Swain County
North CarolinaFIPS 37173
Pop. 14,1172 HospitalsSVI 0.90RUCC 9 (Rural)PC HPSADental HPSAMH HPSA
Health Snapshot
| Metric | Swain County | State Avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes Prevalence | 12.0% | 11.2% | ▲ |
| Adult Obesity | 36.8% | 35.7% | ▲ |
| Uninsured Rate | 19.4% | 12.5% | ▲ |
| PCPs per 10K | 6.4 | 5.2 | ▼ |
| Premature Death (YPLL) | 19,176.994 | — |
Source: County Health Rankings (2025)
Workforce Supply
9
Primary Care Physicians
64.7 per 100k
37
NPs & PAs
265.9 per 100k
14
Dentists
40
Hospital Beds
2.9 per 1,000
$12,996.16
Medicare Per Capita
1644.0%
Readmission Rate
Source: Area Health Resources File (AHRF) 2024-2025
CDC PLACES Health Indicators
| Indicator | Swain County | State Avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes | 15.6% | — | |
| Obesity | 40.7% | — | |
| Depression | 26.8% | — | |
| Frequent Mental Distress | 18.7% | — | |
| COPD | 10.8% | — | |
| Current Smoking | 19.7% | — | |
| Heart Disease | 9.1% | — | |
| Stroke | 4.8% | — | |
| High Blood Pressure | 42.9% | — | |
| Poor General Health | 25.0% | — | |
| Disability | 40.4% | — | |
| No Leisure Physical Activity | 28.0% | — | |
| Binge Drinking | 13.9% | — | |
| Uninsured | 11.0% | — |
Source: CDC PLACES 2023-2024. Values are age-adjusted prevalence (%).
Explore financial data, AHEAD readiness, and community benefit for Swain's 2 hospitals.
Social Vulnerability Index
Overall0.90
Socioeconomic Status0.86
Household Composition & Disability0.83
Minority Status & Language0.79
Housing Type & Transportation0.88
Source: CDC/ATSDR SVI 2022. Score 0-1; higher = more vulnerable.
Health Professional Shortage Areas
!
Primary Care
Designated Shortage Area
!
Dental Health
Designated Shortage Area
!
Mental Health
Designated Shortage Area
Source: HRSA Bureau of Health Workforce
Hospitals in Swain County
| Hospital | City | Beds | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority | Cherokee | 26 | Rural |
| Swain County Hospital | Bryson City | 48 | CAHRural |
Stay Informed on North Carolina Rural Health
Subscribe to Rural Health Pulse for weekly data updates on hospitals, closures, and funding.
Data from CMS Provider of Services, County Health Rankings, CDC Social Vulnerability Index, HRSA Bureau of Health Workforce, AHRF 2024-2025, CDC PLACES 2023-2024, and UNC Sheps Center. Last updated: 2026-03-11.