View source for Marion, Indiana

{{Hatnote group|
{{About-distinguish|the county seat of Grant County, Indiana|Marion County, Indiana|Marion Township, Indiana (disambiguation){{!}}Marion Township, Indiana}}
{{For|the community in Shelby County|Marion, Shelby County, Indiana}}
}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Marion
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| nickname           = ''City of Champions''
| motto              = 
| image_skyline      = Grant County Courthouse in Marion.jpg
| imagesize          = 250 px
| image_caption      = Grant County Courthouse
| image_flag         = Flag of Marion, Indiana.svg
| image_seal         = 
| image_map          = File:Grant County Indiana Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Marion Highlighted 1846908.svg
| mapsize            = 250x200px
| map_caption        = Location of Marion in Grant County
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{USA}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{flag|Indiana}}
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Indiana|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Grant County, Indiana|Grant]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[List of townships in Indiana|Townships]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Center Township, Grant County, Indiana|Center]], [[Franklin Township, Grant County, Indiana|Franklin]], [[Pleasant Township, Grant County, Indiana|Pleasant]], [[Washington Township, Grant County, Indiana|Washington]], [[Monroe Township, Grant County, Indiana|Monroe]], [[Mill Township, Grant County, Indiana|Mill]], [[Liberty Township, Grant County, Indiana|Liberty]]
| government_type    = [[Mayor–council government|Mayor-Council]]
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = Ronald Douglas Morrell Jr. ([[Republican (United States)|R]]){{citation needed|date=December 2023}}
| leader_title1      = 
| leader_name1       = 
| leader_title2      = 
| leader_name2       = 
| leader_title3      = 
| leader_name3       = 
| established_title  = Founded
| established_date   = 1831
| established_title1 = Incorporated (city)
| established_date1  = 1889<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=REtEXQNWq6MC&pg=PA322 | title=Historical Gazetteer of the United States | isbn=1-135-94859-3 | last1=Hellmann | first1=Paul T. | date=February 14, 2006 | publisher=Routledge }}</ref>
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_18.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=March 16, 2022}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 40.82
| area_land_km2      = 40.61
| area_water_km2     = 0.21
| area_total_sq_mi   = 15.76
| area_land_sq_mi    = 15.68
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.08
| area_water_percent = 0.51
| population_footnotes = 
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_est     = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| population_total   = 28310
| population_density_km2 = 697.11
| population_density_sq_mi = 1805.48
| timezone           = [[Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset         = -5
| timezone_DST       = [[Eastern Time Zone|EDT]]
| utc_offset_DST     = -4
| coordinates        = {{coord|40|32|59|N|85|39|37|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 814
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]s
| postal_code        = 46952-46953
| website            = [http://www.cityofmarion.in.gov/ City of Marion website]
| area_code          = [[Area code 765|765]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 18-46908<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=31 January 2008|title=US Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2395009<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2395009}}</ref>
}}

'''Marion''' is a city in and the [[county seat]] of [[Grant County, Indiana]], United States, along the [[Mississinewa River]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=7 June 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509170006/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|archive-date=9 May 2015}}</ref> The population was 28,310 as of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]. It is named for [[Francis Marion]], a [[brigadier general]] from [[South Carolina]] in the [[American Revolutionary War]].

The city is home to [[Indiana Wesleyan University]], the largest [[Evangelicalism|evangelical Christian]] university in the [[Midwestern United States|Midwest]] and Indiana's largest private university, when online and regional campuses in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and Illinois are included. The traditional campus enrolls about 2,800 students. Marion is the birthplace of actor [[James Dean]] and cartoonist [[Jim Davis (cartoonist)|Jim Davis]], and was the location of the wedding of actress [[Julia Roberts]] and singer [[Lyle Lovett]] in 1993.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20103614,00.html|title=State of Their Union|work=people.com|access-date=7 June 2015}}</ref> Ronald Douglas Morrell Jr. is the city's first African American mayor and has been mayor since 2024.

