Swain County, County in Great Smoky Mountains region, North Carolina, United States
Description
Swain County is an administrative division in the Great Smoky Mountains region of western North Carolina. The area is defined by mountainous terrain and has Bryson City as its seat of government.
History
The county was established in 1871 by the North Carolina General Assembly to serve as an administrative center for the region. Its development has been closely tied to Cherokee settlement and mountain geography.
Culture
The Cherokee people have deep roots in this area and shape how the community lives today. Their traditions and institutions are visible in the daily life of those who live and work here.
Practical
Local government operations are based in Bryson City and provide services to residents and visitors. The terrain is mountainous, which means travel between locations takes more time than in flatter areas.
Did you know?
Part of the area overlaps with the Qualla Boundary, a federal reserve that the Cherokee Nation governs. This makes the county a place where two legal systems and cultural structures coexist.
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Great Smoky Mountains
8.1 km
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
14.7 km
Kuwohi
8.1 km
Mount Le Conte
18.9 km
Elkmont
20 km
Fontana Lake
27.5 km
Alum Cave Trail
17 km
Cheoah Dam
40.7 km
Chimney Tops
15.6 km
Laurel Falls Trail
21.9 km
Oconaluftee Valley
17 km
Walker Sisters Place
26 km
Kituwa
8.1 km
Abrams Falls Trail
34.5 km
Mingo Falls
20.1 km
Tuckaleechee Caverns
31.8 km
Noah Ogle Place
21.5 km
Gregory Bald
34.3 kmCharlies Bunion
19.8 km
Oconaluftee Visitor Center
16.9 km
Museum of the Cherokee Indian
15.8 km
Silers Bald
10.9 km
Ramsey Center
34.8 km
Santeetlah Dam
37.2 km
Andrews Bald
5.5 km
Little Greenbrier School
25.4 km
Mount Collins
10.9 km
The Boulevard Trail
17.8 km
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