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Community ProfileMarion CountyK. Susan Appleby, SEDCORPoints of Interest:Oregon State Capitol, Willamette River, Wheatland and BuenaVista Ferries, Champoeg State Park, Aurora Colony, JesseSettlemier House, Mt. Angel Abbey, The Oregon Garden, SilverFalls State Park, Detroit Lake and Dam, North Santiam River,Breitenbush Hot Springs, Opal Creek Wilderness, WillametteUniversity, Corban College, Chemeketa Community College,Mission Mill Museum, historic Bush House and DeepwoodEstate, and the A.C. Gilbert House Children’s Museum.History:Marion County, first calledChampoick District (laterChampoeg) was createdin 1843 by the ProvisionalGovernment, 16 years beforeOregon gained statehood onFebruary 14, 1859. In 1849the name was changed toMarion County honoringAmerican RevolutionaryGeneral Francis Marion.Early settlers to the countywere trappers and farmers,with Methodist missionariesSilver Falls State Park. arriving in the early 19thcentury. In 1843, with themapping of the Oregon Trail, larger groups of settlers began toarrive and populate the Willamette Valley.The City of Salem was designated the county seat in 1849. Theterritorial capital was changed from Oregon City to Salem in1852. After the ensuing controversy over the location of thecapital was settled, Salem was confirmed as the state capital in1864.Marion County had a county court form of government for thefirst century of its existence and was presided over by the MarionCounty Court. In 1961, the Legislative Assembly enabled acounty court with no judicial functions to reorganize as a boardof county commissioners. With court approval, the MarionCounty Court was abolished and replaced by the Marion CountyBoard of Commissioners in 1963. Today, Marion County is oneof the 27 general law counties in the state, with nine counties ashome rule counties.Marion County’s present geographical boundaries established in1856, are the Willamette River and Butte Creek on the north,Cascade Range on the east, the Santiam River and North Fork ofthe Santiam on the south and the Willamette River on the west.Detroit Lake – a recreational paradise.Agriculture is a big industry in Marion County.Economic Characteristics:Marion County’s economy is heavily based on governmentand agriculture. Thirty-nine of the largest state agencies arelocated in the City of Salem and Marion County, providingemployment to almost 19,000 state employees. Marion Countygovernment and the City of Salem each employ about 1,400workers and the county’s ten public school districts employabout 5,400 workers.Marion County enjoys a highly diversified agricultural baseand has the largest total agriculture sales among Oregon’s 36counties. The county is a state leader in commodities suchas grass seed, nursery stock, field crops, livestock and animalproducts. In the cool moist climate of the Willamette Valley,more than 170 different crops and livestock items are produced,including grass and legume seeds, tree fruits and nuts, winegrapes, berries, vegetables, nursery stock, Christmas trees, andfield crops such as wheat, oats, mint, hops and hay. Farmingutilizes about 40% of the available land in Marion County. In2007, the value of agricultural products was estimated at $615million, ranking Marion County at the top of the list for thevalue of ag-products produced in Oregon.Page 20SEDCOR Enterprise Magazine