Marion, South Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marion
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Main street, Marion SC
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| Motto(s):
"Where History and Hospitality Greets You "
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Location of Marion in South Carolina
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| Country | United States |
| State | South Carolina |
| County | Marion |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.48 sq mi (11.59 km2) |
| • Land | 4.48 sq mi (11.59 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 72 ft (22 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 6,939 |
| • Estimate
(2019)
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6,326 |
| • Density | 1,413.00/sq mi (545.59/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
29571
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| Area code(s) | 843, 854 |
| FIPS code | 45-44575 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1246533 |
| Website | www.marionsc.gov |
Marion is a city in and the county seat of Marion County, South Carolina, United States. It is named for Francis Marion, a Brigadier General from South Carolina in the American Revolutionary War. The population was 6,939 at the 2010 census.
Contents
History
The Marion High School, Marion County Court House, Marion County Library, Marion County Museum and Marion Historic District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Some sixty years after the first permanent settlement in South Carolina, a group of English settlers sent out by the Lords Proprietors landed in Georgetown and moved up the Pee Dee River to the junction of the Little Pee Dee River about half way between Georgetown and the present town of Marion. Among these families were Brittons, Davis, Flaglers, Giles, Graves and Tyler. At about the same time, and maybe on the same ship from England, came Captain John Godbold, a retired English sea captain. He moved farther up the Big Pee Dee and settled on Catfish Creek. The creek is southwest of and very near to the present city limits of Marion.
During its early colonial years the area was part of Craven County. When Craven was divided, this segment of land was placed in Georgetown District. In 1785, another division was made and the name "Liberty" was used for a short time to designate this area.
On December 17, 1847, when by an act of the South Carolina Legislature a charter was issued to the town, its official name was given as "Marion". The name honors General Francis Marion, a hero of the Revolutionary War.
Court House
A commission was appointed by the South Carolina Legislature to locate the site for a court house. Court was scheduled for the first Monday in March 1800. The court house was not complete, so it was held in a log building on Colonel Hugh Giles' plantation about two miles below Marion. The section was called Gilesboro or Gilesboro Court House for some time after. The Commissioners appointed to select the site for the Court House were offered land by several land owners in the vicinity, including Giles, but they chose and accepted four acres from Thomas Godbold, a grandson of Captain John Godbold. The present Court House was erected in 1854 and is the third Court House on or near the same site.
During the Revolutionary War, the people of Marion County were divided in their loyalties. There were ardent Patriots under Col. Hugh Giles, Capt. John Dozier, Capt. Stephen Godbold and others. Maj. Micajah Ganey and Capt. Jessee Barfield led the Loyalists. Before the end of the war, most of the Loyalists had pledged allegiance to the colonists due to the activities of General Francis Marion in the area. The Revolutionary battles in the county were Port’s Ferry, Blue Savannah and Bowling Green.
During the American Civil War, Marion County was spared damage from Sherman’s troops due to the Big Pee Dee River being at flood stage. The troops were unable to cross the river. The county fully participated in the reconstruction and in 1876 there were Red Shirt organizations in every township.
Railroad
Marion County had several periods of growth. With the building and completion of the Wilmington to Manchester Railroad in 1854, business and transportation improved. Gen. W.W. Harllee was the first president of the railroad; the town of Florence, to the west of Marion, was named for his daughter. The second president was Col. William S. Mullins for whom the town of Mullins was named.
Separation
In 1888, a part of the west side of the county was given up to help form Florence County and in 1910 the upper part of the county was lost to Dillon County.
Tobacco
A former agricultural economy based on cotton and tobacco has become more diversified with large factories producing such varied products as automotive components, luxury sailboats, and distribution centers.
Geography
Marion is located at 34°10′48″N 79°23′50″W / 34.18000°N 79.39722°W (34.180088, -79.397098).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.3 square miles (11 km2), all of it land.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 214 | — | |
| 1870 | 968 | — | |
| 1880 | 824 | −14.9% | |
| 1890 | 1,640 | 99.0% | |
| 1900 | 1,831 | 11.6% | |
| 1910 | 3,844 | 109.9% | |
| 1920 | 3,892 | 1.2% | |
| 1930 | 4,921 | 26.4% | |
| 1940 | 5,746 | 16.8% | |
| 1950 | 6,834 | 18.9% | |
| 1960 | 7,174 | 5.0% | |
| 1970 | 7,435 | 3.6% | |
| 1980 | 7,700 | 3.6% | |
| 1990 | 7,658 | −0.5% | |
| 2000 | 7,042 | −8.0% | |
| 2010 | 6,939 | −1.5% | |
| 2019 (est.) | 6,326 | −8.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 census
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 1,592 | 24.69% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 4,499 | 69.77% |
| Native American | 20 | 0.31% |
| Asian | 73 | 1.13% |
| Other/Mixed | 188 | 2.92% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 76 | 1.18% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 6,448 people, 2,345 households, and 1,568 families residing in the city.
Neighborhoods
- Fox Hollow
- Williams Park
- West Marion
- Rogers Park
- North Main Street
- South Main Street
- Highland
- East Marion
Transportation
Airports
- Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR), 43 miles southeast from Marion.
- Marion County Airport (MAO)
- Florence Regional Airport (FLO)
Highways
US 76
US 501
Tourism
- Dusty Hills Country Club
- Historical Downtown Marion
- Marion County Museum
- Sparky's
Education
Marion County School District is the governing body of the public schools in the area. The school system supports an alternative school for middle and/or high school students, a vocational career center and an adult learning center.
Pee Dee Academy is a private school.
Marion has a technical center called Academy for Careers and Technology. Nearby higher education institutions include Francis Marion University, Florence–Darlington Technical College, Coker College, and Coastal Carolina University.
Marion has a public library, a branch of the Marion County Library System.
Notable people
- Levern Tart, American basketball player
- Raymond Felton, professional basketball player for the Oklahoma City Thunder
- Col. Hugh Giles, served with Francis Marion in the SC Militia during the Revolutionary War. Marion was originally named Gilesboro
- Armstrong Williams, the largest minority owner of broadcast TV stations in the United States
See also
In Spanish: Marion (Carolina del Sur) para niños
