The Swayzee Public Library was founded in 1919 by Moses Mark with 850 books. The book collection was housed in several locations before finding its current location at 301 S. Washington Street. In 1947, the Welfare Board purchased and donated the Methodist Protestant Church to the library for renovation. Money was raised and materials donated by dedicated citizens of Swayzee and Sims Township. The newly renovated library opened in 1950. The library currently houses over 21,000 books and magazines as well as over 2,000 DVDs and audiobooks. We circulate approximately 12,000 pieces of material per year with over 1,000 patrons accessing library privileges.
Our hometown of Swayzee has a population of around 1,000 and is situated between Marion and Kokomo, Indiana. It is fondly known as the “Only Swayzee in the World” due to a story involving a soldier of the Korean War who sent a letter addressed to Swayzee, providing no country or state. The letter eventually found its way to Swayzee, Indiana. Swayzee is the state record-holder for the most overtimes in a basketball game, with nine overtimes in a March 15, 1964 basketball game before winning 65-61. The town of Swayzee erected a Garfield statue in June 2008, honoring the Swayzee Speedkings. His number 9 jersey represents the number of overtimes in the record-setting game against Liberty Center. Swayzee is home to several local businesses such as a John Deere Dealership and Farm Implement Store; Swayzee Loinz, specializing in the Midwest’s famous tenderloins; Chuckwagon Pizza, popular in all of Grant County; a branch of Grant County State Bank; and Fiberhawk phone/internet service. Residents also have a gas station, an insurance company, beauty shop, and funeral home, as well as public parks and a used bookstore. For more information on our community, visit www.swayzee.org.
