Marion, Indiana
Marion | ||
---|---|---|
FIPS code 18-46908[3] | | |
GNIS feature ID | 2395009[2] | |
Website | City of Marion website |
Marion is a city in and the county seat of Grant County, Indiana, United States, along the Mississinewa River.[4] The population was 28,310 as of the 2020 census. It is named for Francis Marion, a brigadier general from South Carolina in the American Revolutionary War.
The city is home to Indiana Wesleyan University, the largest evangelical Christian university in the Midwest and Indiana's largest private university, when online and regional campuses in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and Illinois are included. The traditional campus enrolls about 2,800 students. Marion is the birthplace of actor James Dean and cartoonist Jim Davis, and was the location of the wedding of actress Julia Roberts and singer Lyle Lovett in 1993.[5] Ronald Douglas Morrell Jr. is the city's first African American mayor and has been mayor since 2024.
History
Founding
The
With the formation of Grant County in 1831, Marion was established as the county seat and its future was assured. The river provided water supply, power, and drainage as it flowed at the base of the nearby hills. Along with at least 36 other communities in the nation, Marion was named for the Revolutionary War General Francis Marion, the "Swamp Fox" of South Carolina.
Industrial growth
Marion grew slowly for more than 50 years as an agricultural trading center supported by a sprinkling of small farm- and forest-related industries. Native Americans were a common sight as they traveled there from Indiana's last reservation, with its Indian school, Baptist Church, and cemetery, 8 miles (13 km) away. In the 1880s, fields of natural gas were discovered across much of east-central Indiana, and Grant County began to grow at a dizzying pace during the Indiana gas boom.[7] Gas City and Matthews were carved out of raw farmland and launched as speculative boom towns, each absorbing existing tiny villages. They attracted several thousand residents before the gas reserves were tapped and most industries left. As late as the 1940s, Matthews resembled a Western ghost town, before it attracted eleven glass factories and drew the professional baseball team away from Indianapolis. Grant County's only covered bridge remains there as a link to the past. However, the gas boom left its legacy. A few industries remained, particularly glass manufacturers.
On July 23, 1888, with increasing number of residents at the six
1930 lynching
Two African-American men were
The woman retracted her accusation of rape. In 1931 Cameron was convicted as an accessory to murder and served four years before being paroled. He became educated and worked as a civil rights activist, later serving as the Indiana State Director of Civil Liberties from 1942 to 1950. He also founded three local chapters of the
Modern history
Marion's prosperity plateaued between the end of the gas boom, just prior to World War I, and 1955. But construction of a General Motors stamping and tool plant created many new jobs. The city grew rapidly. Except for bedroom communities near metropolitan centers, Marion's growth during the 1950s exceeded all but one Indiana city with populations of 10,000-100,000.
In the late 20th century, Marion surveyed its significant properties and defined the main buildings and grounds of the hospital as the Marion Branch Historic District. It is located at the intersection of 38th Street and Lincoln Boulevard, approximately 2+1⁄2 miles southeast of the center of Marion. The boundaries are 38th Street on the north, the railroad right-of-way on the east, the Mississinewa River on the southeast, Chambers Park on the south and southeast, and Lincoln Boulevard to the west. The 212-acre (0.86 km2) site is roughly square in form with diagonal boundary lines on the southeast and the southwest eliminating those corners of the square. Originally, farming operations on the home grounds included the area that is now Chambers Park. In 1981, a Determination of Eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places for Federal Properties was made under Criteria A and C. As a result, since 1981, various projects have been reviewed by the Indiana State Preservation Office for compliance under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended. In 1992, the historic district was surveyed by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources as a component of the Grant County inventory of historic sites and structures.
One of Marion's more notable architectural landmarks is the extensive Marion High School campus, which includes a 1,468-seat community auditorium, home of the Marion Philharmonic Orchestra, the Community School for the Arts, and the Mississinewa Valley Community Band. The city has a lending library, the Marion Public Library.[10]
The eight-time state basketball champions, Marion Giants, play in the 7,500 seat Bill Green Athletic Arena. The city operates a 2.75-mile (4.43 km) Riverwalk from downtown to Matter Park, and there is a newly renovated $9,000,000 YMCA Memorial Coliseum to honor war veterans. This was the previous home of the Giants, which was built after their first State Basketball Title in 1926.
A publicly owned mansion, the Hostess House, is used for social functions, and Marion General Hospital has been nationally accredited for approximately a half-century. Marion General was recently named a magnet hospital.
Geography
Marion is located along the Mississinewa River.
