Marion County

Marion County is an administrative county in southern Illinois that covers roughly 576 square miles. Salem serves as its main city and is crossed by major highways including Interstate 57, U.S. Route 50, and U.S. Route 51.

The county was established in 1823 from parts of Jefferson and Fayette counties. It was named after General Francis Marion, a commander during the American Revolution.

The county features seventeen distinct townships, each maintaining local governance structures while participating in the broader county administrative framework.

The county is easily accessible through federal and state highways that provide convenient routes for travel. Main roads like Interstate 57 and Route 50 offer reliable ways to navigate between different parts of this region.

A commemorative boulder in the southwest corner marks where the Baseline and Third Principal Meridian intersect precisely. This point represents a foundational survey marker that helped establish the geometric grid underlying American land division.

Location: Illinois

Inception: 1823

Capital city: Salem

Shares border with: Fayette County, Jefferson County, Clinton County, Washington County, Clay County, Wayne County

Website: https://marioncountyil.gov

GPS coordinates: 38.65000,-88.92000

Latest update: December 7, 2025 19:26