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Marion, Kansas

Marion is a city in Marion County, Kansas, United States.[1] It is also the county seat of Marion County. It was named after Francis Marion, a Brigadier General of the American Revolutionary War, known as the "Swamp Fox".[4] In 2020, 1,922 people lived there.[3]

City and County seat
MarionCoCH.JPG
Location within Marion County and Kansas
Location within Marion County and Kansas
KDOT map of Marion County (legend)
KDOT map of Marion County (legend)
Coordinates: 38°21′17″N 97°00′29″W / 38.35472°N 97.00806°W / 38.35472; -97.00806Coordinates: 38°21′17″N 97°00′29″W / 38.35472°N 97.00806°W / 38.35472; -97.00806[1]
CountryUnited States
StateKansas
CountyMarion
TownshipCentre
Platted1866, 1871, 1873
Incorporated1875
Named forFrancis Marion
Government
 • TypeMayor–Council
Area
[2]
 • Total2.76 sq mi (7.16 km2)
 • Land2.77 sq mi (7.14 km2)
 • Water0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Elevation
[1]
1,342 ft (409 m)
Population
 (2020)[3]
 • Total1,922
 • Density696.4/sq mi (268.44/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
66861
FIPS code20-44750[1]
GNIS ID485619[1]
Websitemarionks.net

History

 
Marion Library, in former Santa Fe depot (grain elevator in background) (2011)

19th century

The city of Marion Centre was created in 1860. It became the county seat. A post office was created in Marion Centre on September 30, 1862. It was renamed to Marion on October 15, 1881.[5] The namesake of the city is Francis Marion.[6]

As early as 1875, city leaders of Marion had a meeting to consider a branch railroad from Florence. In 1878, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and people from Marion County and McPherson County started the Marion and McPherson Railway Company.[7] In 1879, a railroad was built from Florence to McPherson. In 1880 it was extended to Lyons. In 1881 it was extended to Ellinwood.[8] The line was used by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. The line from Florence to Marion, was left in 1968.[9] In 1992, the line from Marion to McPherson was sold to Central Kansas Railway. In 1993, because of heavy flood damage, the line from Marion to McPherson was left. The original railroad connected Florence, Marion, Canada, Hillsboro, Lehigh, Canton, Galva, McPherson, Conway, Windom, Little River, Mitchell, Lyons, Chase, Ellinwood. Later, the Santa Fe depot building became the Marion Library. Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Santa Fe".

In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built a railroad north-south from Herington through Marion to Caldwell.[10] It closed in 1891. It was taken over by Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway, which closed in 1980 and became the Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas Railroad. It merged 1988 with Missouri Pacific Railroad. It merged in 1997 with Union Pacific Railroad. Most locals still call this railroad as the "Rock Island".

In 1888, Marion incorporated as a city. In 1889, the Marion Belt and Chingawasa Springs Railroad built a 4.5-mile (7.2 km) railroad from Marion north-east to Chingawasa Springs. A hotel was built near the place of the spa at Chingawasa Springs. A depot and restaurant were built too. Both Santa Fe and Rock Island had round trip fares from Chicago and western cities to Chingawasa Springs. The Panic of 1893 closed down the health spa and hotel, and businesses along the tracks never developed well. In 1893, the railroad stopped, and tracks were removed in 1910.[11][12]

20th century

 
Marion business district (2009)

The National Old Trails Road, also called the Ocean-to-Ocean Highway, was created in 1912, and it went through Lehigh, Hillsboro, Marion and Lost Springs.

In 1937, the Marion County Lake was completed by the Civilian Conservation Corps south-east of Marion. It was to be used for recreation. There were many floods during the early history of Marion. In June and July 1951, due to heavy rains, rivers and streams flooded many cities in Kansas, including Marion. Many reservoirs and levees were built in Kansas because of the Great Flood of 1951. From 1964 to 1968, the Marion Reservoir was built north-west of Marion. Downstream from the Marion Reservoir, levees were built in the low areas of Marion and Florence.

