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Marion, Arkansas
Population: 8,901
Located in Crittenden County
Marion is the county seat of Crittenden County, Arkansas. It was founded in 1836, the year Arkansas became a state. Located in the northeastern quadrant of the state, it is eleven miles from downtown Memphis, Tennessee and about 130 miles from Little Rock, Arkansas. It also lies four miles west of the Mississippi River, which made it a great place for harvesting timber to sell to steamboats for fuel.
Marion's economic focus has historically been agricultural, but is turning toward manufacturing and distribution with the opening in 1998 of Union Pacific's Intermodal RailPort. The railport is the third largest such facility in North America.
Today the city of Marion embraces about 3,000 acres, with a population of 8,90. Although primarily a residential community, Marion boasts five banks, numerous businesses serving the surrounding agricultural community, a lamp-manufacturing plant, several smaller industries, a growing chamber of commerce, an outstanding school district, and community service organizations.
There's always something to do in and around Marion, including great fishing for bass, catfish and bream, and a location in the Mississippi Flyaway duck-hunting area. A host of historic sites are nearby, including Parkin Indian Mound State Park, twenty miles to the west, believed to be the site where Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto camped and evangelized to the Indians. Wapanocca National Wildlife Refuge, with great fishing and limited hunting as well as opportunities for watching nature, is fifteen minutes away.
In 1797, Spaniards built Fort Esperanza (means field of hope) on existing mounds left by the Indians. In 1859 it was incorporated as Crittenden County's first settlement (Arkansas' second settlement) and was renamed Hopefield. The town was washed away by the 1912 flooding of the Mississippi, but its original name lives on in Marion's Esperanza Bonanza Festival. This annual festival, held the first weekend in May, is the centerpiece of good times in Marion. It features southern cooking (including barbeque and crawfish), carnival rides, games, a variety of live musical entertainment, and a spectacular fireworks display. Attracting kids and adults of all ages, it has a little something for everyone!
Homes sell for an average of $118,000 which means that a starter home with two or three bedrooms sells for less than $70,000, while a roomy ranch with all the latest amenities sells for around $200,000. But there are many choices of style and size right here in this cozy community.
If you're tired of concrete and plastic, come and experience the natural wonders of our area for yourself. See how much room we have for living and growing.
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