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Marion County, Kansas

Marion County History, Geography, Demographics, Cities and Towns, and Education

Etymology - Origin of County Name

Named for Marion county, Ohio which was so-called in memory of General Francis Marion, of revolutionary fame.

Demographics:

County QuickFacts: Census Bureau Quick Facts

History

Marion County, which at one time 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, is located midway between the northern and southern boundaries of the state, and is in the first tier of counties west of the 6th principal meridian. It is bounded on the north by Dickinson and Morris counties; on the east by Morris and Chase; on the south by Butler and Harvey, and on the west by Harvey and McPherson. 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 seat.[sic] 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. There were 162 inhabitants at that time, and but 200 acres of land under cultivation. Under the name of Marion township the county had been attached to Chase county for judicial purposes since 1862.

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.

Geography

Marion county is one of the beauty spots of Kansas. The main branch of the Cottonwood river rises in the northwestern part and flows southeast to Marion, where it is met by the south branch and continues in a southeasterly direction. It is a beautiful stream skirted with woods which form delightful natural scenery for many miles. There are a number of tributaries, among which are the Doyle, Cedar and Luta. Springs are abundant throughout the county, some of them containing minerals in medicinal quantities. The most notable of these are the Chingawassa springs, located 6 miles north of Marion in the midst of a beautiful natural park. The general surface is somewhat broken and hilly in the east and a gently rolling prairie in the west. The bottom lands along the streams average from one-fourth mile to a mile in width, and comprise 15 per cent. of the total area of the county. The timber belts comprise about 3 per cent. of the total area and contain cottonwood, hackberry, elm, oak, walnut, box-elder, sycamore, honey-locust, coffee-bean and mulberry. Gypsum and magnesian limestone are abundant, the latter being found along the banks of the streams.
 

Neighboring Counties:

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

Cities and Towns:

County Resources:

Marion County - KS-Cyclopedia - 1912
 

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