Marion County, formed in 1842, was named for Revolutionary War hero General Francis Marion. The county began to enjoy a boom at the turn of the twentieth century when mining of its rich coal deposits began. In December 1907, a series of explosions and ensuing fires killed 361 miners at Monongah in what the WPA guide to West Virginia thirtyfour years later unequivocally termed “the worst mine disaster in history.” Population statistics reflect the county's close relationship with its major product. From 1890 to 1920, when the mines were at peak production, the population more than doubled, from 20,501 to 42,794. Population peaked in 1950, with a count of 71,521, and the 2000 figure was 56,598.
Writing Credits
If SAH Archipedia has been useful to you, please consider supporting it.
SAH Archipedia tells the story of the United States through its buildings, landscapes, and cities. This freely available resource empowers the public with authoritative knowledge that deepens their understanding and appreciation of the built environment. But the Society of Architectural Historians, which created SAH Archipedia with University of Virginia Press, needs your support to maintain the high-caliber research, writing, photography, cartography, editing, design, and programming that make SAH Archipedia a trusted online resource available to all who value the history of place, heritage tourism, and learning.