Welcome to the Town of Swiss

Nestled in the upper northwest corner of Burnett County, the Town of Swiss is a peaceful rural community in Northern Wisconsin, rich with natural beauty and small-town charm. Known for its scenic landscapes and welcoming spirit, Swiss is a destination for outdoor lovers, seasonal visitors and year-round residents, all of whom appreciate a slower, quieter, simpler pace of life.

A Glimpse into Our History

Since the melting of the last Glacier, the land that would become Swiss Township has been inhabited by many native peoples. The Ojibwa established a large village at the confluence of the Yellow and St. Croix Rivers and, of course, remain a vital community today.

A “who’s who” of traders, explorers and missionaries visited sites along the rivers over the course of a few hundred years. The area was then logged in a short period of time between the 1870s and 1890s; by 1898, a land of cut stumps and sand was opened to settlers to farm under the Homestead Act of 1862. Most came to the area from Spooner or Grantsburg using wagon roads.

Before the Township was named Swiss in 1909, it was first Marshland, then Meenon, then Blaine. The current township name originates from Mr. Chipman’s herd of Swiss cows.

Before the town of Danbury existed, four new immigrant settlements developed here: Fairview, White City, Pansy and–the largest–Kreinerville. No one ethnic group really stood out in the newly named township. By that time a diverse mix of people had come here for free or cheap land–the best was in the northwest part of Swiss–although many newcomers eventually succumbed to the challenging conditions of the north or moved on.

Below is a 1907 photo of the ferry at Pansy Landing, where a store there sold liquor, among other things, to anyone of any age and all ethnicities. Before the original bridge at Thayer’s Landing spanned the St. Coix River in 1914, travelers crossed by ferry there as well.

In 1911, the SOO Railroad Line (named for the city of Sault Ste. Marie) came through and generated more commerce, the town of Danbury was founded, and the four most recent settlements soon folded. Wisconsin Highway 35 was built in 1921, connecting Danbury, via the bridge at Riverside Landing, to Superior, WI. According to the WI Department of Transportation, “WIS 35 is the longest highway in Wisconsin. It is 412.15 miles in length, entering Wisconsin near East Dubuque, Illinois and ending at I-535 in Superior” (2026). The western segment of WI Hwy 77 extended westward from Hayward through Burnett County in the late 1940s, connecting with MN Hwy 48 at the Minnesota border in 1956. The current bridge there was built in 1984.

Our Community

With a population of just over 800 people, Swiss is a close-knit township where neighbors know each other and treasure their community. We’re home to outdoor enthusiasts, hardworking families, retirees and are visited by seasonal cabin owners, all of whom appreciate the area’s natural tranquility and strong values.

Local businesses, small farms and craftsmen make up the backbone of our economy, and many residents give back by volunteering, attending town meetings and coordinating community events.

Things to See and Do

Nature is one of Swiss’s greatest assets. The township is full of lakes, rivers and forests, making it a hub for year-round recreation. Popular activities include:

Annual Festivals & Local Events

A Place to Call Home

Whether you’re visiting for the weekend or staying for good, the Town of Swiss offers a warm welcome and the chance to enjoy Wisconsin’s Northwoods at its best. We’re proud of our heritage, our land and–most of all–our people.