Marion County, Kansas#Historical maps

File:Francis Marion 001.jpg (late 1700s)]]

{{See also|History of Kansas#Prehistory|label 1=Early Kansas History}}

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.

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.{{Cite web |url=http://zebulonpike.org/maps/kansas/MAINSEKS.pdf |title=1806 Pike Expedition map through Marion County. |access-date=June 1, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317175019/http://zebulonpike.org/maps/kansas/MAINSEKS.pdf |archive-date=March 17, 2012 |url-status=dead }}

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.

File:Lost Spring Station Kansas road view.jpg]]

From 1821 to 1866, the Santa Fe Trail was active across Marion County.[http://www.santafetrail.org/chapters/cottonwood/ History of the Cottonwood Crossing Chapter, Santa Fe Trail Association.] 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.[http://www.mykansasgenealogy.com/ks-county-marion.html Kansas: a cyclopedia of state history, embracing events, institutions, industries, counties, cities, towns, prominent persons, etc; Published 1912] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091019231921/http://www.mykansasgenealogy.com/ks-county-marion.html |date=October 19, 2009 }}

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.

Image:Saraj in Gnadenau, Kansas.png-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. 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.[http://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/marion-county-kansas/15312 Kansas State Historical Society - Marion County] 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.{{Cite web |url=http://www.marioncoks.net/AboutMarionCounty/History/tabid/7634/Default.aspx |title=The History of Marion County and Courthouse |access-date=April 12, 2013 |archive-date=February 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180227021903/http://www.marioncoks.net/AboutMarionCounty/History/tabid/7634/Default.aspx |url-status=dead}}

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.

File:Stouffer's Railroad Map of Kansas 1915-1918 Marion County.png

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.[http://kansasheritage.org/research/rr/santafe.html Santa Fe Rail History] According to the original land grant, the railroad was to receive every odd numbered section for {{convert|10|mi|km|spell=in}} on each side of its track, but in eastern Kansas which was largely settled by then, much of this land was not 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 {{convert|20|mi|km|spell=in}} on each side of its track from Emporia nearly out to Kinsley, which meant that most of Marion County fell within this strip.[http://www.kansasheritage.org/research/rr/rrhistory.html Kansas Heritage Server - Railroads In Kansas]

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. 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.[http://www.abandonedrails.com/Florence_to_El_Dorado Railway Abandonment 1942] The original branch line connected Florence, Burns, De Graff, El Dorado, Augusta, Douglass, Rock, Akron, Winfield and Arkansas City.

In 1887, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway built a branch line from Neva (three 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 and 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|date=June 2015}}

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.Marion County Kansas : Past and Present; Sondra Van Meter; MB Publishing House; LCCN 72-92041; 344 pages; 1972. 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.[https://books.google.com/books?id=ZIwpAAAAYAAJ Fourth Annual Report of the Board of Railroad Commissioners for the Year Ending December 1, 1886 in State of Kansas; Kansas Publishing House; 1886.] The line was leased and operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. The line from Florence to Marion was abandoned in 1968.[http://www.abandonedrails.com/Marion_to_Florence Railway Abandonment 1968] 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 and 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|date=June 2015}}

Image:Map elk chase kansas.jpg

In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway extended its main line from Herington to Pratt.{{Cite web |url=http://home.covad.net/~scicoatnsew/rihist4.htm |title=Rock Island Rail History |access-date=April 17, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110619230000/http://home.covad.net/~scicoatnsew/rihist4.htm |archive-date=June 19, 2011 |url-status=dead }} This main line connected Herington, Ramona, Tampa, Durham, Waldeck, Canton, Galva, McPherson, Groveland, Inman, Medora, Hutchinson, Whiteside, Partridge, Arlington, Langdon, Turon, Preston, Natrona and 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. This branch line connected Herington, Lost Springs, Lincolnville, Antelope, Marion, Aulne, Peabody, Elbing, Whitewater, Furley, Kechi, Wichita, Peck, Corbin, Wellington and 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|date=June 2015}}