==History==
===Founding===
The [[Battle of the Mississinewa]] was fought in December 1812, north of the current city of Marion, as an expeditionary force sent by [[William Henry Harrison]] against the [[Miami Indians|Miami]] villages. Today, the battle is reenacted every fall by residents of [[Grant County, Indiana|Grant County]] and many reenactors and enthusiasts from throughout the United States and Canada during the annual "Mississinewa 1812" festival, the largest [[War of 1812]] reenactment in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mississinewa1812.com/|title=Mississinewa 1812|work=mississinewa1812.com|access-date=7 June 2015}}</ref> When Martin Boots and David Branson each donated {{Convert|30|acre|m2}} of land in 1831 for the site of Marion, they chose a location on the left bank of the swift, scenic river which the Miami Indians had named "Mississinewa," meaning "Falling water." So rapid had been the tide of settlement that it followed by only 19 years the Battle of Mississinewa, {{Convert|7|mi|km|0}} downstream, where federal troops and Indians had fought a bloody, pre-dawn encounter in 1812.

With the formation of Grant County in 1831, Marion was established as the county seat and its future was assured. The river provided water supply, power, and drainage as it flowed at the base of the nearby hills. Along with at least 36 other communities in the nation, Marion was named for the [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]] General [[Francis Marion]], the "Swamp Fox" of [[South Carolina]].

===Industrial growth===
[[File:The street railway review (1891) (14756991591).jpg|thumb|left|Streetcars in Marion, 1891]]
Marion grew slowly for more than 50 years as an agricultural trading center supported by a sprinkling of small farm- and forest-related industries. Native Americans were a common sight as they traveled there from Indiana's last reservation, with its Indian school, Baptist Church, and cemetery, {{Convert|8|mi|km|0}} away. In the 1880s, fields of natural gas were discovered across much of east-central Indiana, and Grant County began to grow at a dizzying pace during the [[Indiana gas boom]].<ref name="JG">{{cite book |last1=Glass |first1=James |last2=Kohrman |first2=David |title=The Gas Boom of East Central Indiana (Images of America) |date=2005 |publisher=Arcadia |location=Charleston |isbn=9780738539638 |pages=53–57}}</ref> Gas City and Matthews were carved out of raw farmland and launched as speculative boom towns, each absorbing existing tiny villages. They attracted several thousand residents before the gas reserves were tapped and most industries left. As late as the 1940s, Matthews resembled a Western ghost town, before it attracted eleven glass factories and drew the professional baseball team away from Indianapolis. Grant County's only covered bridge remains there as a link to the past. However, the gas boom left its legacy. A few industries remained, particularly glass manufacturers.
[[Image:Marion-indiana-VA-hospital-from-above.jpg|thumb|[[United States Department of Veterans Affairs|VA]] hospital campus (left) south of Marion's downtown]]
On July 23, 1888, with increasing number of residents at the six [[National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers|HDVS]], Congress established a seventh home in Grant County (and ultimately three more). It is known as the [[National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, Marion Branch|Marion Branch]]. Congress allotted an appropriation of $200,000 for construction, while Grant County residents provided a natural gas supply for heating and lighting. Marion was selected as a site for the new branch due to the availability of natural gas and the political support of Colonel [[George Washington Steele]], US Congressman serving from 1880 to 1890. This facility is now a part of the [[Veterans Administration]] (VA) Northern Indiana Health Care System, a dual-campus facility associated with the former VA Medical Center Fort Wayne. In the early 21st century, the original treatment hospital, built in 1889, the greenhouse, and cadet quarters are scheduled for demolition. There has been a lack of public support for funding restoration of these buildings. As they do not meet current standards, the Veterans Administration plans to demolish the buildings and replace them.

===1930 lynching===
{{main|Thomas Shipp and Abram Smith}}
[[Image:Lynching_of_two_African_American_men_in_Marion_Indiana_on_7_August_1930_detail,_"Marion,_Ind,_Aug._7,_1930"_(NBY_3117)_(cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Thomas Shipp and Abram Smith]], [[lynching|lynched]] in Marion on August 7, 1930]]
Two African-American men were [[lynching|lynched]] in Marion on August 7, 1930. A large, mostly white mob estimated at 5,000 gathered at the county [[jail]] where three young black men were held on charges of killing a white man and raping his girlfriend. Before they could be tried, the three, [[Thomas Shipp]], [[Lynching of Thomas Shipp and Abram Smith|Abram Smith]], and [[James Cameron (activist)|James Cameron]], were dragged from the jail and severely beaten. Shipp and Smith were hanged to death. Cameron was saved when an unidentified woman said he had nothing to do with the crimes.

