Marion, Ohio

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Marion is a city in Marion County, Ohio, United States. The population was 35,318 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Marion CountyGR6. It is nicknamed the Popcorn Capital of the World.

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[edit] Geography

Location of Marion, Ohio

Marion is located at 40°35′12″N, 83°7′35″W (40.586579, -83.126404)GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 29.5 km² (11.4 mi²). 29.4 km² (11.4 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (0.35%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 35,318 people, 13,551 households, and 8,821 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,201.4/km² (3,112.8/mi²). There were 14,713 housing units at an average density of 500.5/km² (1,296.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.40% White, 7.01% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.64% from other races, and 1.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.34% of the population.

There were 13,551 households out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.3% were married couples living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% were non-families. 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 102.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,124, and the median income for a family was $40,000. Males had a median income of $31,126 versus $22,211 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,247. About 10.9% of families and 13.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.2% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] History

The origins of Marion can be traced back to the War of 1812 when Jacob Foos, a surveyor for General Harrison’s company discovered a spring at the top of a hill and established a well there, which was named “Jacob’s Well”. This well was located near what is now Marion Towers on Delaware Ave. The town of Marion was platted north of Jacob’s Well in 1822 by Alexander Holmes and Eber Baker; Marion County was established in 1824.

Best known as the hometown and burial location of President Warren G. Harding and First Lady Florence Harding, Marion was one of Ohio's major industrial centers until the 1970s. Products of the Marion Steam Shovel Company (later Marion Power Shovel) built the Panama Canal and in the 1960s, NASA contracted with Power Shovel to construct the crawler-transporters that moved the assembled Saturn V rockets, used by Project Apollo, to the launch pad. In 1911 80% of the nation’s steam shovel and heavy duty earth moving equipment was manufactured in Marion, Ohio.

The city is also a rail center for CSX, Conrail, and Norfolk Southern; linking all four points on the compass. Marion is the nation’s leader in corn and popcorn produced foods. Whirlpool Corporation of Benton Harbor, Michigan is the largest employer in the city operating the largest clothes dryer manufacturing facility in the world.

Marion is also the birthplace and childhood home of Norman Mattoon Thomas, four-time candidate for President of the United States under the Socialist Party ticket and co-founder of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Elsie Janis, the stage name for Elsie Beerbower, musical theatre star and "Sweetheart of the American Expeditionary Forces" (AEF) during World War I was a native of Marion County. The Isaly family of Mansfield, Ohio - inventors of the Klondike bar - chose Marion as the second Isaly's Dairy facility.

In 1938, local tap dance instructor Marilyn Meseke, was crowned Miss America 1938 - the first year that talent was considered part of the annual competition. Meseke's trophy and pageant memorabilia is housed at the Marion County Historical Society.

Mary Ellen Withrow (nee Hinamon), Treasurer of the United States from 1994 until 2001 is a Marion County native. Withrow is the only person in the history of the United States to have held the governmental position of Treasurer on the Local (Marion County Ohio Treasurer), State (Treasurer of the State of Ohio) and Federal levels of Government.

In early 2006 WMRN radio personality Scott Shawver made national headlines when Marion's own "Buckeye Chuck" bit him on the nut sack during Groundhog Day festivities. Rumor has it that Gary Rivers (aka Mr. Stackhouse), a disk jockey (and former bootlegger) at another Marion radio station, WDCM, was behind this vicious attack.

Marion Cemetery also has the dubious honor being home to the Merchant family grave marker, known in paranormal circles for its unintended movements. The marker consists of a large grey granite pedestal capped by a two-ton granite sphere (four feet in diameter). The sphere moves on its base several inches every year as measured by the distance traveled by the unpolished spot on what was originally where the spheres bottom was mated to the pedestal. While the movement of the sphere is thought to be facilitated by freeze thaw cycles, there is no explanation of the direction of the movement, nor has there been an explanation of patterns that the sphere seems to follow. The movements of the sphere have been documented by numerous news outlets and has been featured in Ripley's Believe it or Not (September 29, 1927).

[edit] Special Events

[edit] People from Marion

[edit] External links

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