Marion is a city in North Carolina, United States. It is the main town, or county seat, of McDowell County. The city was started in 1844. It was named after Brigadier General Francis Marion. He was an American Revolutionary War hero. People called him the "Swamp Fox" because he was so good at guerrilla warfare.

Marion's downtown area, called the Main Street Historic District, is a special place. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important historical site. In 2020, about 7,717 people lived in Marion.

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Where is Marion Located?

Marion is located in the western part of North Carolina. It is part of the Blue Ridge Mountains region. The city covers about 6 square miles (15.5 square kilometers) of land.

Who Lives in Marion?

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1880	372	—
1890	799	114.8%
1900	1,116	39.7%
1910	1,519	36.1%
1920	1,784	17.4%
1930	2,467	38.3%
1940	2,889	17.1%
1950	2,740	−5.2%
1960	3,345	22.1%
1970	3,335	−0.3%
1980	3,684	10.5%
1990	4,765	29.3%
2000	4,943	3.7%
2010	7,838	58.6%
2020	7,717	−1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census

In 2020, Marion had 7,717 people living there. There were 2,844 households and 1,879 families.

Marion's Population in 2020

Most people in Marion are White (67.49%). About 12.03% are Black or African American. Around 15.43% are Hispanic or Latino. Other groups make up smaller parts of the population.

Marion's Population in 2010

In 2010, Marion had 7,838 people. The city had 2,146 households. About 24.4% of households had children under 18. The average household had 2.19 people. The average family had 2.84 people.

The median age in Marion was 40 years old. This means half the people were older than 40 and half were younger.

What is the Weather Like in Marion?

Marion is about 1,329 feet (405 meters) above sea level. This gives it a unique climate. Summers are warm and long. Temperatures often reach the 80s and 90s °F (high 20s and 30s °C). Winters are moderately cold. Temperatures are usually in the 30s and 40s °F (0-10 °C).

Marion gets about 54 inches (137 cm) of rain each year. Rain falls pretty evenly throughout the year. March is usually the wettest month.

Climate data for Marion, North Carolina
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	47 (8)	52 (11)	57 (14)	69 (21)	77 (25)	83 (28)	87 (31)	85 (29)	79 (26)	69 (21)	60 (16)	51 (11)	68 (20)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	26 (−3)	28 (−2)	35 (2)	44 (7)	53 (12)	61 (16)	66 (19)	64 (18)	58 (14)	46 (8)	36 (2)	28 (−2)	45 (8)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	4.18 (106)	4.36 (111)	5.59 (142)	4.43 (113)	5.34 (136)	4.68 (119)	4.25 (108)	4.33 (110)	4.44 (113)	4.13 (105)	4.35 (110)	3.93 (100)	54.01 (1,372)
Source: Weatherbase

Marion's History

Marion was officially named the county seat in 1845. It was planned on land chosen by the first McDowell County Commissioners. This happened on March 14, 1844, at the historic Carson House. The city was named after Francis Marion, the "Swamp Fox" hero. The movie The Patriot was based on him.

Marion was also home to Sgt. Daniel Kanipe. He was one of only two survivors of the Battle of Little Bighorn. A special marker was put up in front of his old home in 2011.

The Joseph McDowell House is another famous old house in Marion. It was built in 1787 by Joseph McDowell. He was important in the Battle of Cowpens during the Revolutionary War. He also served in the U.S. Congress. Plans are being made to fix up this house. The Joseph McDowell Greenway opened in 2010. It follows the Catawba River. This greenway will connect the Joseph McDowell House and the Carson House.

The Great Fire of 1894

In the late 1800s, most buildings on Main Street were made of wood. On November 25, 1894, a fire started. It quickly spread through Main Street. Many wooden buildings burned down. Even some brick buildings were badly damaged. There was no public water system. People formed bucket lines to try and stop the fire. But it was not enough. Most of Main Street was destroyed.

However, the people of Marion worked together. They rebuilt the city. Marion became bigger and stronger than before. Today, downtown Marion is recognized as a Historic District.

Challenges in the 1920s

In 1929, workers at the Marion Manufacturing Company went on strike. They had been striking for four months. On October 2, 1929, a conflict happened between workers and law enforcement. Several workers were injured. This event showed the hard times people faced. The Great Depression was also starting around this time. This made things even tougher for the workers.

