Marion, North Carolina
Marion is a city of 7,579 people in McDowell County, North Carolina, founded in 1844.
Why visit Marion
Townapedia lists 8 museums and landmarks, 3 parks and trails, 61 places to eat, 3 places to stay and 5 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Hometown Cinemas, P&R Produce, Carson House and Carson–Young House.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 85°F; January lows average 28°F.
Weather in Marion
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Marion
Marion is a city in and the county seat of McDowell County, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1844, the city was named in honor of Brigadier General Francis Marion, the American Revolutionary War Hero whose talent in guerrilla warfare earned him the name "Swamp Fox". Marion's Main Street Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The population was 7,717 at the 2020 Census.
From the Wikipedia article Marion, North Carolina (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do5
P&R Produce
Farm and orchard · 0.4 mi
1200 Rutherford Road, Marion
Mo-Sa 07:30-20:00; Su 09:00-18:00
Foothills Community Theatre
Cinema and theater · 0.7 mi
24 South Main Street, Marion
Museums and landmarks8
Carson House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.4 mi
Historic house in North Carolina, United States
Carson–Young House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.7 mi
Historic house in North Carolina, United States
Depot Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Historic district in Marion, North Carolina
Lone Beech
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Historic home located at Marion, McDowell County, North Carolina
Main Street Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Historic district in Marion, North Carolina, United States
McDowell County Courthouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Courthouse in North Carolina, United States
Parks, trails and playgrounds3
Mcdowell Recreation Center
Park · 0.8 mi
25 Academy Street, Marion
West Marion Community Park
Park · 1.1 mi
201 Ridley Street, Marion
Restaurants and cafes61
Countryside BBQ
Restaurant · Barbecue · 1.2 mi
2070 Rutherford Road, Marion
Fr-Sa 11:00-21:00, Mo-Th 11:00-20:00
BBQ Hut
Diner · American · 2.5 mi
1879 North Main Street, Marion
Mo-Sa 10:00-20:00
Eddie's Pizza & Pasta
Restaurant · Pizza · 0.5 mi
1284 Rutherford Road, Marion
Tu-Sa 11:00-22:00
Hook & Anchor Family Seafood
Restaurant · Seafood
950 Rutherford Road, Marion
We-Sa 15:00-20:00; Su 11:30-20:00
Mi Pueblito Marion
Restaurant · Mexican · 1.1 mi
1897 Rutherford Road, Marion
Mo-Sa 11:00-22:00; Su 11:00-21:00
Toonez Chophouse
Diner · American · 0.7 mi
29 Logan Street, Marion
Th-Sa 15:00-21:00; Mo 15:00-21:00
Artesana Ice Cream
Ice cream · 0.6 mi
76 South Main Street, Marion
Mo-Su 16:00-20:30
Bantam Chef
Restaurant
1116 Rutherford Road, Marion
Mo-Sa 06:30-21:00
49 more on the map.
History
Marion, the county seat of McDowell County, was planned and built on land selected by the first McDowell County Commissioners on March 14, 1844 at the Historic Carson House on Buck Creek. It was not until 1845, however, that the official name of Marion was sanctioned as the county seat by the state legislature. The name of Marion came from Brigadier General Francis Marion, the American Revolutionary War hero, known as the "Swamp Fox" and the man upon whom the movie The Patriot was based. Marion was also home to Sgt. Daniel Kanipe, one of only two survivors of the Battle of Little Bighorn. An historical marker was placed in front of his former home in 2011. The nearby Lake James is a local tourist attraction, and has been the backdrop for movies such as The Last of the Mohicans and The Hunt for Red October.
From the History section of Marion, North Carolina on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay3
Churches and places of worship21
St. John's Episcopal Church
Church · Anglican · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
289 South Main Street, Marion
First Presbyterian Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
St. Matthew's Lutheran Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Addies Chapel United Methodist
Church · United Methodist · 1.1 mi
201 Ridley Street, Marion
Cross Memorial Baptist Church
Church · 1.2 mi
15 Cross Memorial Baptist Church Loop, Marion
Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church
Church · 1.0 mi
115 East Wilhemenia Street, Marion
Shopping14
Gas and EV charging10
Schools, colleges and libraries16
West Mcdowell Middle School
School · 2.8 mi
346 West Mcdowell Junior High, Marion
Healthcare4
McDowell Medical Associates: Kedron M. Hendley, FNP-C
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.1 mi
2293 Sugar Hill Road, Marion
Precious Moments Imaging, LLC
Clinic and pharmacy · 0.5 mi
246 South Main Street, Marion
Map of Marion
145 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 49°F | 28°F | 4.7 in | 1.9 in |
| Feb | 53°F | 31°F | 3.6 in | 2.1 in |
| Mar | 60°F | 37°F | 4.3 in | 1.4 in |
| Apr | 70°F | 46°F | 4.9 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 76°F | 55°F | 5.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 82°F | 63°F | 5.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 85°F | 67°F | 5.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 84°F | 66°F | 5.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 79°F | 60°F | 4.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 70°F | 48°F | 4.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 60°F | 38°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 51°F | 31°F | 4.9 in | 1.7 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Marion Hcn (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
McDowell County has had 16 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2024-09-28: Tropical Storm Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2024-09-26: Hurricane Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2022-10-01: Hurricane Ian (Hurricane)
- 2020-08-02: Hurricane Isaias (Hurricane)
- 2020-03-25: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Foothills Regional Airport (MRN) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 24 miles away.
- Glen Alpine 13 mi east, about 21 min by car
- Morganton 17 mi east, about 28 min by car
- Black Mountain 19 mi west, about 30 min by car
- Lake Lure 19 mi southwest, about 31 min by car
- Drexel 23 mi east, about 37 min by car
- Burnsville 23 mi northwest, about 38 min by car
- Forest City 25 mi south, about 40 min by car
- Fairview 25 mi southwest, about 40 min by car
- Gamewell 26 mi northeast, about 42 min by car
- Asheville 32 mi west, about 51 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- St. Johns Episcopal Church, Marion, NC, Upstateherd, CC BY-SA 3.0
- St. Matthews Lutheran Church, Marion, NC, Upstateherd, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Carson-Young House, rossograph, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Lone Beach-Marion, rossograph, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Marion depot from Railroad Street, Nyttend, Public domain
- McDowell County Courthouse, Marion, NC, Upstateherd, CC BY-SA 3.0
- First Presbyterian Church, Marion, NC, Upstateherd, CC BY-SA 3.0
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