Marion Courthouse Square Historic District, Marion, AL
**Marion Courthouse Square Historic District** - National Register of Historic Places Ref # 96000111, date listed 1996-02-16
Roughly, along Green, Washington, Jefferson, Jackson, Franklin, Clements, Centreville and Monroe Sts.
Marion, AL (Perry County)
The Marion Courthouse Square Historic District clearly reflects the evolution and development of the city of Marion, the downtown commercial district, Marion Female Seminary, and the Centreville Street residential neighborhood. The courthouse square has, since its creation, been the heart of business and commercial life in Marion . Too, since its founding in the early 19th century, Marion has been recognized for it's citizens' commitment to education and religious institutions. The district contains the Marion Female Seminary (NRHP, 10/4/73) and three historic religious structures.
Founded on March 4, 1822, the city of Marion was originally known as Muckle's Ridge. By 1817, Michael Muckle had cleared an acre of land from a dense forest and constructed a cabin on the present site of the Perry County Jail (structure #79). Muckle later sold his improvements to Anderson West, then sheriff of Perry County. At the suggestion of Joseph Evans, a South Carolinian, the county commissioners, charged with finding a suitable location for the county seat of Perry County, changed the name of the town from Muckle's Ridge to Marion, honoring General Francis Marion, the "Swamp Fox" of Revolutionary War fame. After laying off the courthouse square and the surveying of streets, on May 22,1822, lots were sold at public auction but due to heavy rains, prices for prime lots remained quite low. The early sale of lots included those adjacent to the courthouse square. (1)
References (1) NRHP Nomination Form npgallery.nps.gov/pdfhost/docs/NRHP/Text/96000111.pdf
Marion Courthouse Square Historic District, Marion, AL
**Marion Courthouse Square Historic District** - National Register of Historic Places Ref # 96000111, date listed 1996-02-16
Roughly, along Green, Washington, Jefferson, Jackson, Franklin, Clements, Centreville and Monroe Sts.
Marion, AL (Perry County)
The Marion Courthouse Square Historic District clearly reflects the evolution and development of the city of Marion, the downtown commercial district, Marion Female Seminary, and the Centreville Street residential neighborhood. The courthouse square has, since its creation, been the heart of business and commercial life in Marion . Too, since its founding in the early 19th century, Marion has been recognized for it's citizens' commitment to education and religious institutions. The district contains the Marion Female Seminary (NRHP, 10/4/73) and three historic religious structures.
Founded on March 4, 1822, the city of Marion was originally known as Muckle's Ridge. By 1817, Michael Muckle had cleared an acre of land from a dense forest and constructed a cabin on the present site of the Perry County Jail (structure #79). Muckle later sold his improvements to Anderson West, then sheriff of Perry County. At the suggestion of Joseph Evans, a South Carolinian, the county commissioners, charged with finding a suitable location for the county seat of Perry County, changed the name of the town from Muckle's Ridge to Marion, honoring General Francis Marion, the "Swamp Fox" of Revolutionary War fame. After laying off the courthouse square and the surveying of streets, on May 22,1822, lots were sold at public auction but due to heavy rains, prices for prime lots remained quite low. The early sale of lots included those adjacent to the courthouse square. (1)
References (1) NRHP Nomination Form npgallery.nps.gov/pdfhost/docs/NRHP/Text/96000111.pdf