This farming community along the uppermost reaches of Paint Creek took its name from the Sweeney family who moved to the area around 1863.  This large family continued to develop the property even after the death of Archibald, the family patriarch.

Paint Creek history is very well known for its coal mining history. However, long established farms, such as this one in Sweeneysburg, predate this industrial development and occupy terrain which is decidedly different from the coal rich areas of Paint Creek. Most of the farming along Paint Creek takes place in the uppermost reaches of the watershed, with a total of 6.21 % being used for agriculture.

Agriculture may represent a much more diversified economic life. Culturally the farmers were a group more closely affiliated with landownership and were relatively more affluent and economically independent than the tenant miners who occupied the mining communities nearby.

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