Marion County, Kansas

Not to be confused with Marion, Kansas.

Marion County
County
Marion County Courthouse in Marion (2009)
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°21′N97°06′W / 38.350°N 97.100°W / 38.350; -97.100
Country	United States
State	Kansas
Founded	August 30, 1855
Named for	Francis Marion
Seat	Marion
Largest city	Hillsboro
Area
• Total	954 sq mi (2,470 km2)
• Land	944 sq mi (2,440 km2)
• Water	9.4 sq mi (24 km2)  1.0%
Population  (2020) [1]
• Total	11,823
• Estimate  (2023) [2]	11,690
• Density	12/sq mi (4.8/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code	620, 785
Congressional district	2nd
Website	marioncoks.net

Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat is Marion and its most populous city is Hillsboro. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 11,823. ^[1] The county was named in honor of Francis Marion, a brigadier general of the American Revolutionary War, known as the "Swamp Fox". ^[3]

History

Francis Marion (late 1700s)

Early history

See also: History of Kansas

For millennia, the Great Plains of North America were inhabited by Native Americans. From the 16th to 18th centuries, the Kingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts of North America. In 1762, after the French and Indian War, France secretly ceded New France to Spain, by the Treaty of Fontainebleau.

19th century

In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France, but keeping title to about 7,500 square miles. In 1803, most of the land for modern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile Louisiana Purchase for 2.83 cents per acre. In 1848, after the Mexican–American War, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo with Spain brought into the United States all or part of land for ten future states, including southwest Kansas.

In 1806, Zebulon Pike led the Pike Expedition westward from St Louis, Missouri, of which part of their journey followed the Cottonwood River through modern Marion County near the current cities of Florence, Marion, Durham. ^[4]

In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1855, Marion County was established. The first settlers in Marion County located on Doyle Creek, near the present site of Florence. They were Moses Shane, who came in 1858, and whose death the next year was the first in the county; Patrick Doyle, in 1859, for whom Doyle Creek and Township were named, and a family by the name of Welsh, in which occurred the first birth in the county in August 1859. The city of Marion Centre was founded in 1860, became the county seat in 1865, and later the city name was shortened to Marion. ^{[5] [6]}

Lost Spring Station marker along former Santa Fe Trail

From 1821 to 1866, the Santa Fe Trail was active across Marion County. ^[7] In the spring of 1859, a trading post was established at the "Lost Spring" on the Santa Fe Trail, and in the autumn of the same year, the Moore brothers established a ranch near the present site of Durham, and the first post office was established at this place. Later in the same year, a post office was established at "Lost Spring" near the current city of Lost Springs. Previously the nearest post office was Emporia. ^[8]

From 1867 to 1871, the Chisholm Trail was routed along the western edge of Marion County. The trail started in Texas and ended in Abilene, Kansas, where cattle were shipped eastward by rail. As the railroads were built westward and southward, the trail was truncated from going further north.

Burdei-type housing in Gnadenau (Frank Leslie's Illustrated March 20, 1875) (located southeast of Hillsboro)

Originally, Marion County covered more than a third of the area of Kansas, including all the territory in the state south and west of the present northern and eastern lines of the county. The original location of the county was fixed by legislative act in 1860. It comprised less than the present area. The original boundaries were altered by an increase of territory on the west and a decrease on the south. In 1863, the legislature by special act fixed the boundaries to include all of southwestern Kansas. In June of that year, on petition of the citizens of the county, the governor restored the previous boundaries and ordered a separate organization of the county. ^[8] The south-eastern border one mile "notch" with Chase County was established under unusual circumstances. A murder had occurred and Marion County didn't want to have the trial, so a section one mile wide and eighteen miles long was ceded to Chase County to ensure the murder had occurred there. ^[9] The one mile strip of land remains in Chase County to this day. The present county boundary lines were decided upon in 1872 and contain twenty-four townships. ^[5]

