black or African American, 29.03% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.49% from other races, and 2.28% from two or more races. 1.47% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 5,137 households out of which 30.00% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.30% are married couples living together, 13.90% have a female householder with no husband present, and 29.30% are non-families. 25.80% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.10% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.44 and the average family size is 2.91.
In the county the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 39 years. For every 100 females there are 94.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 91.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county is $28,608, and the median income for a family is $33,786. Males have a median income of $26,570 versus $20,722 for females. The per capita income for the county is $14,647. 18.30% of the population and 13.30% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 25.60% of those under the age of 18 and 19.10% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
External links
- Swain County government official website (http://www.swaincounty.org)
