Where is Marion, Illinois

Marion is a city in Southern Illinois and the county seat of Williamson County. Located about 50 miles south of Mount Vernon, it serves as a regional center for shopping, healthcare, education, and business. Marion is known for its proximity to Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge, Rend Lake, Shawnee National Forest, and its location between St. Louis and Nashville.

Location Map of Marion, Williamson County, Illinois

About Map: The map shows the location of Marion in Williamson County, in the U.S. state of Illinois.

Marion Map, Illinois

Where is Marion Located?

Marion is a city located in Williamson County, Illinois, the United States. It lies in Southern Illinois, about 50 miles south of Mount Vernon and roughly 60 miles southeast of Carbondale. Marion is located at approximately 37.730° North latitude and 88.933° West longitude. The 2020 Census recorded 16,855 residents, and the city covers about 16.22 square miles (42.01 sq km). Marion was founded in 1839 and incorporated in 1841. It became the county seat of Williamson County and grew as an agricultural, commercial, and transportation center. The arrival of railroads in the 19th century strengthened the city's role as a regional hub. Today, Marion serves communities throughout Southern Illinois with retail stores, medical facilities, restaurants, schools, and government services. Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge is one of the area's best-known natural attractions and protects forests, wetlands, lakes, and wildlife habitat. The refuge offers fishing, boating, hiking, hunting, and bird watching. Marion is also close to the Shawnee National Forest, which covers large areas of southern Illinois and includes trails, rock formations, lakes, and forests. A unique feature of Marion is its position near the geographic meeting area of several major Southern Illinois transportation routes. Interstate 57 and Interstate 24 provide easy connections to Chicago, St. Louis, Memphis, and Nashville. U.S. Route 13 and Illinois Route 37 also connect Marion with surrounding communities.

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Marion City Facts

Distance from Marion, IL to Nearby Cities

• Herrin, IL – 8 miles (13 km)
• Johnston City, IL – 8 miles (13 km)
• Carbondale, IL – 20 miles (32 km)
• Harrisburg, IL – 25 miles (40 km)
• West Frankfort, IL – 15 miles (24 km)
• Murphysboro, IL – 25 miles (40 km)
• Vienna, IL – 25 miles (40 km)
• Du Quoin, IL – 30 miles (48 km)
• Anna, IL – 30 miles (48 km)
• Metropolis, IL – 40 miles (64 km)
• Mount Vernon, IL – 50 miles (80 km)
• Paducah, KY – 45 miles (72 km)
• Cape Girardeau, MO – 60 miles (97 km)
• Evansville, IN – 85 miles (137 km)
• St. Louis, MO – 110 miles (177 km)

Top Attractions in Marion

• Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge – A large protected area with lakes, wetlands, forests, wildlife habitat, fishing, boating, hiking, and bird watching.
• Marion Cultural and Civic Center – A community venue hosting performances, concerts, exhibitions, and local events.
• Williamson County Historical Society – A local historical resource preserving artifacts and stories from Marion and surrounding Southern Illinois communities.
• Marion Carnegie Library – A historic community library building reflecting Marion's architectural and civic history.
• Shawnee National Forest – A large forest region south of Marion featuring hiking trails, cliffs, lakes, forests, and scenic overlooks.
• Giant City State Park – A nearby state park known for sandstone rock formations, hiking trails, forests, camping, and climbing.
• Lake of Egypt – A nearby reservoir popular for boating, fishing, swimming, and waterfront recreation.
• Rend Lake – A large reservoir west of Marion offering fishing, boating, camping, hiking, beaches, and wildlife viewing.

Airports Near Marion

• Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois (MWA) – 5 miles
• Williamson County Regional Airport (MWA) – 5 miles
• Harrisburg-Raleigh Airport (HSB) – 30 miles
• Barkley Regional Airport (PAH) – 55 miles
• Evansville Regional Airport (EVV) – 90 miles

Sources:

Population and area data sourced from the United States Census Bureau (2020 Census). General city information referenced from the official Marion city website and local government records.

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