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Marion

A city of 16,836 people in Illinois
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Headlines via Google News · Articles belong to their publishers.

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Around town

The places and views that make it Marion

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Outdoors in Marion

Parks & trails →
Map of Marion: conserved land, trails and the top places to walk
Conserved land0.6%57 of 9,304 acres
Trails6.6 mi0.5 mi per sq mi
Parks & preserves93 conserved acres per 1,000 residents

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

Landmark of the day

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Williamson County Jail

Williamson County Jail

Prairie School · on the Register since 2007

The Williamson County Jail, located at 105 S. Van Buren St. in Marion, is the former county jail serving Williamson County, Illinois. The Prairie School building served as the county jail from 1913 to 1971.

5 on the National Register · #59 in ILHistoric places →
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Know Marion

The town at a glance, and the guide to how things work

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About Marion

City in Illinois, United States
1839Established
16,855Population
16.7 sq miArea
518 ftElevation

Marion is a city in and the county seat of Williamson County, Illinois, United States. The population was 16,855 according to the 2020 census. It is part of a dispersed urban area that developed out of early 20th-century coal fields. Marion serves as the largest retail trade center in Southern Illinois with its central location along Interstate 57 and Illinois Route 13. The city is part of the Marion-Herrin micropolitan area and is a part of the Carbondale-Marion-Herrin, Illinois combined statistical area with 123,272 residents, the sixth-most populous Combined statistical area in Illinois.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Living in Marion

Housing in Marion

$182K▲ 2.5% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Marion home is worth about $182,000, up 2.5% in a year, 39% below the Illinois typical home.

A balanced market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s
Days on market45
Sale-to-list98.9%
Sold in May16
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Marion

—

Not graded

A grade needs all of the FBI's latest years (2023–2025). Marion's police department reported only 2024 and 2025, so we don't grade it yet. The figures below are still real.

Violent crime per 1,000
Marion 4.2
Illinois 2.6
U.S. 3.3
Property crime per 1,000
Marion 25.3
Illinois 15.6
U.S. 15.5
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Marion

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40% of Marion’s working residents work right in town. The top destinations are Carbondale (8%), Herrin (5%) and Mount Vernon (3%). Half commute less than 7 miles.

Carbondale
8%
Herrin
5%
Mount Vernon
3%
Harrisburg
2%
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Marion →

Health in Marion

C+

Health Grade C+

Healthier than 41% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 70% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Illinois

1better than IL·9worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 22 are too close to call.

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

Care nearby

Marion Il VA Medical CenterMarion · 0.8 mi · ER
Shawnee Health, Marion Ob/GynMarion · 2.2 mi · sliding-scale fees
2 hospitals · 1 health center in Marion →
Primary careShortage · county-wide
DentalShortage · county-wide
Mental healthShortage · county-wide
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Marion · CMS · HRSAHealth in Marion →

Natural hazards in Marion

77
High

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 77% of U.S. communities.

🏚️ Earthquakes🌊 Inland flooding💨 Strong wind
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Marion →

Climate in Marion

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Marion has chilly winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 88°, a January night drops to 25°, and about 10 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

44° / 27°Winter
67° / 46°Spring
87° / 65°Summer
69° / 46°Fall
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Marion →

Schools in Marion

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C

School Grade C

The public schools Marion’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 71% of Illinois’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

See how Marion’s schools compare in IL →
DistrictMarion CUSD 2Schools11

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within IL. Ratings are from neighbors.

Famous people from MarionWriters, athletes, leaders and more who were born in Marion.Meet them →

How things work in Marion

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The porch light’s on

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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/18 · 2025-01-01