 The county was named for Claude A. Swanson, Governor of Virginia and a friend of Oklahoma Governor Charles N. Haskell.On May 10, 1910, a special election was held in southern Kiowa County and western Comanche County to approve the formation of a new county that could more effectively serve residents of that area.Although more than 60 percent of the overall residents approved the measure, a majority of Comanche County Residents voted against it.