Marion, WI

Marion got its start in the late 1800s as a sawmill settlement on the border of Waupaca and Shawano counties. As the railroad arrived, the town grew up around its timber and farming roots, eventually developing into a self-sufficient rural hub. You can still see that heritage today in the mix of classic residential streets, historic downtown storefronts, and open farmland stretching out in every direction.

ATTRRoyalbroil / CC BY-SA 3.0

Today, Marion offers a grounded small-town pace supported by local manufacturing, schools, and neighborhood shops. The surrounding countryside is also home to a sizeable Amish community, known for roadside produce stands and handcrafted goods. When the workday ends, residents head to Marion Pond for fishing and paddling, hit nearby trout streams, or head into the woods for deer season. Sitting along Highways 45 and 110, the town makes it easy to enjoy quiet country living while staying roughly an hour from Appleton, Green Bay, and Wausau.