Marion, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marion, Iowa
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Marion City Hall
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Location in the State of Iowa
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 Marion, Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Iowa |
| County | Linn |
| Incorporated | 1837 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 17.81 sq mi (46.12 km2) |
| • Land | 17.80 sq mi (46.11 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 850 ft (260 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 41,535 |
| • Rank | 14th in Iowa |
| • Density | 2,333.16/sq mi (900.85/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code |
52302
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| Area code(s) | 319 |
| FIPS code | 19-49485 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0458805 |
Marion is a city in Iowa, located in Linn County. In 2020, about 41,535 people lived there. This was a big jump from 2000, when the population was 26,294. Marion is right next to Cedar Rapids and is part of the larger Cedar Rapids area.
Contents
Discovering Marion's Past
Marion got its name from Francis Marion. He was a hero during the American Revolutionary War. People called him the "Swamp Fox." In 1839, Marion was chosen as the first county seat for Linn County.
For many years, people debated moving the county seat to Cedar Rapids. Finally, in 1919, they voted on it. Most people, 9,960, voted to move it. Only 4,823 wanted it to stay.
Each year, Marion celebrates its history with the "Swamp Fox Festival." This festival honors Francis Marion. It usually includes a 5K run, a parade, fireworks, and other fun activities for families.
Long ago, Marion was home to St. Berchman's Seminary. This was a boarding school for young boys. It was started in 1905 by the Sisters of Mercy. The school closed in 1942. A famous actor, Don Ameche, lived there as a boy. He later starred in the movie Cocoon. Today, only the main building remains, and it has been turned into apartments.
The land where the Indian Creek Country Club is now used to be a horse racing track. In November 2019, Mayor Nick AbouAssaly won his second term.
Marion's Location and Weather
Marion is located at 42°2′16″N 91°35′35″W / 42.03778°N 91.59306°W.
The city covers about 16.06 square miles (41.60 km2) of land. Only a tiny bit, 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2), is water.
Understanding Marion's Climate
Marion has a changing climate. Summers are usually warm, and winters are cold.
| Climate data for Marion, Iowa (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1892–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 68 (20) |
76 (24) |
88 (31) |
94 (34) |
104 (40) |
103 (39) |
110 (43) |
108 (42) |
105 (41) |
94 (34) |
80 (27) |
69 (21) |
110 (43) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 30.0 (−1.1) |
35.1 (1.7) |
48.9 (9.4) |
63.3 (17.4) |
73.8 (23.2) |
82.3 (27.9) |
85.5 (29.7) |
83.4 (28.6) |
77.3 (25.2) |
64.1 (17.8) |
48.1 (8.9) |
34.7 (1.5) |
60.5 (15.8) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 21.3 (−5.9) |
25.9 (−3.4) |
38.2 (3.4) |
50.9 (10.5) |
61.7 (16.5) |
71.0 (21.7) |
74.4 (23.6) |
72.3 (22.4) |
65.2 (18.4) |
52.8 (11.6) |
38.7 (3.7) |
26.7 (−2.9) |
49.9 (9.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 12.5 (−10.8) |
16.6 (−8.6) |
27.5 (−2.5) |
38.4 (3.6) |
49.6 (9.8) |
59.6 (15.3) |
63.3 (17.4) |
61.2 (16.2) |
53.0 (11.7) |
41.5 (5.3) |
29.3 (−1.5) |
18.6 (−7.4) |
39.3 (4.1) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −33 (−36) |
−28 (−33) |
−17 (−27) |
3 (−16) |
24 (−4) |
36 (2) |
42 (6) |
37 (3) |
22 (−6) |
−2 (−19) |
−10 (−23) |
−28 (−33) |
−33 (−36) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.17 (30) |
1.34 (34) |
2.06 (52) |
4.02 (102) |
4.74 (120) |
5.68 (144) |
4.47 (114) |
4.42 (112) |
3.96 (101) |
3.00 (76) |
2.22 (56) |
1.67 (42) |
38.75 (984) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 8.7 (22) |
8.3 (21) |
4.0 (10) |
1.5 (3.8) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.6 (1.5) |
2.2 (5.6) |
9.0 (23) |
34.3 (87) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 8.9 | 7.6 | 9.5 | 11.3 | 13.0 | 12.3 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 8.8 | 9.5 | 8.4 | 9.1 | 117.6 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 6.9 | 5.1 | 2.9 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 2.0 | 6.2 | 24.6 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Growing Businesses in Marion
The Marion Economic Development Corporation helps businesses grow. It was started in 1984. This group works to support local businesses and bring new ones to the city.
Marion's Population Changes
| Historical populations | ||
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| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1860 | 1,367 | — |
| 1870 | 1,822 | +33.3% |
| 1880 | 1,939 | +6.4% |
| 1890 | 3,094 | +59.6% |
| 1900 | 4,102 | +32.6% |
| 1910 | 4,400 | +7.3% |
| 1920 | 4,138 | −6.0% |
| 1930 | 4,348 | +5.1% |
| 1940 | 4,721 | +8.6% |
| 1950 | 5,916 | +25.3% |
| 1960 | 10,882 | +83.9% |
| 1970 | 18,028 | +65.7% |
| 1980 | 19,474 | +8.0% |
| 1990 | 20,403 | +4.8% |
| 2000 | 26,294 | +28.9% |
| 2010 | 34,768 | +32.2% |
| 2020 | 41,535 | +19.5% |
| Source: and Iowa Data Center Source: |
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Census Data from 2020
In 2020, Marion had 41,535 people. There were 16,885 households. A household is a group of people living together. About 10,994 of these were families. The city had about 2,333 people per square mile. There were 17,810 homes.
