Near DeWitt in Saline County, Nebraska — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Swan City
Photographed by Joan Shurtliff, September 1, 2014
1. Swan City Marker
Near here was located the first town and county seat in Saline County. Situated on Swan Creek from which it took its name, Swan City held prominence for only a few years.
The first settlement buildings, including a store and a sawmill, were constructed about 1865. In 1865, William Remington donated the land on which the town was located. The first meeting of the Saline County Commissioners took place there at Cline's Mill on February 17, 1866. Swan City was officially platted on October 8, 1866.
Swan City grew to a community of some 200. Its thriving business section included a hotel. The O'Connor Circus spent a few winters in Swan City.
In 1871, the county seat was moved from Swan City to Pleasant Hill. That same year, the railroad was being built through the Blue River Valley, two and a half miles from Swan City. Most of the town's business community wanted to be near the railroad and moved to either DeWitt or Wilber within two years.
The last vestige of Swan City was the flour mill which continued to operate until it burned in 1891. Swan City thus joined the ranks of ghost towns.
Erected by Saline County Historical Society; Historical Land Mark Council. (Marker Number 48.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this
this page online
Location. 40° 24.39′ N, 96° 57.373′ W. Marker is near DeWitt, Nebraska, in Saline County. It is on State Highway 103, on the left when traveling south. 2 miles northwest of DeWitt. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: De Witt NE 68341, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Eastern Nebraska. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Corn Belt, and on the prairies. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Czech Capital (approx. 5.2 miles away); Hotel Wilber (approx. 5.2 miles away); Plymouth (approx. 7.2 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 7.2 miles away); A Legacy of Change (approx. 10.2 miles away); Deep Roots in the Earth (approx. 10.3 miles away); Roads to Success (approx. 10.7 miles away); Daniel and Agnes Freeman (approx. 10.7 miles away).
Credits. This page was last revised on December 22, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 1, 2014, by Joan Shurtliff of Seward, Nebraska. This page has been viewed 856 times since then and 29 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on September 1, 2014, by Joan Shurtliff of Seward, Nebraska. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
