Martinsville, Virginia facts for kids

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Martinsville, Virginia

Independent city

Clockwise from top: Uptown Martinsville, Martinsville Speedway, Virginia Museum of Natural History, Piedmont Arts Association, Patrick & Henry Community College

Seal

Nickname(s):

M-Ville, The 276, Titletown

Motto(s):

A City Without Limits

Country

United States

State

Virginia

County

None (Independent city)

Founded

1791

Incorporated (town)

1873

Incorporated (city)

1929

Named for

Joseph Martin

Government

• Type

Council-manager

Area

• Total

11.01 sq mi (28.51 km²)

• Land

10.96 sq mi (28.37 km²)

• Water

0.05 sq mi (0.14 km²)

Elevation

1,017 ft (310 m)

Population

(2020)

• Total

13,485

• Density

1,224.8/sq mi (472.99/km²)

Time zone

UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))

• Summer (DST)

UTC−4 (EDT)

ZIP codes

24112-24115

Area code(s)

276

FIPS code

51-49784

GNIS feature ID

1498514

Website

http://www.martinsville-va.gov

Martinsville is a city in Virginia, United States. It is called an independent city because it is not part of a county. In 2020, about 13,485 people lived there. Martinsville is the main city in the Martinsville Micropolitan Statistical Area. This area includes nearby towns and has a population of about 63,765 people.

Martinsville is the main town for Henry County. However, the city and the county are separate. The Martinsville Speedway is a famous race track located near the city. It is the shortest track in the NASCAR Cup Series.

History of Martinsville

Martinsville was founded by American Revolutionary War General Joseph Martin in 1791. He had a large farm called Scuffle Hill near the Smith River. General Martin was friends with Patrick Henry, a famous American patriot. Henry County is named after Patrick Henry.

Important Events in the 20th Century

In 1941, a company called DuPont built a factory in Martinsville. This factory made nylon material. Nylon was very important during World War II. This factory helped the textile industry grow in the area.

The Martinsville Speedway opened in 1947. It is a unique oval-shaped track. NASCAR has used this track since 1949, and it is still used today. It is the shortest oval track in NASCAR.

For some years, Martinsville was known as the "Sweatshirt Capital of the World." In the 1980s, it was said to have many rich people for its size.

Local leaders worked to improve housing in the city. For example, Whitney Shumate helped rebuild homes in an area called "Mill Town." These new homes were better and had city services. This helped many middle-class Black residents buy homes and do well.

In the early 1990s, the textile and furniture factories in Martinsville faced challenges. Many companies closed, and thousands of people lost their jobs. This was because production moved to other countries. Now, the city is working to become a center for new technology and manufacturing.

Memorial Hospital of Martinsville opened in 1970. It replaced an older hospital called Martinsville General. Today, it is part of Sovah Health.

Martinsville in the 21st Century

In 2008, Barack Obama, who later became the 44th President of the United States, visited Martinsville during his campaign.

In 2013, Kim Adkins was re-elected as mayor. In 2021, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam pardoned seven African-American men known as the Martinsville Seven. In 2023, L.C. Jones was elected as the new mayor.

Martinsville and Henry County have a special relationship. Martinsville became an independent city in 1928. This means it is separate from Henry County. Even though Martinsville is the official county seat, many county offices are in Collinsville. In 2019, the city council thought about becoming a town again, which would make it part of the county. However, in 2023, they decided to stop this process.

Several historic places in Martinsville are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Beaver Creek Plantation and the Martinsville Historic District.

City Geography

Martinsville covers about 11 square miles (28.5 square kilometers). Most of this area is land. The city is located in southern Virginia, close to the North Carolina border. It is about 17 miles (27 km) northwest of Eden, North Carolina.

Climate and Weather

Climate data for Martinsville, Virginia (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1937–present)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	79 (26)	82 (28)	89 (32)	92 (33)	101 (38)	102 (39)	104 (40)	105 (41)	101 (38)	95 (35)	86 (30)	82 (28)	105 (41)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	48.4 (9.1)	52.2 (11.2)	60.3 (15.7)	70.8 (21.6)	77.7 (25.4)	84.7 (29.3)	88.0 (31.1)	85.9 (29.9)	79.8 (26.6)	70.7 (21.5)	60.3 (15.7)	51.1 (10.6)	69.2 (20.7)
Daily mean °F (°C)	36.1 (2.3)	38.9 (3.8)	45.9 (7.7)	55.6 (13.1)	64.0 (17.8)	72.0 (22.2)	76.0 (24.4)	74.2 (23.4)	67.6 (19.8)	56.7 (13.7)	46.0 (7.8)	38.7 (3.7)	56.0 (13.3)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	23.8 (−4.6)	25.5 (−3.6)	31.6 (−0.2)	40.4 (4.7)	50.3 (10.2)	59.2 (15.1)	64.0 (17.8)	62.6 (17.0)	55.5 (13.1)	42.8 (6.0)	31.7 (−0.2)	26.3 (−3.2)	42.8 (6.0)
Record low °F (°C)	−7 (−22)	−7 (−22)	−3 (−19)	18 (−8)	26 (−3)	35 (2)	43 (6)	41 (5)	30 (−1)	14 (−10)	5 (−15)	−2 (−19)	−7 (−22)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	3.83 (97)	3.04 (77)	4.08 (104)	3.60 (91)	4.50 (114)	4.41 (112)	4.01 (102)	4.17 (106)	5.09 (129)	3.57 (91)	3.33 (85)	3.72 (94)	47.35 (1,203)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	3.3 (8.4)	2.4 (6.1)	1.7 (4.3)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	2.0 (5.1)	9.4 (24)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)	9.5	9.1	10.5	9.7	12.0	11.3	11.7	9.8	9.0	8.0	8.2	9.9	118.7
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)	0.7	0.4	0.5	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.3	1.9
Source: NOAA

