Marion, Alabama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marion
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Old Marion City Hall, built in 1832. It now houses the Alabama Military Hall of Honor.
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Location of Marion in Perry County, Alabama.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| County | Perry |
| Named for | Francis Marion |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 10.66 sq mi (27.61 km2) |
| • Land | 10.57 sq mi (27.37 km2) |
| • Water | 0.09 sq mi (0.23 km2) |
| Elevation | 374 ft (114 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,176 |
| • Density | 300.47/sq mi (116.02/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
36756
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| Area code(s) | 334 |
| FIPS code | 01-46768 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0160038 |
Marion is a city in Perry County, Alabama, United States. It is also the county seat, which means it's where the local government offices are located. In 2010, about 3,686 people lived there.
The city was first called Muckle Ridge. It was later renamed after Francis Marion, a hero from the American Revolution.
Marion is known as "The College City" because it is home to two colleges: Judson College (Alabama) and Marion Military Institute. Out of all the cities in Alabama, Marion is the 152nd largest by population.
Contents
History of Marion
How Marion Started
Marion was founded around 1819 in an area that was once home to the Creek Indians. It was first known as Muckle Ridge. In 1822, the city was renamed to honor Francis Marion, who was called the "Swamp Fox" during the American Revolutionary War. That same year, Marion became a town. It later became the second county seat for Perry County. By 1829, it grew from a town to a city. The old City Hall, built in 1832, is one of many old public buildings, churches, and homes still standing today.
In 1840, General Sam Houston, who was president of the Republic of Texas, married Margaret Lea in Marion.
An important meeting for Baptists happened in Marion in 1844. This meeting helped lead to the creation of the Southern Baptist Convention in 1845.
Founding of Colleges in Marion
Several important colleges were founded in Marion. Judson College (Alabama), a private college for women, started in 1838 but closed in 2021. Marion Military Institute was founded in 1887.
Howard College also began in Marion in 1841. It later moved to Birmingham in 1887 and is now known as Samford University.
A special school for African Americans, the Lincoln Normal School, was founded in Marion in 1867. Its teacher training program later moved to Montgomery and became Alabama State University. Today, Marion Military Institute is the oldest military junior college in the United States.
Marion Before the Civil War
In 1857, Andrew Barry Moore from Marion became the sixteenth governor of Alabama. He was governor when Alabama decided to leave the Union before the Civil War. After the war, he returned to Marion.
George Doherty Johnson also served as mayor of Marion in 1856. He later became a general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.
Marion During the Civil War
Nicola Marschall, an artist from Germany, taught at the old Marion Female Seminary. He is often given credit for designing the first official Confederate flag and the gray uniforms worn by the Confederate army. In 1861, he created three flag designs. One of these became the "Stars and Bars," which was the first official flag of the Confederate States of America. It was first raised in Montgomery, Alabama.
Early 1900s in Marion
Around 1900, Perry County had its largest population ever, with over 31,000 people. This is about three times more than its population in 2010.
Hal Kemp, a famous jazz musician and bandleader, was born in Marion in 1904. His band was very popular in the 1930s. He had several number one hit songs like "There's a Small Hotel" and "This Year's Kisses". He was honored in the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1992.
Coretta Scott King, who was married to Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., was born in Marion in 1927. She grew up there and graduated as the top student from Lincoln Normal School in 1945. She married Martin Luther King Jr. in 1953 at her mother's home near Marion.
Marion and the Civil Rights Movement
Marion played an important role in the Civil Rights Movement. In 1958, a legal case involving a Black man named Jimmy Wilson gained international attention. This case led to many letters being sent to the governor and helped show the world how important fairness in the justice system was. Wilson was later released.
In 1965, during a march for voting rights, a Marion resident named Jimmie Lee Jackson was shot. He died a few days later. This event was a major reason for the first Selma to Montgomery March. The movie Selma shows these events. Years later, the person responsible for Jackson's death pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.
