Marion, Ohio

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Marion is a city located in Marion County, Ohio. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 35,318. It is the county seat of Marion County6.

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Geography

Location of Marion, Ohio

Marion is located at 40°35'12" North, 83°7'35" West (40.586579, -83.126404)1.

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 is water. The total area is 0.35% water.

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Demographics

As of the census2 of 2000, there are 35,318 people, 13,551 households, and 8,821 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,201.4/km² (3,112.8/mi²). There are 14,713 housing units at an average density of 500.5/km² (1,296.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 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. 1.34% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

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

In the city the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 35 years. For every 100 females there are 102.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 101.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $33,124, and the median income for a family is $40,000. Males have a median income of $31,126 versus $22,211 for females. The per capita income for the city is $16,247. 13.8% of the population and 10.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 20.2% of those under the age of 18 and 6.9% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

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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 well there, which was named “Jacob’s Well”. 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.

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).

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Special Events

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People from Marion

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External links


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