The first two-story courthouse of stone was built in 1867. The upper floor was used for county court and the first floor was used as a school. A high wall for a place of refuge and defense in the event of an Indian attack surrounded it, but it was never needed for that purpose. An addition was completed in 1879 and part of the original structure was remodeled in 1881. The present three-story native limestone structure was completed in 1907. ^[5]

Santa Fe Railroad

1915-1918 railroad map of Marion County

The state of Kansas granted the Atchison and Topeka Railroad three million acres (12,000 km²) of land if it would build a continuous line to the western border of the state within ten years (March 1, 1873). In 1871, the railroad pushed westward from Emporia through Florence, Horners, and Peabody towards Newton, and got title to the land in 1873. ^[10] According to the original land grant, the railroad was to receive every odd numbered section for ten miles (16 km) on each side of its track, but in eastern Kansas which was pretty well settled, much of this land wasn't available. The law therefore gave the railroad what was called "in lieu" lands further west. Eventually this worked out to be half the land on a strip twenty miles (32 km) on each side of its track from Emporia nearly out to Kinsley, which meant that most of Marion County fell in this strip. ^[11]

In 1877, the Florence, El Dorado, and Walnut Valley Railroad Company built a branch line from Florence to El Dorado, in 1881 it was extended to Douglass, and later to Arkansas City. ^[6] The line was leased and operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. The line from Florence to El Dorado was abandoned in 1942. ^[12] The original branch line connected Florence, Burns, De Graff, El Dorado, Augusta, Douglass, Rock, Akron, Winfield, Arkansas City.

In 1887, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway built a branch line from Neva (3 miles west of Strong City) to Superior, Nebraska. This branch line connected Strong City, Neva, Rockland, Diamond Springs, Burdick, Lost Springs, Jacobs, Hope, Navarre, Enterprise, Abilene, Talmage, Manchester, Longford, Oak Hill, Miltonvale, Aurora, Huscher, Concordia, Kackley, Courtland, Webber, Superior. At some point, the line from Neva to Lost Springs was pulled but the right of way has not been abandoned. This branch line was originally called "Strong City and Superior line" but later the name was shortened to the "Strong City line". The railway is connected via a switch to allow north-bound "Rock Island" traffic to connect onto the north-west-bound "Santa Fe" tracks. This is the only way for the Santa Fe traffic to travel north-west after removing the tracks to Neva.^{[ citation needed ]}

As early as 1875, city leaders of Marion held a meeting to consider a branch railroad from Florence. In 1878, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and parties from Marion County and McPherson County chartered the Marion and McPherson Railway Company. ^[6] In 1879, a branch line was built from Florence to McPherson, in 1880 it was extended to Lyons, in 1881 it was extended to Ellinwood. ^[13] The line was leased and operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. The line from Florence to Marion, was abandoned in 1968. ^[14] In 1992, the line from Marion to McPherson was sold to Central Kansas Railway. In 1993, after heavy flood damage, the line from Marion to McPherson was abandoned. The original branch line connected Florence, Oursler, Marion, Canada, Hillsboro, Lehigh, Canton, Galva, McPherson, Conway, Windom, Little River, Mitchell, Lyons, Chase, Ellinwood.

In 1996, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway merged with Burlington Northern Railroad and renamed to the current BNSF Railway. Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Santa Fe".^{[ citation needed ]}

Rock Island Railroad

1893 Railroad Map

In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway extended its main line from Herington to Pratt. ^[15] This main line connected Herington, Ramona, Tampa, Durham, Waldeck, Canton, Galva, McPherson, Groveland, Inman, Medora, Hutchinson, Whiteside, Partridge, Arlington, Langdon, Turon, Preston, Natrona, Pratt. In 1888, this main line was extended to Liberal. Later, this line was extended to Tucumcari, New Mexico, and El Paso, Texas. This line is called the "Golden State Limited".

In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built a branch line north–south from Herington to Caldwell. ^[15] This branch line connected Herington, Lost Springs, Lincolnville, Antelope, Marion, Aulne, Peabody, Elbing, Whitewater, Furley, Kechi, Wichita, Peck, Corbin, Wellington, Caldwell. By 1893, this branch line was incrementally built to Fort Worth, Texas. This line is called the "OKT".

