Johnston 131

Swain was formed in 1871 from Jackson and Macon.

. . . ; beginning on the line of the state of Tennessee where the crosses said line; thence up said river to where the county line leaves the same; thence with the line of said county to the point at which the road leading from the waters of Nantahala river to the waters of Cheowee river across said line; thence with said road within one-fourth mile of Captain N. S. Jarrett’s mill nearest his present residence; thence crossing Nantahala river on a straight line to the Shallow ford on Ten- nessee river; thence crossing the said river last named and running with the dividing ridge to the Jackson county line on the top of Cowee moun- tain, so as to include the waters of Tabors creek and Alarka creek in the new county hereby created; thence with the line of the said county of Jack- son to a spur of said Cowee mountain and running thence with said spur to Tuckasegee river so as to include the waters of Conleys' creek in the county created by this act; thence crossing said river on a direct line, and running thence on the same to the Oconeelufty river to a point opposite the mouth of Adam’s creek; thence up the last named river to the mouth of Soco creek; thence with the dividing ridge between the said Oconeelufty river and Soco creek and following said main dividing ridge to the Ten- nessee line on the top of Smoky mountain; thence with said Tennessee line to the beginning; be and the same is hereby created into a separate and 522 distinct county, by the name of Swain, . . ,

The dividing line between the counties of Swain and Jackson was authorized to be changed in 1887.

That the dividing line between the counties of Swain and Jackson be changed from the following point, to wit: Beginning at the point where the Swain and Jackson line runs to the Tuckasegee river above the mouth of Carley's creek and below the Thomas farm, and thence down the Tucka- segee river as it meanders to the point where the present Swain and Jack- son line crosses said river; and all that part of Jackson that is on the west side of the said river and included in said boundary shall be and remain 523 as a part of Swain county . JOHNSTON

Johnston was formed in 1746 from Craven. It was named in honor of Gabriel Johnston, governor of , 1734- 1752. It is in the eastern section of the State and is bounded by- Wilson, Wayne, Sampson, Cumberland, Harnett, Wake, and Nash counties. The present area is 795 square miles and the population is 63,798. The first court was held at the home of Francis Stringer at the Ferry on Neuse River. Court was held at Hinton’s Quarter on the south side of Neuse River, 1759- 1760, and probably before that date. In August, 1771, it was held at John Smith’s. From 1771 to 1776 the county seat was called

t22Publie Laws, 1870-71, Ch. 94. *2XPublic Laws, 1887, Ch. 180.