When the Fort Simcoe & Western Railway was built, several stores were established and the town site was platted in 1910. The name is for the Native American leader White Swan, who was also known as Joe Stwire.

Here, the first church in the district, rebuilt by the Native Americans for the Oblate Roman Catholic Fathers in 1872, still stands. The original mission structure had been destroyed during the War of 1855–6.