 Swanington was platted by William Swan at the intersection of the existing Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway (the "Big Four") which ran southeast from nearby Fowler and the new Chicago, Attica and Southern Railroad.Before its platting, the site was known as Wyndham, the name possibly coming from the town of Windham, Connecticut.In the 1920s the town supported a general store, grain elevator, grade school, United Brethren church and about 100 people.