  marion county is a county located in the state of west virginia. as of the 2010 census, the population was 56,418. its county seat is fairmont. the county was named in honor of general francis marion, known in history as "the swamp fox". marion county comprises the fairmont, wv micropolitan statistical area, which is also included in the fairmont-clarksburg, wv combined statistical area. ==history== although the adena and successor hopewell cultures had flourished in this area at one time, the region which includes the land now known as marion county was sparsely occupied by native americans, if at all, in the late 18th century; like much of the ohio valley, it had been depopulated by the iroquois during the later beaver wars (1670â1700). only a few abortive attempts to start european settlements upon the monongahela river or its branches (such as that which gave its name to dunkard creek) are known prior to the french and indian war, and it was not until the year 1772 that any permanent settlements were made in this region.dunnington, george a. history and progress of the county of marion, west virginia fairmont, west virginia: george a. dunnington, publisher, 1880; chap. ii: first settlements marion county proper was created by an act of the virginia assembly on january 14, 1842, from parts of monongalia and harrison counties, and was named after general francis marion, of american revolutionary war fame, known to history as "the swamp fox".http://www.wvculture.org/history/counties/marion.html ==geography== according to the [[united states census bureau|u.s.
1842_establishments_in_the_United_States Counties_of_Appalachia Marion_County,_West_Virginia Populated_places_established_in_1842 West_Virginia_counties