Editing Marion County, West Virginia

{{Short description|County in West Virginia, United States}}
{{For|counties with a similar name|Marion County (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county        = Marion County
 | state         = West Virginia
 | flag = Flag of Marion County, West Virginia.svg
 | seal = Seal of Marion County, West Virginia.png
 | founded date     = January 14
 | founded year         = 1842
 | seat wl            = Fairmont
 | largest city wl    = Fairmont
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 312
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 309
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 2.8
 | area percentage      = 0.9%
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 56205
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2021
 | population_est       = 56001 {{loss}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | time zone           = Eastern
 | web  = www.marioncountywv.com
 | ex image             = Marion County Courthouse Fairmont.jpg
 | ex image cap         = [[Marion County Courthouse (West Virginia)|Marion County Courthouse]] in Fairmont
 | named for =[[Francis Marion]]
 | district             = 1st }}

'''Marion County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[West Virginia]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 56,205.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/marioncountywestvirginia/PST045221 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=September 4, 2022}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Fairmont, West Virginia|Fairmont]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The county was named in honor of General [[Francis Marion]] (''ca.'' 1732–1795), known to history as "The Swamp Fox". Marion County comprises the '''Fairmont, WV Micropolitan Statistical Area''', which is part of the larger [[Morgantown metropolitan area|Morgantown–Fairmont, WV Combined Statistical Area]].

==History==
The [[Adena culture|Adena]] and successor [[Hopewell culture]]s flourished in this area at one time. The region which includes the land now known as Marion County was sparsely occupied by [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native Americans]], if at all, in the late 18th century. Like much of the [[Ohio Valley]], it had been depopulated by the [[Iroquois]] during the later [[Beaver Wars]] (1670–1700). Only a few abortive attempts to start European settlements upon the [[Monongahela River]] or its branches (such as that which gave its name to [[Dunkard Creek]]) are known prior to the [[French and Indian War]]. It was not until 1772 that any permanent settlements were made in this region.<ref>Dunnington, George A. ''History and Progress of the County of Marion, West Virginia'' Fairmont, West Virginia: George A. Dunnington, Publisher, 1880; Chap. II: First Settlements</ref>

Marion County was created by an act of the [[Virginia Assembly]] on January 14, 1842, from parts of [[Monongalia County, West Virginia|Monongalia]] and [[Harrison County, West Virginia|Harrison]] Counties. It was named after General Francis Marion, of [[American Revolutionary War]] fame, known to history as "The Swamp Fox".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wvculture.org/history/counties/marion.html |title=Marion County history sources |access-date=January 29, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621190113/http://www.wvculture.org/history/counties/marion.html |archive-date=June 21, 2012 }}</ref>

1852 was an eventful time in Marion County's history, starting with the great flood on Monday, April 5. Heavy rains the day before caused the [[Monongahela River|Monongahela]] and [[West Fork River]]s to rise at rate of 5 feet per hour until Tuesday afternoon, when the water reached 43 feet above its normal level. The greatest damage was sustained on the West Fork, where over 40 houses and buildings were swept away and floated past [[Fairmont, West Virginia|Fairmont]].<ref name="Dunnington 1880 https://archive.org/details/historyprogresso00dunn/page/87 87–92">{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/historyprogresso00dunn |title=History and Progress of the County of Marion, West Virginia |last=Dunnington |first=George |publisher=George A. Dunnington |year=1880 |location=Fairmont, WV |pages=[https://archive.org/details/historyprogresso00dunn/page/87 87]–92}}</ref>

The flood damaged the railroad, which was in the final stages of being completed. By June 23 the [[Baltimore and Ohio Railroad]] was completed, connecting Fairmont to the west and to large cities in the east like Baltimore. The railroad required the building of a bridge to cross the [[Monongahela River]] about 1 mile west of Fairmont. This was achieved by building a massive iron bridge spanning 650 feet and lifted 35 feet above the water.<ref name="Dunnington 1880 https://archive.org/details/historyprogresso00dunn/page/87 87–92"/>

