Just across the Mississippi River from Memphis, Marion is the seat of Crittenden County and a bedroom community for the Home of the Blues. With a population of just over 12,000, Marion has managed to hold onto its small-town atmosphere, even in the shadow of one of the largest cities in the southeast. "It's a quiet, peaceful place — a good place to raise a family," says Tracy Brick, mayor of Marion. "But you're close enough to Memphis that you have access to restaurants, the theater and an NBA team."
Marion is located about 15 minutes west of Downtown Memphis.
Marion features a historical downtown with a handful of local businesses.
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Crossing the Mississippi for work
Interstates 40 and 55 intersect in the city center, creating a major thoroughfare for travel to Memphis, 13 miles east. "Most of our residents live here and work in Memphis," says Brick. "You can cross the bridge into the city and then come home to a quiet little town." Memphis International Airport is 22 miles southeast and has over 80 daily flights to cities like Chicago, Atlanta and Cancun. While most residents work in or around Memphis, Marion is home to several employers, like Schneider National Carriers, a transport and freight company. Local services make up the majority of other jobs, including the Marion School District and the city government. As Marion plays a more active role in tourism, there has been an uptick in hotels. "Lots of new hotels have been doing well lately," says Brick. "Tourists on their way through the mid-south often stop here for an overnight stay."
Contemporary homes in northern Marion
The median price for homes in Marion hovers around the mid-$200,000s, which is lower than the national median. Northern Marion is home to contemporary 21st century home styles, while potential buyers can find traditional Cape Cods closer to town center. Midcentury inspired ranch-style houses are clustered in neighborhoods east of Wylie Spur.
Marion's homes features a wide variety of architectural styles such as Cape Cods, colonials, ranch homes, and more.
New construction is popping up all around Marion.
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Celebrating the city during Esperanza Bonanza
Held annually, the Esperanza Bonanza is the city's most-attended event. This weekend fall festival includes a free carnival, corn maze and live music. Come winter, the Moms of Marion host the December Mingle and Jingle, which has Christmas music, food trucks and the opportunity to take a picture with Santa. Nearby, the Sultana Disaster Museum tells the tragic story of the most fatal maritime event in U.S. history, which occurred just outside of Marion. Other local tributes to art and culture include the Historic Marion Hotel and the Marion Performing Arts Center.
One of Marion's unique offerings is the Sultana Disaster Museum which tells the story of the famous Mississippi riverboat catastrophe of 1865.
Marion hosts Esperanza Bonanza, an annual festival with fair rides, music, games, food, and more.
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Sporting events at Marion Recreational Complex
Many of the public parks in Marion focus on competition and athletics — from the youth football field in Brunetti Park to the four baseball fields in K & R Park. However, the fully stocked fishing lake in Rivertrace Park encourages a more relaxed atmosphere. The most popular facility in the area is the Marion Recreational Complex. Set on hundreds of acres, it brings the best of both worlds, with serene walking trails and high-energy athletic fields.
Marion features several local parks like Brunetti Park.
Marion Recreational Complex features a stocked pond for fishing.
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Championship athletics at Marion School District
The Marion School District serves the community with five public schools in the area. Niche gives the district a B-minus rating, also naming it one of the top 10 districts in Arkansas for athletics. "Our high school's baseball and football teams do very well, and our band is incredible — they've won state awards for the past few years," says Brick. "One of our premier programs is our girls' volleyball team. We've won state championships several times."
Marion schools are known for their top notch athletics.
Marion is home to the Patriots.
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Setting the stage for retail
While the city center has several locally owned businesses, most residents shop outside of town due to a lack of reliable retail options. "We've often said that Memphis is our biggest asset and biggest liability," says Brick. "Because they've established locations in Memphis, big stores like Target and Home Depot don't consider this side of the bridge." However, she says that local restaurants have done very well and that the local government is working to convince more prominent retailers to put down roots in Marion.
Marion Market Place is Marion's local grocery store.
Tacker's Shake Shack is Marion's most popular lunch spot.
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Important to know
According to FBI statistics, violent crime has declined in Marion since 2020, while property crime has declined since 2022.
Marion's summers are hot and humid, while its winters are cold and windy. The city receives an average of 4 inches of snow a year, consistent with the climate of central and southern Arkansas.
For healthcare, residents of Marion generally use Baptist Memorial Hospital – Crittenden, located 4 miles south in West Memphis. This 11-bed facility offers emergency care, general surgical services and diagnostics and imaging services.
Written By
Phil Keeling
Photography Contributed By
Aaron Bloodworth
Video By
Christian Gortler
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Andrea Andrews,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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On average, homes in Marion, AR sell after 33 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Marion, AR over the last 12 months is $247,735, up 6% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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