In 1889, the Marion Belt and Chingawasa Springs Railroad built a 4.5 mile railroad from Marion northeast to Chingawasa Springs. A hotel was built near the site of the spa at Chingawasa Springs, along with a depot and eatery. 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.[http://www.rypn.org/articles/single.php?filename=060401002334.txt The Marion Belt and Chingawasa Springs Railroad - 117 Year Old Passenger Car Exists Today][http://www.orphantraindepot.com/LegendArticlePart1.html Chingawasa Springs (1 of 2)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002014406/http://www.orphantraindepot.com/LegendArticlePart1.html |date=October 2, 2011 }}

The National Old Trails Road, also known as the Ocean-to-Ocean Highway, was established in 1912, and was routed through Lehigh, Hillsboro, Marion, and Lost Springs. {{citation needed|date=June 2015}}

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|date=June 2015}}

From 1935 to 1937, the Marion County Lake was constructed southeast of Marion.{{Cite web |title=Marion County Park and Lake |url=http://www.marioncountyparkandlake.com/history.html |access-date=August 5, 2022 |website=www.marioncountyparkandlake.com}} From 1964 to 1968, the Marion Reservoir was constructed northwest of Marion.{{Cite web |title=Tulsa District > Locations > Tulsa District Lakes > Kansas > Marion Reservoir > History |url=https://www.swt.usace.army.mil/Locations/Tulsa-District-Lakes/Kansas/Marion-Reservoir/History/ |access-date=August 5, 2022 |website=www.swt.usace.army.mil}}{{Cite web |title=Marion Reservoir, Kansas |url=https://www.recreation.gov/camping/gateways/565 |access-date=August 5, 2022 |website=Recreation.gov |language=en}}

File:Truck Hauling 36-inch Pipe To Build Keystone XL Pipeline.jpg (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).[http://www.gpace.org/news/marion-county-commission-calls-out-legislative-leadership-on-pipeline-deal/ Keystone Pipeline - Marion County Commission calls out Legislative Leadership on Pipeline Deal; April 18, 2010.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111022015437/http://www.gpace.org/news/marion-county-commission-calls-out-legislative-leadership-on-pipeline-deal/ |date=October 22, 2011 }}[http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2010/dec/10/transcanada-inspecting-keystone-pipeline/ Keystone Pipeline - TransCanada inspecting pipeline; December 10, 2010.][http://www.hillsborofreepress.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18093658:county-keystone-settle-on-damages&catid=93:front-page&Itemid=100075 County and Keystone settle on road damages; Hillsboro Free Press; November 2, 2010.][http://www.hillsborofreepress.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18094441:county-ask-transcanada-for-pipeline-emergency-plan&catid=49&Itemid=32 Keystone Pipeline - County ask TransCanada for pipeline emergency plan; Hillsboro Free Press; February 15, 2011.]

In 2022, construction of the 201 megawatt Sunflower Wind farm was started in Marion County.{{cite web |title=Ørsted takes final investment decision on 201 MW onshore wind project Sunflower Wind in Kansas, US |url=https://orsted.com/en/media/newsroom/news/2022/04/20220428520511 |website=Ørsted |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322071947/https://orsted.com/en/media/newsroom/news/2022/04/20220428520511 |archive-date=March 22, 2023 |date=April 28, 2022 |url-status=live}} Warning light and spin testing started in June 2023.{{cite web |title=Turbines turning at new wind farm |url=http://marionrecord.com/dispatch/turbines_turning_at_new_wind_farm+5441farm+54757262696e6573207475726e696e67206174206e65772077696e64206661726d |publisher=Marion County Record |page=1 |date=June 28, 2023 }} This wind farm is located between Peabody, Aulne, and Florence, and operated by Ørsted headquartered in Fredericia, Denmark.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|954|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|944|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|9.4|sqmi}} (1.0%) is water.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}

