[graphic] Link to Main Street Home  [graphic] Link to List of Sites  [graphic] Link to Map  [graphic] Link to Essays  [graphic] Link to Learn More  [graphic] Link to Itineraries Home Page  [graphic] Link to NR Home
Scroll Right
scrolling images of Virginia Main Street Communities
[graphic] National Park Service Arrowhead and link to www.nps.gov

 

 

 

 

[graphic] Link to Previous Site
[graphic] Property Title
[graphic] Link to Next  Site

[Photo]
Marion Historic District
Photo courtesy of Virginia Main Street Program

Marion is located in southwest Virginia along the middle fork of the Holston River and is the county seat for Smyth County. Settlers came to southwest Virginia in larger numbers in the late 18th century when the Virginia General Assembly ordered the opening of a new road, known as the Wilderness Road, over the Cumberland Mountains to Kentucky. In 1832, Smyth County was formed and an area selected for its county seat. The seat was named Marion in honor of General Francis Marion of Revolutionary War fame. When the construction of the courthouse was completed in 1834, the town quickly began to grow to serve the needs of people coming for the court days.

Commerce and industry expanded at an accelerated pace after the opening of the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad in 1849. Salt works, gristmills and iron works were the primary local industry. During the Civil War, the rail system that provided transportation for the products of local industry was destroyed. The railway system was rebuilt and local industry recovered from the setbacks of the Civil War, reaching its height of development during the late 19th century. In 1881, the railroad, then owned by Atlantic, Mississippi & Ohio railroad, was sold to Norfolk & Western, which replaced the tracks with new steel rails. The new railroad introduced an era of coal and freight transportation, accelerated industrialization, and population growth. Nearby Radford also experienced similar growth because of the new railroad.


Sherwood Anderson Building
Photo courtesy of Virginia Main Street Program

From the turn of the 20th century through World War II, Marion grew rapidly and the majority of commercial and institutional buildings were built. In 1905, the present Beaux Arts style courthouse was constructed. In 1927, renowned author Sherwood Anderson purchased the Marion Publishing Company. The building that housed the company is located at 111 North Jones Street near the courthouse. Anderson edited two newspapers in Marion for several years. The Lincoln Theater at 117 East Main Street opened as a movie palace in 1929. The unusual Mayan Revival style Lincoln Theatre is currently being restored and will be used as a regional arts center.

With the construction of I-81 in the 1960s, Marion's downtown started to decline. The Marion Historic District was listed in the National Register in 1992, and the following year the Marion Downtown Revitalization Association was created. This organization leads revitalization efforts in Marion, which became a designated Virginia Main Street community in 1995.

The Marion Historic District is bounded by Main, Cherry, Strother, Lee, North College and College sts. The Marion Downtown Revitalization Association is located at 138 W. Main St., Suite 101. It is open from 9:00am to 5:00pm, Monday-Friday. For more information about shopping, dining and events in Marion call 540-783-4190.


[graphic] Link to Virginia Main Street Essay  [graphic] rotating images of Virginia Main Street Communities  [graphic] Link to Commercial Architecture in Virginia Essay
[graphic] Link to Agriculture and Industry Essay   [graphic] Link to Transportation Essay

 

Main Street Home | List of Sites | Map| Learn More | Itineraries | NR HomeNext Site
Essays: Virginia Main Street | Agriculture and Industry| Commercial Architecture in Virginia| Transportation

[graphic] National Park Service Arrowhead and link to nps.gov

If you like this page, e-mail it to someone:

Comments or Questions

JPJ/RQ/SB