Marion County contains a variety of geographical features that range from rolling bluegrass fields to rugged knob lands. Bordered on the South and West county borders by part of the Cumberland Escarpment, the county offers panoramic overlooks over long looping bends in the Rolling Fork River.

Tourist attractions in Marion County include the Makers Mark Distillery, the Civil War Discovery Trail, the Fagan Branch Reservoir, and the National Cemetery. Marion County offers various picnics, festivals, and fairs throughout the year. The largest festival, Ham Days, features the PIGasus Parade, Street Dance, contests, live entertainment, rides, activities, and shows.

Marion County was formed in 1834. It is located in the Western Knobs region of the state. The elevation in the county ranges from 475 to 1260 feet above sea level. In 2003, the county population was 18,533 in a land area of 346 square miles.

Lebanon, the county seat of Marion County, is located three miles southeast of the geographical center of the state of Kentucky. Lebanon, with a 2002 population of 5,802, is located 62 miles southwest of Lexington, Kentucky; 66 miles southeast of Louisville, Kentucky; 138 miles southwest of Cincinnati, Ohio; 151 miles northeast of Nashville, Tennessee; and 179 miles northwest of Knoxville, Tennessee.