Marion County is located in the Great Plains, and the eastern part of the county is part of the Flint Hills.{{Cite web |url=http://www.kansasflinthills.travel/ |title=Flint Hills Tourism Coalition |access-date=March 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130810214951/http://www.kansasflinthills.travel/ |archive-date=August 10, 2013 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.kgs.ku.edu/Extension/flinthills/flinthills.html |title=Flint Hills Introduction; Kansas Geological Survey |access-date=September 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090208230950/http://www.kgs.ku.edu/Extension/flinthills/flinthills.html |archive-date=February 8, 2009 |url-status=dead }}

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

File:USA Marion County, Kansas age pyramid.svg based on 2000 census age data]]

{{US Census population

|1860=74

|1870=768

|1880=12453

|1890=20539

|1900=20676

|1910=22415

|1920=22923

|1930=20739

|1940=18951

|1950=16307

|1960=15143

|1970=13935

|1980=13522

|1990=12888

|2000=13361

|2010=12660

|2020=11823

|estyear=2023

|estimate=11690

|estref={{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 3, 2024}}

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 27, 2014}}
1790-1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=July 27, 2014}} 1900–1990{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ks190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 27, 2014}}
1990-2000{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 27, 2014}} 2010–2020

}}

As of the census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}} of 2000, there were 13,361 people, 5,114 households, and 3,687 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|14|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people|}}. There were 5,882 housing units at an average density of {{convert|6|/mi2|/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.

{{Hidden

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|header = Presidential election results

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{{PresHead|place=Marion County, Kansas|source={{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=April 17, 2018}}}}

{{PresRow|2024|Republican|4,312|1,429|138|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|2020|Republican|4,465|1,516|130|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|2016|Republican|4,003|1,204|463|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|2012|Republican|3,889|1,385|135|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|2008|Republican|4,159|1,801|99|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|2004|Republican|4,516|1,536|107|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|2000|Republican|4,156|1,475|272|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1996|Republican|4,173|1,673|543|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1992|Republican|3,142|1,627|1,582|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1988|Republican|3,685|2,024|141|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1984|Republican|4,407|1,632|77|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1980|Republican|3,960|1,569|621|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1976|Republican|3,226|3,004|130|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1972|Republican|4,373|1,478|208|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1968|Republican|4,287|1,494|311|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1964|Republican|3,481|2,792|68|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1960|Republican|5,250|1,904|18|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1956|Republican|5,318|1,644|36|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1952|Republican|6,228|1,361|178|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1948|Republican|4,724|2,421|140|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1944|Republican|5,219|1,925|41|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1940|Republican|5,764|2,724|59|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|4,185|4,207|34|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|3,220|4,366|129|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1928|Republican|5,446|1,938|26|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1924|Republican|4,008|1,520|1,581|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1920|Republican|3,840|1,713|281|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1916|Republican|3,453|2,790|379|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|863|1,732|1,724|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1908|Republican|2,546|1,747|139|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1904|Republican|2,705|928|166|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1900|Republican|2,623|1,729|44|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1896|Republican|2,285|1,699|53|Kansas}}

{{PresRow|1892|Republican|2,210|0|1,749|Kansas}}

{{PresFoot|1888|Republican|2,375|1,283|290|Kansas}}

}}

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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ksrevenue.org/abcwetdrymap.htm |title=Map of Wet and Dry Counties |publisher=Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue |date=November 2006 |access-date=December 26, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008013617/http://www.ksrevenue.org/abcwetdrymap.htm |archive-date=October 8, 2007 }}{{cite web |title=Kansas Liquor by the Drink Map (Wet and Dry Counties) |url=http://www.ksrevenue.org/pdf/abcwetdrymap.pdf |website=Kansas Department of Revenue - Alcoholic Beverage Control |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429201857/http://www.ksrevenue.org/pdf/abcwetdrymap.pdf |archive-date=April 29, 2017}}

