Swain County, North Carolina

Founding: 1871
Parent counties: Jackson and Macon
Namesake: David Swain, North Carolina governor
Seat: Byson City (1872–)
Land area: 528 square miles
Population (2020): 14,117
Population (historic): 3,784 (1880); 8,401 (1900); 11,568 (1930)
Periods of population growth: pre-1880–1920; 1930s; 1970–2020
Subdivisions: One town; one CDP
National Register listings: 12
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 313 (3.7%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 18%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 36.5%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 25.6%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $453
Average outbuilding value (1930): $204

Average farmhouse size (1940): 3.9 rooms

Number of farms (1920): 1,264
Average farm size (1920): 22.1 acres
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Bryson City

 
Namesake: Thaddeus Bryson, local resident
Founding: 1872 (platting as Charleston); 1872 (post office)
Population (2020): 1,558
Population (historic): 417 (1900); 612 (1910); 882 (1920); 1,806 (1930)
Periods of population growth: 1872–1930; 1960–1980; 1990–2020
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 83 (9.7%)
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Outstanding Buildings

1. *Abel Hyatt House (1880). 390 Hyatt Creek Road. Greek Revival.