The woman retracted her accusation of rape{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}. In 1931 Cameron was convicted as an accessory to murder and served four years before being paroled. He became educated and worked as a civil rights activist, later serving as the Indiana State Director of Civil Liberties from 1942 to 1950. He also founded three local chapters of the [[NAACP]], and served as the first president of the Madison County, Indiana chapter. In 1988 he founded [[America’s Black Holocaust Museum]] in [[Milwaukee]] to preserve the history of African Americans who had faced the terror and violence of lynching. In 1993, James Cameron received an official apology and a full pardon from the state of Indiana.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visionaryproject.org/cameronjames/|title=James Cameron: Visionary Videos: NVLP: African American History|work=visionaryproject.org|access-date=7 June 2015}}</ref> Cameron later said, "Since the state of Indiana forgave me, I forgive the state of Indiana." In 2005, the US Senate also officially apologized to Cameron and families of the victims of lynchings. The event in Marion was notable as the last confirmed lynching of African Americans in Indiana and the [[Northern United States]].<ref>[http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060612/bradley David Bradley, "Anatomy of a Murder", ''The Nation'', June 12, 2006, pp. 32-36.]</ref>

===Modern history===
Marion's prosperity plateaued between the end of the gas boom, just prior to [[World War I]], and 1955. But construction of a [[General Motors]] stamping and tool plant created many new jobs. The city grew rapidly. Except for bedroom communities near metropolitan centers, Marion's growth during the 1950s exceeded all but one Indiana city with populations of 10,000-100,000.

In the late 20th century, Marion surveyed its significant properties and defined the main buildings and grounds of the hospital as the Marion Branch Historic District. It is located at the intersection of 38th Street and Lincoln Boulevard, approximately {{frac|2|1|2}} miles southeast of the center of Marion. The boundaries are 38th Street on the north, the railroad right-of-way on the east, the [[Mississinewa River]] on the southeast, Chambers Park on the south and southeast, and Lincoln Boulevard to the west. The {{convert|212|acre|km2|adj=on}} site is roughly square in form with diagonal boundary lines on the southeast and the southwest eliminating those corners of the square. Originally, farming operations on the home grounds included the area that is now Chambers Park. In 1981, a Determination of Eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places for Federal Properties was made under Criteria A and C. As a result, since 1981, various projects have been reviewed by the Indiana State Preservation Office for compliance under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended. In 1992, the historic district was surveyed by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources as a component of the Grant County inventory of historic sites and structures.

One of Marion's more notable architectural landmarks is the extensive Marion High School campus, which includes a 1,468-seat community auditorium, home of the Marion Philharmonic Orchestra, the Community School for the Arts, and the Mississinewa Valley Community Band. The city has a lending library, the Marion Public Library.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.in.gov/library/files/countyindex13.pdf|title=Indiana Public Library Director|publisher=Indiana State Library|access-date=7 March 2018|archive-date=February 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218220414/http://in.gov/library/files/countyindex13.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
[[Image:MarionYMCA.jpg|thumb|YMCA of Grant County]]

The eight-time state basketball champions, Marion Giants, play in the 7,500 seat Bill Green Athletic Arena. The city operates a {{Convert|2.75|mi|km|adj=on}} Riverwalk from downtown to Matter Park, and there is a newly renovated $9,000,000 YMCA Memorial Coliseum to honor war veterans. This was the previous home of the Giants, which was built after their first State Basketball Title in 1926.
 
A publicly owned mansion, the Hostess House, is used for social functions, and Marion General Hospital has been nationally accredited for approximately a half-century. Marion General was recently named a magnet hospital.

==Geography==
Marion is located along the [[Mississinewa River]].

