For counties with a similar name, see Marion County (disambiguation).
Marion County, Missouri
CountyMarion County
StateMissouri
Founded year1826
Founded dateDecember 23
Seat wlPalmyra
Largest city wlHannibal
Area total444 sq mi
Area land437 sq mi
Area water7.4 sq mi
Area percentage1.7
Population as of2020
Population total28525
Pop est as of2025
Population est28525
Density64 sq mi
Time zoneCentral
Named forFrancis Marion
District6th
Ex imageMarion County MO courthouse Palmyra-001.jpg
Ex image capMarion County Courthouse in Palmyra
Websitehttps://marioncountymo.com/

Marion County is a county located in the northeastern portion of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 28,525.[1] Its county seat is Palmyra.[2] Unique from most third-class counties in the state, Marion has two county courthouses, the second located in Hannibal.[3] The county was organized on December 23, 1826,[4][5] and named for General Francis Marion, the "Swamp Fox," who was from South Carolina and served in the American Revolutionary War.[6] The area was known as the "Two Rivers Country" before organization. Marion County is part of the Hannibal, Missouri Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Quincy-Hannibal, IL-MO Combined Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 444 square miles (1,150 km2), of which 437 square miles (1,130 km2) is land, and 7.4 square miles (19 km2) (1.7%) is water.[7]

Adjacent counties

Transit

Railroads

History

Marion County was created by the state legislature in 1845 from parts of Ralls and Shelby Counties. It was settled from Virginia and Kentucky by farmers looking for cheap farmland; some owned slaves. It was named after Francis Marion, a general in the Revolutionary War. The county seat is Palmyra, which was established in 1833. Hannibal became a locally important river port on the Mississippi. By the late 1800s, the county was the center of a thriving agricultural community. Tobacco was the main crop, though cotton, wheat, barley, oats, and hay were also grown. Livestock included horses, mules, and cattle.[8]

The best known native son is Mark Twain (Samuel Langhorne Clemens) born in 1835, in the village of Florida. His youthful experiences in Hannibal became the setting for the adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.[9] Other prominent locals included Governor John S. Phelps, and Confederate General A.P. Morehead. The region was bitterly divided in the Civil War but Unionist elements prevailed. Palmyra was the site of a skirmish in 1862, and the county was the site of several other battles and raids. Today, Marion County continues to be primarily an agricultural county. It is home to a number of historic sites and buildings, with a major tourist industry focused on Mark Twain characters and settings.[10]

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 28,525.[11] The median age was 40.1 years.[12]

23.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 91.8 males age 18 and over.[12]

61.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 39.0% lived in rural areas.[13]

There were 11,491 households in the county, of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 27.8% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[12]

There were 12,847 housing units, of which 10.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 64.7% were owner-occupied and 35.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.1%.[12]

Racial and ethnic composition

The racial makeup of the county was 88.1% White, 4.8% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.6% from some other race, and 5.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.8% of the population.[11]

Marion County, Missouri – Racial and ethnic composition
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.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980[14]Pop 1990[15]Pop 2000[16]Pop 2010[17]Pop 2020[18]% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020
White alone (NH)26,96826,13126,23626,202style='background: #ffffe6; |24,93094.17%94.40%92.74%91.04%style='background: #ffffe6; |87.40%
Black or African American alone (NH)1,3341,2391,3031,400style='background: #ffffe6; |1,3634.66%4.48%4.61%4.86%style='background: #ffffe6; |4.78%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)40686646style='background: #ffffe6; |670.14%0.25%0.23%0.16%style='background: #ffffe6; |0.23%
Asian alone (NH)7310678153style='background: #ffffe6; |1650.25%0.38%0.28%0.53%style='background: #ffffe6; |0.58%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x [19]x [20]1520style='background: #ffffe6; |16xx0.05%0.07%style='background: #ffffe6; |0.06%
Other race alone (NH)37201124style='background: #ffffe6; |960.13%0.07%0.04%0.08%style='background: #ffffe6; |0.34%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x [21]x [22]328545style='background: #ffffe6; |1,372xx1.16%1.89%style='background: #ffffe6; |4.81%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)186118252391style='background: #ffffe6; |5160.65%0.43%0.89%1.36%style='background: #ffffe6; |1.81%
Total28,63827,68228,28928,781style='background: #ffffe6; |28,525 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%style='background: #ffffe6; |100.00%

2010 census

As of the census[23] of 2010, there were 28,781 people, 11,066 households, and 7,524 families residing in the county. The population density was 65 inhabitants per square mile (25 /km2). There were 12,443 housing units at an average density of 28 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 93.26% White, 4.62% Black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races, and 1.32% from two or more races. Approximately 0.89% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 28.5% were German, 25.6% American, 11.0% Irish, and 10.3% English ancestry.