Population and Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1880	289	—
1900	2,384	—
1910	3,368	41.3%
1920	4,075	21.0%
1930	7,705	89.1%
1940	10,080	30.8%
1950	17,251	71.1%
1960	18,798	9.0%
1970	19,653	4.5%
1980	18,149	−7.7%
1990	16,162	−10.9%
2000	15,416	−4.6%
2010	13,821	−10.3%
2020	13,485	−2.4%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020

2020 Census Data

**Martinsville city, Virginia - Demographic Profile**
(*NH = Non-Hispanic*)
Race / Ethnicity	Pop 2010	Pop 2020	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	6,707	5,732	48.53%	42.51%
Black or African American alone (NH)	6,191	6,043	44.79%	44.81%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	18	23	0.13%	0.17%
Asian alone (NH)	127	116	0.92%	0.86%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	0	4	0.00%	0.03%
Some Other Race alone (NH)	10	46	0.07%	0.34%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH)	216	496	1.56%	3.68%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	552	1,025	3.99%	7.60%
Total	13,821	13,485	100.00%	100.00%

Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.

2010 Census Data

In 2010, Martinsville had 13,821 people living there. About 48% were White, and 45% were African American. Around 5.7% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

The average age in Martinsville was 41 years old. About 22.6% of the people were under 18. The average household income was $27,441.

Martinsville Economy

For many years, Martinsville's main business was making chewing tobacco. The area was known as the "plug tobacco capital of the world." After the American Civil War, tobacco companies helped the local economy grow.

Later, furniture making became the city's main industry for about a century. Today, some furniture makers still work in the region.

The Liberty Fair Mall opened in 1989. In 2014, it was renamed the Village of Martinsville.

In 2021, VF Corporation, a company that makes clothes and shoes, announced it would expand in Martinsville. This will create 82 new jobs. Other companies like Georgia Pacific and Eastman Chemical Company also have locations in the area.

Transportation in Martinsville

U.S. Route 220 in Martinsville

Martinsville is connected by several important roads.

Major Roads

I-73 (future highway)
US 58
US 220
SR 57
SR 87
SR 108
SR 174
SR 457

Public Transport

The Piedmont Area Regional Transit (PART) provides bus services in Martinsville and Henry County.

Airports Near Martinsville

Martinsville is served by two larger airports:

Roanoke–Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA) in Roanoke
Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO) in Greensboro, North Carolina

The Blue Ridge Airport is a smaller airport used for private planes. It is about 9 miles (14 km) outside the city.

Education in Martinsville

Carlisle School

Martinsville City Public Schools serve the city. There are five public schools:

Martinsville High School: For grades 9–12, with about 580 students.
Martinsville Middle School: For grades 6–8, with about 430 students.
Albert Harris Elementary School: For kindergarten through fifth grade, with about 490 students. It is named after Albert Harris, who helped African-American children get an education.
Patrick Henry Elementary School: For kindergarten through fifth grade, with about 435 students. It is named after Patrick Henry.
Clearview Early Childhood Center: For preschool students, with about 140 students.

The Piedmont Governor's School for Mathematics, Science, and Technology is a special school. It offers advanced courses for 11th and 12th graders.

Carlisle School is a private school in Martinsville for students from kindergarten to 12th grade.

For higher education, Martinsville has the New College Institute and Patrick & Henry Community College. Students can also take online courses from Old Dominion University through the community college.

Places of Worship

Martinsville has many churches and places of worship, including:

First Baptist Church
Broad Street Christian Church
Christ Episcopal Church
First Presbyterian Church
Starling Avenue Baptist Church
Temple Baptist Church
CrossPoint Church

Arts and Culture

Martinsville has places to enjoy art and learn about nature:

Piedmont Arts Association: This museum was started in 1961. It is connected with the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
Virginia Museum of Natural History: This museum opened in 1984. It is connected with the Smithsonian Institution.

Events and Festivals

Martinsville hosts fun events throughout the year:

Henry County Fair: An annual fair held in September at the Martinsville Speedway.
Martinsville Uptown Oktoberfest: A family-friendly event in Uptown Martinsville with music, crafts, food, and activities for kids.
Wine by the River Festival
Rooster Walk Music & Arts Festival
Martinsville Kiwanis Pancake Day: A fundraiser that helps provide scholarships for young people.

Sports in Martinsville

2019 STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway

Martinsville is home to the Martinsville Mustangs. They are a college summer baseball team that plays at Hooker Field.

The Martinsville Speedway is a very important sports venue. It opened in 1947. The NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series hold two races there each year. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series also has one race there.

Notable People from Martinsville

Many well-known people have connections to Martinsville, including:

Rabih Abdullah – A former National Football League player.
Buddy Arrington – A former NASCAR driver.
Thomas G. Burch – A politician who served in the US House of Representatives and US Senate.
H. Clay Earles – The person who founded the Martinsville Speedway.
Carl Hairston – A former National Football League player.
Patrick Henry – A famous American patriot.
Randy Hundley – A former Major League Baseball player.
Todd Hundley – A former Major League Baseball player and 2-time All-star.
Joseph Martin – An American Revolutionary War general and explorer.
Thon Maker – An NBA basketball player.
J. C. Martin – A former Major League Baseball player who won the 1969 World Series.
Shawn Moore – A former National Football League and Canadian Football League player.
Nancy Redd – An author and former Miss Virginia.
"Sweet Lou" Whitaker – A Major League Baseball player and 1978 AL Rookie of the Year.
Dennis L. Via – A former Commanding General of the United States Army Materiel Command.