Congressman Alan B. Mollohan, Serving West Virginia's First District


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     Marion County is located in the north-central part of the state. The terrain of the county is hilly, except for some flat land along river valleys. The principal waterways of the county are the Monongahela River, which flows northward through the county, and the West Fork and Tygart Valley rivers.

     The first known white settlers came to Marion County just after the French and Indian War (1758-63). During the Indian raids of 1774, settlers in this area abandoned their homes and gathered at the settlement of Jacob Prickett, where they erected a large stockade and fort. Today Pricketts Fork is a state park.

     Marion County was created in 1842 from parts of Monongalia and Harrison counties and named in honor of General Francis Marion of Revolutionary War fame. In 1850, the population of the county was 10,552. Large-scale coal operations began in the 1880s, when mines were opened at Fairmont and Monongah. By 1888, coal production exceeded 250,000 tons, and reached the million-ton level in 1894. In 1916, production was 6,189,891 tons.

     The development of coal, oil and gas industries brought great wealth to Marion County. Population increased in response to the new opportunities for employment and more than doubled between 1900 (32,430) and 1930 (66,655).

     Fairmont, the county seat, was established in 1820 and first named Middletown. It was chartered in 1843 as Fairmont, the name being a contraction of Fair Mountain. In 1900, it had a population of 5,655; by 1920, it had grown to a town of 17,851 inhabitants.

     Fairmont State College was founded in 1865 as a private school, but it became a state institution in 1867 as Fairmont State Normal School.

     Mannington, located on Pyles' Fork, was formerly known as Koontown. It was renamed and chartered in 1856.

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(From E. Lee North's 'The 55 West Virginias,' published by West Virginia University Press. Used with permission.)

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