Marion, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marion
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| City of Marion, Illinois | |||
Marion clock tower in the town square
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| Nickname(s):
Oasis of Opportunity
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Location of Marion in Williamson County Illinois
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 Marion
Location in Illinois
Marion
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Illinois | ||
| Counties | Williamson, Johnson | ||
| Founded | August 21, 1839 | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 14.62 sq mi (37.86 km2) | ||
| • Land | 14.40 sq mi (37.30 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.22 sq mi (0.56 km2) 1.42% | ||
| Elevation | 440 ft (130 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 16,855 | ||
| • Density | 1,170.24/sq mi (451.83/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−6 (CST) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) | ||
| ZIP Code |
62959
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| Area code(s) | 618 | ||
| FIPS | 17-46916 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 2395010 | ||
| Public Transit | Rides Mass Transit District South Central Transit |
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The city of Marion is the main city of Williamson County, Illinois, in the United States. In 2020, about 16,855 people lived there.
Marion is a big shopping area in Southern Illinois. It's easy to reach because it's located along Interstate 57 and Illinois Route 13. A former mayor called it the "Hub of the Universe." Today, the city's motto is "Oasis of Opportunity."
Marion is part of a larger area that includes nearby cities like Carbondale and Herrin. This whole area has over 123,000 residents.
Contents
History of Marion
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Marion was founded on August 21, 1839. Lawmakers chose this spot to be the new center of Williamson County. They picked a small hill in an open grassy area called Poor Prairie. The city was named Marion to honor Gen. Francis "Swamp Fox" Marion, a hero from the American Revolutionary War.
The first people to own the land where Marion was built were William and Bethany Benson. They had a small farm there. The first official county meeting in Marion happened at the Benson family's log cabin on October 7, 1839. The city officially became a community on February 24, 1841.
The 1982 Tornado
On May 29, 1982, a very strong tornado hit Marion and Williamson County. This tornado was rated F4, which means it was very powerful. It traveled for about 17 miles. Sadly, ten people died, and 181 people were hurt. Many buildings were badly damaged or destroyed. A special memorial was later built in Tower Square Plaza to remember those who lost their lives.
Where is Marion?
Marion is in the middle of Williamson County. It's about 44 miles south of Mount Vernon, Illinois, and 57 miles north of Paducah, Kentucky. Other nearby cities include Carbondale to the west and Harrisburg to the east.
The city covers about 16.2 square miles. Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
People of Marion
As of 2022, about 16,729 people lived in Marion. Most residents are White, with smaller groups of African American, Asian, and Native American people. About 2.9% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.
The average household in Marion has about two people. Many homes have children under 18, and many also have people aged 65 or older living alone.
Major Employers
Marion has several large employers that provide many jobs. Some of the biggest include:
- Aisin Mfg. - This company has three plants that make auto parts, employing about 1,820 people.
- Pepsi / MidAmerica - This company has been making soft drinks since 1935 and employs about 600 workers.
- Heartland Regional Medical Center - This hospital employs about 600 people.
- VA Medical Center - This medical center for veterans employs about 1,500 workers.
- Blue Cross/Blue Shield - This center processes insurance claims and employs about 350 people.
Other important employers nearby include John A. Logan College, Herrin Hospital, and the U.S. Dept. of Justice / Bureau of Prisons.
Arts and Culture
Downtown Marion is a lively place for arts and culture. You can find the Little Egypt Arts Gallery and the Williamson County Historical Society museum there. The main place for arts and culture is the Marion Cultural and Civic Center.
Marion Cultural and Civic Center
The Marion Cultural and Civic Center is a special building. It was finished in 2004 and is about 35,000 square feet. The building was designed using parts of the old Orpheum Theater, which was destroyed in a fire in 1997.
The original Orpheum Theatre opened in 1922. It was a beautiful theater with fancy decorations. It showed vaudeville shows and movies. Later, it closed in 1971. The city bought the building, hoping to save it. But in 1997, a fire completely destroyed the theater. Only the front of the building was saved. A new Cultural and Civic Center was then built on the same spot.
Sister City
Marion has a special connection with a city in Japan! Since March 26, 2010, Marion has been a sister city to Kanie, Japan.
Fun Things to Do
Marion is a great place for visitors! The Williamson County Tourism Bureau helps promote fun activities.
You can find camping at the Marion Campground & RV Park.
Many people visit Marion for:
- Events at Marion Stadium (Mt Dew Park).
- Events at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale.
- Roller derby bouts by the Southern Illinois Roller Girls at The Pavilion Events.
- Visiting the many wineries in the area, including those on the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail.
- Exploring the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge right next to the city.
- Enjoying Lake of Egypt to the south.
- Discovering the Shawnee National Forest and other state parks.
Sports in Marion
Marion has a history with baseball and roller derby!
| Team | Sport | League | Championships | Venue |
| Southern Illinois Miners (defunct) | Baseball | Frontier League; West Division | 2012 | Rent One Park |
| Thrillville Thrillbilles | Baseball | Prospect League; Western Conference | Rent One Park | |
| Southern Illinois Roller Girls | Roller derby | WFTDA | Marion Pavilion |
News and Media
Marion has its own local news! The Swinford Media Group publishes a weekly newspaper called The Marion Star. They also share news on social media through WFCN News.
There's also another newspaper, The Daily Republican, based in Marion.
For radio, Marion has local stations WGGH-FM and WGGH-AM, plus a Christian music station.
Education
Students in Marion attend public schools run by Marion Community Unit School District 2. This includes Marion High School.
Getting Around
Transportation
Air Travel
Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois is located on the western edge of Marion. You can catch daily flights to O'Hare International Airport in Chicago from here.
Train Service
Both the Union Pacific and Burlington Northern railroads have lines that go through Marion. A local railroad, the Crab Orchard and Egyptian Railroad, helps move goods in the area. If you want to travel by passenger train, you can go to Carbondale, which is about 16 miles west of Marion.
Bus Service
The Rides Mass Transit District offers bus services in Marion and Southern Illinois. The Bill Jung Transfer Center is the main spot for buses. You can also connect to South Central Transit services there.
Famous People from Marion
Many interesting people have connections to Marion, including:
- Conrad Keene Allen - A geologist who explored the Earth.
- Willis Allen - An Illinois lawyer and politician.
- Cory Bailey - A professional baseball player.
- Madelon Baker - A record producer, music publisher, actress, and singer.
- Babe Borton - A Major League Baseball player.
- Robert L. Butler - The mayor of Marion for many years.
- Ray Fosse - A Major League Baseball catcher, born in Marion.
- Judith Ivey - A Tony Award-winning actress.
- Jason Pargin - An author and editor.
- [Michael] Lance Lynn - A professional baseball pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals and other teams.
- Richard G. Wilson - A soldier who received the Medal of Honor.