The third major event of the year 1852 was the completion of the Fairmont and Palatine [[suspension bridge]], connecting Fairmont to what was then the town of Palatine. The bridge was built under the direction of James L. Randolph, assistant engineer of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, at a cost of about thirty thousand dollars.<ref name="Dunnington 1880 https://archive.org/details/historyprogresso00dunn/page/87 87–92"/>

Marion was one of fifty Virginia counties that were admitted to the Union as the state of West Virginia on June 20, 1863, at the height of the [[American Civil War|Civil War]]. In the months that followed, West Virginia's counties were divided into [[civil township]]s, with the intention of encouraging local government. This proved impractical in the heavily rural state, and in 1872 the townships were converted into [[minor civil division|magisterial districts]].<ref>Otis K. Rice & Stephen W. Brown, ''West Virginia: A History'', 2nd ed., University Press of Kentucky, Lexington (1993), p. 240.</ref>  Marion County was divided into seven districts: Fairmont, Grant, Lincoln, Mannington, Paw Paw,{{efn-lr|Also spelled "Pawpaw" in early records.}} Union, and Winfield. In the 1980s, the historic magisterial districts were consolidated into three new districts: Middletown, Palatine, and West Augusta.<ref>[[United States Census Bureau]], [[United States Census|U.S. Decennial Census]], Tables of Minor Civil Divisions in West Virginia, 1870–2010.</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|312|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|309|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|2.8|sqmi}} (0.9%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_54.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 30, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>

===Major highways===
*[[File:I-79 (WV).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 79#West Virginia|Interstate 79]]
*[[File:US 19.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 19#West Virginia|U.S. Highway 19]]
*[[File:US 250.svg|23px]] [[U.S. Highway 250]]
*[[Image:WV-218.svg|20px]] [[West Virginia Route 218]]
*[[Image:WV-273.svg|20px]] [[West Virginia Route 273]]
*[[Image:WV-310.svg|20px]] [[West Virginia Route 310]]

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Monongalia County, West Virginia|Monongalia County]] (north)
*[[Taylor County, West Virginia|Taylor County]] (southeast)
*[[Harrison County, West Virginia|Harrison County]] (south)
*[[Wetzel County, West Virginia|Wetzel County]] (west)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 10552
|1860= 12722
|1870= 12107
|1880= 17198
|1890= 20721
|1900= 32430
|1910= 42794
|1920= 54571
|1930= 66655
|1940= 68683
|1950= 71521
|1960= 63717
|1970= 61356
|1980= 65789
|1990= 57249
|2000= 56598
|2010= 56418
|2020= 56205
|estyear=2021
|estimate=56001
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2021">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021|access-date=September 4, 2022}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 10, 2014}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=January 10, 2014}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/wv190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 10, 2014}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 10, 2014}}</ref> 2010–2020<ref name="QF"/>
}}

=== 2020 census ===
As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 56,205 people and 23,278 households residing in the county. There were 26,280 housing units in Marion. The racial makeup of the county was 90% [[White American|White]], 3.3% [[African American]], 0.5% [[Asian American|Asian]], 0.25% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 0.4% from [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#Race|other races]], and 5.6% from [[Multiracial American|two or more races]]. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanics or Latinos]] of any race were 1.6% of the population.

Of the 23,278 households, 48.3% were married couples living together, 26.2% had a female householder with no spouse present, 19.5% had a male householder with no spouse present.The average household and family size was 2.89. The median age in the county was 40.4 years with 20.2% of the population under 18. The median income for a household was $55,094 and the poverty rate was 14.6%<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Marion_County,_West_Virginia?g=050XX00US54049 |access-date=March 30, 2023 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2010, there were 56,418 people, 23,786 households, and 15,271 families living in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">{{cite web |title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US54049 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213011536/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US54049 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=April 3, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> The population density was {{convert|182.7|PD/sqmi}}. There were 26,463 housing units at an average density of {{convert|85.7|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}.<ref name="census-density">{{cite web |title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US54049 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213191324/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US54049 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=April 3, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

