Marion provides country living with everyday conveniences
Home to around 3,000 people, Marion is the biggest city in Crittenden County. It has the feel of a small Southern town, but attractions are minutes away, like Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake. “There are a lot of people that move here for the tourism — many people travel through the back roads, enjoying the scenery on their way to the lakes nearby and settle down here,” says Crystal Oliver, a Re/Max associate who grew up in Marion and has sold in the area since 2017. “A lot of people who have always lived there stay there.” The city also has a large industrial park with major manufacturing plants, such as Siemens and Par 4 Plastics. Though residents may come for proximity to the lakes and the industrial opportunities, generations stay for the slow-paced lifestyle and the surrounding rural setting.
Diverse homes and landscapes, lower median sale price than Paducah
Marion offers both rural properties and suburban neighborhoods. “There are two different housing options: smaller lots in town and homes with larger acreage in the county,” Oliver says. “There are also Amish communities on the outskirts with 10-plus-acre properties.” Homes typically have ranch-style and Cape Cod architecture, primarily built in the mid-to-late 20th century. The median sale price is around $135,000, lower than in Paducah, where the median is about $210,000.
One prominent park and water recreation on nearby reservoirs
The 40-acre City County Park is a hub for sports, with soccer and baseball fields, pickleball courts and a track. Lion’s Den Disc Golf Course is next to the park, and Marion Country Club opens its golf course to the public on Tuesdays and Sundays. Hunting on permitted land and fishing on the Ohio River are other popular activities in the county. Marion is 30 miles from Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley and the Cumberland River for additional water recreation. Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area has hiking trails and vast expanses, where bison are known to roam. Activities indoors are also available in the city, such as plays, musicals and craft workshops hosted by the Community Arts Foundation.
Three schools in the Crittenden County Schools district
Students may begin at Crittenden County Elementary, which earns a B-plus rating from Niche. Crittenden County Middle scores a B-minus, and Crittenden County High has a C-plus. High schoolers can take career and technical education pathways in agriculture and biomedical studies.
Main Street houses most stores and restaurants
Marion has enough commercial development to cover everyday shopping and dining needs. Main Street, which branches into Sturgis Road, has a few fast-food spots, a Food Giant and CVS. It also has a few other small businesses, a Dollar General and a hardware store. The 88 Dip has been a community staple since the 1950s. The former ice cream parlor now serves American classics and comfort food. The Front Porch is another mainstay known for its catfish and various cuts of steak. Amish restaurants and shops are available on the outskirts, like the Yoders Variety Store for home goods. For additional big-box stores, residents often travel 45 miles southwest to Paducah.
Two-lane roads, the closest airport and taking the ferry
Kentucky Route 91, U.S. Route 641 and U.S. Route 60, which leads to Paducah, are the main thoroughfares in town. “The only way to get here is on two-lane roads,” Oliver says. “There are no interstates.” Marion is about 20 miles north of Interstate 24. Barkley Regional Airport, 60 miles away in West Paducah, offers daily commercial flights to Charlotte, North Carolina. Commuters can take the Cave-In-Rock Ferry between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. across the Ohio River into Illinois. Locals don’t have to leave the city for medical care, as Crittenden County Hospital operates out of Marion.