The "Rock Island" has switches in Peabody and Lost Springs to allow connections to the crossing "Santa Fe" railroad in each city.

The Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway was foreclosed in 1891 and was taken over by Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway, which shut down in 1980 and reorganized as Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas Railroad, merged in 1988 with Missouri Pacific Railroad, and finally merged in 1997 with Union Pacific Railroad. Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Rock Island". ^{[ citation needed ]}

Chingawasa Springs Railroad

In 1889, the Marion Belt and Chingawasa Springs Railroad built a 4.5 mile railroad from Marion north-east to Chingawasa Springs. A hotel was built near the site of the spa at Chingawasa Springs, and a depot and eatery as well. Both Santa Fe and Rock Island offered round trip fares from Chicago and western cities to Chingawasa Springs. An economic panic in 1893 closed down the health spa and hotel, and quarry business along the tracks never developed sufficiently. In 1893, the railroad ceased operations, and tracks were removed in 1910. ^{[16] [17]}

20th century

The National Old Trails Road, also known as the Ocean-to-Ocean Highway, was established in 1912, and was routed through Lehigh, Hillsboro, Marion, Lost Springs. ^{[ citation needed ]}

Peabody, and nearby Watchorn, experienced an oil boom from 1918 to 1920. The influence of the petroleum industry remained strong in Peabody, and resulted in the greatest change upon the community in the shortest time. More than 100 residences were constructed in October and November 1919. From 1918 to 1919, the population increased by 75% or more, but later decreased as oil booms in other Kansas areas needed the workers. ^{[ citation needed ]}

From 1935 to 1937, the Marion County Lake was constructed southeast of Marion. ^[18] From 1964 to 1968, the Marion Reservoir was constructed northwest of Marion. ^{[19] [20]}

21st century

Truck hauling 36-inch pipe to build Keystone-Cushing Pipeline (Phase 2) southeast of Peabody

In 2010, the Keystone-Cushing Pipeline (Phase II) was constructed north to south through Marion County with much controversy over road damage, tax exemption, and environmental concerns (if a leak ever occurs). ^{[21] [22] [23] [24]}

In 2022, construction of the 201 megawatt Sunflower Wind farm was started in Marion County. ^[25] Warning light and spin testing started in June 2023. ^[26] This wind farm is located between Peabody, Aulne, and Florence, and operated by Ørsted headquartered in Fredericia, Denmark.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 954 square miles (2,470 km²), of which 944 square miles (2,440 km²) is land and 9.4 square miles (24 km²) (1.0%) is water. ^[27]

Marion County is located in the Great Plains, and the eastern part of the county is part of the Flint Hills. ^{[28] [29]}

Adjacent counties

• Dickinson County (north)
• Morris County (northeast)
• Chase County (east)
• Butler County (southeast)
• Harvey County (southwest)
• McPherson County (west)
• Saline County (northwest)

Demographics

Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	74		—
1870	768		937.8%
1880	12,453		1,521.5%
1890	20,539		64.9%
1900	20,676		0.7%
1910	22,415		8.4%
1920	22,923		2.3%
1930	20,739		−9.5%
1940	18,951		−8.6%
1950	16,307		−14.0%
1960	15,143		−7.1%
1970	13,935		−8.0%
1980	13,522		−3.0%
1990	12,888		−4.7%
2000	13,361		3.7%
2010	12,660		−5.2%
2020	11,823		−6.6%
2023 (est.)	11,690	[30]	−1.1%
U.S. Decennial Census [31] 1790-1960 [32] 1900–1990 [33] 1990-2000 [34] 2010–2020 [1]

