Marion county was formed in 1823 from parts of Fayette County and Jefferson County and is named for Francis Marion, a skilled Brigadier General in the Revolutionary War in the Carolina region. It is located in southern Illinois just north of Mt. Vernon and Jefferson County.
The county seat is Salem and the county population on July 1, 1999, was 41,813, an increase of 252 over the 1990 census. Salem is noted as the birthplace of William Jennings Bryan, the famous orator and 3-time Presidential candidate and author of the G.I. Bill of Rights. In addition, the food condiment "Miracle Whip" was invented here.
