US Congressman Mike Bost was at the Marion County Fair Friday night to honor Marion County on the celebration of its 200th Birthday.
He initially read the resolution on the floor of the US House into the Congressional Record on the actual birthday of January 24th.
Bosh said, “Known as the Gateway of Little Egypt, Marion County was originally organized January 24th, 1823, and was named in honor of Revolutionary War General Francis Marion. General Marion pioneered the use of irregular warfare against the British during the American Revolution.”
Bost says the county has developed a rich history since its formation out of parts of Fayette and Jefferson Counties just five years after Illinois became a state.
Bost said, “Marion County is closely tied to the livelihood and commerce of agriculture, the development and expansion of railroads, and the discovery of a natural resource (sic) including coal and oil. Today, 95% of more than 1,000 of the farms in Marion County are proudly family-owned.”
Bost commended the generations of Marion County leaders for making the last 200 years so productive.
Bost was welcomed to the Marion County Fairgrounds by County Board Chair Debbie Smith and Bicentennial Committee Chair Adam Smith.