Inside WNC is a permanent feature from Carolina Public Press that profiles each of the 18 westernmost counties of North Carolina. This is your guide, including direct links, to elected officials, key agencies and departments, plus information on the county’s wages, housing, education and more.
Swain County, N.C., map courtesy of the U.S. Census Bureau, via Wikipedia
Swain County
Swain County is bordered by Haywood County to the east; Jackson and Macon counties to the south; Graham County to the west; and Tennessee to the north.
Map courtesy of the U.S. Census Bureau
Geography and Population
Land area in square miles: 528
Persons per square mile (2010): 26.5
Population, 2011 estimate: 14,043
American Indian or Alaska Native: 27 percent
Asian: 0.5 percent
Black: 1.3 percent
Hispanic or Latino origin: 4.2 percent
White non-Hispanic: 66.9 percent
People reporting two or more races: 4.2 percent
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
U.S., State and Local Officials, Key Agencies
U.S. elected officials
U.S. Senate
Sen. Richard Burr (R)
Washington address: 217 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 224-3154
Fax: (202) 228-2981
Email contact form
Asheville address: Federal Building, 151 Patton Ave., Suite 204
Asheville, N.C. 28801
Phone: (828) 350-2437
Fax: (828) 350-2439
Information on Burr’s support, sponsored bills, etc. from GovTrack.us
Sen. Kay Hagan (D)
Washington address: 521 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 224-6342
Fax: (202) 228-2563
Email contact form
Asheville address: 82 Patton Ave., Suite 635
Asheville, N.C. 28801
Phone: (828) 257-6510
Fax: (828) 257-6514
Information on Hagan’s support, sponsored bills, etc. from GovTrack.us
U.S. House: 11th Congressional District
Rep. Mark Meadows (R)
Washington address: 1516 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: (202) 225-6401
Email contact form
Hendersonville address: 200 N. Grove St.
Hendersonville, N.C. 28792
Phone: (828) 693-5660
Information on Meadows’ support, sponsored bills, etc. from GovTrack.us
N.C. Elected Officials
N.C. Senate District 50
Sen. Jim Davis (R)
Address: N.C. Senate
16 W. Jones St., Room 2111
Raleigh, N.C. 27601-2808
Phone: (919) 733-5875 and (828) 342-4483
Email: Jim.Davis@ncleg.net
N.C. House District 119
Rep. Joe Sam Queen (D)
Address: N.C. House of Representatives
16 W. Jones St., Room 1017
Raleigh, N.C. 27601-1096
Phone: (919) 715-3005 and (828) 452-4286
Email: Joe.Queen@ncleg.net
County Officials and Agencies
Swain County Board of Commissioners
Chairman: Phil Carson
Address: Administration Building
101 Mitchell St.
Bryson City, N.C. 28713
Phone: (828) 488-9273
Email: p_carson@swaincountync.gov
County Manager: Kevin S. King
Address: Administration Building
101 Mitchell St.
Bryson City, N.C. 28713
Phone: (828) 488-9273, Ext. 2231
Email: manager@swaincountync.gov
Sheriff: Curtis Cochran
Address: Sheriff’s Office and Jail
95 Brendle St.
Bryson City, N.C. 28713
Phone: (828) 488-0159
Email: n/a
Swain County Department of Social Services
Interim Director: Jerry Smith
Address: 80 Academy St.
Bryson City, N.C. 28713
Phone: (828) 488-6921
Email: jerry.smith@swaindss.org
Swain County Health Department
Director: Linda White
Address: 545 Center St.
Bryson City, N.C. 28713
Phone: (828) 488-8672
Email: lindaw@swaincountync.gov
Member of the Southwestern North Carolina Planning and Economic Development Commission (Southwestern Commission), which covers the westernmost part of the state, specifically Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties.
County Seat
Bryson City
Population (2010): 1,424
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Town Government Office Address: 45 Everett St., Bryson City, N.C. 28713
Bryson City Council
Mayor: Tom Sutton
Address: 45 Everett St.
Bryson City, N.C. 28713
Phone: (828) 736-6068
Email: brysoncitymayor@dnet.net
Town Manager: Larry Callicutt
Address: 45 Everett St.
Bryson City, N.C. 28713
Phone: (828) 488-3335
Email contact form
Bryson City Police Department
Chief of Police: Rick Tabor
Address: 200 Main St.
Bryson City, N.C. 28713
Phone: (828) 488-3050
Email: n/a
Eastern Band of Cherokee
Principal Chief: Michell Hicks
Address: n/a
Phone: n/a
Email: n/a
Tribal Council
Chairman: Jim Owle
Address: 47 Fauline Enloe Road
Cherokee, NC 28719
Phone: (828) 497-3993
Email: jimowle@nc-cherokee.com
Tribal Administrator: Jeremy Hyatt
Address: PO Box 455
Cherokee, N.C. 28719
Phone: (828) 497-2771
Email: jerehyat@nc-cherokee.com
Tribal Operations Office
Address: 67 Council House Loop
PO Box 455
Cherokee, N.C.28719
Phone: (828) 554-6721
Email: n/a
Cherokee Indian Police Department
Address: 468 Sequoyah Trail ( PO Box 1330)
Cherokee, N.C. 28719
Phone: (828) 497-7405
Email: n/a
Law Enforcement Agencies
Swain County Sheriff’s Office
Address: Sheriff’s Office and Jail
95 Brendle St.
Bryson City, N.C. 28713
Phone: (828) 488-0159
Email: n/a
Bryson City Police Department
Chief of Police: Rick Tabor
Address: 200 Main St.
