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Hyde County Courthouse, Swan Quarter (former)Photo: Nyttend · Public domain
–Not graded
History · Swan Quarter

Swan Quarter’s post office opened in 1839

Most of Swan Quarter was built recently: 9% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1963. Below: maps from 1951 on.

1839first post office
0on the National Register
9%homes built before 1940
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Photo: Nyttend · Public domain
Quick answers

How Swan Quarter began

When was Swan Quarter founded?

1839

The Swan Quarter post office opened in 1839, the earliest record of the town by name.

2020 census: 275187 years
Founding year: the first Swan Quarter post office (Blevins & Helbock, CC0).The full story ↓

What stands out about Swan Quarter’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of Swan Quarter are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.Deep rootsA post office since 1839: 187 years of Swan Quarter.Old housesHalf of Swan Quarter’s homes were built before 1963.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Swan Quarter’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Swan Quarter’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
The story

How Swan Quarter came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Swan Quarter.

Read it all →

In the 18th century, Samuel Swann settled along Pamlico Sound near the head of Swan Bay. Swann's Quarter was the first name given to this settlement. Eventually shortened to Swan Quarter, it became the county seat in 1836.

The Hyde County Courthouse and Lake Mattamuskeet Pump Station, also known as Mattamuskeet Lodge, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

By decade

Swan Quarter, decade by decade

Today6 recent
Hyde County Courthouse, Swan Quarter (current)2020Hyde County Courthouse, Swan Quarter (current)U.S. 264 Near2014U.S. 264 NearU.S. 264 Near2014U.S. 264 NearU.S. 264 Near2014U.S. 264 NearU.S. 264 Near2014U.S. 264 NearSQ fast boat2009SQ fast boat
On the map

Swan Quarter on the map, 1951 to 1985

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Swan Quarter. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Swan Quarter on the 1951 USGS mapSwan Quarter on the 1974 USGS mapSwan Quarter on the 1985 USGS map1951Swanquarter sheet · 1:24,000

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Swan Quarter.

Famous people

Famous people close to Swan Quarter

Nobody well known was born in Swan Quarter itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.

See all →
Little EvaAmerican singer · b. 1943
C. J. WilsonAmerican football player · b. 1987
R
Richard CoffeyAmerican basketball player · b. 1965
Ira T. WycheCareer US Army officer, served as Inspector Gen… · b. 1887
D
Don CoxCountry music singer · b. 1964
H
Hugh ButtAmerican physician · b. 1910
Places that used to be

Old corners

Old hamlets and crossroads still carry their names on the map.

Hamlets and corners on the map
Swanquarter

US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

Questions about Swan Quarter’s history

What year was Swan Quarter founded?

The Swan Quarter post office opened in 1839, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records).

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
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Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021). How TownRatings grades history →

From Wikimedia Commons (6), Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.