2000 census

As of the census ^[35] of 2000, there were 13,361 people, 5,114 households, and 3,687 families residing in the county. The population density was 14 people per square mile (5.4 people/km²). There were 5,882 housing units at an average density of 6 per square mile (2.3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.06% White, 0.47% Black or African American, 0.59% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.55% from other races, and 1.14% from two or more races. 1.92% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,114 households, out of which 30.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.80% were married couples living together, 5.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.90% were non-families. 25.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.80% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 23.50% from 25 to 44, 22.70% from 45 to 64, and 21.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 95.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,500, and the median income for a family was $41,386. Males had a median income of $30,236 versus $21,119 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,100. About 4.80% of families and 8.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.50% of those under age 18 and 9.70% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections

Presidential election results

United States presidential election results for Marion County, Kansas ^[36]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	4,219	73.71%	1,380	24.11%	125	2.18%
2020	4,465	73.06%	1,516	24.81%	130	2.13%
2016	4,003	70.60%	1,204	21.23%	463	8.17%
2012	3,889	71.90%	1,385	25.61%	135	2.50%
2008	4,159	68.64%	1,801	29.72%	99	1.63%
2004	4,516	73.32%	1,536	24.94%	107	1.74%
2000	4,156	70.40%	1,475	24.99%	272	4.61%
1996	4,173	65.32%	1,673	26.19%	543	8.50%
1992	3,142	49.47%	1,627	25.62%	1,582	24.91%
1988	3,685	62.99%	2,024	34.60%	141	2.41%
1984	4,407	72.06%	1,632	26.68%	77	1.26%
1980	3,960	64.39%	1,569	25.51%	621	10.10%
1976	3,226	50.72%	3,004	47.23%	130	2.04%
1972	4,373	72.17%	1,478	24.39%	208	3.43%
1968	4,287	70.37%	1,494	24.52%	311	5.11%
1964	3,481	54.90%	2,792	44.03%	68	1.07%
1960	5,250	73.20%	1,904	26.55%	18	0.25%
1956	5,318	75.99%	1,644	23.49%	36	0.51%
1952	6,228	80.19%	1,361	17.52%	178	2.29%
1948	4,724	64.85%	2,421	33.23%	140	1.92%
1944	5,219	72.64%	1,925	26.79%	41	0.57%
1940	5,764	67.44%	2,724	31.87%	59	0.69%
1936	4,185	49.67%	4,207	49.93%	34	0.40%
1932	3,220	41.74%	4,366	56.59%	129	1.67%
1928	5,446	73.50%	1,938	26.15%	26	0.35%
1924	4,008	56.38%	1,520	21.38%	1,581	22.24%
1920	3,840	65.82%	1,713	29.36%	281	4.82%
1916	3,453	52.14%	2,790	42.13%	379	5.72%
1912	863	19.98%	1,732	40.10%	1,724	39.92%
1908	2,546	57.45%	1,747	39.42%	139	3.14%
1904	2,705	71.20%	928	24.43%	166	4.37%
1900	2,623	59.67%	1,729	39.33%	44	1.00%
1896	2,285	56.60%	1,699	42.09%	53	1.31%
1892	2,210	55.82%	0	0.00%	1,749	44.18%
1888	2,375	60.16%	1,283	32.50%	290	7.35%

Laws

Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 2004, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30 percent food sales requirement. ^{[37] [38]}

Education

Colleges

• Tabor College, in Hillsboro
• Butler Community College (remote campus), in Marion

Unified school districts

The following public unified school districts are headquartered in Marion County.

• Centre USD 397, in a rural area between Lost Springs and Lincolnville
• Peabody–Burns USD 398, in Peabody
• Marion–Florence USD 408, in Marion
• Hillsboro USD 410, in Hillsboro
• Goessel USD 411, in Goessel

Communities

2005 map of Marion County (legend)

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Marion County. ^[39]

Cities

• Burns - originally named St. Francis
• Durham - originally named Durham Park
• Florence
• Goessel - originally named Gnadenfeld
• Hillsboro - originally named Hill City
• Lehigh
• Lincolnville
• Lost Springs
• Marion (county seat) - originally named Marion Centre
• Peabody - originally named Coneburg
• Ramona
• Tampa

Unincorporated communities

† means a community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau.

