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County · code 37173

Swain CountyNorth Carolina

Swain County is a county in North Carolina with its seat in Bryson City. The county was formed on February 24, 1871, from parts of Jackson and Macon counties.

  • Founded1871
  • County seatBryson City
  • Named forDavid Lowry Swain
  • Land area528 sq mi + 13 sq mi water
  • Population14,117 2020 Census
  • Parcels mapped12,647 checked 15 October 2026
Open the free map Click any parcel in Swain County: acreage, parcel id, address and who publishes the map. No sign-in.

Updated

Sevier, TNMaconGrahamJacksonBlount, TNHaywood Bryson City Census outline · seat marked

Where it is

Swain on the map of North Carolina

North Carolina has 100 counties and county equivalents, each with its own records office. Shapes with a page are links.

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Counties of North Carolina · Swain highlighted

History

Formed in 1871 from Jackson County and Macon County

An old deed may name a county that no longer exists, or a boundary that has since moved.

Swain County was created on February 24, 1871, from Jackson and Macon counties and was named after David Lowry Swain. The county's boundaries were adjusted slightly in 1872, 1874, and 1887 through exchanges with Graham and Jackson counties.

Boundary changes from the Newberry Library, Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

  1. 1871
    Swain County created Swain created from Jackson and Macon.
    from Jacksonfrom Macon
    · N.C. Sess. Laws 1870-1871, pub., ch. 94, sec. 1/pp. 155-156
  2. 1872
    Lost territory Swain lost small area to Graham.
    to Graham
    · N.C. Sess. Laws 1871-1872, pub., ch. 154, sec. 1/p. 242
  3. 1874
    Gained territory Swain gained small area from Graham.
    from Graham
    · N.C. Sess. Laws 1873-1874, pub., ch. 93, sec. 1/p. 123
  4. 1887
    Gained territory Swain gained small area from Jackson.
    from Jackson
    · N.C. Sess. Laws 1887, pub., ch. 180, sec. 1/ pp. 405-406

Land and parcels

What the maps cover in Swain

Who publishes each layer, how good it is, and when we last checked.

Official
from the office that keeps the record
Good enough
a reliable statewide or national copy
Fallback
a guide only; check the official record
Missing
nothing public found yet

People and land

Swain by the Census

Population
14,117 2020 Census count
Housing units
8,341 2020 Census count
Land area
528 square miles
Water area
13 square miles
People per sq mi
27 population ÷ land area

Source: US Census Bureau, 2020 Census; US Census Bureau, 2020 Gazetteer Files. Not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Rules and offices

Who to ask before you build, dig or sell

Official county pages only. We link to them; we do not copy them, because they change.

Inside a city or town, permits usually come from that city rather than the county.

Records

Permits

Zoning and code

GIS and maps

County government

See your own lot on these maps

Open Swain County on Parcel Chart's free map and click your parcel. Save it with a free account; the full record of your place (site map, projects, documents) is Pro, in early access.

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Questions

Common questions about Swain County

When was Swain County founded?
Swain County was founded in 1871, formed from Jackson County and Macon County, and named after David Lowry Swain.
What is the county seat of Swain County?
The county seat of Swain County is Bryson City.
Is there an online parcel map for Swain County?
Yes. Swain County publishes a parcel map of 12,647 parcels, rated good enough here. You can click any parcel on it in Parcel Chart's free map, no sign-in needed.
Has Swain County's boundary or name changed?
Swain County was created in 1871 from Jackson County and Macon County. Since then the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries records 3 later changes, most of them small boundary adjustments, chiefly involving Graham County and Jackson County.
Who issues building permits in Swain County?
The county's page on building permits: BUILDING INSPECTIONS FEE SCHEDULE EFFECTIVE 5/1/2025. Inside a city or town, ask that city first.
Who issues septic and well permits in Swain County?
The county's page on septic systems and wells: Health department: septic and well.
Is my lot in a flood zone?
We do not have flood maps for Swain County yet. Look up the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, which shows the effective flood map for any lot.

Nearby

Counties next door