Swift County is located in the west central part of Minnesota. The county is rectangular in shape, 42 miles long by 18 miles wide. The county is made up of eight trading centers and 21 townships. Its population is declining since 2000 census when there were 6,636 people living in the eight towns (ranging from 108 in the smallest town to 3,376 in Benson) and 4,121 living in the 21 townships (ranging from 80 to 505 each). There is a large percentage of people living in the townships that do not farm but work in town.

In 1858, with the promise of larger annuities, the Indians were persuaded to sign a treaty ceding the million acres of land north of the Minnesota River.

The Indians had real grievances against the government including delays in sending annuities which caused near starvation several times. In August, 1862, an Indian rebellion broke out in Minnesota. The warfare reached the settlements just getting started in the northeastern part of Swift County. By the latter part of September, 1862, the Indian War was almost over but the settlers hesitated to venture back to the prairie country of Swift County until 1865 when all danger was apparently over.Scandinavians and Germans were in decided majority among the early settlers. A number of them came with the honor and privileges of Civil War veterans.

Since wooded sites provided a little timber for the buildings, and the necessary fuel to tide the families over the long cold winter, they were selected first. A few hardy souls did venture out into the treeless plains. Many of the houses out on the level prairie were built out of the sod itself, laid piece on piece after the manner of laying bricks.