21st century

In 2010, the Keystone-Cushing Pipeline (Phase II) was built west of Marion, north to south through Marion County. There was a lot of controversy over road damage, tax exemption, and environmental concerns (if a leak ever happens).[13][14]

Geography

 
Francis Marion (late 1700s)

Marion is at 38°20′56″N 97°0′58″W / 38.34889°N 97.01611°W / 38.34889; -97.01611 (38.348952, −97.016037).[1] It is in the Flint Hills. The United States Census Bureau says that the city has a total area of 2.77 square miles (7.17 km2). Of that, 2.76 square miles (7.15 km2) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2) is water.[2]

Weather

Marion has hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. The Köppen Climate Classification system says that Marion has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[15]

People

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1880857
—
18902,047138.9%
19001,824−10.9%
19101,8410.9%
19201,9284.7%
19301,9591.6%
19402,0866.5%
19502,050−1.7%
19602,1695.8%
19702,052−5.4%
19801,951−4.9%
19901,906−2.3%
20002,11010.7%
20101,927−8.7%
U.S. Decennial Census

2020 census

The 2020 census says that there were 1,922 people, 860 households, and 502 families living in Marion. Of the households, 70.5% owned their home and 29.5% rented their home.

The median age was 46.3 years. Of the people, 94.2% were White, 0.5% were Native American, 0.1% were Black, 0.1% were Asian, 0.3% were from some other race, and 4.9% were two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.3% of the people.[3][16]

2010 census

The 2010 census says that there were 1,927 people, 846 households, and 514 families living in Marion.[17]

Things to see

Marion has five listings on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).

  • Elgin Hotel[18][19] (NRHP), 115 North 3rd Street. Currently a Bed and Breakfast.
  • First Presbyterian Church[20] (NRHP), 610 East Lawrence Street.
  • Hill Grade School[21] (NRHP), 601 East Main Street.
  • Marion County Courthouse[22][23] (NRHP), 200 South 3rd Street.
  • Marion County Museum,[24] 623 East Main Street. Formerly the First Baptist Church from 1882 to mid-1950s.
  • Marion County Lake, 1-mile (1.6 km) east of Marion on 190th Street (Main) then 1.75 miles (2.82 km) south on Upland Road.
  • Marion Reservoir, exits closest to farther from Marion along US-56: Marion cove and Cottonwood Point cove (Pawnee Road), Overlook and Dam (Old Mill Road), Hillsboro cove (Nighthawk Road), French Creek cove (Limestone Road).

Culture

  • Chingawassa Days Festival[25]
  • Old Settler's Day[26]
  • Art in the Park and Craft Show[27]

Education

Marion is part of Unified School District 408.[28][29] The high school is a member of T.E.E.N.. It is a network of educational videos, and it is shared between five area high schools.[30]

Media

Print

Infrastructure

The Oklahoma Kansas Texas (OKT) railroad of the Union Pacific Railroad goes north-south through the city.[31]

Marion Municipal Airport, FAA:43K,[32] is located south-east of Marion and centered at 38°20′15″N 96°59′30″W / 38.337500°N 96.991666°W / 38.337500; -96.991666.[33]

Famous people

Marion, Kansas Media

  • Part of a map of Kansas. Showing the ghost town Elk on the border between Chase County and Marion County. Image from an 1893 Map.

