In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France. In 1803, most of the land for modern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile Louisiana Purchase for 2.83 cents per acre.
The city of Marion Centre was founded in 1860 and became the county seat, named in honor of Francis Marion.[8] A post office was established on September 30, 1862, which shortened the name to Marion on October 15, 1881. The city officially adopted the shorter name on January 17, 1882.[9] In 1875, Marion incorporated as a city as a 3rd class city, later in 1888 it became a 2nd class city.[10]
Marion Library, in former Santa Fe depot (Marion CO-OP grain elevator in background) (2011)
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 site of the spa at Chingawasa Springs, and a depot and eatery as well. Both Santa Fe and Rock Island offered round trip fares from Chicago and western cities to Chingawasa Springs. An economic panic in 1893 closed down the health spa and hotel, and quarry business along the tracks never developed sufficiently. In 1893, the railroad ceased operations, and tracks were removed in 1910.[14][15]
In 1937, the Marion County Lake was completed by the Civilian Conservation Corps south-east of Marion for the purpose of recreation. There were numerous floods during the early history of Marion. In June and July 1951, due to heavy rains, rivers and streams flooded numerous cities in Kansas, including Marion. Many reservoirs and levees were built in Kansas as part of a response to the Great Flood of 1951. From 1964 to 1968, the Marion Reservoir was constructed north-west of Marion. Downstream from the Marion Reservoir, levees were built in the low areas of Marion and Florence.
In August 2023, Marion County police raided the newspaper Marion County Record, its owners, and a local city council member. The police had received information that the paper had obtained, allegedly from a confidential source (it was later shown that legal public sources were used) that a local business owner had an unresolved drunk driving conviction and continued to drive for many months without a driving license. The newspaper did not publish this legally obtained information.[16][17][18]
Geography
Marion is located in the scenic Flint Hills and Great Plains of the state of Kansas. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.99 square miles (7.74 km2), of which 2.98 square miles (7.72 km2) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2) is water.[19]
Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Marion has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[20]
Climate data for Marion, Kansas, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1966–present
Of the 860 households, 23.8% had children under the age of 18; 46.4% were married couples living together; 29.8% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 37.7% of households consisted of individuals and 21.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[23] The average household size was 2.2 and the average family size was 2.9.[28] The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 18.4% of the population.[29]
20.3% of the population was under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 20.9% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 24.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 114.0 males.[23] For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 117.8 males.[23]
The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $46,548 (with a margin of error of +/- $5,836) and the median family income was $59,028 (+/- $9,025).[30] Males had a median income of $40,000 (+/- $11,143) versus $28,750 (+/- $8,663) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $32,826 (+/- $3,144).[31] Approximately, 5.2% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.9% of those under the age of 18 and 4.2% of those ages 65 or over.[32][33]
2010 census
At the 2010 census,[34] there were 1,927 people, 846 households, and 514 families residing in the city. The population density was 646.6 per square mile (249.7/km2). There were 973 housing units at an average density of 326.5 per square mile (126.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.6% White, 0.6% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.5% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.4% of the population.
There were 846 households, of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.3% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.2% were non-families. 36.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.90.
The median age was 44 years. 24.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.5% were from 25 to 44; 25.6% were from 45 to 64; and 23% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup was 47.5% male and 52.5% female.
2000 census
At the 2000 census,[35] there were 2,110 people, 859 households and 556 families residing in the city. The population density was 948.6 inhabitants per square mile (366.3/km2). There were 968 housing units at an average density of 435.2 per square mile (168.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.58% White, 0.05% African American, 0.81% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.24% from other races, and 1.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.37% of the population.
There were 859 households, of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% were married couples living together, 5.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.94.
25.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 22.8% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 26.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.0 males.
The median household income was $32,125 and the median family income was $42,202. Males had a median income of $30,907 compared with $23,929 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,464. About 5.3% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.5% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.
Marion County Museum,[45] 623 East Main Street. Formerly the First Baptist Church from 1882 to mid-1950s.
Nearby recreational areas:
Marion County Lake, southeast of Marion, 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, northwest of Marion, exists along US-56 (closest to farthest): Marion cove and Cottonwood Point cove (Pawnee Road), Overlook and Dam (Old Mill Road), Hillsboro cove (Nighthawk Road), French Creek cove (Limestone Road).
Government
1887 Donaldson and Hosmer Building (2022)
City
The Marion government consists of a mayor and four council members. The city council meets every other Monday at 4:30pm.[2]
U.S. Consolidated Farm Service Agency – 301 N. Eisenhower Dr.
Education
former Hill Grade School (2022)former Bown-Corby Grade School (2022)
Public schools
The community is served by Marion–Florence USD 408 public school district. The high school is a member of T.E.E.N., a shared video teaching network between five area high schools.[48]
Each USD 408 school has a library for student access. The city is served by the Marion City Library at 101 Library Street. The library is a member of the North Central Kansas Libraries System, which provides an inter-library book loan service between its members.[49]
U.S. Route 56 runs along the city's northern side, and U.S. Route 77 is 2 miles (3.2 km) east of the city. Kansas Highway 256 runs through the center of town as Main Street, past the east end business section, Marion High School and the downtown business district. A regional Kansas Department of Transportation office is located on the north side of Marion at the corner of U.S. Route 56 and Cedar Street.
The Oklahoma Kansas Texas (OKT)[52] line of the Union Pacific Railroad runs north-south through the city.
Tex Jones (1885–1938), Major League baseball player
Eric Meyer (born 1953), journalism professor at University of Illinois, Pulitzer Prize nominee, president and majority owner of Hoch Publishing Co (in Marion)
Samuel Peters (1842–1910), Captain in Union Army (1861–1865), lawyer, Kansas State Senator (1874–1875), Judge of 9th District (1875–1883), U.S. House of Representatives (1883–1891), newspaper editor
