MARTIN COUNTY

Martin was formed in 1774 from Halifax and Tyrrell. It was named in honor of Josiah Martin, the last Royal Governor of North Carolina. It is probable that this county's name would have been changed like those of Dobbs and Tryon but for the popularity of Alexander Martin, who was governor, 1782-1785 and l789-1792. It is in the eastern section of the State, and is bounded by Washington, Beaufort, Pitt, Edgecombe, Halifax and Bertie counties. The present land area is 461.17 square miles. The population from the 2010 Census was 24,505. Of that population, 13,019 were white, 10,651 were black or African American, 73 were American Indian, 71 were Asian, 10 were Pacific Islander and 434 were of a different race. Another 247 were reported to be of two or more races and 769 were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

The act establishing the county made no provision for the courthouse, prison and stocks. However, a law was passed making provision for levying special taxes for the county seat. There is nothing to indicate the location. In 1779 Williamston, first called Squhawky, was laid out on the land of Thomas Hunter. Williamston is the county seat.

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Parts of Martin County are in the Tar-Pamlico River Basin and parts are in the Roanoke River Basin. It is a part of the Coastal Plain region of the state.

References:

"American Factfinder." 2011. U. S. Census Bureau. Online at http://factfinder2.census.gov/. Accessed 3/3/2011.

Corbitt, David L. 2000. The Formation of the North Carolina Counties, 1663-1943. Sixth printing. Raleigh: State Department of Archives and History.

Powell, William Stevens, and Michael R. Hill. 2010. The North Carolina gazetteer: a dictionary of Tar Heel places and their history. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press.

Additional resources:

North Carolina Digital Collections (Government & Heritage Library and NC State Archives)

NC LIVE resources

NC Natural Heritage Program database

WorldCat (Searches numerous library catalogs)