The racial makeup of the county was 94.3% white, 3.3% black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.9% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1" /> In terms of ancestry, 23.5% were [[Germans|German]], 17.8% were [[Irish people|Irish]], 13.7% were [[Americans|American]], 12.0% were [[English people|English]], and 10.3% were [[Italians|Italian]].<ref name="census-dp2">{{cite web |title=DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US54049 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213020747/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US54049 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=April 3, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

Of the 23,786 households, 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.8% were non-families, and 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.85. The median age was 41.0 years.<ref name="census-dp1" />

The median income for a household in the county was $38,115 and the median income for a family was $49,046. Males had a median income of $38,948 versus $27,179 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,752. About 11.3% of families and 16.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 24.0% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">{{cite web |title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US54049 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213035241/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US54049 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=April 3, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 56,598 people, 23,652 households, and 15,515 families living in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|183|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 26,660 housing units at an average density of {{convert|86|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 95.10% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 3.22% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.20% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.41% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.01% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.13% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.93% from two or more races. 0.70% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 23,652 households, out of which 26.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.40% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.40% were non-families. 28.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 20.60% under the age of 18, 10.50% from 18 to 24, 26.40% from 25 to 44, 24.70% from 45 to 64, and 17.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 90.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,626, and the median income for a family was $37,182. Males had a median income of $29,005 versus $21,100 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $16,246. About 11.70% of families and 16.30% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 21.30% of those under age 18 and 8.70% of those age 65 or over.

==Politics==
Marion County, like most counties in West Virginia, was historically [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]], particularly in the latter half of the 20th century. From 1932 to 2008, the county only voted [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] in a presidential election once: for [[Richard Nixon]] in [[1972 United States presidential election in West Virginia|1972]] amidst a national landslide. However, like the rest of West Virginia, Marion County has trended heavily Republican in the 21st century, albeit at a somewhat slower pace than most of the state. In [[2012 United States presidential election in West Virginia|2012]], Republican [[Mitt Romney]] flipped the county for the first time since Nixon's victory, and it has voted Republican in each election since. In [[2016 United States presidential election in West Virginia|2016]] and [[2020 United States presidential election in West Virginia|2020]], Republican [[Donald Trump]] carried Marion County with more than 60% of the vote, with both performances the best ever for any Republican in the county.
{{PresHead|place=Marion County, West Virginia|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 27, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|15,881|8,185|568|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|16,300|8,901|598|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|14,668|6,964|1,735|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|12,054|8,959|540|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|11,501|11,618|621|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|12,150|12,771|273|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|9,972|12,315|586|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|6,160|12,994|2,953|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|6,380|14,042|4,772|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|9,229|14,441|72|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1984|Democratic|13,106|13,833|81|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|10,952|14,189|1,330|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|10,391|17,800|0|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|16,095|11,864|0|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|10,177|17,246|1,838|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|7,707|22,047|0|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|14,138|17,903|0|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|16,112|16,192|0|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|14,979|19,890|0|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|11,201|19,866|290|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|11,584|17,640|0|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|13,349|21,035|0|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|11,403|20,859|181|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|12,638|15,975|851|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|16,088|10,133|442|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|12,167|9,386|2,513|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|11,494|8,734|583|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|4,443|5,493|443|West Virginia}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|1,625|4,535|3,273|West Virginia}}

==Communities==

===Cities===
*[[Fairmont, West Virginia|Fairmont]] (county seat)
*[[Mannington, West Virginia|Mannington]]
*[[Pleasant Valley, Marion County, West Virginia|Pleasant Valley]]

