Marion County is a county located in the northeastern portion of Missouri. As of the 2010 census, the population was 28,781. Its county seat is Palmyra. Unique from most third-class counties in the state, Marion has two county courthouses, the second located in Hannibal. The county was organized on December 23, 1826 and named for General Francis Marion, the “Swamp Fox,” who was from South Carolina and served in the American Revolutionary War. The area was known as the “Two Rivers Country” before organization.
Marion County is part of the Hannibal, Missouri Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Quincy-Hannibal, IL-MO Combined Statistical Area.
| Name: | Marion County |
|---|---|
| FIPS code: | 29-127 |
| State: | Missouri |
| Founded: | December 23, 1826 |
| Named for: | Francis Marion |
| Seat: | Palmyra |
| Largest city: | Hannibal |
| Total Area: | 444 sq mi (1,150 km²) |
| Land Area: | 437 sq mi (1,130 km²) |
| Total Population: | 28,781 |
| Population Density: | 65/sq mi (25/km²) |
| Time zone: | UTC−6 (Central) |
| Summer Time Zone (DST): | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Website: | marioncountymo.com |
Marion County location map. Where is Marion County?
History
Marion County was created by the state legislature in 1845 from parts of Ralls and Shelby Counties. It was settled from Virginia and Kentucky by farmers looking for cheap farmland; some owned slaves. It was named after Francis Marion, a general in the Revolutionary War. The county seat is Palmyra, which was established in 1833 and became a locally important river port on the Mississippi. By the late 1800s, the county was the center of a thriving agricultural community. Tobacco was the main crop, though cotton, wheat, barley, oats, and hay were also grown. Livestock included horses, mules, and cattle.
The best known native son is Mark Twain (Samuel Langhorne Clemens) born in 1835, in the village of Florida. His youthful experiences in Hannibal became the setting for the adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. Other prominent locals included Governor John S. Phelps, and Confederate General A.P. Morehead. The region was bitterly divided in the Civil War but Unionist elements prevailed. Palmyra was the site of a skirmish in 1862, and the county was the site of several other battles and raids. Today, Marion County continues to be primarily an agricultural county. It is home to a number of historic sites and buildings, with a major tourist industry focused on Mark Twain characters and settings.
Marion County Road Map
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 444 square miles (1,150 km), of which 437 square miles (1,130 km) is land, and 7.4 square miles (19 km) (1.7%) is water.
Adjacent counties
- Lewis County (north)
- Adams County, Illinois (northeast)
- Pike County, Illinois (southeast)
- Ralls County (south)
- Monroe County (southwest)
- Shelby County (west)
Major Roadways
- I-72
- US-24
- US-36
- US-61
- Route 6
- Route 168
- Great River Road
- Hannibal Expressway (proposed)
Marion County Topographic Map
Marion County Satellite Map
Marion County Outline Map