• Antelope
• Aulne
• Canada
• Eastshore†
• Marion County Lake
• Pilsen†

Ghost towns

Marion County contained early communities that have long since been abandoned.

Rail Towns / Stations / Cattle Pens

• Hampson, station, approximately 5 miles south of Florence. ^[40]
• Horners (Honner), station and cattle pens, approximately 3 miles northeast of Peabody. ^[41]
• Jacobs, TBD, northwest of Lost Springs.
• Oursler, station and tiny community.
• Quarry, station and limestone rock quarry, approximately 5.5 miles north of Marion.
• Wagner, TBD, southwest of Florence.
• Waldeck, station, cattle pens, and tiny community.

Oil Towns

• Watchorn, 5 miles east of Peabody.

Other

• Creswell (or Cresswell), east of Goessel
• Elk‡, northeast of Marion (straddled Chase County border)
• Fred, between Peabody and Hillsboro
• Kuhnbrook
• Morning Star
• Strassburg
• Youngtown, northeast of Marion

Mennonite Villages

• Alexanderfeld
• Ebenfeld
• Friedenstal (Alvin)
• Gnadenau (Grace Meadow)
• Hoffnungsthal (Hope Valley)
• Schoenthal (Fair Valley)
• Steinbach

Alexanderwohl Mennonite Villages, ^[42] (see Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church)

• Blumenfeld (straddled on McPherson County border)
• Blumenort (straddled on McPherson County border)
• Emmathal
• Gnadenfeld
• Gnadenthal
• Gruenfeld (Green Field) (abandoned then later became Goessel)
• Hochfeld
• Springfield

Townships

Map of Marion County with township boundaries.

Marion County is divided into twenty-four townships. The cities of Florence (in Doyle and Fairplay townships), Hillsboro (in Liberty and Risley townships), and Marion (in Centre township) are considered governmentally independent and are excluded from the census figures for the townships. In the following table, the population center is the largest city (or cities) included in that township's population total, if it is of a significant size.