According to the 2010 census, Marion has a total area of 15.794 square miles (40.91 km2), of which 15.71 square miles (40.69 km2) (or 99.47%) is land and 0.084 square miles (0.22 km2) (or 0.53%) is water.[11]
Climate
Climate data for Marion, Indiana (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °F (°C) | 71 (22) |
76 (24) |
86 (30) |
95 (35) |
100 (38) |
103 (39) |
108 (42) |
103 (39) |
102 (39) |
92 (33) |
84 (29) |
71 (22) |
108 (42) |
Mean maximum °F (°C) | 56.4 (13.6) |
60.0 (15.6) |
71.2 (21.8) |
80.2 (26.8) |
87.8 (31.0) |
92.1 (33.4) |
92.8 (33.8) |
91.0 (32.8) |
89.6 (32.0) |
82.5 (28.1) |
69.2 (20.7) |
58.4 (14.7) |
94.3 (34.6) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 33.0 (0.6) |
37.0 (2.8) |
48.1 (8.9) |
61.2 (16.2) |
72.0 (22.2) |
80.8 (27.1) |
83.8 (28.8) |
82.0 (27.8) |
76.6 (24.8) |
64.2 (17.9) |
49.7 (9.8) |
38.0 (3.3) |
60.5 (15.8) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 25.4 (−3.7) |
28.2 (−2.1) |
38.0 (3.3) |
49.6 (9.8) |
60.6 (15.9) |
70.0 (21.1) |
73.2 (22.9) |
71.3 (21.8) |
64.9 (18.3) |
53.0 (11.7) |
40.7 (4.8) |
30.5 (−0.8) |
50.4 (10.2) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 17.7 (−7.9) |
19.5 (−6.9) |
28.0 (−2.2) |
38.0 (3.3) |
49.2 (9.6) |
59.2 (15.1) |
62.5 (16.9) |
60.5 (15.8) |
53.3 (11.8) |
41.9 (5.5) |
31.7 (−0.2) |
23.0 (−5.0) |
40.4 (4.7) |
Mean minimum °F (°C) | −3.0 (−19.4) |
3.0 (−16.1) |
12.4 (−10.9) |
25.0 (−3.9) |
34.5 (1.4) |
46.1 (7.8) |
52.0 (11.1) |
51.1 (10.6) |
40.9 (4.9) |
29.2 (−1.6) |
18.4 (−7.6) |
5.6 (−14.7) |
−6.7 (−21.5) |
Record low °F (°C) | −23 (−31) |
−20 (−29) |
−11 (−24) |
5 (−15) |
26 (−3) |
34 (1) |
43 (6) |
38 (3) |
28 (−2) |
15 (−9) |
−5 (−21) |
−22 (−30) |
−23 (−31) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 2.85 (72) |
2.15 (55) |
2.87 (73) |
4.10 (104) |
4.76 (121) |
4.42 (112) |
4.33 (110) |
3.93 (100) |
3.39 (86) |
3.12 (79) |
3.26 (83) |
2.58 (66) |
41.76 (1,061) |
Average snowfall inches (cm) | 8.1 (21) |
6.3 (16) |
3.7 (9.4) |
0.3 (0.76) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.1 (0.25) |
1.0 (2.5) |
5.0 (13) |
24.5 (62) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 11.5 | 9.2 | 10.2 | 12.0 | 12.7 | 11.0 | 9.6 | 8.8 | 8.2 | 9.7 | 9.6 | 10.2 | 122.7 |
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 5.4 | 4.4 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 3.3 | 15.6 |
Source: NOAA[12][13] |
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1850 | 703 | — | |
1870 | 1,658 | — | |
1880 | 3,182 | 91.9% | |
1890 | 8,759 | 175.3% | |
1900 | 17,337 | 97.9% | |
1910 | 19,359 | 11.7% | |
1920 | 23,747 | 22.7% | |
1930 | 24,496 | 3.2% | |
1940 | 26,767 | 9.3% | |
1950 | 30,081 | 12.4% | |
1960 | 37,854 | 25.8% | |
1970 | 39,607 | 4.6% | |
1980 | 35,874 | −9.4% | |
1990 | 32,618 | −9.1% | |
2000 | 31,320 | −4.0% | |
2010 | 29,948 | −4.4% | |
2020 | 28,310 | −5.5% | |
Source: US Census Bureau |
2010 census
As of the
There were 11,828 households, of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.2% were married couples living together, 17.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.0% were non-families. 36.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.91.
The median age in the city was 36.2 years. 21.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 16.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.1% were from 25 to 44; 24.5% were from 45 to 64; and 16% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.0% male and 53.0% female.
2000 census
As of the
There were 12,462 households, out of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.1% were married couples living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.8% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.91.
The city population contained 23.3% under the age of 18, 12.5% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% over 64 years. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,440, and the median income for a family was $37,717. Males had a median income of $30,258 versus $23,467 for females. The
Economy
Marion's manufacturing sector produces automotive components, paper products, foundry products, machinery, wire, and cable. The paper plate industry was born in Marion; in its infancy, five of the nation's nine plants were located in the city.
The area surrounding Marion is part of the Corn Belt; as such, agriculture remains a significant component of the region's economy. Corn, soybean, and hog production are supplemented by specialty crops such as tomatoes.
Arts and culture
The
From 1900 to 1901, Marion had their own baseball team called the Glass Blowers.
Christmas City U.S.A.
Christmas City U.S.A. is a local non-profit organization promoting the Christmas season in Marion and Grant County. It organizes and sponsors the Annual Christmas Parade on the Saturday before Thanksgiving to kick off the Holiday season.
