斯威夫特县的历史
斯威夫特县成立于2月18日, 1870年，为纪念亨利·斯威夫特而命名, 1863年任明尼苏达州州长. It is located in the west central part of the 状态 and consists of 757 square miles with 3 tiers of 7 townships each.
三个公民，C.E. 培养,.W. Lathrop and Iver Knudson, were selected to serve on the first 委员会. 这些人没有意识到, 也许, the big task which would confront the Board in the future administration of the large area. 虽然人口总数不到1,000和这些广泛分散, 必须有一个开端. 随着人们涌入县里, it was their problem to see that the various territorial divisions had adequate representation on the Board, and efficient local governments; that school districts were equitably carved out and the work well supervised; that funds were provided for the many activities which soon became a part of the normal function of the 县 offices.
At their initial session the Commissioners attacked the first problem. 该县被划分为专员区. The first district was organized into the town of 公平field and included the west end of the 县, 坎普湖镇，包括东端, and the town of 本森 supervision over the central townships.
In addition to the establishment of town governments and the organization of school districts, the Commissioners were confronted with the problem of financing the business of the 县. 在这么早的时候, there was little money that could be raised by taxation and there was little need for large expenditures; but some things were necessary. 然而, 在第四届会议(3月25日)之前不会, 1871年)委员们批准了任何议案, and these were largely a result of the order for record books and stationery which had been moved at the first session. 给县审计员, supplies to the value of $50 were purchased; for the Register of Deeds, $100; a seal and blank checks, $13.98; stationery and expenses incurred by A.W. 莱斯罗普,2美元.45. Each of the 县 Commissioners were also allowed bills for services, totaling $44.88.
On September 5, 1871, the Board formed itself into the first Board of Equalization. The assessed valuations of horses in 本森 and 公平field were made to average those of Camp Lake ‑ $68.88. 牛的价格是24美元.28美元，羊2美元.00. 房地产价值略有下降. It was also decided to raise the following sums for the ensuing year: past indebtedness and interest, $350; current expenses, $900; and for the 县 Poor Fund, $100.
By 1878 the number of legal voters in the 县 had increased to such an extent (800 votes having been cast in the last election) that the Commissioners decided on December 2, 1878, to re‑district the 县 to provide two additional members on the Board. Division was made according to the number of votes cast.
The session of March 1871, the problem of better roads came up for discussion. The first roads were but wagon tracks ‑ short cuts across the prairies from the homestead to the nearest neighbor and trading center. 直到人口压力越来越大, it was natural for the Commissioners to postpone any vigorous action in road building.
头三年，只有142美元.52 was used in road construction; less than the amount spent on the 县 poor ‑ $174.70. The next financial report, however, shows receipts of $667.县里有45个路桥基金.
From 1875 and on, much of the time of the Board was devoted to the consideration of road petitions. Since most of the road building was done at first under township supervision with the policy in effect of allowing the poll tax to be worked out in labor, the sums expended remained comparatively small; that raised by the 县 distributed equally among the various towns.
In the early eighties a movement for improved highways began to make itself felt, for many had come to the conviction that good roads would bring better times. One of the newspaper editors made the statement in 1885 that "the road question is of greater importance to citizens of Swift 县 than the question of who shall be President."
In the spring of 1876, the Legislature authorized the construction of a courthouse in 本森. 3月26日, 1897, the Commissioners voted to advertise for bids to construct a new courthouse as the old one proved to be too small to meet the growing needs of the 县. Over the years, the Courthouse has been renovated several times. 1976年，它被宣布为国家历史遗址.
The citizens of the 县 in 1880 could view with pride the achievements of their fellow‑settlers during the first decade of settlement, for a substantial framework has been constructed to provide a civilization for the coming generations. When we consider that from a total of approximately 600 people in the 县 in 1870, 人口已增加到7人,472 the stream of immigration must have been very strong despite the hard times. 1900年，人口达到13503人.
To the pioneers who first viewed this region in the 1860's, 它一定向肉眼展示了一个巨大的, 平, 单调的土地, 连树木都没有折断. Except for some timber to be found along the streams and in small groves on the borders of the lakes, there was nothing to stop the plow from being put to use as soon as the settler arrived in the spring or summer. Agriculture has been and still is the main industry in Swift 县.
This brief history of Swift 县 was submitted by the Swift 县 Historical Society which was founded in November of 1929. 这一资料是从它的档案中摘取的.
Prepared by Swift 县 Historical Society ‑ January 1998