According to the 2010 census, Marion has a total area of {{convert|15.794|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|15.71|sqmi|sqkm|2}} (or 99.47%) is land and {{convert|0.084|sqmi|sqkm|2}} (or 0.53%) is water.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1846908|title=Geographic Identifiers – 2010 Census Summary File 1|access-date=29 July 2015|publisher=US Census Bureau|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213051012/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1846908|archive-date=13 February 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Climate===
{{Weather box
 | width       = auto
 | collapsed   = yes
 | single line = yes
 | location    = Marion, Indiana (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present)
 | Jan record high F  = 71
 | Feb record high F  = 76
 | Mar record high F  = 86
 | Apr record high F  = 95
 | May record high F  = 100
 | Jun record high F  = 103
 | Jul record high F  = 108
 | Aug record high F  = 103
 | Sep record high F  = 102
 | Oct record high F  = 92
 | Nov record high F  = 84
 | Dec record high F  = 71
 | year record high F =

|Jan avg record high F = 56.4
|Feb avg record high F = 60.0
|Mar avg record high F = 71.2
|Apr avg record high F = 80.2
|May avg record high F = 87.8
|Jun avg record high F = 92.1
|Jul avg record high F = 92.8
|Aug avg record high F = 91.0
|Sep avg record high F = 89.6
|Oct avg record high F = 82.5
|Nov avg record high F = 69.2
|Dec avg record high F = 58.4
|year avg record high F = 94.3

 | Jan high F = 33.0
 | Feb high F = 37.0
 | Mar high F = 48.1
 | Apr high F = 61.2
 | May high F = 72.0
 | Jun high F = 80.8
 | Jul high F = 83.8
 | Aug high F = 82.0
 | Sep high F = 76.6
 | Oct high F = 64.2
 | Nov high F = 49.7
 | Dec high F = 38.0
 | year high F = 60.5
 | Jan mean F = 25.4
 | Feb mean F = 28.2
 | Mar mean F = 38.0
 | Apr mean F = 49.6
 | May mean F = 60.6
 | Jun mean F = 70.0
 | Jul mean F = 73.2
 | Aug mean F = 71.3
 | Sep mean F = 64.9
 | Oct mean F = 53.0
 | Nov mean F = 40.7
 | Dec mean F = 30.5
 | year mean F = 50.4
 | Jan low F = 17.7
 | Feb low F = 19.5
 | Mar low F = 28.0
 | Apr low F = 38.0
 | May low F = 49.2
 | Jun low F = 59.2
 | Jul low F = 62.5
 | Aug low F = 60.5
 | Sep low F = 53.3
 | Oct low F = 41.9
 | Nov low F = 31.7
 | Dec low F = 23.0
 | year low F = 40.4

|Jan avg record low F = -3.0
|Feb avg record low F = 3.0
|Mar avg record low F = 12.4
|Apr avg record low F = 25.0
|May avg record low F = 34.5
|Jun avg record low F = 46.1
|Jul avg record low F = 52.0
|Aug avg record low F = 51.1
|Sep avg record low F = 40.9
|Oct avg record low F = 29.2
|Nov avg record low F = 18.4
|Dec avg record low F = 5.6
|year avg record low F = -6.7