• Tabor College, in Hillsboro
• [http://www.butlercc.edu/marion_site/index.cfm Butler Community College] (remote campus), in Marion

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

File:Map of Marion Co, Ks, USA.png)]]

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Marion County.{{cite web |title=General Highway Map of Marion County, Kansas |url=https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/marion.PDF |publisher=Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410003721/https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/marion.PDF |archive-date=April 10, 2023 |date=November 2010 |url-status=live}}

{{div col}}

• 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

{{div col end}}

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

{{div col}}

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

{{div col end}}

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

;Rail Towns / Stations / Cattle Pens

• Hampson, station, approximately five miles south of Florence.{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_o8X5krq3fP8C | title=Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc. | publisher=Standard Publishing Company | author=Blackmar, Frank Wilson | year=1912 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_o8X5krq3fP8C/page/n801 805]}}
• Horners (Honner), station and cattle pens, approximately three miles northeast of Peabody.{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_o8X5krq3fP8C | title=Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc. | publisher=Standard Publishing Company | author=Blackmar, Frank Wilson | year=1912 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_o8X5krq3fP8C/page/n868 872]}}
• 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, five 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,[http://tools.bethelks.edu/mennonitelife/pre2000/1949oct.pdf Alexanderwohl Villages in Kansas, 1874 (map); Mennonite Life; October 1949.] (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

Image:Detailed map of Marion County, Kansas.gif

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.

Image:1845 trailmap.png|1845 Santa Fe Trail map.

Image:Safe trail map NPS1962.jpg|1860 Santa Fe Trail map.

Image:Grand Canyon Route of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway 1900-05.jpg|1900-1905 Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway route map of regular stops.

Image:Santa Fe Route Map 1891.jpg|1891 Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway route map from Grain Dealers and Shippers Gazetteer.

Image:Map elk chase kansas.jpg|1893 railroad map.

Image:Kansas Map 1914 Chase Dickinson Marion Morris.jpg|1914 railroad map.

Image:National old trails association-usdotmap.jpg|1910s-1920s National Old Trails Road map.

Image:Kansas population map.png|2000 Kansas Population map.

{{See also|List of newspapers in Kansas|List of radio stations in Kansas|List of television stations in Kansas}}

• 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.

{{Portal|Kansas}}

• 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 [http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/208628 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

{{See also Kansas counties}}

{{Kansas books}}

{{See also|Chisholm Trail#Further reading|l1=List of books about Chisholm Trail}}

{{See also|Santa Fe Trail#Further reading|l1=List of books about Santa Fe Trail}}

{{Div col|colwidth=45em}}

;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.
• [https://archive.org/details/scullylandsystem00soco/ The Scully Land System in Marion County, Kansas]; Homer Socolofsky; Kansas State University; 110 pages; 1944/1947.
• [https://archive.org/details/worldwarrollofho00alex/ World War Roll of Honor : Marion County Kansas 1917-1920]; Alexander and Dean; 221 pages; 1920.
• Marion County, Kansas; Alex E. Case; 1894.
• [https://archive.org/details/portraitbiograph04chic/ Portrait and Biographical Record of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson, and Marion Counties, Kansas]; Chapman Bros; 614 pages; 1893.
• [https://www.kansasmemory.gov/item/225061/ 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.
• [https://www.kansasmemory.gov/item/224022/ Standard Atlas of Marion County, Kansas]; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 99 pages; 1921.
• [https://www.kansasmemory.gov/item/209391/ Standard Atlas of Marion County, Kansas]; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 103 pages; 1902.
• [https://www.kansasmemory.gov/item/224032/ 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.
• [https://books.google.com/books?id=TQ_RAAAAMAAJ&pg=1 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

