Swift County, Minnesota facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Swift County
U.S. county
Swift County Courthouse, Benson
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
Founded	February 18, 1870
Named for	Henry Adoniram Swift
Seat	Benson
Largest city	Benson
Area
• Total	752 sq mi (1,950 km2)
• Land	742 sq mi (1,920 km2)
• Water	8.82 sq mi (22.8 km2)  1.3%%
Population  (2020)
• Total	9,838
• Estimate  (2023)	9,719
• Density	13.3/sq mi (5.1/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	7th

Swift County is a special area in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It is called a county. In 2020, about 9,838 people lived there. The main town, or county seat, where the county government is located, is Benson.

A Look Back: Swift County's History

Swift County is in the western part of Minnesota. It covers about 757 square miles. The county was officially created on February 18, 1870. It was named after Henry Adoniram Swift, who was the third governor of Minnesota from 1863 to 1864.

Early Days and Settlers

In the early 1860s, there were some conflicts between Native American groups and the government. This led to a war in Minnesota in August 1862. The fighting reached the new settlements in what would become Swift County. By late September 1862, the war was mostly over. However, settlers were careful about returning to Swift County until 1865, when it seemed safe again.

Many of the first settlers in Swift County came from Scandinavia and Germany. Some of these early settlers were also brave soldiers who had fought in the American Civil War.

How the Railroad Shaped the County

In 1869, the St. Paul & Pacific Railroad reached a town called Willmar. The very next year, it arrived in Benson. The railroad company helped decide where future towns and trading centers would be. They placed these towns, like Kerkhoven, DeGraff, and Benson, about 8 miles apart.

The beautiful Swift County Courthouse was built in 1897. It is an important historical building and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. Benson is still the county seat today. Railroad tracks run right through the middle of Benson's downtown area, with parks on both sides.

Important Old Buildings

Swift County has some very old and important buildings. One example is the Gethsemane Episcopal Church in Appleton. It was built in 1879 and is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Exploring Swift County's Geography

Swift County has a varied landscape. The Minnesota River flows along its lower western border. The Pomme de Terre River and the Chippewa River also flow through the county. These rivers eventually join the Minnesota River.

The land in Swift County has rolling hills and is mostly used for farming. The highest point in the county is about 1,240 feet above sea level, located near the northeast corner. The county covers about 752 square miles in total. Most of this (742 square miles) is land, and about 10 square miles (1.3%) is water.

Swift County is a big farming area. It also has companies that make farm equipment and a plant that produces ethanol (a type of fuel). There are 24 lakes and nine rivers and streams in the county. Lake Oliver is one of the largest lakes, covering about 416 acres.

Major Roads for Travel

Many important roads help people travel through Swift County:

• U.S. Highway 12
• U.S. Highway 59
• Minnesota State Highway 7
• Minnesota State Highway 9
• Minnesota State Highway 29
• Minnesota State Highway 104
• Minnesota State Highway 119

Neighboring Counties

Swift County shares its borders with several other counties:

• Stevens County to the northwest
• Pope County to the northeast
• Kandiyohi County to the east
• Chippewa County to the south
• Lac qui Parle County to the southwest
• Big Stone County to the west

Local Airport

The Appleton Municipal Airport provides services for small planes and private flights in Swift County.

Special Protected Areas

Swift County has several protected areas where nature is preserved. These include:

• Bench State Wildlife Management Area
• Camp Kerk State Wildlife Management Area
• Danvers State Wildlife Management Area
• Ehrenburg State Wildlife Management Area
• Hayes-Myhre State Wildlife Management Area
• Henry X State Wildlife Management Area
• Hollerberg Lake State Wildlife Management Area
• Monson Lake State Park

Who Lives in Swift County?

The number of people living in Swift County has changed over the years. Here's how the population has grown and shrunk:

People in Swift County: 2020 Census

In 2020, the United States Census collected information about the people living in Swift County. Here's a look at the different groups:

Towns and Communities

Swift County is home to several towns and smaller communities.

Cities in Swift County

• Appleton
• Benson (This is the county seat!)
• Clontarf
• Danvers
• De Graff
• Holloway
• Kerkhoven
• Murdock

Smaller Communities (Unincorporated)

These places are not officially cities but are still important communities:

• Fairfield
• Swift Falls

Townships (Rural Areas)

Swift County is also divided into many townships, which are rural areas with their own local governments:

• Appleton Township
• Benson Township
• Camp Lake Township
• Cashel Township
• Clontarf Township
• Dublin Township
• Edison Township
• Fairfield Township
• Hayes Township
• Hegbert Township
• Kerkhoven Township
• Kildare Township
• Marysland Township
• Moyer Township
• Pillsbury Township
• Shible Township
• Six Mile Grove Township
• Swenoda Township
• Tara Township
• Torning Township
• West Bank Township

Images for kids

• 

  Soils of Monson Lake State Park area

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Swift para niños