Enjoy Beauty & Excitment
      Of Life In Southern Illinois

Many moons ago the Great Spirit looked across the land of prairies and rivers. "Let us make this a special place", He said. He held out His hand and in His palm placed a few of the rock cliffs from the West, a bit of bayou and swamp from the South, and some waterfalls plucked from the Great Northwest.

The treasures floated to earth and fell into the deep forests and rivers. Today those treasures are still hidden away among the trees and valleys.

Marion is a city of nearly 15,000 people, with many churches, beautiful homes, attractive malls and other shopping centers, active civic organizations, ample doctors and dentists, daily and weekly newspapers, and complete municipal services.
Local educational needs are well met with public and private schools, John A. Logan Junior College, and special educational facilities.

The Marion Cultural Center is located in a beautifully maintained 1920 theater building.
Placid lakes and streams attract fishermen and canoeists. The lure of deer, wild turkey and small game brings hunters into the woodlands. There are four excellent golf courses in the vicinity, and two outstanding clay shooting ranges.Devil's Kitchen Lake offers clear, deep waters for trout fishing. Little Grassy Lake contains 1,100 water acres, a marina and 3 boat ramps.
Giant City State Park is a 3,694-acre natural park with massive stone structures created by nature, abundant plants, wildflowers, flowering trees and unique rock formations. Activities include fishing and a network of trails that encourage hiking and horseback riding.

Commercial and industrial services also hold a prime position in Marion's estimation. Its central location makes the city ideal for this purpose, and the Chamber of Commerce and Planning and Industrial Development Office actively participate in attracting industries and working with them to satisfy their needs.

Illinois, especially in its central and southern areas, raises over a fifth of the nation's soybeans, more than twice as much as any other state. It is also a leading producer of alfalfa, clover and timothy hays, leads in the production of red clover seed, and is second only to Missouri in growing red-top seed.