Historic Downtown Buildings

The Main Street Historic District has eleven important buildings. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. These buildings include:

Four churches: St. John's Episcopal Church (1882), First Baptist (1914), First Presbyterian (1923), and St. Matthew's Lutheran Church (1935).
Two old hotels: the Eagle Hotel (which survived the 1894 fire) and the Hotel Marianna (1910).
A bank built in 1903.
The McDowell County Courthouse (1928).
The Marion Depot (1867), the oldest train station on the Western Rail Line.
The Public Library (1937), which was once a post office.
The Marion Community Building (1937).

Other historic places listed are the Depot Historic District, Carson–Young House, and Lone Beech. Downtown Marion has been improved recently. Many new shops, restaurants, and places to eat have opened.

Marion Today

Marion is a friendly town near the Blue Ridge Mountains. Its motto is "Where Main Street Meets the Mountains." It is located near Interstate 40. Marion is about 35 miles (56 km) east of Asheville. It is also about 20 miles (32 km) west of Morganton.

In 2018, Marion was named "North Carolina Small Town of the Year." This award recognizes towns that involve their citizens and welcome everyone.

Marion is a great starting point for exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains. There is a welcome center for visitors on US 221. It has picnic areas and vending machines. Travel counselors are there to help visitors find things to do.

Marion has a strong connection to sports. The Marion Marauders were a popular baseball team in the 1940s and 1950s. Their star pitcher, Kelly Jack Swift, won 30 games in one season in 1953.

Roy Williams, a famous basketball coach, was born in Marion. He coached the University of North Carolina Tar Heels. In 2011, a special marker was placed downtown to honor him.

Marion still values athletics. McDowell High School's girls' basketball team won the state championship in 1992.

The Marion Police Department and the McDowell County Sheriff's Office keep the city safe. The Marion Fire Department provides fire protection. The McDowell County Rescue Squad and Ambulance Inc. offers rescue services. McDowell County EMS provides emergency medical care.

Education in Marion

McDowell Technical Community College is located in Marion.

Students in kindergarten through 5th grade attend elementary schools. These include Glenwood, Marion, Nebo, North Cove, Pleasant Gardens, Old Fort, Eastfield, and West Marion.

After elementary school, students go to one of two middle schools: East McDowell Middle School or West McDowell Middle School. These schools serve grades 6-8.

For high school, students can attend McDowell High School. They can also choose the McDowell Academy for Innovation or the McDowell Early College. Both of these are located at McDowell Technical Community College.

Things to Do in Marion

The city has three parks. The main one is downtown next to the Community Building. In 2010, the city opened the Joseph McDowell Historical Catawba Greenway. This greenway is named after Colonel Joseph McDowell. It follows the Catawba River. Along the three-mile trail, you can find benches, picnic tables, and places to exercise. There are also fishing piers and a canoe launch.

Historic homes like the Carson House and the Joseph McDowell House help keep Marion's history alive. They used to be open to the public on weekdays. The McDowell House is currently closed for restoration.

The restored Marion Depot is downtown. It is the oldest train station still standing on the Western Rail Line. Many community events are held there. You can also rent it for meetings or parties.

Recently, the old West Rock plant was renovated. It is now a community business complex. It has an events center and several businesses. These include barbershops, martial arts schools, and restaurants like Marion Wing Factory and Burrito Bro's. In 2023, famous musician Oliver Anthony performed at the Miller Complex.

Nearby Lake James is a great place for fishing, camping, and other fun activities. Lake Tahoma, Linville Caverns, Linville Falls, Catawba Falls, and the Blue Ridge Parkway are also close by. These places show off the beautiful scenery of Western North Carolina.

Famous People from Marion

Richard Erwin – A federal judge and politician. He was the first African American elected to a statewide office in North Carolina.
Gus Greenlee – A successful businessman. He owned the Pittsburgh Crawfords baseball team. He also started the second Negro National League.
Mitch Gillespie – A politician and business owner.
Greg Holland – An MLB pitcher. He was on the Kansas City Royals team that won the World Series in 2015.
Robert C. Hunter – A judge for the North Carolina Court of Appeals.
Dwayne Ledford – A former NFL player. He is now an Offensive Line Coach for the Atlanta Falcons.
Barbara Loden – A Broadway and film actress and director. She won a Tony Award.
Sara McMann – An MMA fighter. She won an Olympic silver medal in wrestling in 2004.
Orlando Meléndez – A basketball player for the Harlem Globetrotters.
Roy Williams – A famous former head coach for the University of North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team.