There were 11,066 households, out of which 33.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.50% were married couples living together, 11.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.00% were non-families. 28.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44, and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.70% under the age of 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 26.40% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 16.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,774, and the median income for a family was $41,290. Males had a median income of $30,935 versus $20,591 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,964. About 9.30% of families and 12.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.30% of those under age 18 and 10.50% of those age 65 or over.

Education

School districts in Marion County (including those which may have schools and/or administration buildings in other counties)[24]

Public schools

Private schools

Post-secondary

Public libraries

Hannibal Free Public Library[25]

  • Palmyra Bicentennial Public Library[26]

Communities

Cities and towns

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Former communities

Politics

State

Past Gubernatorial Elections Results[27]
YearRepublicanDemocraticThird Parties
202476.43% 9,88721.54% 2,7862.03% 263
202075.91% 10,08222.70% 3,0151.39% 185
201665.84% 8,48431.86% 4,1052.30% 297
201253.03% 6,38044.83% 5,3942.14% 257
200858.82% 7,34139.77% 4,9641.41% 176
200467.03% 8,29231.77% 3,9301.20% 148
200050.05% 5,83248.88% 5,6961.07% 125
199631.55% 3,38866.68% 7,1611.78% 191

Marion County is in Missouri's 5th district in the Missouri House of Representatives, represented by Louis Riggs (R-Hannibal).[28]

All of Marion County is a part of Missouri's 18th District in the Missouri Senate; it is represented by Brian Munzlinger (R-Williamstown).

Federal

Marion County is included in Missouri's 6th Congressional District and is represented by Sam Graves (R-Tarkio) in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Historically a Democratic county in the 20th century, with the exception of Republican landslides in 1972 and 1984, Marion County has been reliably Republican since 2000. The last Democrat to receive 40% or more of the vote was Al Gore that same year.

Missouri presidential preference primary (2008)

Main articles: 2008 Missouri Democratic presidential primary and 2008 Missouri Republican presidential primary

Former U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York) received more votes, a total of 1,587, than any candidate from either party in Marion County during the 2008 presidential primary.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Marion County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Marion County, Missouri". 2013. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  4. ^ "Marion County Collection Descriptions". The State Historical Society of Missouri. Archived from the original on March 28, 2016. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  5. ^ "A Short History of Marion County". MOGenWeb. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  6. ^ Eaton, David Wolfe (1916). How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named. The State Historical Society of Missouri. pp. 193
  7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  8. ^ Thomas C. Hines, The History of Marion County, Missouri: A Narrative Account of Its Historical Progress, Its People and Its Principal Interests (1912).
  9. ^ Paul A. Shackel, "America’s home town: fiction, Mark Twain, and the re‐creation of Hannibal, Missouri." International Journal of Heritage Studies 17.3 (2011): 197-213. online
  10. ^ Robert L. Allen and F. Charles Petrillo, eds., History of Marion County, Missouri (1999).
  11. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  12. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  13. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  14. ^ "1980 Census of Population - General Social and Economic Characteristics - Missouri- Table 16 - Persons by Spanish Origin, Race, and Sex: 1980". United States Census Bureau. p. 20-25.
  15. ^ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Missouri: Table 5 - Race and Hispanic Origin". United States Census Bureau. p. 13-63.
  16. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Marion County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau
  17. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Marion County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau
  18. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Marion County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau
  19. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  20. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  21. ^ not an option in the 1980 Census
  22. ^ not an option in the 1990 Census
  23. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  24. ^ Geography Division (January 12, 2021). 2020 Census - School District Reference Map: Marion County, MO. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-01-25. - Text list
  25. ^ Breeding, Marshall. "Hannibal Free Public Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  26. ^ Breeding, Marshall. "Palmyra Bicentennial Public Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  27. ^ "Governor of Missouri". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2026-04-30.
  28. ^ "Missouri House of Representatives - Member Roster". house.mo.gov. Retrieved 2026-04-30.

Further reading

  • History of Marion County, Missouri: written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources (1884) full text