It began in 1965 when the organization had a vision to expand the holiday season beyond the traditional cards and private parties. Directors wanted to foster human relations among residents of all ages and public relations toward nonresidents. In 1970, Christmas City and the Chamber of Commerce joined forces to promote a new look for the city. Postcards, bumper stickers, billboards were designed to establish the city as Christmas City U.S.A. The name was even trademarked to preserve the city's identity.[18] In 1991, Mayor Ron Mowery, Mark Erlewine, and a group of interested citizens decided to make Marion live up to its name. By combining the Mississinewa Riverwalk—the 2.25 miles (3.62 km) walkway which is used year around for jogging, walking and more—and holiday lights and lighted displays, the Christmas City Walkway of Lights was established in 1992. The first year, the walkway was home to nearly 56,000 lights and lighted displays; the walkway has grown to include more than 2,000,000 lights and is nearly 4 miles (6.4 km) long.[19]
Government
The city government consists of a mayor and a city council. The mayor is elected in citywide vote. The city council consists of 9 members with 6 wards and 3 at large. The current members of city council are:
- At Large: Nick McKinley (President)
- At Large: Brian Cowgill (Vice President)
- At Large: Jim Brunner
- District 1: Gary Fordyce, Sr.
- District 2: Mike Cline
- District 3: Erika Devine
- District 4: *vacant*
- District 5: Andy Whitton
- District 6: David Cain
Transportation
The Marion Municipal Airport is three nautical miles (4 mi, 6 km) southwest of Marion's central business district.[20][21]
Marion Transit System provides fixed-route and demand-response bus services in the city.[22]
Notable people
- Jolly Blackburn, cartoonist, writer, creator of Knights of the Dinner Table
- Case Broderick, politician
- Chad Curtis, professional baseball player
- Jim Davis, creator of Garfield, the lasagna-loving comic strip cat; (Davis's studio, Paws, Inc., is located near Muncie, Indiana)
- James Dean, iconic actor, born in Marion
- Supreme Court Justice
- Mildred Dilling, harpist
- Jim Gallagher, Jr., professional golfer, golf analyst for USA Network
- Samuel Levi Jones (born 1978), painter, assemblage artist[23]
- Jeff King, professional baseball player, Pittsburgh Pirates and Kansas City Royals
- Kenesaw Mountain Landis, first Commissioner of Baseball, practiced law in Marion
- Mike Melvill, the first commercial astronaut
- King Records (USA) [25] Polydor Records, England
- Stretch Murphy, Hall of Fame basketball player
- William N. Oatis, Associated Press correspondent detained 1951–1953 by Communist government of Czechoslovakia
- Joseph Price, professional basketball player, NBA Washington Bullets. NCAA head basketball coach at Grambling State University
- Zach Randolph, professional basketball player, Memphis Grizzlies
- Amber Richards, transgender female impersonator, television personality, and winner of the Miss Continental pageant.
- Wayne Seybold, Marion mayor and pairs skater at 1988 Winter Olympics
- Caleb Blood Smith, Secretary of the Interior under President Abraham Lincolnand served as a prosecuting attorney in Marion
- George Washington Steele, Indiana Congressman and first governor of the Oklahoma Territory
- North Carolina State Wolfpack National Champions 1974, Chicago Bulls, NCAA coach
- Bertha L. Turner, caterer, cookbook author, and community leader in Pasadena; raised in Marion
- Jan Wiley, actress
See also
- National Home For Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, Marion Branch
- List of places named for Francis Marion
References
- ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
- ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Marion, Indiana
- ^ a b "US Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 9, 2015. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ "State of Their Union". people.com. Retrieved June 7, 2015.
- ^ "Mississinewa 1812". mississinewa1812.com. Retrieved June 7, 2015.
- ISBN 9780738539638.
- ^ "James Cameron: Visionary Videos: NVLP: African American History". visionaryproject.org. Retrieved June 7, 2015.
- ^ David Bradley, "Anatomy of a Murder", The Nation, June 12, 2006, pp. 32-36.
- ^ "Indiana Public Library Director" (PDF). Indiana State Library. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
- ^ "Geographic Identifiers – 2010 Census Summary File 1". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
- ^ "NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
- ^ "Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
- ^ "US Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
- ^ "Abandoned Marion properties are experiencing different fates – Indiana Economic Digest". indianaeconomicdigest.net. Retrieved June 7, 2015.
- ^ "ECI Regional Center" (PDF). Uscis.gov. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ "Christmas City USA History". Archived from the original on December 2, 2006. Retrieved February 6, 2007.
- ^ "Information". walkwayoflights.com. Retrieved June 7, 2015.
- PDF. Federal Aviation Administration. Effective 30 June 2011.
- ^ It is 4.2 nautical miles (4.8 mi, 7.7 km) if measured on a map. (btw George M. Davis terminal – 3rd street Post Office)
- ^ "Marion Transit System". Retrieved September 5, 2023.
- ^ "Samuel Levi Jones". Art in Embassies, U.S. Department of State. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
- ^ "Keith O'Connor Murphy". Rockabillyhall.com. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
- ^ "Landmark Series :: Outside the Classroom | The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum". Rockhall.com. Archived from the original on May 6, 2013. Retrieved April 30, 2013.