===Towns===
{{div col}}
*[[Fairview, West Virginia|Fairview]]
*[[Barrackville, West Virginia|Barrackville]]
*[[Farmington, West Virginia|Farmington]]
*[[Grant Town, West Virginia|Grant Town]]
*[[Monongah, West Virginia|Monongah]]
*[[Rivesville, West Virginia|Rivesville]]
*[[Whitehall, West Virginia|Whitehall]]
*[[Worthington, West Virginia|Worthington]]
{{div col end}}

===Magisterial districts===
* Middletown
* Palatine
* West Augusta

===Census-designated places===
* [[Carolina, West Virginia|Carolina]] 
* [[Idamay, West Virginia|Idamay]] 
* [[Rachel, West Virginia|Rachel]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=12em}}
* [[Baxter, Marion County, West Virginia|Baxter]]
* [[Basnettville, West Virginia|Basnettville]]
* [[Beverly Hills, Marion County, West Virginia|Beverly Hills]]
* [[Big Run, Marion County, West Virginia|Big Run]]
* [[Boothsville, Marion County, West Virginia|Boothsville]]
* [[Brink, West Virginia|Brink]]
* Bunner Ridge
* [[Catawba, Marion County, West Virginia|Catawba]]
* [[Colfax, West Virginia|Colfax]]
* [[Flyblow, West Virginia|Flyblow]]
* [[Forksburg, West Virginia|Forksburg]]
* [[Four States, West Virginia|Four States]]
* [[Grays Flat, West Virginia|Grays Flat]]
* [[Hebron, Marion County, West Virginia|Hebron]]
* [[Highland, Marion County, West Virginia|Highland]]
* [[Hopewell, Marion County, West Virginia|Hopewell]]
* [[Hutchinson, Marion County, West Virginia|Hutchinson]]
* [[Joetown, Marion County, West Virginia|Joetown]]
* [[Jordan, West Virginia|Jordan]]
* [[Katy, West Virginia|Katy]]
* [[Kingmont, West Virginia|Kingmont]]
* [[Logansport, West Virginia|Logansport]]
* [[Meadowdale, Marion County, West Virginia|Meadowdale]]
* [[Metz, West Virginia|Metz]]
* [[Montana, West Virginia|Montana]]
* [[Montana Mines, West Virginia|Montana Mines]]
* [[Paw Paw, Marion County, West Virginia|Paw Paw]]
* [[Pettyjohn, Marion County, West Virginia|Pettyjohn]]
* [[Pine Grove, Marion County, West Virginia|Pine Grove]]
* [[Pleasant View, Marion County, West Virginia|Pleasant View]]
* Quiet Dell<ref>{{cite web|title=1915 WV-310, Fairmont, West Virginia|publisher=[[Google Maps]] Street View|url=https://www.google.com/maps/@39.4316026,-80.0871507,3a,37.5y,173.33h,81.01t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sIo1yC6tr2r9Q3QZ8et7B0A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192|date=June 2021|access-date=July 6, 2022}}<!-- Apparently not labeled on any maps; see Talk:Hershel_W._Williams#Which_Quiet_Dell? --></ref>
* [[Shagtown, West Virginia|Shagtown]]
* [[Seven Pines, West Virginia|Seven Pines]]
* [[Stringtown, Marion County, West Virginia|Stringtown]]
* [[Viola, Marion County, West Virginia|Viola]]
* [[Wahoo, West Virginia|Wahoo]]
* [[Watson, West Virginia|Watson]]
* Winfield
{{div col end}}

