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Location
 
 
County Seat: Marion
Founded: 1865
Population:
    · 13,361 (2000)
    · 12,888 (1990)
    · 20,676 (1900)
Area: 944 Square Miles
Standard Abbreviation: MN 

Marion County

 Marion County Courthouse in Marion, Kansas

History

Map of Marion County, KS in 1899
Organized in 1860.  County seat, Marion.  Named for Marion county, Ohio which was so-called in memory of General Francis Marion, of revolutionary fame.
 
Map and text from History of Kansas, Noble Prentis, (Winfield: E.P. Greer. 1899)
 
Francis Marion (1732-1795), "The Swamp Fox", was a South Carolina hero of the Revolutionary War.
 
The Santa Fe trail crossed Marion county and there are many markers and traces to be found. A few miles west of Lost Springs is the site of the old Lost Spring on the Santa Fe trail.  The famous Cottonwood Crossing was near Durham and the ruts of the great wagons can still be seen there.
 
The Special Collections of the Ablah Library at WSU contain historical images of several Marion County towns: Ramona, Marion, Durham, Burns, Lost Springs, Hillsboro, Florence, Aulne, and Lehigh.
 
William G. Cutler's History of Kansas, first published in 1883, tells about early Marion County.
 
The Kansas State Historical Society also has more historical data for Marion County online including a rich bibliography and lists of cemeteries, post offices, and newspapers.

Cities, Towns, & Villages of Marion County

                           2000
    Town                Population  ZIP         Year  Elevation
    =================   ==========  =========   ====  =========
    Antelope                        66858       1870    1370
    Aulne                                               1403
    Burns                      268  66840               1504
    Canada                                      1883    1364
    Durham                     114  67438       1887    1396
    Eastshore                                           1355
    Florence                   671  66851       1872    1280
    Goessel                    565  67053               1533
    Hillsboro                2,854  67063       1879    1454
    Lehigh                     215  67073       1881    1529
    Lincolnville               225  66858               1420
    Lost Springs                71  66859       1887    1490
    Marion                   2,110  66861       1860    1307
    Oursler                                             1292
    Peabody                  1,384  66866       1871    1361
    Pilsen                                      1874    1434
    Ramona                      94  67475       1887    1433
    Tampa                      144  67483       1887    1424
    Waldeck                                             1553
Census Quick Facts

Special Places in Marion County

  • Lehigh still has an elevator and a nice little park with millstones and an old bell on Main. Unfortunately, the tracks look abandoned and the 1920 High School building is in ruins.
  • The St. John Nepomucene Catholic church in Pilsen is literally and figuratively the heart of the town and can be seen for many miles around. A school, gift shop, and FINA garage, and an ostrich/emu farm summarize what is left.
  • The Hill School in Marion is the oldest school building still in use as a school in Kansas. The Marion County courthouse in Marion (built in 1906) is on the National Register of Historic Places. Just north of town there's a graceful old 1930s bridge.
  • The Mennonite Heritage Museum in Goessel is almost a village. It is intended to recreate the daily lives of the Mennonite immigrants who settled the area in the 1870's.
  • Peabody's downtown has a perfect block of turn-of-the-century business buildings. The local museum is located in an old frame building labeled as "the oldest free public library in Kansas". The library is in a beautiful Carnegie Library building.
  • Tabor College in Hillsboro is a four-year private liberal arts college founded in 1908.
  • A few miles west of Lost Springs is the site of the old Lost Spring on the Santa Fe trail. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Logo
  • Marion Reservoir, just north of US 56 provides a wealth of recreational opportunities and is especially well known for its fishing. Contact (620) 382-2101 for more information.

Special Events in Marion County

  • Goessel celebrates Threshing Days in August
  • Marion's Central Park is the site of "Art in the Park" in September.
  • The annual crafts fair in Hillsboro is HUGE! It's held the third Saturday in September.
  • The Marion County Fair is held every August in Hillsboro.

Libraries

Hospitals   Hospital Icon

Marion County Non-profit agencies & organizations

  • Harvey-Marion County Community Developmental Disability Organization  (316) 283-7997
    500 N. Main / Suite #206 / Newton, KS 67114
    elizabeths@harveymarioncddo.com

Museums

Newspapers

Marion County School Systems

Colleges & Universities

  • Tabor College   (620) 947-3121
    400 South Jefferson / Hillsboro, KS 67063

More Data About Marion County

Economic Development
  • Kansas County Profile Reports
    Statistical data from The Institute for Public Policy and Business Research, the University of Kansas
Health Data

Genealogy

References

  • Century of Pride (Florence: Bulletin Printing Co. 1972)
  • Marion County, Kansas, Past and Present (Hillsboro: Marion County Historical Society, Inc. 1972)

Marion County Offices

  • Marion County   (620) 382-2185
    S. 3rd. St. / Courthouse Square / Marion, KS 66861
  • Extension Service   (620) 382-2325
    Courthouse Annex / Marion, KS 66861

For more about Marion County contact:

  • Florence Chamber of Commerce   (620) 878-4421
    417 Main / Florence, KS 66851
  • Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce   (620) 947-3506
    109 S. Main / Hillsboro, KS 67063
  • Marion Chamber of Commerce   (620) 382-3425
    201 N. Third / Marion, KS 66861
  • Peabody Chamber of Commerce   (620) 983-2174
    208 W. Second / Peabody, KS 66866
 
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Last updated on November 29, 2009 by COUNTIES@KSLIB.INFO
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