Martin, Tennessee
City
CountryUnited States
StateTennessee
CountyWeakley
Unit prefImperial
Area total32.24 km²
Area land32.13 km²
Area water0.11 km²
Area total12.45 sq mi
Area land12.40 sq mi
Area water0.04 sq mi
Population as of2020
Population total10825
Population density336.92 km²
Population density872.63 sq mi
Time zoneCentral (CST) (UTC-6)
Time zone (DST)CDT (UTC-5)
Elevation124 m
Elevation407 ft
Coordinates36°20′31″N 88°51′6″W
ZIP codes38237-38238
Area code731
FIPS code47-46240[1]
GNIS feature ID1292789[2]
Websitehttp://www.cityofmartin.net/

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.[3] William Martin was born in Halifax County, Virginia in 1806, and moved to Weakley County, Tennessee with his wife Sarah in 1832.[3] Captain Martin prospered through tobacco farming and began working to establish a railroad connection in what would later become Martin in 1852.[3] 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.[3]

Martin was initially named Green Briar Glade and then renamed Frost in honor of an official of the Illinois Central Railroad.[4] 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.[5]

In 1878, a yellow fever outbreak infected 400 of the 500 inhabitants and killed 52.[6] 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.[7]

Esquire listed Martin as one of the happiest towns in the United States in 1970.[5]

Geography

Martin is located at 36°20′31″N 88°51′6″W (36.341836, -88.851647).[8]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.4 square miles (32 km2), of which 12.4 square miles (32 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2), or 0.32%, is water.

Major roads and highways

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Martin had a population of 10,825, 4,093 households, and 2,049 families residing in the city. The median age was 26.7 years, with 16.8% of residents under the age of 18 and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 87.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 83.9 males age 18 and over.[9]

Racial composition as of the 2020 census[10]
RaceNumberPercent
White8,00674.0%
Black or African American1,92317.8%
American Indian and Alaska Native180.2%
Asian1311.2%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander00.0%
Some other race1381.3%
Two or more races6095.6%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)3293.0%

94.2% of residents lived in urban areas, while 5.8% lived in rural areas.[11]

There were 4,093 households in Martin, of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 33.5% were married-couple households, 22.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 36.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[9]

There were 4,643 housing units, of which 11.8% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.4%.[9]

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 848.9 inhabitants per square mile (327.8 /km2). There were 4,106 housing units at an average density of 331.5 inhabitants per square mile (128.0 /km2). 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%.[1]

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

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

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

See also

References

  1. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  2. ^
  3. ^ "William Martin". www.utm.edu. Retrieved July 4, 2016.
  4. ^ History 2023.
  5. ^ Brief History.
  6. ^ Yellow Fever 2023.
  7. ^ Mayor.
  8. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  9. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  10. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  11. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  12. ^ Lewis 1984.

Works cited

Newspapers

Web