The area was first settled by the Pedee, Cheraw, and Waccamaw Indians. Native Americans were attracted to the many resources provided by the nearby Little Pee Dee and Great Pee Dee Rivers. English settlers followed, migrating inland from the South Carolina coast, and by the late 1700's, the communities that eventually became Marion, Mullins, Nichols, and Sellers began to prosper.

In 1798, the county was named Marion in honor of General Francis Marion, the notorious "Swamp Fox" of the Revolutionary War. Today, a statue honoring this hero of guerilla warfare stands in the City of Marion's square, one of many reminders that an exciting history remains vital to life in Marion County.

The county courthouse, built in 1853, and still in use today, is situated across the square from the statue of Francis Marion. The Old Opera House, located nearby, was built in 1892. Today, it houses a 300-seat auditorium used by the Mullins Playmakers theater group, various community and civic organizations, and the Marion Chamber of Commerce.

The Marion Academy Building, built in 1886, is home to the Marion County Museum and site of the original Harvest of the Arts Festival celebrating the area's quality of life. The Marion Foxtrot Festival pays tribute to the city's heritage with concerts, an arts and crafts fair, storytellers, tours of historic buildings, and more.

In Marion, a former agricultural economy based on cotton and tobacco has become more diversified with large factories producing such varied products as textiles and clothing, cola, drinks, mill machinery and luxury yachts. Marion -- with its population of 7,042 (2000 estimate) -- continues to face the problems that accompany modern living in this nation, though perhaps on a smaller scale than many municipalities. It struggles to adjust to new circumstances, trying at the same time to cling to standards and conditions of an earlier era.