Editing Marion, Virginia (section)

==History==

[[Marion College, Virginia|Marion College]], a two-year Lutheran [[women's college]], operated from 1873 to 1967. Marion Hall, constructed in 1968 and named in honor of Francis Marion, is a residence hall at [[Roanoke College]].

Marion is also home to Southwestern Virginia Mental Health Institute.

In December 1864, during the Civil War, it was the site of the [[Battle of Marion]].

Marion is the birthplace of the soft drink [[Mountain Dew]].<ref>{{Cite web |author=Jessica Fuller |date=July 19, 2019 |url=https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/johnson-city-marion-or-knoxville-where-did-mountain-dew-begin/ |title=Johnson City, Marion or Knoxville: Where did Mountain Dew begin? |website=News Channel 11 wjhl.com |publisher=Nexstar Media |access-date=December 27, 2022 |archive-date=July 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190720163208/https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/johnson-city-marion-or-knoxville-where-did-mountain-dew-begin/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Although Mountain Dew was first marketed under that name in Knoxville, TN, the original soft drink's formula changed drastically from Knoxville's formula to the syrup mixture that constitutes today's drink, which is Marion's version. In 1961, the rights to Mountain Dew were purchased by the Marion-based Tip Corporation. The Mountain Dew flavor was reworked by Marion resident William H. "Bill" Jones. Due to the success of the revised formulation, the Pepsi Corporation purchased the Tip Corporation in 1964.<ref>{{cite news|last=Maddry |first=Larry |url=http://www.frederickshome.net/mtdew/mtdew_vapilot080694.htm |title=Reprinted Article: Soft drink finally gets its Dew from small Virginia town |work=Virginian Pilot |location=Norfolk, VA |date=August 6, 1994 |access-date=December 23, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181217083706/http://www.frederickshome.net/mtdew/mtdew_vapilot080694.htm |archive-date=December 17, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Byrd|first1=Kimberly|last2=Williams|first2=Debra |title=Smyth County, Virginia (Images of America Series)|year=2005|publisher=Arcadia Publishing |isbn=9780738517568 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EkpYozzuKnQC&q=Town+of+Marion+recognizes+%27Home+of+Mountain+Dew%27&pg=PA9}}</ref> Marion also hosted the Mountain Dew Festival for more than 50 years.<ref>{{cite web|author=Glenna Elledge |date=July 27, 1994 |work=Smyth County News |url=http://www.frederickshome.net/mtdew/mtdew_smyth72794.htm |title=Town of Marion recognizes 'Home of Mountain Dew' |access-date=December 23, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205113023/http://www.frederickshome.net/mtdew/mtdew_smyth72794.htm |archive-date=February 5, 2016 |via=William H. Jones Mountain Dew}}</ref>

The [[Emory and Henry College School of Health Sciences]] was established in 2014.

[[Back of the Dragon]], a segment of SR16 popular among motorcycle and sports car enthusiasts for its sharp turns and scenic overlooks, begins in Marion, Virginia.

Marion's [[Park Place Drive-In Theatre]], originally constructed in 1954, was named the eighth best drive-in in the United States by ''[[USA Today]]'' in May 2024.<ref>{{Cite web|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line-->|url=https://10best.usatoday.com/awards/travel/best-drive-in-theater-2024/|title=See movies under the stars at the 10 best drive-in theaters|date=May 22, 2024|website=[[USA Today]]|access-date=August 29, 2024}}</ref>

[[R. T. Greer and Company (Marion, Virginia)|R. T. Greer and Company]], [[Henderson Building]], [[Hotel Lincoln (Marion, Virginia)|Hotel Lincoln]], [[Hungry Mother State Park Historic District]], [[Lincoln Theatre (Marion, Virginia)|Lincoln Theatre]], [[Marion Historic District (Marion, Virginia)|Marion Historic District]], [[Marion Male Academy]], [[Norfolk & Western Railway Depot]], [[Preston House (Marion, Virginia)|Preston House]], and the [[Abijah Thomas House]] are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

In late September 2024, the town suffered from flooding and destruction from the impacts of [[Hurricane Helene]].