Moving to Marion, Oregon
Marion, Oregon is a small city located in the Willamette Valley of western Oregon. The city was founded in 1848 and is named after General Francis Marion of Revolutionary War fame. The population of Marion is estimated at around 37,000 people, making it the largest city in Marion County and the fifth-largest city in Oregon.
The city of Marion offers plenty to do for both visitors and locals alike. It is home to several parks including the beautiful North Fork Park and Minto-Brown Island Park, which offer plenty of outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, kayaking, fishing, and more. There are also several popular attractions such as the Mission Mill Museum which features a working gristmill dating back to 1845; the Elsinore Theater which hosts live music performances; and the Hallie Ford Museum of Art which showcases art from around the world. The downtown area has seen a resurgence in recent years with many new restaurants and shops popping up.
Marion has an active arts community with several galleries exhibiting local artists’ work as well as events like First Friday where local musicians perform on street corners throughout downtown. For those looking for some outdoor adventure there are plenty of opportunities close by including river rafting on the North Santiam River or hiking up nearby Mt. Jefferson or Three Fingered Jack Mountain.
The city also boasts an excellent educational system with several public schools within its boundaries as well as two private schools: St Mary’s Academy and Cascade Christian High School. These schools provide an excellent education to students from all backgrounds while also offering a variety of extracurricular activities such as sports teams, theater productions, debate clubs, robotics programs and more.
Marion is also home to a vibrant economy that includes many businesses ranging from manufacturing to retail stores to service companies like medical offices or banks. Additionally there are several large employers in town such as WaferTech (a semiconductor manufacturer) and Regence BlueCross BlueShield (a health insurance provider).
Overall Marion offers something for everyone whether you’re looking for outdoor adventure or cultural enrichment this small town has it all! With its scenic beauty, vibrant arts scene, great educational system and thriving economy there’s no wonder why people love living here.
Population: 274
Males: 128 (46.7%), Females: 146 (53.3%)
Marion County
Demographics
Median resident age: 36.6 years
Median household income: $21,389
Median house value: $105,000
Population by Race
Races in Marion:
- White Non-Hispanic (88.7%)
- Hispanic (5.5%)
- American Indian (5.5%)
- Other race (3.3%)
- Two or more races (2.9%)
(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)
Ancestries: United States (25.2%), German (16.1%), Irish (10.9%), English (8.0%), French (4.7%), Swedish (2.6%).
Elevation: 300 feet
Land area: 1.2 square miles
Population by Education
For population 25 years and over in Marion
- High school or higher: 43.9%
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 0.0%
- Graduate or professional degree: 0.0%
- Unemployed: 22.9%
- Mean travel time to work: 26.2 minutes
For population 15 years and over in Marion CDP
- Never married: 30.3%
- Now married: 58.3%
- Separated: 0.0%
- Widowed: 0.0%
- Divorced: 11.4%
0.0% Foreign born
Hospitals
Hospitals/medical centers near Marion:
- SALEM HOSPITAL (about 13 miles; SALEM, OR)
- OREGON STATE HOSPITAL DISTINCT PART (about 13 miles; SALEM, OR)
- SANTIAM MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 13 miles; STAYTON, OR)
Airports
Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Marion:
- MCNARY FLD (about 12 miles; SALEM, OR; Abbreviation: SLE)
- CORVALLIS MUNI (about 30 miles; CORVALLIS, OR; Abbreviation: CVO)
- MC MINNVILLE MUNI (about 33 miles; MC MINNVILLE, OR; Abbreviation: MMV)
Other public-use airports nearest to Marion:
- ALBANY MUNI (about 12 miles; ALBANY, OR; Abbreviation: S12)
- LEBANON STATE (about 17 miles; LEBANON, OR; Abbreviation: S30)
- INDEPENDENCE STATE (about 19 miles; INDEPENDENCE, OR; Abbreviation: 7S5)
Amtrak stations near Marion:
- 14 miles: ALBANY (110 SW 10TH AVE.). Services: ticket office, fully wheelchair accessible, enclosed waiting area, public restrooms, public payphones, vending machines, free short-term parking, free long-term parking, call for taxi service, public transit connection.
- 14 miles: SALEM (500 13TH ST. SE). Services: ticket office, fully wheelchair accessible, public payphones, vending machines, free short-term parking, free long-term parking, call for taxi service, public transit connection.
Colleges and Universities
Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Marion:
- WILLAMETTE UNIVERSITY (about 13 miles; SALEM, OR; Full-time enrollment: 2,325)
- LINN-BENTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 13 miles; ALBANY, OR; Full-time enrollment: 3,057)
- CHEMEKETA COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 17 miles; SALEM, OR; Full-time enrollment: 5,253)
- WESTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY (about 26 miles; MONMOUTH, OR; Full-time enrollment: 4,209)
- OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY (about 27 miles; CORVALLIS, OR; Full-time enrollment: 15,404)
- GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY (about 39 miles; NEWBERG, OR; Full-time enrollment: 2,032)
- CLACKAMAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 48 miles; OREGON CITY, OR; Full-time enrollment: 3,446)
Public primary/middle school in Marion:
- MARION ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 110; Location: 6023 B ST; Grades: KG – 05)