Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 census, the population was 24,441. Its county seat is Columbia. Marion County is named for American Revolutionary War guerrilla leader Francis Marion also known as The Swamp Fox.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.1%) is water.
Major highways
U.S. Highway 98
Mississippi Highway 13
Mississippi Highway 35
Mississippi Highway 43
Mississippi Highway 44
Adjacent counties
Jefferson Davis County (north) Lamar County (east) Pearl River County (southeast) Washington Parish, Louisiana (south) Walthall County (west) Lawrence County (northwest)
Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 24,441 people, 9,483 households, and 5,863 families residing in the county.
Government and infrastructure
The Mississippi Department of Human Services's Division of Youth Services operated the Columbia Training School in unincorporated Marion County. The facility was closed in 2008.
Communities
Cities
Columbia (county seat & only incorporated place)
Census-designated places
Foxworth
Kokomo
Unincorporated communities
Bunker Hill
Cheraw
Good Hope
Goss
Hopewell
Hub
Morgantown
Sandy Hook
Notable people
Earl W. Bascom (1906–1995), "Father of Modern Rodeo," Mississippi Rodeo Hall of Fame inductee, producer of Marion County's first rodeo in 1935 Charles C. Bass (1875–1975), "Father of Preventive Dentistry"; researcher in tropical medicine Charles Coleman (American football) (born 1963), American football player Logan Cooke - NFL punter Peggy Dow, American actress Walter Payton, American football player