  marion is a city in and the county seat of crittenden county, arkansas, united states. the population was 12,345 at the 2010 census, a 38.7% increase since 2000.http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/05/0544180.html the city is part of the memphis metropolitan area. it is the second largest city in crittenden county, behind west memphis. ==history== although marion was incorporated in 1896, the community predates that significantly. the site of marion was part of louisiana (new spain) from 1764 to 1803, when it became louisiana (new france). some of the oldest land titles in the area are from spanish land grants from a time prior to the louisiana purchase.http://marionar.org/visit-marion/historic-locations/area-history/ after the louisiana purchase the area was part of the arkansas territory. during the 1830s the trail of tears, the forced removal of native americans from georgia, alabama, and mississippi, passed through the area.http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/118trail/118locate2.htmhttp://www.arkansasheritagetrails.com/tears/ the town was founded in 1836, and it is speculated that it was named for [
Cities_in_Arkansas Cities_in_Crittenden_County,_Arkansas County_seats_in_Arkansas Interstate_55 Memphis_metropolitan_area U.S._Route_64