Martin, Tennessee


Martin is a city in Weakley County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 10,825 according to the 2020 census. The city is the home of the University of Tennessee at Martin.

History

Martin is named for Captain William Martin. William Martin was born in Halifax County, Virginia in 1806, and moved to Weakley County, Tennessee with his wife Sarah in 1832. Captain Martin prospered through tobacco farming and began working to establish a railroad connection in what would later become Martin in 1852. It was not until after his death in 1859 that his sons, led primarily by George W. Martin, persuaded the Mississippi Central Railroad to locate a connection with the Nashville and Northwestern Railroad in what would become Martin, Tennessee in 1872.
Martin was initially named Green Briar Glade and then renamed Frost in honor of an official of the Illinois Central Railroad. George W. Martin, M. P. Martin and W. H. Martin sold to the Mississippi Central Railroad on February 11, 1874, for $5. The railroad renamed the area Martin in honor of William Martin and to better advertise the area. Surveyor H. C. Draughon laid out the town on September 22, 1874, and a petition of incorporation was filed by G.W. Martin, A.M. Clemons, and Draughon on September 24. A majority of the 36 residents voted in favor of the incorporation on November 27, and John L. Smith was appointed mayor. B.F. Crawford was elected mayor on February 5, 1875, alongside six aldermen and a constable.
In 1878, a yellow fever outbreak infected 400 of the 500 inhabitants and killed 52. A smallpox epidemic broke out during the tenure of Mayor James E. Kennedy. Concrete sidewalks and gravel streets were built during the mayoral tenure of Wiley Blakemore. The city's sewer system was built under Mayor J.T. Perkins.
Esquire listed Martin as one of the happiest towns in the United States in 1970.

Geography

Martin is located at .
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of, of which is land and, or 0.32%, is water.

Major roads and highways

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 10,825 people, 3,958 households, and 2,049 families residing in the city.

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 10,515 people, 3,773 households, and 2,029 families living in the city. The population density was. There were 4,106 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the city was 66.32% White, 25.62% African American, 0.08% Native American, 4.13% Asian, 0.97% from other races, and 0.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.82%.
Of the 3,773 households 24.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.1% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.2% were non-families. 34.1% of households were one person and 11.5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.87.
The age distribution was 16.7% under the age of 18, 32.6% from 18 to 24, 21.4% from 25 to 44, 16.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% 65 or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.0 males.
The median household income was $26,493 and the median family income was $38,648. Males had a median income of $29,836 versus $22,219 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,184. About 15.8% of families and 27.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.7% of those under age 18 and 15.7% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics

#PartyMayorTerm startTerm endNoteReference
1John Smith18741875Appointed
2Baldwin Crawford18751877Elected
3L.A. Blake18771878Died of yellow fever
4J.P. Beach18781880
5J.M. Ridgeway18801886
6John L. Brooks18861894
7Ruffan R. Aycock18941896
8James E. Kennedy18961900
9George E. Bowden19001902Brother of Thomas A. Bowden
10Thomas A. Bowden19021902Brother of George E. Bowden; Died two months into term
11Wiley B. Blakemore19021908
12J.T. Perkins19081914
13A.B. Adam19141918
14J.D. Jones19181920
15George P. Hurt19201922
16D. Walter Harper19221928
17George M. Brooks19281930
18L.G. McMillion19301931Resigned due to poor health
19George M. Brooks19311932
20L.A. Elliott19321934
21George M. Brooks19341939
22Frank Smith19391940
23George M. Brooks19401950
24Jack Vincent19501954
25Milburn Gardner19541957Died in office
26Max Burchard19571958
27Jack Vincent19581962
28Doug Murphy19621966
29Cliff Weldon19661974
30Tom Copeland19741976
31H.C. Brundige19761982
32Tom Copeland19821984
33Virginia Weldon19841988Wife of Cliff Weldon
34Bob Peeler19881990
35Carl Savage19901992
36Larry Taylor19922002
37Randy Brundige2002Present

ZIP codes

The ZIP codes used in the Martin area are 38237 and 38238, with the latter reserved for the University of Tennessee at Martin.

Media

Newspapers

  • ''Weakley County Press''

Radio

Points of interest

Notable people

Works cited

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