 | Jan record low F  = -23
 | Feb record low F  = -20
 | Mar record low F  = -11
 | Apr record low F  = 5
 | May record low F  = 26
 | Jun record low F  = 34
 | Jul record low F  = 43
 | Aug record low F  = 38
 | Sep record low F  = 28
 | Oct record low F  = 15
 | Nov record low F  = -5
 | Dec record low F  = -22
 | year record low F = 
 | precipitation colour   = green
 | Jan precipitation inch = 2.85
 | Feb precipitation inch = 2.15
 | Mar precipitation inch = 2.87
 | Apr precipitation inch = 4.10
 | May precipitation inch = 4.76
 | Jun precipitation inch = 4.42
 | Jul precipitation inch = 4.33
 | Aug precipitation inch = 3.93
 | Sep precipitation inch = 3.39
 | Oct precipitation inch = 3.12
 | Nov precipitation inch = 3.26
 | Dec precipitation inch = 2.58
 | year precipitation inch = 41.76
 | unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
 | Jan precipitation days  = 11.5
 | Feb precipitation days  = 9.2
 | Mar precipitation days  = 10.2
 | Apr precipitation days  = 12.0
 | May precipitation days  = 12.7
 | Jun precipitation days  = 11.0
 | Jul precipitation days  = 9.6
 | Aug precipitation days  = 8.8
 | Sep precipitation days  = 8.2
 | Oct precipitation days  = 9.7
 | Nov precipitation days  = 9.6
 | Dec precipitation days  = 10.2
 | year precipitation days = 122.7
 | Jan snow inch = 8.1
 | Feb snow inch = 6.3
 | Mar snow inch = 3.7
 | Apr snow inch = 0.3
 | May snow inch = 0.0
 | Jun snow inch = 0.0
 | Jul snow inch = 0.0
 | Aug snow inch = 0.0
 | Sep snow inch = 0.0
 | Oct snow inch = 0.1
 | Nov snow inch = 1.0
 | Dec snow inch = 5.0
 | year snow inch = 24.5
 | unit snow days = 0.1 in
 | Jan snow days  = 5.4
 | Feb snow days  = 4.4
 | Mar snow days  = 1.5
 | Apr snow days  = 0.2
 | May snow days  = 0.0
 | Jun snow days  = 0.0
 | Jul snow days  = 0.0
 | Aug snow days  = 0.0
 | Sep snow days  = 0.0
 | Oct snow days  = 0.0
 | Nov snow days  = 0.8
 | Dec snow days  = 3.3
 | year snow days = 15.6
 | source = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]<ref name="NOWData">{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=iwx
|title = NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = November 17, 2023}}</ref><ref name="NCEI">{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00125337&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = November 17, 2023}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 703
|1870= 1658
|1880= 3182
|1890= 8759
|1900= 17337
|1910= 19359
|1920= 23747
|1930= 24496
|1940= 26767
|1950= 30081
|1960= 37854
|1970= 39607
|1980= 35874
|1990= 32618
|2000= 31320
|2010= 29948
|2020= 28310
|footnote=Source: US Census Bureau
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Marion city, Indiana – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Marion city, Indiana |url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US1846908&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Marion city, Indiana |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US1846908&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Marion city, Indiana |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US1846908&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|24,381
|22,704
|style='background: #ffffe6; |19,740
|77.84%
|75.81%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |69.73%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|4,830
|4,337
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4,058
|15.42%
|14.48%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |14.33%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|134
|105
|style='background: #ffffe6; |74
|0.43%
|0.35%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.26%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|212
|221
|style='background: #ffffe6; |286
|0.68%
|0.74%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.01%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|6
|4
|style='background: #ffffe6; |15
|0.02%
|0.01%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.05%
|-
|Some Other Race alone (NH)
|60
|54
|style='background: #ffffe6; |145
|0.19%
|0.18%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.51%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|569
|867
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,730
|1.82%
|2.90%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |6.11%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|1,128
|1,656
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2,262
|3.60%
|5.53%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |7.99%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''31,320'''
|'''29,948'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''28,310'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census]],<ref name="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=US Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=11 December 2012}}</ref> there were 29,948 people, 11,828 households, and 6,739 families in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1906.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 13,715 housing units at an average density of {{convert|873.0|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 78.1% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 14.7% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.4% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.7% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 2.4% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 3.6% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 5.5% of the population.

There were 11,828 households, of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 17.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.0% were non-families. 36.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.91.

The median age in the city was 36.2 years. 21.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 16.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.1% were from 25 to 44; 24.5% were from 45 to 64; and 16% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.0% male and 53.0% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States census]],<ref name="GR2"/> of 2000, there were 31,320 residents. The population density was {{convert|2,355.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 13,820 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,039.4|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 79.64% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 15.57% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.47% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.68% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.43% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 2.18% from two or more races.  3.60% of the population were [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 12,462 households, out of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.8% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.91.

The city population contained 23.3% under the age of 18, 12.5% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% over 64 years. The median age was 36 years.  For every 100 females, there were 88.6 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,440, and the median income for a family was $37,717. Males had a median income of $30,258 versus $23,467 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city wa $16,378. 16.9% of the population and 12.6% of families were below the [[poverty line]].  Out of the total population, 23.8% of those under the age of 18 and 11.3% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

==Economy==
[[File:Iwustudentcenter.JPG|thumb|[[Indiana Wesleyan University]] campus]]
Marion's manufacturing sector produces automotive components, paper products, foundry products, machinery, wire, and cable. The paper plate industry was born in Marion; in its infancy, five of the nation's nine plants were located in the city.

The area surrounding Marion is part of the [[Corn Belt]]; as such, agriculture remains a significant component of the region's economy. Corn, soybean, and hog production are supplemented by specialty crops such as tomatoes.

