The riding is bordered to the north by The Pas, to the south by Dauphin-Roblin, to the east by Lake Winnipeg and to the west by the province of Saskatchewan.

Other communities in the riding include Birch River, Ethelbert, Minitonas, Camperville and Winnipegosis.

Twenty-eight per cent of the riding's residents are listed as low income, and over 25% of the population has less than a Grade Nine education (the third-highest rate in the province).

Swan River's political identity has undergone a significant change in recent years.

The current MLA is Rick Wowchuk, who was elected in 2016, returning the seat to the Tories for the first time since 1990.