Martinsville, Indiana facts for kids

Quick facts for kids City of Martinsville
Martinsville, Indiana
Flag Seal
Nickname(s):  "City of Mineral Water", "Goldfish Capitol of the World"
Location of Martinsville in Morgan County, Indiana
Country	United States
State	Indiana
County	Morgan
Township	Washington
Area
• Total	9.27 sq mi (24.00 km2)
• Land	9.16 sq mi (23.72 km2)
• Water	0.11 sq mi (0.29 km2)  0.44%
Elevation	604 ft (184 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	14,980
• Density	1,756.06/sq mi (885.09/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	46151
Area code(s)	765
FIPS code	18-47448
GNIS feature ID	2395032

Martinsville is a city located in Washington Township, Morgan County, Indiana, in the United States. It is the main city and county seat of Morgan County. In 2020, about 14,980 people lived there.

History of Martinsville

Martinsville was started in 1822. It is believed to be named after John Martin, who was a county leader.

Early Buildings and Goldfish Farms

The Morgan County Courthouse was finished in 1859. It is one of the few courthouses in Indiana built before the American Civil War. It has a unique red brick and Italian-style design.

In 1899, a local business owner named Eugene Shireman turned his swampy land into fish farms. This led Martinsville to be called the "Goldfish Capital of the World." Today, Martinsville still has large fish farms that sell fish all over the world.

Martinsville's Mineral Water Spas

From 1888 to 1968, many people visited Martinsville for its special mineral water health spas. These spas, sometimes called sanitariums, were believed to offer health benefits. For nearly 100 years, about a dozen spas were open at different times. One of these was the first spa in Martinsville for Black visitors.

Albert Merritt (1871–1958) was a very important person in Martinsville. He founded the Boy's Club in the city. Albert was the son of former slaves and came to Martinsville in the 1890s. He worked with children for 50 years and helped build a clubhouse for them. Merritt Park, in the northwest part of town, is named after him.

People would travel by train and car to bathe and relax in the mineral springs. Many famous people visited Martinsville in the early 1900s. They came to enjoy the mineral waters and spas, hoping they would help them feel better and healthier. A refurbished neon sign still lights up, saying "Martinsville City of Mineral Water," just as it did long ago.

Old Hickory Furniture and Modern Times

The Old Hickory Furniture Company was started in 1892. This company made furniture that was even displayed in big stores like Marshall Field & Co.

Today, Martinsville has many different kinds of businesses. The downtown area has lots of local restaurants, bakeries, and shops. Other areas, like the Grand Valley Shopping Center, have bigger restaurant chains and retail stores.

Historic Places in Martinsville

Several buildings and areas in Martinsville are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites. Some of these include:

• Blackstone House and Martinsville Telephone Company Building
• Crawford-Gilpin House
• East Washington Street Historic District
• Martinsville Commercial Historic District
• Martinsville High School Gymnasium
• Martinsville Northside Historic District
• Martinsville Sanitarium
• Martinsville Vandalia Depot
• Morgan County Courthouse
• Morgan County Sheriff's House and Jail
• Neely House

Geography of Martinsville

An aerial photograph of Martinsville in June 2006, looking northwest.

Martinsville is located at 39°25′24″N 86°25′26″W / 39.42333°N 86.42389°W / 39.42333; -86.42389.

The city covers a total area of about 4.5 square miles (11.6 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a very small part being water.

Climate in Martinsville

The weather in Martinsville has hot and humid summers. The winters are usually mild to cool. This type of weather is known as a humid subtropical climate.

Transportation in Martinsville

Martinsville has several ways to get around, including major roads and a railway.

Highways

• I-69 (This road was formerly SR 37)
• SR 39
• SR 44
• SR 67
• SR 252

Rail

• Indiana Southern Railroad

Population of Martinsville

Martinsville's Population in 2010

In 2010, there were 11,828 people living in Martinsville. There were 4,610 households, which are groups of people living together. About 3,000 of these were families.

Most of the people living in Martinsville were White (97.5%). A small number were African American, Native American, Asian, or from other backgrounds. About 1.3% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

The average age of people in the city was about 36.6 years old. About 25% of the residents were under 18 years old.

Culture and Events

Martinsville has many fun events and cultural activities throughout the year:

• Fall Foliage Festival
• Martinsville on the Square
• Farmer's Market Day
• Morgan County Fair
• Morgan County Relay for Life
• Artie Fest
• Art Sanctuary of Indiana
• Merry MAC Players Community Theatre
• Martinsville Community Band

Education in Martinsville

The Metropolitan School District of Martinsville manages the public schools in the city.

Elementary and Middle Schools

Elementary schools teach students from pre-kindergarten to 4th grade. These include:

• Brooklyn STEM Academy
• Centerton Elementary
• Green Township Elementary
• Paragon Elementary
• Poston Road Spanish Immersion School
• Charles L. Smith Fine Arts Academy
• South Elementary School of Communications

Students in 5th and 6th grades attend Bell Intermediate Academy. For 7th and 8th grades, students go to John R. Wooden Middle School.

High School and Other Schools

Students in 9th through 12th grades attend Martinsville High School. There is also the Artesian Center of Excellence (A.C.E), which used to be called Hammons off-campus community school.

Martinsville also has one private school, Tabernacle Christian School. It offers classes from preschool all the way up to twelfth grade.

Public Library

Martinsville has a public library. It is a branch of the Morgan County Public Library.

Notable People from Martinsville

Many interesting people have come from Martinsville, including:

• Josh Allison, a racing driver
• Emmett Forrest Branch, who was the 31st governor of Indiana
• William G. Bray, a U.S. Representative
• Richard Bray, an Indiana state senator
• Benjamin Bull, a lawyer and Wisconsin state senator
• Glenn M. Curtis, a basketball coach
• Henry E. Pearcy, Jr., a former professional basketball player
• Charles E. Ford, a director of newsreels and movies
• Ira Hall, an Indy car driver
• Bobby Helms, a singer and songwriter with six gold records
• Joe W. Kelly, a four-star general in the United States Air Force
• Jeff Kottkamp, who was the lieutenant governor of Florida
• Paul V. McNutt, the 34th governor of Indiana
• Mel Payton, a former professional basketball player
• Catt Sadler, a former E! News anchor
• Jerry Sichting, a former professional basketball player
• John R. Walsh, a U.S. congressman and Secretary of State of Indiana
• John C. Wetherby, who received the Medal of Honor
• John Wooden, a famous college basketball player and coach in the Naismith Hall of Fame

See also

In Spanish: Martinsville (Indiana) para niños