[[Thomson SA]]'s Marion facility was shuttered in 2004 leaving the city in an economic slump. On June 13, 2007, the Thomson building's northern portion was destroyed by a fire.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianaeconomicdigest.net/main.asp?SectionID=31&SubSectionID=70&ArticleID=70939|title=Abandoned Marion properties are experiencing different fates – Indiana Economic Digest|work=indianaeconomicdigest.net|access-date=7 June 2015}}</ref> Other Marion plant closures in the past few decades include those of Ball-Foster, SCM (later Ampad) Paper Company, and the Malleable Iron Works (both on the far west side along Miller Avenue). The city has made inroads in attracting new businesses in the mid to late 2000s, however. Marion has been the only Midwest community selected as one of the Top 100 Micro-Enterprises for Economic Development by Site Selection Magazine for the years 2007 and 2008. TriEnda Plastics LLC selection of Marion in 2008 was one of the top 5 Manufacturing Projects in Indiana and received the coveted Silver Shovel award from Area Development Magazine. By spring 2011, TriEnda has ceased production. In the last ten years over $1,113,000 has been invested by private sector employers in Marion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/About%20Us/Electronic%20Reading%20Room/EB-5%20Regional%20Centers%20-%20Static%20Files/Energize_-_ECI_Regional_Center.pdf|title=ECI Regional Center|website=Uscis.gov|access-date=11 August 2016}}</ref>

==Arts and culture==
[[File:Marion National Cemetery - June 2022 - Sarah Stierch 08.jpg|thumb|[[Marion National Cemetery]] is included within the [[National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, Marion Branch]] historic district]]
The [[Grant County Jail and Sheriff's Residence]], [[Abijah C. Jay House]], [[National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, Marion Branch|Marion Branch, National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers Historic District]], [[Marion Downtown Commercial Historic District]], [[Aaron Swayzee House]], [[Marie Webster House|George, Jr. and Marie Daugherty Webster House]], and [[J. Woodrow Wilson House]] are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref>{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

From 1900 to 1901, Marion had their own baseball team called the [https://www.baseball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?search=marion+glass+blowers Glass Blowers].

===Christmas City U.S.A.===
Christmas City U.S.A. is a local non-profit organization promoting the Christmas season in Marion and Grant County. It organizes and sponsors the Annual Christmas Parade on the Saturday before [[Thanksgiving (United States)|Thanksgiving]] to kick off the Holiday season.

It began in 1965 when the organization had a vision to expand the holiday season beyond the traditional cards and private parties. Directors wanted to foster human relations among residents of all ages and public relations toward nonresidents. In 1970, Christmas City and the Chamber of Commerce joined forces to promote a new look for the city. Postcards, bumper stickers, billboards were designed to establish the city as Christmas City U.S.A. The name was even trademarked to preserve the city's identity.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.christmascityusa.net/history.htm|title=Christmas City USA History|access-date=6 February 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061202214529/http://www.christmascityusa.net/history.htm|archive-date=2 December 2006}}</ref> In 1991, Mayor Ron Mowery, Mark Erlewine, and a group of interested citizens decided to make Marion live up to its name. By combining the Mississinewa Riverwalk—the {{convert|2.25|mi}} walkway which is used year around for jogging, walking and more—and holiday lights and lighted displays, the Christmas City Walkway of Lights was established in 1992. The first year, the walkway was home to nearly 56,000 lights and lighted displays; the walkway has grown to include more than 2,000,000 lights and is nearly {{convert|4|mi}} long.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.walkwayoflights.com/info.htm|title=Information|work=walkwayoflights.com|access-date=7 June 2015}}</ref>

== Government ==
The city government consists of a mayor and a city council. The mayor is elected in citywide vote. The city council consists of 9 members with 6 wards and 3 at large. The current members of city council are:

* At Large: Nick McKinley (President)
* At Large: Brian Cowgill (Vice President)
* At Large: Jim Brunner 
* District 1: Gary Fordyce, Sr. 
* District 2: Mike Cline
* District 3: Erika Devine
* District 4: *vacant*
* District 5: Andy Whitton
* District 6: David Cain