Sources: 2000 U.S. Gazetteer from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Township	FIPS	Population center	Population (2000)	Population density /km2 (/sq mi)	Land area km2 (sq mi)	Water area km2 (sq mi)	Water %	Geographic coordinates
Blaine	07125	Tampa	212	2 (6)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.33%	38°33′30″N97°10′46″W / 38.55833°N 97.17944°W / 38.55833; -97.17944
Catlin	11075	Peabody	180	2 (5)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.05%	38°12′56″N97°5′14″W / 38.21556°N 97.08722°W / 38.21556; -97.08722
Centre	11825	*	535	4 (11)	128 (49)	0 (0)	0.26%	38°20′36″N96°59′39″W / 38.34333°N 96.99417°W / 38.34333; -96.99417
Clark	13500	Pilsen	149	2 (4)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.42%	38°28′17″N97°6′4″W / 38.47139°N 97.10111°W / 38.47139; -97.10111
Clear Creek	13750	Lincolnville	592	3 (8)	196 (76)	0 (0)	0.06%	38°28′1″N96°57′35″W / 38.46694°N 96.95972°W / 38.46694; -96.95972
Colfax	14800	Ramona	218	2 (6)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.01%	38°34′42″N97°5′28″W / 38.57833°N 97.09111°W / 38.57833; -97.09111
Doyle	18550	*	75	1 (2)	98 (38)	0 (0)	0.08%	38°14′3″N96°53′17″W / 38.23417°N 96.88806°W / 38.23417; -96.88806
Durham Park	19100	Durham	230	3 (7)	90 (35)	3 (1)	2.70%	38°29′9″N97°12′46″W / 38.48583°N 97.21278°W / 38.48583; -97.21278
East Branch	19325	n/a	188	2 (5)	92 (35)	0 (0)	0%	38°13′33″N97°11′53″W / 38.22583°N 97.19806°W / 38.22583; -97.19806
Fairplay	22350	*	121	1 (3)	116 (45)	0 (0)	0.04%	38°13′44″N96°59′23″W / 38.22889°N 96.98972°W / 38.22889; -96.98972
Gale	25075	Eastshore	220	3 (8)	67 (26)	21 (8)	23.70%	38°23′15″N97°5′21″W / 38.38750°N 97.08917°W / 38.38750; -97.08917
Grant	27775	n/a	128	1 (2)	174 (67)	0 (0)	0.08%	38°22′13″N96°53′3″W / 38.37028°N 96.88417°W / 38.37028; -96.88417
Lehigh	39250	Lehigh	370	4 (10)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0%	38°23′3″N97°18′27″W / 38.38417°N 97.30750°W / 38.38417; -97.30750
Liberty	40225	*	327	4 (9)	92 (35)	0 (0)	0%	38°18′13″N97°12′37″W / 38.30361°N 97.21028°W / 38.30361; -97.21028
Logan	41950	n/a	127	1 (4)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.07%	38°32′38″N97°19′34″W / 38.54389°N 97.32611°W / 38.54389; -97.32611
Lost Springs	42850	Lost Springs	201	2 (6)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.01%	38°34′14″N96°58′23″W / 38.57056°N 96.97306°W / 38.57056; -96.97306
Menno	45800	n/a	317	3 (9)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.12%	38°18′50″N97°18′34″W / 38.31389°N 97.30944°W / 38.31389; -97.30944
Milton	46900	Burns	348	4 (12)	78 (30)	0 (0)	0.03%	38°6′6″N96°53′4″W / 38.10167°N 96.88444°W / 38.10167; -96.88444
Moore	48100	n/a	65	1 (2)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.03%	38°29′27″N97°19′39″W / 38.49083°N 97.32750°W / 38.49083; -97.32750
Peabody	55125	Peabody	1,544	16 (42)	95 (37)	0 (0)	0.23%	38°9′40″N97°6′22″W / 38.16111°N 97.10611°W / 38.16111; -97.10611
Risley	60000	*	241	3 (7)	89 (34)	1 (0)	1.36%	38°23′56″N97°11′48″W / 38.39889°N 97.19667°W / 38.39889; -97.19667
Summit	69100	n/a	82	1 (2)	92 (36)	0 (0)	0.51%	38°7′21″N96°58′54″W / 38.12250°N 96.98167°W / 38.12250; -96.98167
West Branch	76775	Goessel	1,024	11 (29)	92 (36)	0 (0)	0.01%	38°13′30″N97°19′35″W / 38.22500°N 97.32639°W / 38.22500; -97.32639
Wilson	79750	Aulne	232	2 (6)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0%	38°18′17″N97°5′19″W / 38.30472°N 97.08861°W / 38.30472; -97.08861

Historical maps

• 
  1845 Santa Fe Trail map.
• 
  1860 Santa Fe Trail map.
• 
  1900-1905 Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway route map of regular stops.
• 
  1891 Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway route map from Grain Dealers and Shippers Gazetteer.
• 
  1893 railroad map.
• 
  1914 railroad map.
• 
  1910s-1920s National Old Trails Road map.
• 
  2000 Kansas Population map.

Media

See also: List of newspapers in Kansas, List of radio stations in Kansas, and List of television stations in Kansas

Print

• Hillsboro Free Press , local newspaper for Hillsboro.
• Marion County Record , local newspaper for Marion.
• Peabody Gazette-Bulletin , local newspaper for Peabody.
• Hillsboro Star-Journal , local newspaper for the greater Marion County area.
• The Newton Kansan , regional newspaper from Newton.
• The Wichita Eagle , major regional newspaper from Wichita.

