| Marion, Kansas | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
| Marion County Courthouse, 2009 | |
| Location of Marion, Kansas | |
| Detailed map of Marion, Kansas area | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Kansas |
| County | Marion |
| Platted | 1866, 1871, 1873 |
| Incorporated | 1888 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor–Council |
| • Mayor | Mary Olson[1] |
| • City Clerk | Angela Lange[1] |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.2 sq mi (5.8 km2) |
| • Land | 2.2 sq mi (5.8 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,312 ft (400 m) |
| Population (2010)[2] | |
| • Total | 1,927 |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 66861 |
| Area code(s) | 620 |
| FIPS code | 20-44750[3] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0477366[4] |
| Website | www.MarionKS.com |
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Marion is a city in and the county seat of Marion County, Kansas, United States.[5] It was named in honor of Francis Marion, a Brigadier General of the American Revolutionary War, known as the "Swamp Fox".[6] As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,927.[2]
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For millennia, the land that is currently Kansas was inhabited by Native Americans. In 1803, most of modern Kansas was secured by the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase. In 1806, Zebulon Pike led the Pike expedition westward from St Louis, Missouri, of which part of their journey followed the Cottonwood River through Marion County near the current towns of Florence, Marion, Durham.[7]
In 1855, Marion County, where Marion is located, was founded. The city of Marion Centre was founded in 1860, became the county seat, and later the name was shortened to Marion.
As early as 1875, city leaders of Marion held a meeting to consider a branch railroad from Florence. In 1878, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and parties from Marion County and McPherson County chartered the Marion and McPherson Railway Company.[8] In 1879, a branch line was built from Florence to McPherson, in 1880 it was extended to Lyons, in 1881 it was extended to Ellinwood.[9] The line was leased and operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. The line from Florence to Marion, was abandoned in 1968.[10] In 1992, the line from Marion to McPherson was sold to Central Kansas Railway. In 1993, after heavy flood damage, the line from Marion to McPherson was abandoned. The original branch line connected Florence, Marion, Canada, Hillsboro, Lehigh, Canton, Galva, McPherson, Conway, Windom, Little River, Mitchell, Lyons, Chase, Ellinwood. Later, the Santa Fe depot building was converted into the Marion Library. Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Santa Fe".
In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built a branch line north-south from Herington through Marion to Caldwell.[11] It foreclosed in 1891 and was taken over by Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway, which shut down in 1980 and reorganized as Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas Railroad, merged in 1988 with Missouri Pacific Railroad, and finally merged in 1997 with Union Pacific Railroad. Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Rock Island".
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.[12][13]
The National Old Trails Road, also known as the Ocean-to-Ocean Highway, was established in 1912, and was routed through Lehigh, Hillsboro, Marion, Lost Springs.
In 1937, the Marion County Park and Lake was completed by the Civilian Conservation Corps south-east of Marion for the purpose of recreation. There has been 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, levee's were built in the low areas of Marion and Florence.
In 2010, the Keystone-Cushing Pipeline (Phase II) was constructed west of Marion, north to south through Marion County, with much controversy over road damage, tax exemption, and environmental concerns (if a leak ever occurs).[14][15][16]
Marion is located at (38.348952, -97.016037)[17], in the scenic Flint Hills. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.7 km2), all of it land except the Cottonwood River.
Marion has five listings on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).
| Historical populations | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 857 |
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| 1890 | 2,047 | 138.9% | |
| 1900 | 1,824 | −10.9% | |
| 1960 | 2,169 |
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| 1970 | 2,052 | −5.4% | |
| 1980 | 1,951 | −4.9% | |
| 1990 | 1,906 | −2.3% | |
| 2000 | 2,110 | 10.7% | |
| 2010 | 1,927 | −8.7% | |
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As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 2,110 people, 859 households, and 556 families residing in the city. The population density was 948.6 people per square mile (367.0/km²). There were 968 housing units at an average density of 435.2 per square mile (168.4/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 out 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.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.5% 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 income for a household in the city was $32,125, and the median income for a family was $42,202. Males had a median income of $30,907 versus $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.
The Marion government consists of a mayor and four council members. The council meets every other Monday at 4:30PM.[1]
Marion is part of Unified School District 408.[22][23] The high school is a member of T.E.E.N., a shared video teaching network between five area high schools.[24]
The Marion High School mascot is a Warrior. All high school athletic and non-athletic competition is overseen by the Kansas State High School Activities Association. For 2010/2011 seasons, the football team competes as Class 3A.[25] Recently the City of Marion and Unified School District 408 jointly built a gymnasium and indoor swimming pool. Located just south of Marion Elementary School, the pool is open all year round and the gym features a walking track above a sunken gymnasium floor.[26] The bond issue that financed the project also built a new auditorium on the Marion High School campus.
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.
Marion is served by numerous radio stations of the Wichita-Hutchinson listening market area,[27] and satellite radio. See Media in Wichita, Kansas.
Marion is served by over-the-air ATSC digital TV of the Wichita-Hutchinson viewing market area,[28] cable TV, and satellite TV. See Media in Wichita, Kansas.
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)[29] line of the Union Pacific Railroad runs north-south through the city. Marion Municipal Airport, FAA:43K,[30] is located south-east of Marion and centered at .[31]
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