Marion Co TOC

       (Page 516) In the prior chapters, an attempt was made to bring to the attention of the readers of this volume, a little of the history of the families, the personalities, the events and happenings that gave us the Marion County of today; to help us to understand that the Marion County of the present is simply the undeveloped, developing county, and hopefully, to cause us to see the possibilities and potentialities of the Marion County of the future.
       While it has been good to look back, this chapter asks you not to forget the past, but to look forward with enthusiasm to what may be accomplished in the Marion County of the future, for, indeed, there is every reason to believe that Marion County is at the dawn of a new day.
       Since 1920, when Marion County had a population of something over 10,000, each census had shown a decline in population until 1960 when the population reached a low mark of 6,041. After World War I and the close of the mines in the Rush Creek and Kingdon Springs areas, many families left the county to find employment elsewhere. In the early 1920's, there was a near mass exodus of some fanning communities to the newer, smoother, and more fertile farm lands of Oklahoma. During the Depression, many left the county making the long trek to California-making up the "Arkies and Okies" of Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath. In World War II, many left the county to find employment in the "Defense Plants" and never returned to the county. In the late 1940's and 1950's, another almost mass exodus of some communities to the Yakima Valley of Washington occurred. Since there were few job opportunities in the county for those graduating from the high schools, graduates were forced to leave the county to find employment.
       This population decline seemed to reverse itself in the early 1960's. With the completion of the Bull Shoals Dam and a new interest in the recreation and tourist industry, former citizens began to return to the county and invest in its development. Not only were former citizens returning, but many new citizens, tourists who had seen the area, also bought small homesites and engaged in businesses related to the recreation and tourist industry.
       Most of the following information is taken from the Bulletin-State and Economics Data for Arkansas, published by the Industrial Research and Ex tendon Center, College of Business Administration, University of Arkansas, (Page 517 Top) Little Rock, Arkansas. We gratefully acknowledge this material and sincerely appreciate the cooperation.
       By 1970, the population had grown to 7,000, a 15.9 per cent population gain in a ten year period. An almost unbelievable population growth has taken place in the past six years. The Industrial Research Division of the University has shown an estimated population of 9,100 in 1976. This indicates a 30.5 per cent growth in population from 1970 to 1976. Incidentally, only three counties-Baxter, Cleburne and Sebastian-have shown a higher percentage population increase in the 1970's than has Marion County.
       Along with this population growth, there has been a decided improvement in the economy of the county. Total personal income in 1959 was placed at $6,700,000.00. By 1969, total personal income had reached $14,100,000.00 or an annual growth rate of 7.7 per cent. Five years later in 1974, the total personal income had grown to $27,700,000.00 or an annual growth gain of 14.5 per cent. As would follow the per capita income showed a remarkable gain. In 1959, the avenge per capita income in Marion County was $1,133.00, near the lowest in the nation. By 1969, the avenge per capita income had reached $2,033.00, still one of the lowest but an average annual increase of 67 per cent. In 1974, the avenge per capita income was $3,068.00, still below the national avenge, but a remarkable annual avenge 8.6 per cent increase in a five year period.
       Wages paid to non-agricultural workers in 1960 amounted to $508,000.00. By 1970, wages amounted to $1,560,000.00 and in 1975, wages paid amounted to $5,800,000.00. Average wages paid per worker in 1960 amounted to $42.48 per week. In 1970, the average weekly wage of a worker was $75.17. In 1975, this had grown to a weekly wage avenge of $113.82. It is interesting to note also that unemployment in Marion County was at 5 per cent, one of the lowest among the counties in Arkansas.
       With this growth in wages, there was also a corresponding growth in the retail sale field. Retail sales jumped from $3,000,000.00 in 1967 to $7,800,000.00 in 1972, the latest year figures are available.
       Bank deposits also experienced an almost unbelievable growth from $1,162,000.00 in 1960 to $3,771,000.00 in 1970 arid to $17,306,000.00 in 1975. From 1970 to 1975, bank deposits increased at annual average of 35.6 per cent.
       Since Marion County has been viewed, primarily, as an agricultural county, it is well to observe that the income of non-agricultural workers in 1970 amounted to $1,500,000.00 as compared to the 1969 market value of all farm products sold in the amount of $2,600,000.00. This had increased from a total of $1,700,000.00 in 1959. No figures are available on market value of farm products sold since 1969, but is considerably more than in 1969.
       Another indication of the economic growth of the county is shown in the assessed value of the property assessed for ad valorem tax value. The Biennial Report of the Assessment Coordination Division, Arkansas Public Service, Department of Commerce, dated January 26, 1976, gives the following figures:

         

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