See also

• Kansas portal

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Marion County, Kansas
• Cottonwood River and Great Flood of 1951
• March 1990 Central US tornado outbreak
• Public Land Survey System
• Chisholm Trail and Route of the Trail in Kansas
• Santa Fe Trail
• Geology of Kansas
• List of wind farms in the United States - Sunflower Farm wind farm is located in Marion County

Community information for Kansas

• Kansas locations by per capita income
• List of counties in Kansas
• List of townships in Kansas
• List of cities in Kansas
• List of unincorporated communities in Kansas
• List of ghost towns in Kansas

Further reading

See also: List of books about Kansas, including historical information about its counties and cities

See also: List of books about Chisholm Trail

See also: List of books about Santa Fe Trail

County

• Our Nation Called : Marion County Answered – Honoring Our Marion County Kansas Veterans; Hillsboro Free Press; 192 pages; 2012.
• The Days of June : Recollections of a Country Sheriff; Tracy Mayes; Leathers Pub; 72 pages; 1999; ISBN   978-1890622671.
• Touring Marion County : pioneers, lakes, & the mighty Santa Fe; Robert Collins; 1993.
• Marion County Kansas : Past and Present; Sondra Van Meter; MB Publishing House; 344 pages; 1972; LCCN 72–92041.
• Atlas of Marion County, Kansas: containing maps, plats of the townships, alphabetical rural directory, histories of churches, etc., families, farms, churches and pictures of general interest; Tri-Tabula Co; 1971.
• Picture Story of the Flood Waters in Marion and Vicinity; July 1951. This book contains pictures from Marion, Florence, and Peabody.
• The Scully Land System in Marion County, Kansas; Homer Socolofsky; Kansas State University; 110 pages; 1944/1947.
• World War Roll of Honor : Marion County Kansas 1917-1920; Alexander and Dean; 221 pages; 1920.
• Marion County, Kansas; Alex E. Case; 1894.
• Portrait and Biographical Record of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson, and Marion Counties, Kansas; Chapman Bros; 614 pages; 1893.
• Hand-book of Marion County, Kansas; C.S. Burch Publishing Co; 40 pages; 1888.
• All About Marion County, Kansas; E.W. Hoch; Marion County Record; 1876.
• Plat Book of Marion County, Kansas; W.W. Hixson & Co; 1928.
• Standard Atlas of Marion County, Kansas; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 99 pages; 1921.
• Standard Atlas of Marion County, Kansas; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 103 pages; 1902.
• Atlas of Marion County, Kansas; Davy Map and Atlas Co; 87 pages; 1885.

Education

• The Early Schools of Marion County Kansas; Wilma Stewart Stallwitz; Located at Peabody Township Library; 33 pages; 1960.
• Your School District: The Report of the National Commission on School District Reorganization; National Education Association; 286 pages; 1948. (some topics about Kansas school district consolidation)

Trails

• Marion County Auto Tour of the Santa Fe Trail; Cottonwood Crossing Chapter of Santa Fe Trail Association.; 2 pages; 2011.
• The Story of the Marking of the Santa Fe Trail by the Daughters of the American Revolution in Kansas and the State of Kansas; Almira Cordry; Crane Co; 164 pages; 1915.
• The National Old Trails Road To Southern California, Part 1 (LA to KC); Automobile Club Of Southern California; 64 pages; 1916.

Mennonite Settlements and Churches

• The Varieties of Kansas German Dialects after 150 Years of German Group Settlement in Kansas, William D. Kell, 2006.
• The Ebenfeld Church in Action, 1876–1976.
• 1874 Mennonite Immigration Centennial; Mennonite Life; Mid-Year 1974.
• The Disciples of Menno Simonis: Their Settlement in Central Kansas; Frank Leslie's Illustrated; Mennonite Life; September 1999.
• Alexanderwohl Villages in Kansas, 1874 (map); P.U. Schmidt; Mennonite Life; October 1949.
• The Alexanderwohl Church Building; Alvin Gooseen; Mennonite Life; December 1974.
• Impact of Mennonite settlement on the cultural landscape of Kansas; Brenda Martin; Kansas State University; 1985/1988.
• Mennonite settlement : the relationship between the physical and cultural environment; Susan Movle; University of Utah; 1975/1886.
• Status of Mennonite women in Kansas in their church and home relationships; Eva Harshbarger; Bluffton College; 1925/1945.
• The Disciples of Menno Simonis: Their Settlement in Central Kansas; Frank Leslie's Illustrirte Zeitung; March 20, 1875. (German version of English article)
• The Disciples of Menno Simonis: Their Settlement in Central Kansas; Frank Leslie's Illustrated; March 20, 1875. (English)

