Editing Swain County, North Carolina (section)

==Geography==
{{maplink|frame=yes|zoom=8|id=Q496197|type=shape-inverse|text=Interactive map of Swain County}}
[[File:Oconaluftee River in Swain Co., NC IMG 4884.JPG|200px|right|thumb|Oconaluftee River in Cherokee]]
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], Swain county has a total area of {{convert|540.25|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|527.73|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|12.52|sqmi}} (2.32%) is water.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 23, 2022 |title=2020 County Gazetteer Files – North Carolina |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_counties_37.txt |access-date=September 9, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>

The county is located in far [[Western North Carolina]] in the [[Great Smoky Mountains]]. It holds more of the [[Great Smoky Mountains National Park]] than any other county in North Carolina or Tennessee. The highest point in the county is [[Kuwohi]], elevation {{convert|6,643|ft}}, located on the NC/TN border. Kuwohi is the third-highest peak in North Carolina. A walkable observation tower is located on its summit. The highest mountain in North Carolina and in the United States east of the Mississippi River is [[Mount Mitchell]], {{convert|6,684|ft}}, located northeast of [[Asheville, North Carolina]], in Yancey County.<ref>Mount Mitchell State Park, North Carolina State Park System; www.ncparks.gov.</ref>

Three rivers ultimately feed the Little Tennessee River, which flows through the mountains into Tennessee. The [[Nantahala River]] is one of the most popular [[whitewater rafting]] rivers in the nation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.greatsmokies.com/|title=Travel Guide to Bryson City and the Great Smoky Mountains|website=Swain County NC Chamber of Commerce|access-date=March 17, 2018}}</ref> It is a tributary of the Little Tennessee River.

As of 2024, Swain County has 3,930 acres of agricultural land – the fourth-lowest amount in the state.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Foster |first=Randy |date=2024-10-15 |title=County facing challenges to local economy |url=https://www.cherokeescout.com/index.php/local-newsletter/county-facing-challenges-local-economy |access-date=2024-10-17 |work=[[Cherokee Scout]] |publisher=[[Community Newspapers Inc.]] |pages=1A,8A}}</ref>

===Cherokee reserve===
The [[Oconaluftee River]] flows through Swain County and the town of [[Cherokee, North Carolina|Cherokee]], where the federally recognized [[Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians]] is based. Their [[Qualla Boundary]] occupies territory in both Swain and Jackson counties. The Oconaluftee is a tributary of the [[Tuckaseegee River]]. Ancient Cherokee towns were located along both of these rivers. The Tuckaseegee flows into the [[Little Tennessee River]] before it leaves North Carolina. It also had important Cherokee towns, each developed around an earthwork mound. The Cherokee built their communal [[townhouse]] on top of these mounds.

===National protected areas===
* [[Blue Ridge Parkway]] (part)
* [[Great Smoky Mountains National Park]] (part)
* [[Nantahala National Forest]] (part)

===State and local protected areas/sites===
* [[Nantahala National Forest Game Land]] (part)<ref name="NCWRC Game Lands">{{Cite web |title=NCWRC Game Lands |url=https://www.ncpaws.org/ncwrcmaps/gamelands |access-date=March 30, 2023 |website=www.ncpaws.org}}</ref>
* [[Needmore Game Land]] (part)<ref name="NCWRC Game Lands"/>
* [[Shuckstack|Shuckstack Fire Tower]]
* [[William H. Silver Game Land]] (part)<ref name="NCWRC Game Lands"/>

===Major water bodies===
* [[Brush Creek (North Carolina)|Brush Creek]]
* [[Bunches Creek (North Carolina)|Bunches Creek]]
* [[Cullasaja River]]
* [[Deep Creek (North Carolina)|Deep Creek]]
* [[Fingerlake (North Carolina)|Fingerlake]]
* [[Fontana Lake]]
* [[Forney Creek (North Carolina)|Forney Creek]]
* [[Licklog Creek (North Carolina)|Licklog Creek]]
* [[Little Tennessee River]]
* [[Nantahala River]]
* [[Noland Creek (North Carolina)|Noland Creek]]
* [[Oconaluftee River]]
* [[Pigeon Creek (North Carolina)|Pigeon Creek]]
* [[Tuckasegee River]]
* [[Wesser Creek (North Carolina)|Wesser Creek]]

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Sevier County, Tennessee]] – north
* [[Haywood County, North Carolina|Haywood County]] – east
* [[Jackson County, North Carolina|Jackson County]] – southeast
* [[Macon County, North Carolina|Macon County]] – south
* [[Graham County, North Carolina|Graham County]] – southwest
* [[Blount County, Tennessee]] – northwest

===Major highways===
* {{Jct|state=NC|US|19}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|US-Conn|19|dab1=Bryson City}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|US-Truck|19|dab1=Bryson City–Lake Junaluska}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|US|74}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|US|129}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|US|441}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|US-Bus|441|dab1=Cherokee}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|28}}

===Major infrastructure===
* [[Bryson City Depot]]
* [[Great Smoky Mountains Railroad]], freight and heritage railroad company based in Bryson City
* Sossamon Field, in Bryson City
* Swain Public Transit, providing requested transportation services in county