  • 1915 Railroad Map of Marion County

  • Elgin Hotel

  • 1887 Donaldson and Hosmer Building (2022)

  • former Hill Grade School (2022)

  • former Bown-Corby Grade School (2022)

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Marion, Kansas
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "DP1: PROFILE OF GENERAL POPULATION AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Blue Skyways - A service of the State Library of Kansas". Archived from the original on 2010-07-17. Retrieved 2019-11-06.
  5. ↑ "Kansas Post Offices, 1828-1961 (archived)". Kansas Historical Society. Archived from the original on 9 October 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  6. ↑ Kansas State Historical Society (1916). Biennial Report of the Board of Directors of the Kansas State Historical Society. Kansas State Printing Plant. p. 233.
  7. ↑ Marion County Kansas : Past and Present; Sondra Van Meter; MB Publishing House; LCCN 72-92041; 344 pages; 1972.
  8. ↑ Kansas. Board of Railroad Commissioners (1886). Fourth Annual Report of the Board of Railroad Commissioners for the Year Ending December 1, 1886 in State of Kansas; Kansas Publishing House; 1886. Kansas Publishing House: T.D. Thacher, state printer.
  9. ↑ "Railway Abandonment 1968".
  10. ↑ "Rock Island Rail History". Archived from the original on 2011-06-19. Retrieved 2019-11-06.
  11. ↑ "The Marion Belt and Chingawasa Springs Railroad - 117 Year Old Passenger Car Exists Today".
  12. ↑ "Chingawasa Springs (1 of 2)". National Orphan Train Complex. Archived from the original on 2011-10-02.
  13. ↑ Keystone Pipeline - Marion County Commission calls out Legislative Leadership on Pipeline Deal; April 18, 2010. Archived October 22, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  14. ↑ "Keystone Pipeline - TransCanada inspecting pipeline; December 10, 2010". LJWorld.com.
  15. ↑ "Climate Summary for Marion, Kansas". Weatherbase.
  16. ↑ "P16: HOUSEHOLD TYPE". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  17. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  18. ↑ "marionelgin.com". Archived from the original on 2016-08-09. Retrieved 2019-11-06.
  19. ↑ National Register of Historic Places - Elgin Hotel
  20. ↑ National Register of Historic Places - First Presbyterian Church
  21. ↑ National Register of Historic Places - Hill Grade School
  22. ↑ "marioncoks.net".
  23. ↑ National Register of Historic Places - Marion County Courthouse
  24. ↑ "City of Marion Official web site". Archived from the original on 2019-04-14. Retrieved 2019-11-06.
  25. ↑ "chingawassa.com". Archived from the original on 2011-02-02. Retrieved 2019-11-06.
  26. ↑ "City of Marion Official web site". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2019-11-06.
  27. ↑ "City of Marion Official web site". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2019-11-06.
  28. ↑ "USD 408".
  29. ↑ Kansas School District Boundary Map Archived 2011-07-21 at the Wayback Machine
  30. ↑ T.E.E.N. video teaching network
  31. ↑ "UP Railroad Common Line Names" (PDF). Union Pacific Railroad. Retrieved 2010-08-02.
  32. ↑ "Marion Municipal Airport map" (PDF). 10 June 2016.
  33. ↑ "Marion Municipal Airport information".
  34. ↑ "13 Advance to Semi-finals". The Victoria Advocate. May 7, 1983. https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=861&dat=19830507&id=IsFdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Kl4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=4083,1786689&hl=en. 
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 Kansas Legislators Past & Present Archived 2010-08-01 at the Wayback Machine
  36. ↑ Capace, Nancy (1 June 2000). Encyclopedia of Kansas. North American Book Dist LLC. p. 264. ISBN 978-0-403-09312-0.

More Reading

  • Marion County Dreamed of Prosperity in Chingawassa Springs, Quarry Siding and Rainbow Lake; Marion Record Review; September 14, 1944.
  • Memories of Old Chingawassa Railroad and Resort; Marion Record; September 10/11 Souvenir Edition, 1941.
  • First Mayor of Marion Centre; Jack Costello; Marion Record; September 10/11 Souvenir Edition, 1941.
  • Presbyterian Church Seventy Years Old; Marion Record; September 11, 1941.
  • Marion, Kansas; Printing Bureau, 1926.

Other websites

City
Schools
Photos and Videos
Historical
Lodging
Maps
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