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About the County

Marion County is located in the heart of the Willamette Valley.

Located south of the Portland metropolitan area, Marion County stretches from the Willamette River to the Cascade Mountains encompassing nearly 1,200 square miles. Most of its population of 346,000 can reach the Pacific beaches in under two hours.

Our History

Marion County, then called Champooick, was created in 1843 by the Provisional Government Legislative Committee 16 years before Oregon gained statehood on February 14, 1859. In 1849 the name was changed to Marion honoring American Revolutionary General Francis Marion.

The county is located in the heart of the Willamette Valley, and the Willamette River was established as its western boundary in 1856. Salem, the county seat and the state capital, is one of the valley's oldest cities. Among its public buildings are the Courthouse, Courthouse Square, State Capitol, Capitol Mall buildings and Salem Civic Center. The county was presided over by the Marion County Court until January 1, 1963, when the court was abolished and replaced by a Board of Commissioners.

 

Quick Facts

Capital: Salem

Area: 1,182.33 square miles

Established: July 5, 1843

Population: 346,868 (2018 estimate)*

Cities: 20 incorporated

Elevation: 154 feet at Salem

Average Temp: Jan. 35.6 F; July 80.5 F

Annual Precipitation: 40.7 inches

Principal Industries: Arts, construction, education, entertainment, government, health care and social assistance, lumber, manufacturing, public administration, recreation, and retail trade

* U.S. Census Bureau, American Fact Finder, Annual Estimates of resident Population, July 1, 2018

 

Around Marion County

There are 20 incorporated cities and 37 unincorporated communities in Marion County. As reported by the 2010 Census, the total population of Marion County was 315,900.

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​Incorporated Cities

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Aumsville
Population: 4215
Aurora
Population: 985
Detroit
Population: 205
Donald
Population: 995
Gates
Population: 540
Gervais
Population: 2620
Hubbard
Population: 3315
Idanha
Population: 155
Jefferson
Population: 3280
Keizer
Population: 38585
Mill City
Population: 1915
Mt. Angel
Population: 3520
Salem
Population: 168970
Scotts Mills
Population: 385
Silverton
Population: 10520
St. Paul
Population: 440
Stayton
Population: 7880
Sublimity
Population: 3050
Turner
Population: 2410
Woodburn
Population: 25185
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Uni​ncorporated Communities

Breitenbush
Broadacres
Brooks
Butteville
Central Howell
Clear Lake
Concomly
Crestwood
Downs
Drakes Crossing
Elkhorn
Fargo
Hazel Green
Hopmere
Labish Center
Little Sweden
Lone Pine Corner
Macleay
Marion
Mehama
Monitor
Niagara
North Howell
North Santiam
Orville
Pratum
Roberts
Rockie Four Corners
Rosedale
Shaw
Sidney
Skunkville
St. Louis
Sunnyside
Talbot
Waconda
West Stayton
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