• [https://santafetrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/CottonwoodCrossingAutoTour-1.pdf Marion County Auto Tour of the Santa Fe Trail]; Cottonwood Crossing Chapter of Santa Fe Trail Association.; 2 pages; 2011.
• [https://archive.org/details/storymarkingsan00kansgoog 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.
• [https://archive.org/details/nationaloldtrail00autorich 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

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20190114053404/http://www2.ku.edu/~germanic/LAKGD/William_Keel_Essay.shtml 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.
• [http://tools.bethelks.edu/mennonitelife/pre2000/1974mid.pdf 1874 Mennonite Immigration Centennial]; Mennonite Life; Mid-Year 1974.
• [http://tools.bethelks.edu/mennonitelife/pre2000/1999sep.pdf The Disciples of Menno Simonis: Their Settlement in Central Kansas]; Frank Leslie's Illustrated; Mennonite Life; September 1999.
• [http://tools.bethelks.edu/mennonitelife/pre2000/1949oct.pdf Alexanderwohl Villages in Kansas, 1874 (map)]; P.U. Schmidt; Mennonite Life; October 1949.
• [http://tools.bethelks.edu/mennonitelife/pre2000/1974dec.pdf The Alexanderwohl Church Building]; Alvin Gooseen; Mennonite Life; December 1974.
• [https://archive.org/details/impactofmennonit00mart Impact of Mennonite settlement on the cultural landscape of Kansas]; Brenda Martin; Kansas State University; 1985/1988.
• [https://archive.org/details/mennonitesettlem00moyl Mennonite settlement : the relationship between the physical and cultural environment]; Susan Movle; University of Utah; 1975/1886.
• [https://archive.org/details/statusofmennonit00hars 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)

{{Div col end}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Marion County, Kansas}}

;County

• {{Official website|https://www.marioncoks.net/|Marion County - Official Website}}
• [https://www.lkm.org/members/?id=41260457 Marion County - Directory of Public Officials]

;Historical

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20130509035324/http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/marion/library/cemetery/CemList.html Marion County cemetery list], archive of KsGenWeb
• [https://www.kshs.org/p/marion-county-history-bibliography/13487 Marion County history bibliography], Kansas Historical Society
• [https://www.kshs.org/p/marion-county-schools-bibliography/13662 Marion County school bibliography], Kansas Historical Society
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20150402170043/http://www.kshs.org/p/local-records-microfilm-marion-co/11131 Marion County court records on microfilm], Kansas Historical Society
• [http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ksmarihp/HISTORYOFKANSASNEWSPAPERS.html History of Early Marion County Newspapers, 1916]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20041207024629/http://www.kancoll.org/books/sftrail/sfcent.gif Detailed map of Santa Fe Trail], [https://web.archive.org/web/20120304215621/http://www.thekansan.com/community/x1272818575/Stucky-talks-about-pioneer-trail-at-historical-group-meeting Various pioneer trails]

;Maps

• Marion County maps: [https://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/marion.PDF Current], [https://www.ksdot.org/bureaus/burtransplan/maps/PastPublishedCounty.asp Historic], KDOT
• Kansas Highway maps: [https://www.ksdot.org/burtransplan/maps/MapsState.asp Current], [https://www.ksdot.org/burtransplan/maps/HistoricStateMaps.asp Historic], [https://www.kansasmemory.org/item/591/ 1918], KDOT and Kansas Historical Society
• Kansas Railroad maps: [https://www.ksdot.org/BurTransPlan/maps/RRStateMap.asp Current], [https://www.kansasmemory.org/item/227379 1996], [https://www.kansasmemory.org/item/227380 1915], KDOT and Kansas Historical Society

{{Geographic location

|Center = Marion County, Kansas

|North = Dickinson County

|Northeast = Morris County

|East = Chase County

|Southeast = Butler County

|South = Butler County

|Southwest = Harvey County

|West = McPherson County

|Northwest = Saline County

}}

{{Marion County, Kansas}}

{{Kansas}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Kansas counties

Category:1855 establishments in Kansas Territory