Lebanon and Marion County offer the best that small rural communities have to offer but are located within an hour and a half of large cities such as Louisville and Lexington.

Located in the geographic center of Kentucky, the county is peppered with beautiful knobs and rolling pastureland.

Numerous industries and businesses have elected to locate here over the past 20 years because of the small town attractiveness and "Howdy neighbor" attitude coupled with a strong work force.

With a population of 18,000, Marion County is well known for its Civil War and religious history along with its main tourism attractions - Maker's Mark Distillery, the Loretto Motherhouse and Marion County Country Ham Days.

Agriculture remains an important part of the community with tobacco, corn, soybeans, cattle and hogs among the principal products. Workers here build auto parts and wood products and plastic injection molding industry is abundant.

The community features a variety of restaurants and live entertainment along with a nine-hole golf course, high school athletic facilities that rival those of small universities and several parks including Graham Memorial Park, which has the Lebanon Aquatic Center, an Olympic-style indoor pool.

The county comprises four incorporated communities - Lebanon, which is the county seat, Loretto, Bradfordsville and Raywick - along with villages such as Gravel Switch, St. Francis, Nerinx, Holy Cross, St. Joe and Finley.

Marion County was named after Francis "The Swamp Fox" Marion and Confederate Gen. John Hunt Morgan is said to have ridden his horse into and right up the steps of Myrtledene, Lebanon's popular bed and breakfast located on scenic Spalding Avenue, the entrance to the town.

While Maker's Mark Distillery is known for its premium bourbon world wide, Ham Days, the county's fall festival held the last weekend of September each year, attracts more than 25,000 visitors because of its food, entertainment and shopping opportunities.

So come on down and ham it up with us in September or any other time during the year. You'd be mighty welcome.