Most people in Marion were White (88.2%). Other groups included Black or African American (3.1%), Asian (2.2%), and Native American (0.2%). About 5.4% of people were from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people made up 3.1% of the population.
About 32.5% of households had children under 18. Many households (50.5%) were married couples. The average age in Marion was 38.6 years. About 27.6% of residents were under 20.
Census Data from 2010
In 2010, Marion had 34,768 people. There were 14,108 households. About 9,308 of these were families. The city had about 2,166 people per square mile. There were 15,064 homes.
Most people were White (94%). Other groups included African American (2.0%), Asian (1.3%), and Native American (0.3%). About 1.9% were from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people made up 2.0% of the population.
About 34.8% of households had children under 18. Many households (52.5%) were married couples. The average age in the city was 36.1 years. About 26.5% of residents were under 18.
Arts and Fun in Marion
Exploring Marion's Museums
The Granger House Museum is a restored family home. It shows what homes looked like in the American Victorian age. The house was built in the 1840s. It has many original furnishings. The brick carriage house, built in 1879, is also still there. It is the only one of its kind in the Midwest. The Granger House is on the National Register of Historic Places. It helps people understand how middle-class families lived in the late 1800s. The museum offers tours and special activities.
The Marion Heritage Center is an old church building. It was used by Methodists from the 1850s to 1875. Now, it's a community center for learning. It displays Marion's history and art. The center hosts talks and workshops. In 2008, it became home to a fresco mural called Communication by Mail. Artist Dan Rhodes painted it in 1939. The building is open all year.
Fun Festivals in Marion
The Marion Arts Festival is a one-day event. It features 50 artists from all over the country. You can also enjoy live music and special food. There's a 5K run with prizes for top finishers. A less competitive 5K fun walk is also available. The race uses "chip time technology" so everyone knows their exact time.
The Swamp Fox Festival and Parade celebrates Marion's past and present. It honors Francis Marion, the "Swamp Fox" hero of the American Revolutionary War. Events include a golf outing, a picnic, live music, and a craft show. There's also a 5K run, a pancake breakfast, and a community parade.
The Uptown Marion Market offers fresh produce, baked goods, and honey. You can find flowers, plants, meat, and local wines. Many artisan items are also available. Food vendors sell ready-to-eat items. The market also has live entertainment, cooking shows, and kids' activities.
Sports and Recreation
Marion has several golf courses for everyone to enjoy.
- Hunters Ridge Golf Course and Country Club is open to the public. It has bentgrass greens and tees. There are four sets of tees, 50 bunkers, and 10 water hazards. The course covers 400 acres.
- Indian Creek Golf and Country Club is a private 9-hole course. It opened in 1926. It has 2,680 yards of golf.
- Gardner Golf Course is a public course. It was built in 1968. Linn County owns and maintains it.
Learning in Marion
Public Schools
Marion has three public school districts:
- Marion Independent School District serves much of south and east Marion.
- Linn-Mar Community School District covers areas on Marion's north, west, and far east sides. It also includes parts of Cedar Rapids. Linn-Mar operates Linn-Mar High School. It is one of the fastest-growing school systems in Iowa.
- Cedar Rapids Community School District also serves some parts of Marion.
Private Schools
- St. Joseph School is a Catholic school. It teaches students from prekindergarten to 8th grade. It was founded in 1947. In 2011, it had about 184 students.
- Grace Baptist School is a K-12 school. In 2011, it had about 52 students.
Since Marion is part of the Cedar Rapids area, students can access many advanced education options there. You can find more details in the Cedar Rapids Education section.
News and Media
Local Newspapers
- The Gazette is the main daily newspaper. It covers news for the Cedar Rapids and Marion area.
- The Marion Times was a weekly newspaper. It focused on Marion community and school news. It stopped publishing in 2021.
Getting Around Marion
U.S. 151 and Iowa Highway 13 run north-south through Marion. Seventh Avenue is a major road that leads toward Cedar Rapids.
Before 1971, the Milwaukee Road train company ran passenger trains. They traveled from western cities to Chicago. Their stop for the Cedar Rapids area was at Marion station.
Bus Route 20 of Cedar Rapids Transit serves Marion.
Marion also has a small public airport. It is on the east side of the city, south of U.S. 151.
Famous People from Marion
Many notable people have connections to Marion:
- Carey Bender (born 1972), an NFL running back.
- Ray Cheetany (born 1977), an All-American football player.
- Cherry Sisters, siblings who were a vaudeville act in the late 1800s.
- Swati Dandekar, a former Iowa State Senator.
- Don Ameche, a famous actor.
- Sarah Lacina, a police officer and winner of Survivor: Game Changers.
- Marcus Paige (born 1993), a basketball player.
- Marshal Yanda, a former eight-time Pro Bowl NFL offensive lineman.
Images for kids
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Marion City Hall
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Location of Marion in Iowa
See also
In Spanish: Marion (Iowa) para niños
