Marion County, Oregon

alt=Map of Marion County|thumb|305x305px|Map of Marion County

Marion County is one of the 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. The population was 345,920 at the 2020 census, making it the 5th most populous county in Oregon. The county seat is Salem, which is also the state capital of Oregon. The county was originally named the Champooick District, after Champoeg (earlier Champooick), a meeting place on the Willamette River. On September 3, 1849, the territorial legislature renamed it in honor of Francis Marion, a Continental Army general from South Carolina who served in the American Revolutionary War. Marion County is part of the Salem, OR Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA Combined Statistical Area. It is located in the Willamette Valley.

History

Marion County was created by the Provisional Legislature of Oregon on July 5, 1843, as the Champooick District, one of the original four districts of the Oregon Country along with Twality (later Washington), Clackamas, and Yamhill counties. The four districts were redesignated as counties in 1845.

Originally, this political entity stretched southward to the California border and eastward to the Rocky Mountains. With the creation of Wasco, Linn, Polk, and other counties, its area was reduced in size. Marion County's present geographical boundaries were established in 1856.

In 1849, Salem was designated the county seat. The territorial capital was moved from Oregon City to Salem in 1852. The ensuing controversy over the location of the capital was settled in 1864 when Salem was confirmed as the state capital.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.9%) is water.

Adjacent counties

Yamhill County (northwest)
Clackamas County (north)
Wasco County (northeast)
Jefferson County (east)
Linn County (south)
Polk County (west)

National protected areas

Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge
Mount Hood National Forest (part)
Willamette National Forest (part)

Demographics

Economy

Agriculture and food processing are important to the county's economy, as are lumber, manufacturing, and education. Marion County is the leader in agricultural production among all other Oregon counties. Marion County has planted in orchards. The marionberry was named after the county. Government, however, is the county's main employer and economic base.

Education

Tertiary education

Marion County is the home of Willamette University, Corban University, and Chemeketa Community College.

K-12 schools

Public K-12 school districts include:

Cascade School District 5
Central School District 13J
Gervais School District 1
Jefferson School District 14J
Mount Angel School District 91
North Marion School District 15
North Santiam School District 29J
Salem-Keizer School District 24J
Santiam Canyon School District 129J
Silver Falls School District 4J
St. Paul School District 45
Woodburn School District

State-operated schools:

Oregon School for the Deaf

The Oregon School for the Blind closed in 2009.

Bureau of Indian Education-affiliated tribal school:

Chemawa Indian School

Communities

Cities

Aumsville
Aurora
Detroit
Donald
Gates (part)
Gervais
Hubbard
Idanha (part)
Jefferson
Keizer
Mill City (part)
Mt. Angel
St. Paul
Salem (county seat, part)
Scotts Mills
Silverton
Stayton
Sublimity
Turner
Woodburn

Census-designated places

Brooks
Butteville
Four Corners
Hayesville
Labish Village
Marion
Mehama

Locales, etc.

Champoeg
Saint Benedict

Unincorporated communities

Breitenbush
Brooks
Butteville
Chemawa
Clear Lake
Hayesville
Macleay
Marion
McKee
Mehama
Middle Grove
Monitor
Niagara
North Howell
Pratum
Rosedale
Saint Louis
Shaw
Talbot
Waconda
West Stayton