Marion County kicked off its Bicentennial Celebration at the courthouse Tuesday night.
A large crowd filled the rotunda to look over memorabilia and an actual copy of the legislation creating the county by the state legislature.
State Representative Blaine Wilhour is working on getting a resolution honoring the county’s Bicentennial. He shared some of the high points in the county’s history.
“Marion County was organized on the 24th of January, 1823 from portions of Jefferson and Fayette County. The county was actually named after Revolutionary War General Francis Marion, known as the Swamp Fox. It was a state representative from Mount Vernon that named it Marion County.”
Wilhour noted how Marion County and Salem became the Gateway to Little Egypt in 1831 when the crops failed in northern Illinois and reminded those coming south of conditions in Egypt. Another highlight was the drafting of the GI Bill of Rights at the Salem American Legion which has allowed so many veterans to be able to complete higher education.
Wilhour noted how Marion County started the oil boom in Southern Illinois with the first successful well drilled near Patoka. By the end of 1937 of the over 200 producing oil wells in Illinois, 85 were in Marion County.
The county also has had a rich railroad history, with 12,000 miles of track during the golden age of the railroad. In 1856, ten railroads operated in the county.
Wilhour also noted eight buildings are on the National Register of historic places. He closed by hoping the second 200 years are as good as the first 200.
The program also included remarks by County Board Chair Debbie Smith and Bicentennial Committee Chair Adam Smith of the Marion County Board and music from the Iuka Grade School Band.
Later at the Marion County Board meeting, Adam Smith said he was pleased with the kickoff event.
“Overall the Bicentennial Committee has turned into something really kind of neat. Something more than I expected it to be. A lot of people in the county have a lot of knowledge and information about what has gone on and stories they have heard their whole lives.”
Smith says he’s looking forward to the events that are being planned for the rest of the bicentennial year.
Marion County’s 200th birthday cake shared with those in attendance for the Bicentennial kickoff.
Iuka Grade School band performs during the ceremony.
