Marion was established in the year 1679, when the town was first settled as a village known as Sippican, and part of Rochester. The early settlers were dependent on the sea and developed such industries as salt works, fishing, and shipbuilding. These businesses flourished right up through the mid-nineteenth century.

Rochester, Mattapoisett and Sippican, widely separate villages under the domain of Rochester, gradually developed separate interests and economies. These factors led to independence for Sippican, which was renamed Marion in honor of the revolutionary war hero, Francis Marion. Independence took place in 1852.

The late 1800s saw Marion develop a thriving tourist trade influenced primarily by the extension of the railroad into town. President Grover Cleveland and Ralph Waldo Emerson were just two of the many notable visitors. Many of the fine shorefront homes and mansions are still in evidence today and add to Marion's distinctive character.

Today, Marion has a stable year-round population with a moderate summertime increase. Over the years the heterogeneous population has worked hard to preserve Marion's rich historic traditions.

For more information on Marion's history please visit the Historical Society's website at www.sippicanhistoricalsociety.org

Tabor Academy, the school by the sea, is an independent coeducational college preparatory school for grades 9-12, enrolling students from across the United States and throughout the world, and is located in the heart of the community.

The public schools are excellent, and include Marion's own elementary school and regional junior and senior high schools shared with neighboring Rochester and Mattapoisett.

Recreational opportunities are plentiful throughout the year in Marion. Sippican Harbor hosts a variety of waterfront activities, including competitive sailing, pleasure boating, and fishing. There are also several beaches in Marion: Silvershell, Planting Island, and Piney Point beaches, all of which are perfect for children and adults alike. Also located in Marion is The Kittansett Golf Club, which is among the nation's most prestigious golf clubs and one of only a few true New England seaside courses. There are indoor and outdoor tennis courts for tennis lovers in town: Sippican Tennis Club is open May through September and The Marion Indoor Tennis Club is open September through May. Also, Tabor Academy periodically opens its hockey rink to the public for family ice skating sessions. Additional recreational opportunities in Marion are listed on the town's recreation website: www.marionrec.org.