==Notable people==
*[[David Carpenter (baseball, born 1985)|David Carpenter]], baseball player
*[[Frank Kendall Everest, Jr.]], ''The Fastest Man Alive''
*[[Michael Garrison (politician)|Michael Garrison]], former president of [[West Virginia University]].
*[[Frank Gatski]], athlete in the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]]
*[[Sam Huff]], Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker ([[New York Giants]], [[Washington Commanders|Washington Redskins]])
*[[Johnnie Johnson (musician)|Johnnie Johnson]], musician
*[[John Knowles]], author
*[[Joe Manchin]], the former governor of [[West Virginia]] and former [[United States senator]] from West Virginia.
*[[Luella Mundel]], professor and McCarthyism victim
*[[Francis H. Pierpont]], father of West Virginia
*[[Mary Lou Retton]], all-around gymnastics Olympic gold medal winner ([[1984 Summer Olympics|1984 Olympic Games]]).
*[[Rich Rodriguez]], college football coach ([[West Virginia Mountaineers football|West Virginia]], [[Michigan Wolverines football|Michigan]], [[Arizona Wildcats football|Arizona]], [[Jacksonville State Gamecocks football|Jacksonville State]])
*[[Nick Saban]], former head football coach at [[Toledo Rockets football|Toledo]], [[Michigan State Spartans football|Michigan State]], [[LSU Tigers football|LSU]], [[Alabama Crimson Tide football|Alabama]], and the [[Miami Dolphins]]
*[[Harrison C. Summers]], [[World War II|WWII]] hero
*[[Natalie Tennant]], [[Secretary of State of West Virginia]] and 2014 U.S. Senate candidate.
*[[Robert Tinnell]], Director, Writer, Producer
*[[Hershel W. Williams]], [[Medal of Honor]] recipient for the [[Battle of Iwo Jima]]
*[[Tom Wilson (cartoonist)|Tom Wilson]], creator of the comic strip [[Ziggy (comic)|Ziggy]].
*[[Fielding H. Yost]], Football Coach ([[Michigan Wolverines football|Michigan]])

==Literary presence==
In the [[1632 series|''1632'' series]] of [[science fiction]] novels, the fictional town of [[Grantville (1632 series)|Grantville]] (closely modelled after real-life [[Mannington, West Virginia|Mannington]]) and its environs were part of Marion County until the [[Extraterrestrials in fiction|alien]]-caused [[space-time]] anomaly which sent it to 17th-century [[Thuringia]]. The county and its institutions are frequently mentioned in the course of the series, and writers interested in the series have held a number of "mini-cons" (miniature [[science fiction conventions]]) in Mannington.<ref>"Author's Afterword" in Flint, Eric. ''1632''</ref><ref>[https://marioncvb.com/eric-flint/ Marion County VB. "Eric Flint's Best-Selling Sci-Fi Novel Takes Place in Marion County: Grantville Gets Transported Back To 1632" July 31, 2020 ''Marion County Visitors Bureau'' website]</ref><ref>[https://www.baen.com/interviews/intdemarce Baen Interviews: Virginia DeMarce March 2006. ''Baen.com'']</ref> Flint has stated, "The town of Grantville is very closely modeled on the actual town of Mannington. There are rules that I require everyone to follow when they write in the series. One of them is that it if it wasn’t in the town of Mannington in 2000, you can’t have it in Grantville. The one cheat I had to do was that I needed a power plant. The power plant is about 15 miles away, in a town called Granttown, so I just sorta moved it over. That’s the only real cheat.”<ref>[https://locusmag.com/2016/12/eric-flint-remaking-history/ "Eric Flint: Remaking History"] December 4, 2016 ''[[Locus (magazine)|Locus]]'' magazine website</ref>

==See also==
* [[Prickett's Fort State Park]]
*[[Fairmont Marion County Transit Authority]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Marion County, West Virginia]]

==Footnotes==
{{reflist|group=lower-roman}}

==References==
<references />

==External links==
*[http://www.marioncountywv.com/ Marion County Government]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Marion County, West Virginia
|North     = [[Monongalia County, West Virginia|Monongalia County]]
|Northeast = 
|East      = 
|Southeast = [[Taylor County, West Virginia|Taylor County]]
|South     = [[Harrison County, West Virginia|Harrison County]]
|Southwest = 
|West      = [[Wetzel County, West Virginia|Wetzel County]]
|Northwest = 
}}

{{Marion County, West Virginia}}
{{West_Virginia}}

{{coord|39.51|-80.24|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-WV_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Marion County, West Virginia| ]]
[[Category:1842 establishments in Virginia]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1842]]