References

1. "QuickFacts; Marion County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 15, 2021. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
2. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
3. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p.  200.
4. "1806 Pike Expedition map through Marion County" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 17, 2012. Retrieved June 1, 2011.
5. "The History of Marion County and Courthouse". Archived from the original on February 27, 2018. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
6. Marion County Kansas : Past and Present; Sondra Van Meter; MB Publishing House; LCCN 72-92041; 344 pages; 1972.
7. History of the Cottonwood Crossing Chapter, Santa Fe Trail Association.
8. Kansas: a cyclopedia of state history, embracing events, institutions, industries, counties, cities, towns, prominent persons, etc; Published 1912 Archived October 19, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
9. Kansas State Historical Society - Marion County
10. Santa Fe Rail History
11. Kansas Heritage Server - Railroads In Kansas
12. Railway Abandonment 1942
13. Fourth Annual Report of the Board of Railroad Commissioners for the Year Ending December 1, 1886 in State of Kansas; Kansas Publishing House; 1886.
14. Railway Abandonment 1968
15. "Rock Island Rail History". Archived from the original on June 19, 2011. Retrieved April 17, 2011.
16. The Marion Belt and Chingawasa Springs Railroad - 117 Year Old Passenger Car Exists Today
17. Chingawasa Springs (1 of 2) Archived October 2, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
18. "Marion County Park and Lake". www.marioncountyparkandlake.com. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
19. "Tulsa District > Locations > Tulsa District Lakes > Kansas > Marion Reservoir > History". www.swt.usace.army.mil. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
20. "Marion Reservoir, Kansas". Recreation.gov. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
21. Keystone Pipeline - Marion County Commission calls out Legislative Leadership on Pipeline Deal; April 18, 2010. Archived October 22, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
22. Keystone Pipeline - TransCanada inspecting pipeline; December 10, 2010.
23. County and Keystone settle on road damages; Hillsboro Free Press; November 2, 2010.
24. Keystone Pipeline - County ask TransCanada for pipeline emergency plan; Hillsboro Free Press; February 15, 2011.
25. "Ørsted takes final investment decision on 201 MW onshore wind project Sunflower Wind in Kansas, US". Ørsted . April 28, 2022. Archived from the original on March 22, 2023.
26. "Turbines turning at new wind farm". Marion County Record. June 28, 2023. p. 1.
27. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
28. "Flint Hills Tourism Coalition". Archived from the original on August 10, 2013. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
29. "Flint Hills Introduction; Kansas Geological Survey". Archived from the original on February 8, 2009. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
30. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
31. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
32. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
33. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
34. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
35. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
36. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
37. "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2006. Archived from the original on October 8, 2007. Retrieved December 26, 2007.
38. "Kansas Liquor by the Drink Map (Wet and Dry Counties)" (PDF). Kansas Department of Revenue - Alcoholic Beverage Control. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 29, 2017.
39. "General Highway Map of Marion County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). November 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 10, 2023.
40. Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc. Standard Publishing Company. pp.  805.
41. Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc. Standard Publishing Company. pp.  872.
42. Alexanderwohl Villages in Kansas, 1874 (map); Mennonite Life; October 1949.

External links

County

• Marion County - Official Website
• Marion County - Directory of Public Officials

Historical

• Marion County cemetery list, archive of KsGenWeb
• Marion County history bibliography, Kansas Historical Society
• Marion County school bibliography, Kansas Historical Society
• Marion County court records on microfilm, Kansas Historical Society
• History of Early Marion County Newspapers, 1916
• Detailed map of Santa Fe Trail, Various pioneer trails

Maps

• Marion County maps: Current, Historic, KDOT
• Kansas Highway maps: Current, Historic, 1918, KDOT and Kansas Historical Society
• Kansas Railroad maps: Current, 1996, 1915, KDOT and Kansas Historical Society