Marion

Marion, the northern gateway to the Shawnee National Forest, is located in southern Illinois in Williamson County (of which it is the county seat) south of Mt. Vernon between Carbondale and Harrisburg at the intersection of Interstate 57 and Highway 13 east of Crab Orchard Lake & NWR and north of Lake of Egypt.

Other recreation within a 30-minute drive include Rend Lake, about 20 miles to the north; Ferne Clyffe State Park, 15 miles to the south and Giant City State Park, 15 miles to the southwest.

The population estimate for July 1, 1998 was 15,810, an increase of 1,213 since 1990.