==Transportation==
The [[Marion Municipal Airport (Indiana)|Marion Municipal Airport]] is three [[nautical mile]]s (4 [[mile|mi]], 6 [[kilometre|km]]) southwest of Marion's [[central business district]].<ref>{{FAA-airport|ID=MZZ|use=PU|own=PU|site=05460.*A}}. Federal Aviation Administration. Effective 30 June 2011.</ref><ref>It is 4.2 [[nautical mile]]s (4.8 [[mile|mi]], 7.7 [[kilometre|km]]) if measured on a map. (btw George M. Davis terminal – 3rd street Post Office)</ref>

[[Marion Transit System]] provides fixed-route and demand-response bus services in the city.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cityofmarion.in.gov/government/departments/transportation|title=Marion Transit System|access-date=September 5, 2023}}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Jolly Blackburn]], cartoonist, writer, creator of ''[[Knights of the Dinner Table]]''
* [[Case Broderick]], politician
* [[Chad Curtis]],  professional baseball player
* [[Jim Davis (cartoonist)|Jim Davis]], creator of ''[[Garfield]]'', the lasagna-loving comic strip cat; (Davis's studio, [[Paws, Inc.]], is located near [[Muncie, Indiana]])
* [[James Dean]], iconic actor, born in Marion
* [[Willis Van Devanter]], [[Supreme Court Justice]]
* [[Mildred Dilling]], harpist
* [[Jim Gallagher, Jr.]], professional golfer, golf analyst for [[USA Network]]
*[[Samuel Levi Jones]] (born 1978), painter, assemblage artist<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Samuel Levi Jones|url=https://art.state.gov/personnel/samuel_jones/|access-date=2021-11-28|website=Art in Embassies, U.S. Department of State|language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Jeff King (baseball)|Jeff King]],  professional baseball player, [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] and [[Kansas City Royals]]
* [[Kenesaw Mountain Landis]], first [[Commissioner of Baseball]], practiced law in Marion
* [[Mike Melvill]], the first commercial astronaut
* [[Keith O'Conner Murphy]], Sweetser, IN, [[Rockabilly Hall of Fame]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rockabillyhall.com/KeithOConnerMurphy.html|title=Keith O'Connor Murphy|publisher=Rockabillyhall.com|access-date=30 April 2013|archive-date=February 9, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130209011726/http://www.rockabillyhall.com/KeithOConnerMurphy.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> singer-songwriter, Stacy and [[King Records (USA) ]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rockhall.com/education/outside-the-classroom/landmark-series/|title=Landmark Series :: Outside the Classroom &#124; The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum|publisher=Rockhall.com|access-date=30 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130506173626/http://rockhall.com/education/outside-the-classroom/landmark-series/|archive-date=6 May 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Polydor Records]], England
* [[Stretch Murphy]], Hall of Fame basketball player
* [[William N. Oatis]], [[Associated Press]] correspondent detained 1951–1953 by Communist government of [[Czechoslovakia]]
* [[Joseph Price (basketball)|Joseph Price]], professional  basketball player, NBA Washington Bullets.   NCAA  head basketball coach at Grambling State University
* [[Zach Randolph]], professional basketball player, [[Memphis Grizzlies]]
*[[Amber Richards]], transgender female impersonator, television personality, and winner of the [[Miss Continental]] pageant. 
* [[Wayne Seybold]],  Marion mayor and pairs skater at 1988 Winter Olympics
* [[Caleb Blood Smith]], [[United States Secretary of the Interior|Secretary of the Interior]] under President [[Abraham Lincoln]] and served as a prosecuting attorney in Marion
* [[George Washington Steele]], Indiana Congressman and first governor of the [[Oklahoma Territory]]
* [[Monte Towe]], [[North Carolina State Wolfpack men's basketball#The Wolfpack's first national championship|North Carolina State Wolfpack National Champions 1974]], [[Chicago Bulls]], NCAA coach
* [[Bertha L. Turner]], caterer, cookbook author, and community leader in [[Pasadena, California|Pasadena]]; raised in Marion
* [[Jan Wiley]], actress

==See also==
* [[National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, Marion Branch|National Home For Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, Marion Branch]]
* [[List of places named for Francis Marion]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{commons category|Marion, Indiana}}

==External links==
{{EB1911 poster|Marion (Indiana)}}

{{Grant County, Indiana}}
{{County Seats of Indiana}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Marion, Indiana| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Indiana]]
[[Category:Cities in Grant County, Indiana]]
[[Category:Micropolitan areas of Indiana]]
[[Category:County seats in Indiana]]