In 1787, the fledgling United States defined the Northwest Territory, which included the area of present-day Indiana.

Starting in 1794, Native American titles to Indiana lands were extinguished by usurpation, purchase, or war and treaty.

The United States acquired land from the Native Americans in the 1809 treaty of Fort Wayne, and by the treaty of St. Mary's in 1818, the SE portion of Indiana Territory was acquired for settlement.

Settlers had been pouring into the extreme SE part of the Indiana Territory starting in 1795, and by 1814 there was sufficient population to form a local governing body.

Pickett also made the area's first flatboats; he floated them (loaded with goods for sale) to New Orleans and sold the entire package, then walked back to Switzerland County.

[5] Although Indiana was criss-crossed with railroad tracks during the nineteenth century, none was laid to Switzerland County.

[6][7] Industrial wine grape production in Switzerland County earned the area the title "The Rhineland of America".

[8] Switzerland County lies at the SE tip of Indiana, with its southeastern border defined by the Ohio River; the state of Kentucky abuts on the opposite shore.

Its more flat areas have been cleared for agricultural or urban use, but its many drainages are still wooded.

[9] Its highest elevation (981 feet/299 meters ASL) is a hill in its NW quadrant, 0.7 miles (1.1 km) west of Avonburg.

The commissioners execute acts legislated by the council, collect revenue, and manage the county government.

[15] As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 10,613 people, 4,034 households, and 2,847 families in the county.