Town file
Marion, Virginia
Marion, Virginia (Smyth County, Virginia) is the town in one episode of Small Town Murder, the comedy true-crime podcast: episode 244, "Born To Die" (7 October 2021). Marion sits in south-western Virginia, in Smyth County, four square miles with a population of 5,555 and about 9,000 more people living outside the town on a Marion mailing address.
- Town
- Marion
- County
- Smyth County
- State
- Virginia
- Country
- USA
- Episodes
- 244
- Approximate location
- 36.837, -81.516
Episode 244 / 7 October 2021 / 167 min / full
Born To Die
""We're going all the way to Virginia ... Marion, Virginia"; he calls it "Smith county or Smythe County" and says he will go with Smith." about 0:07:02
The case: Murder of Shirley Brickey (September 1971); Murder of Jessie Geneva Havens (May 1983). Read the case file.
The figures, as told in 2021
- Population
- 5,555
- Median age
- 48
- Median household income
- $31,933
- Median home value
- $103,400
- Two-bedroom rent
- $694
- Cost of living
- 70
- Religious
- 38.4%
- Property crime
- ▲ almost 50% high
- Violent crime
- ▲ about 15% high
History, in brief
- Marion was named in honour of General Francis Marion of Revolutionary War fame. about 0:09:50
- The courthouse was completed in 1834, early for the area, and the town grew quickly. about 0:10:01
- Railroads were put through and the town developed salt works, grist mills and ironworks. about 0:10:12
- During the Civil War the local rail system was destroyed because the town lay on the way to Richmond; it was rebuilt afterwards and the local economy recovered. about 0:10:31
- Downtown Marion is an official Virginia Main Street community and a national Main Street community. about 0:11:14
- The General Francis Marion Hotel has been completely restored and holds a AAA three-diamond ranking. about 0:12:08
- The town holds a monthly art walk with local artists and musicians on the second Friday of each month from May to December. about 0:12:20
- The Back of the Dragon is a 32-mile driving route from Marion to Tazewell, crossing three mountains, with 435 curves and more than 3,500 feet of elevation change. about 0:24:04
- The Hungry Mother Festival is an art festival with folk and bluegrass music. about 0:25:19
The reviews read out
5 stars
"They visit often and love the farmers market, town parks, antique store, restaurants and Hungry Mother State Park; the staff at McDonald's and Pizza Hut went out of their way for their grandsons."about 0:12:57
5 stars
"Enjoys the local shops and places to eat, especially the Pizza Hut and McDonald's, and says Marion has a special charm and plenty to do in summer."about 0:15:26
3 stars
"A genuine small town in south-western Virginia surrounded by the Appalachian mountains, with the Appalachian Trail, Hungry Mother State Park and local restaurants."about 0:15:43
1 star
"This place is filled with completely small-minded individuals."about 0:16:20
3 stars
"It would be a great town if the drug prob was gone and there were more businesses around."about 0:16:37
Nearest Small Town Murder towns
- Mountain City, Tennessee30 miles
- Skygusty, West Virginia34 miles
- Princeton, West Virginia43 miles
- Lashmeet, West Virginia44 miles
- Hensley, West Virginia45 miles
- Mount Airy, North Carolina55 miles
Everything here is as told in the episode, on the date it went out; figures and places may have changed since. Endings are covered: open an episode and use the spoiler switch to read them.