Marion is the county seat of Perry County, Alabama. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 3,511. It has been called "The Athens of the South" because of the dominating presence of its colleges, of which Judson College and Marion Military Institute remain. Howard College was founded in Marion in 1842, and moved to Birmingham in 1887, later becoming Samford University. A groundbreaking school for African Americans, the Lincoln Normal School, was founded here in 1867. The associated Lincoln Normal University for Teachers moved to Montgomery and became Alabama State University. The high school merged with Marion High School during the federally-ordered desegregation of the 1960s.
Civil rights leader Coretta Scott King attended Lincoln Normal School. She was born in the neighboring town of Heiberger.
Marion is located at 32°37'58" North, 87°19'2" West (32.632838, -87.317284).
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 27.7 km2 (10.7 mi2). 27.4 km2 (10.6 mi2) of it is land and 0.3 km2 (0.1 mi2) of it is water. The total area is 0.94% water.
As of the census of 2000, there are 3,511 people, 1,184 households, and 819 families residing in the city. The population density is 128.1/km2 (331.8/mi2). There are 1,418 housing units at an average density of 51.7/km2 (134.0/mi2). The racial makeup of the city is 36.26% White, 62.46% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 0.60% from two or more races. 0.97% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 1,184 households out of which 31.4% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.8% are married couples living together, 25.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 30.8% are non-families. 28.9% of all households are made up of individuals and 12.6% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.57 and the average family size is 3.17.
In the city the population is spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 15.7% from 18 to 24, 21.5% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 31 years. For every 100 females there are 80.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 72.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $24,330, and the median income for a family is $29,663. Males have a median income of $27,422 versus $20,240 for females. The per capita income for the city is $11,934. 33.4% of the population and 28.4% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 51.3% of those under the age of 18 and 15.1% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Source:
MarionAlabama.com
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