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Swain County,
North Carolina History & Facts
County Vital Records ∣ County Census Records ∣ County Courthouse and Government Records ∣
County Societies, Family History Resources and County Genealogy Links
Swain County, North Carolina History
When was Swain County, NC Created?
Swain County was created on 1871 from Jackson County and Macon County.
What is the County Seat of Swain County, NC?
The County Seat is located in Bryson City also, the county government website is www.swaincountync.gov.
What counties are adjacent to Swain County, NC?
Bordering Counties are Sevier County, Tennessee, Haywood County, Jackson County, Macon County, Graham County, Blount County, Tennessee.
Swain County, NC Vital Records
Where can find Swain County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Swain County vital records can be found at the North Carolina Department of Health which has copies of birth records after 1913 and death records after 1930, copies of marriage since Jan 1962 and a Divorce records since 1958. There is a fee for each copy requested. Please refer to the information to the Statewide Vital Records in North Carolina for current fees and application process.
Birth, death and marriage certificates also may be obtained at the Swain County Register of Deeds (ROD) office. Divorce certificates may be obtained from the Swain County clerk of court.
You can search online for Swain County Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Records. You can also Order Electronically Online or you can download an application for North Carolina Birth Certificate, Death, Divorce and Marriage Certificate Application to mail.
The North Carolina State Archives has the following vital records: Death Certificates, 1913-1975 (Statewide Index: 1913-1979); microfilmed Indexes to Births and Deaths (except Wake, Durham); Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868 (not required by law); Cohabitation Records, 1866-1867; microfilmed Marriage Registers and Indexes; microfilmed Marriage Licenses for many of the counties See Also North Carolina Vital Records Research Guide
- U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979
- Swain Co., NC GenWeb Archives Marriage Records
- Swain County, North Carolina Marriage Project
- Swain Co., NC GenWeb Archives Births & Deaths Records
- Social Security Death Index
- North Carolina, Birth Indexes, 1800-2000
- North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
- North Carolina Marriage Collection, 1741-2004
- North Carolina, Death Indexes, 1800-2000
- North Carolina Death Certificates, 1909-1975
- North Carolina, Death Collection, 1908-2004
Swain County, NC Census Records
What Swain County, NC census records are available?
County census records consists of Federal Census Schedules which can guide in looking into your family tree. Federal Population Schedules can be found for 1880 (free index), 1890 (fragment), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940.
Swain Co. Mortality Schedules can be found for 1880. Swain Co. Industry and Agriculture can be obtained for 1880. Swain Co. Union Veterans Schedules is available for 1890. One can find free online and printable census forms to help you with your research. See Also North Carolina Census Records Research Guide
Swain County, NC Courthouse and Government Records

What genealogical records can I find in the Swain County Courthouse?
Researchers frequently overlook the great importance of Swain County court, probate, and land records data as a useful resource of ancestry and genealogy information. Buried away in North Carolina courthouses and archives everywhere are the ambitions and frustrations of countless North Carolina residents. The possibilities are excellent that your forefathers have left a comprehensive document of at least a number of facets of their lives in the Swain County court records. Even if your forebears is not referred to in a Court case, contemplate all of the other procedures that could have lead to him or her to appear in court records. See Also North Carolina Courthouse Records Research Guide.
- Swain County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
- Address: 101 Mitchell St, Bryson City, NC 28713
- Swain County Register of Deeds
- Phone: 828-488-9273
- Birth Records: ?
- Marriage Records: 1871
- Death Records: ?
- Land Records: 1871
- Swain County Clerk of Court
- Phone: 828-488-2288
- Probate Records: 1871
- Court Records: 1871
- Divorce Records: call court clerk for details
- North Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998
- Guide to Research Materials in the North Carolina State Archives: Swain County Records
- Swain Co., NC GenWeb Archives Court Records
- County Records in the North Carolina State Archives
- Swain Co., NC GenWeb Archives Wills & Estate Records
- Swain Co., NC GenWeb Archives Deed Records
- North Carolina, County Records, 1833-1970
- BLM Land Records
Swain County, NC Societies and Family History Resources
What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Swain County, NC?