Bryson City, N.C. 28713
Phone: (828) 488-3050
Email: n/a
Cherokee Indian Police Department
Address: 468 Sequoyah Trail ( PO Box 1330)
Cherokee, N.C. 28719
Phone: (828) 497-7405
Email: n/a
Voter Information
Swain County Board of Elections
Director: Joan Weeks
Address: 1442 U.S. 19 South
Bryson City, N.C. 28713
Phone: (828) 488-6177
Email: swain.boe@gmail.com
Chairman: James Fisher
Address: 1442 U.S. 19 South
Bryson City, N.C. 28713
Phone: (828) 488-6177
Email: swain.boe@gmail.com
Court System
Bryson City federal courthouse, U.S. District Court
Address: Federal Building
50 Main St., Room 306
Bryson City, N.C. 28713
Phone: (828) 488-5090
Serving: Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties
Judicial District 30A
Swain County Courthouse
Address: 101 Mitchell St
Bryson City, N.C. 28713
Phone: (828) 488-2288
Email: n/a
Clerk of Superior Court: Hester G. Sitton
Phone: (828) 488-2288
Email: n/a
District Attorney Michael Bonfoey
Phone (Swain County office): (828) 488-8723
Email: n/a
Office of the Attorney General for the Eastern Band of Cherokee
Attorney General Annette Tarnawsky
Phone: (828) 497-7433
Email: annetarn@nc-cherokee.com
Economy and Employment
Unemployment rate, January 2013: 19 percent
Unemployment rate, January 2012: 18.7 percent
Source: N.C. Department of Commerce – Labor and Economic Analysis Division
Top three industries, by employment (2010, most current):
Accommodation and Food Services: 2,460
Retail trade: 521
Construction: 389
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau
Largest Employer (Second quarter of 2012, most current): Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
Source: N.C. Department of Commerce
Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau
Bryson City-Swain County Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center
Executive Director: Karen Proctor Wilmot
Address: 210 Main St.
Bryson City, N.C. 28713
Phone: (828) 488-3681 or (800) 867-9246
Email: chamber@greatsmokies.com
Wages, Housing and Education
Per capita money income in past 12 months (2010 dollars) 2006-2010: $19,297
Persons living below poverty level 2006-2010: 22.4 percent
Median household income 2006-2010: $35,071
Median owner-occupied housing value: $114,600
High school graduates, age 25+ (2006-2010): 79.4 percent
Bachelor’s degree or higher, age 25+ (2006-2010): 18.6 percent
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Number of homeless (January 2012 point-in-time count, most current): 14
Source: North Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness
Education
Swain County School District
Four-year cohort high school graduation rates, as of September 2012: 79.9
Source: N.C. Department of Public Instruction
Swain County School District Board of Education
Address: 280 School Dr.
Bryson City, N.C. 28713
Phone: (828) 488-3129
Email: n/a
Board of Education Chairman: Charles “Chuck” McMahan
Address: 280 School Dr.
Bryson City, N.C. 28713
Phone: (828) 488-3129
Email: cmcmahan@swainmail.org
School Superintendent: Bob Marr
Address: 280 School Dr.
Bryson City, N.C. 28713
Phone: (828) 488-3129, Ext. 229
Email: bmarr@swainmail.org
Higher education*
Southwestern Community College Swain Center
Address: 60 Almond School Road
Bryson City, N.C. 28713
Phone: (828) 366-2000
Email: n/a
Enrollment: n/a
Top Healthcare Providers*
Cherokee Indian Hospital
Address: 1 Hospital Road
Cherokee, N.C. 28719
Phone: (828) 497-9163
Email: n/a
HCAHPS Patient Perceptions Survey 10/2010-9/2011 rankings:
Rate 9 or 10 Overall: 65 percent
Always Clean and Quiet: 70 percent
MedWest-Swain
Address: 45 Plateau St.
Bryson City, N.C. 28713
Phone: (828) 488-2155
Email contact form
HCAHPS Patient Perceptions Survey 10/2010-9/2011 rankings:
Rate 9 or 10 Overall: n/a
Always Clean and Quiet: n/a
Swain County Health Department
Director: Linda White
Address: 545 Center St.
Bryson City, N.C. 28713
Phone: (828) 488-8672
Email: lindaw@swaincountync.gov
Crime and Law Enforcement
Crime Rate Per 100,000 (2011): 4,005.3
Violent Crime Rate: 497.1
Property Crime Rate: 3,508.1
Number of registered sex offenders: 38
Source: N.C. Department of Justice
*Listings are for entities headquartered in the county and do not include satellites, branches or other service information for others with operations in the county.
Editor Angie Newsome and contributors Kathleen O. Davis and Clay Hurand supplied additional research to this report.
This page will be regularly updated. Contact us submission@carolinapublicpress.org with updates or questions.
