Nestled in the upper northwest shoulder 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 continental glacier, long before Wisconsin became a state in 1848, the land that would become Swiss Township has been inhabited by many Indigenous People, including the Dakota and Ojibwe. In the 1700s, Ojibwe (Anishinaabe) migrated south from Lake Superior into the St. Croix River valley in accordance with a prophecy to find Manoomin: “food that grows upon the waters.” One of the seasonal camps for wild ricing, fishing, and sugaring was a large Ojibwe settlement at the confluence of the St. Croix and Yellow Rivers. Although Dakota and Ojibwe people lived in this area in harmony overall, territorial conflicts arose from European fur trade pressure along the St. Croix, resulting in major battles from 1736 to 1760. Following this period, the two groups abandonned their differences, both facing a mutual threat.
In 1829, President Andrew Jackson proposed a systematic method of removing Indigenous Americans from the lands where they lived, hunted and fished; Congress soon adopted the Indian Removal Act of 1830. Treaties with the US government in 1837 and 1854 allowed white settlement and logging on what had been tribal territories in this region, and it wasn’t until 1938 that many families of the St. Croix Ojibwe Band secured formal federal recognition and a land base in Burnett County. Today, the Ojibwe in Swiss Township remain a vital community.
(For cultural research, please visit National Park Service Story Archives, Minnesota Historical Society Ojibwe Guide, and Milwaukee Public Museum Ojibwe History.)
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 people of European descent 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. Each had its own post office, and no single 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, folks whose surnames span many generations, 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:
- Canoeing, kayaking, tubing and fishing on the St. Croix, Yellow and Namekagon Rivers
- Hiking, camping, birding, hunting and ATVing in nearby public forests and on local trails
- Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling in winter months
- Visiting nearby attractions, including the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, Namekagon Barrens, Forts Folle Avoine Historical Park, St. Croix Casino and the town of Danbury.
Annual Festivals & Local Events
- Spring Easter Egg Hunt,
- Pre-Memorial Day Cemetery Clean-Up
- September Danbury Duck Race
- Volunteer Fire Department September Open House
- Jordan Buck Day Parade & Fall Festival
- Chamber of Commerce Halloween Trunk or Treat
- Winter Holiday Lights Contest
- Town Hall events such as line dancing, Lions Club, community garage sales, graduations, faith groups, funeral luncheons, blood drives, and community meetings
A Place to Call Home
Whether you’re visiting for the day, the weekend or staying for good; exploring local history, hunting antiques or enjoying the great outdoors; the Town of Swiss offers a warm welcome and the chance to enjoy Wisconsin’s Northwoods at its best. We’re proud of our complex heritage, this beautiful land and–most of all–our community of people.