A list of Swain County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Forums, Message Boards, Libraries, Archives. See also a list of Statewide North Carolina Archives, Historical & Genealogical Societies.
- Swain County Genealogical & Historical Society, P.O. Box 267, Bryson City NC 28713
- North Carolina State Archives, Office of Archives and History—State Library Building; Public Services Branch, Mail Service Center 4614, Raleigh, N.C. 27699-4614 ; Phone: (919) 807-7310
- State Library of North Carolina, 109 East Jones Street, Raleigh, NC 27601-2807; (919) 733-7222, (919) 733-3270
- North Carolina Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 22, Greenville, NC 27835
Where can I connect with other Swain County, NC Researchers through message boards and forums?
- https://www.archives.gov/research/census
- North Carolina Genealogy Network Community (plus.google.com)
- State of North Carolina Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
- Swain County, North Carolina Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com) read and post messages about your ancestors in Swain County
- Swain County, North Carolina Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
What other genealogical resources are available in Swain County, NC?
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Swain County. A majority of these genealogy links fall into 3 categories: Professional Sites, Personal Sites or Organization Sites. Some have free access some require a payment. This is merely a directory that has been collected or submitted. I do not recommend or promote one genealogy site over another.
Swain Co. NC Books, Newspapers & Publications
- North Carolina Newspapers Books & Publications Research Guide
- North Carolina historical newspaper archives online (newspapers.com)
- Historical Newspapers from North Carolina (1719 – 1977) (genealogybank.com)
- Swain County, North Carolina Books (amazon.com)
- Swain Co., NC GenWeb Archives Obituary Records (usgwarchives.net)
- Search North Carolina Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)
Swain Co. NC Church / Bible Records & Cemeteries / Graveyards
- Swain Co., North Carolina Graves (findagrave.com)
- Swain County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
- Swain Co., NC GenWeb Archives Cemeteries & Photos (usgwarchives.net)
- Swain Co., North Carolina Cemeteries (Internment.net)
- Swain Co., North Carolina Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
- Swain Co., NC GenWeb Archives Church Records (usgwarchives.net)
- Swain Co., NC GenWeb Archives Bible Records (usgwarchives.net)
- Swain County, North Carolina Church Books (amazon.com)
Swain Co. NC Family Websites, Pictures & Histories
- Create a Free Family Tree (ancestry.com)
- Swain Co., NC GenWeb Archives Biographies & Collections (usgwarchives.net)
- Nichols and Related Families (nicholsgenealogy.com)
Swain Co. NC General and History Websites
- Swain County, North Carolina Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
- A History of Swain County, North Carolina (carolana.com)
- Swain County, North Carolina Wiki (familysearch.org)
- Swain Co. NC Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
- Family History Library (familysearch.org)
- North Carolina Digital Collections (digital.ncdcr.gov)
- Swain County, North Carolina (linkpendium.com)
- Cyndi’s List – United States – North Carolina – Counties – Swain (cyndislist.com)
- Swain County North Carolina (genealogytrails.com)
- Swain Co. NCGenweb (ncgenweb.us)
- Swain County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
- Swain County USGenWeb Archives Project (usgwarchives.net)
- Swain Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)
Swain Co. NC Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
- See Also Map of North Carolina Links and Information
- Swain Co. D.O.T. Maps [Map 1] – [Map 2]
- Map of Swain County, NC Municipalities and Townships
- 1895 Swain County Map (livgenmi.com)
Swain Co. NC Military Records
- North Carolina Military Records Research Guide
- Swain Co., NC GenWeb Archives Military Records (usgwarchives.net)
- North Carolina Military Records (Fold3.com) provides access to military records, stories, photos, and personal documents of the North Carolina women and men who served. Perfect for Swain County genealogists, researchers, historians plus much more.
Swain Co. NC Schools & Directories
- North Carolina City Directories (search.ancestry.com)
- Directory of Scots in the Carolinas, 1680-1830 (search.ancestry.com)