Marion
The community center here was known as Royal Oak, home of Arthur Campbell, frontiersman. The place became the county seat when Smyth County was formed and was named for Francis Marion, revolutionary hero. It was incorporated in 1832; the courthouse was built in 1834; the railroad came in 1856. A cavalry action was fought here, December, 1864, in Stoneman's Raid.
Marker is on West Main Street (State Highway 16) west of Church Street, on the right when traveling west.
Courtesy hmdb.org