In 2018, a group in Marion received a grant to turn the historic Perry County Jailhouse into a museum about voting rights. This jail was where Reverend James Orange was held, which led to the 1965 march where Jimmie Lee Jackson was killed. The museum is currently being renovated.
Recent Times in Marion
In 2009, there was a local dispute outside the city hall in Marion.
In 2016, the New York Times reported that Marion was the center of a health study related to tuberculosis.
Historical Structures
Marion has many historic buildings. Many of them are listed on special historical registers. Some of these include the Chapel and Lovelace Hall at Marion Military Institute, the First Congregational Church of Marion, the Henry House, and the Siloam Baptist Church.
One building, Kenworthy Hall, is a National Historic Landmark. This means it's a very important historical place in the United States.
The city also has several historic areas called districts. These include the Green Street Historic District, Judson College Historic District, and West Marion Historic District.
Geography
Marion covers a total area of about 10.7 square miles (27.6 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 10.6 square miles (27.37 square kilometers), is land. A small part, about 0.1 square miles (0.23 square kilometers), is water.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 1,544 | — | |
| 1860 | 1,408 | −8.8% | |
| 1870 | 2,646 | 87.9% | |
| 1880 | 2,074 | −21.6% | |
| 1890 | 1,982 | −4.4% | |
| 1900 | 1,698 | −14.3% | |
| 1910 | 1,834 | 8.0% | |
| 1920 | 2,035 | 11.0% | |
| 1930 | 2,141 | 5.2% | |
| 1940 | 2,382 | 11.3% | |
| 1950 | 2,822 | 18.5% | |
| 1960 | 3,807 | 34.9% | |
| 1970 | 4,289 | 12.7% | |
| 1980 | 4,467 | 4.2% | |
| 1990 | 4,211 | −5.7% | |
| 2000 | 3,511 | −16.6% | |
| 2010 | 3,686 | 5.0% | |
| 2020 | 3,176 | −13.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2013 Estimate |
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2020 Census Details
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
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| White (non-Hispanic) | 859 | 27.05% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 2,186 | 68.83% |
| Native American | 6 | 0.19% |
| Asian | 10 | 0.31% |
| Pacific Islander | 1 | 0.03% |
| Other/Mixed | 62 | 1.95% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 52 | 1.64% |
In 2020, there were 3,176 people living in Marion. There were 1,055 households and 407 families.
2010 Census Details
According to the 2010 census, Marion had 3,686 people. The population density was about 331.8 people per square mile.
Most of the people in Marion were Black or African American (63.9%). About 32.9% were White. A small percentage were Native American, Asian, Pacific Islander, or from two or more races. About 1.9% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
There were 1,184 households in the city. About 31.4% of these households had children under 18 living with them. Many households were married couples living together (38.8%). About 25.3% had a female head of household with no husband present.
The average household size was 2.57 people, and the average family size was 3.17 people.
The population was spread out by age. About 27.5% were under 18 years old, and 16.6% were 65 years or older. The average age was 30.7 years.
Notable People from Marion
Many interesting people have connections to Marion:
- Lee Cooke, a former Mayor of Austin, Texas.
- Alexander H. Curtis, a Black politician during the Reconstruction era who served in the Alabama state legislature.
- James Webb Curtis, a Black physician and military volunteer.
- T. J. Goree, a Confederate Lieutenant.
- Byron Gunner, a minister and activist.
- Margaret Lea Houston, the third wife of Sam Houston.
- Jimmie Lee Jackson, a civil rights activist whose death inspired the Selma to Montgomery marches.
- Hal Kemp, a famous jazz bandleader and musician.
- Coretta Scott King, a civil rights activist and wife of Martin Luther King Jr..
- Porter King, a former Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia.
- Willie McClung, a former NFL player.
- Walthall M. Moore, the first African American to serve in the Missouri state legislature.
- Jimmy Wilson, involved in a nationally recognized legal case.
See also
In Spanish: Marion (Alabama) para niños
