Marion County, Texas
| Marion County, Texas | |
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The Marion County Courthouse in Jefferson
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 Location in the U.S. state of Texas |
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 Texas's location in the U.S. |
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| Founded | 1860 |
| Named for | Francis Marion |
| Seat | Jefferson |
| Largest city | Jefferson |
| Area | |
| • Total | 420 sq mi (1,088 km2) |
| • Land | 381 sq mi (987 km2) |
| • Water | 39 sq mi (101 km2), 9.4% |
| Population | |
| • (2010) | 10,546 |
| • Density | 28/sq mi (11/km²) |
| Congressional district | 4th |
| Time zone | Central: UTC-6/-5 |
| Website | www |
Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, its population was 10,546. Its county seat is Jefferson. Marion County is in East Texas and is named for Francis Marion, the Revolutionary War general from South Carolina who was nicknamed the "Swamp Fox".
The farming Caddoan Mississippian culture dates as far back as 200 BCE in the area. The Hernando de Soto expedition of 1541 resulted in violent encounters. Spanish and French missionaries brought a smallpox, measles malaria and influenza epidemics against which the Caddo had no immunity. Eventually, the Caddo were forced to reservations. Shashidahnee (Timber Hill) is the last known permanent Marion County settlement of the Caddo people. The 19th Century saw Shawnee, Delaware, and Kickapoo in the area.
The legislature formed Marion County from Cass County in 1860 and named for Revolutionary War Swamp Fox Francis Marion. Jefferson, named after Thomas Jefferson became the county seat.
The majority of the settlers migrated from other southern states and brought with them their slaves, who were 51 percent of the population in 1860. In 1861, the county voted unanimously for secession from the Union. The county benefitted financially from Confederate government contracts.
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Wikipedia