Martin County, North Carolina

Martin County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 22,031.^[1] Its county seat is Williamston.^[2]

Martin County was formed in 1774 from the southeastern part of Halifax County and the western part of Tyrrell County. It was named for Josiah Martin, the governor of North Carolina from 1771 to 1776.^[3] Whereas Dobbs County and Tryon County, North Carolina, named for his predecessors, were abolished after American independence, Martin County was neither abolished nor renamed.

The Martin County Courthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.^[4]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 456.70 square miles (1,182.8 km²), of which 456.41 square miles (1,182.1 km²) is land and 0.29 square miles (0.75 km²) (0.06%) is water.^[5]

• Fort Branch Civil War Site
• Lower Roanoke River Wetlands Game Land (part)^[6]

• Conoho Creek
• Etheridge Creek
• Gardiners Creek
• Hardison Mill Creek
• Long Creek
• Roanoke River
• Smithwick Creek
• Tranters Creek
• Welch Creek

• Bertie County – northeast
• Washington County – east
• Beaufort County – southeast
• Pitt County – southwest
• Edgecombe County – west
• Halifax County – northwest

• Martin County Airport

As of the 2020 census, there were 22,031 people, 9,554 households, and 6,195 families residing in the county.^[16][1]

The median age was 47.9 years. 20.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 24.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 87.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 84.1 males age 18 and over.^[16]

The racial makeup of the county was 52.8% White, 40.5% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.6% from some other race, and 3.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.1% of the population.^[17]

25.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 74.9% lived in rural areas.^[18]

There were 9,554 households in the county, of which 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 40.6% were married-couple households, 19.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 35.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[16]

There were 11,080 housing units, of which 13.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 68.0% were owner-occupied and 32.0% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.9%.^[16]

At the 2000 census,^[19] there were 25,593 people, 10,020 households, and 7,194 families residing in the county. The population density was 56 people per square mile (22 people/km²). There were 10,930 housing units at an average density of 24 units per square mile (9.3 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 52.54% White, 45.37% Black or African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.90% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. 2.06% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 10,020 households, out of which 31.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.30% were married couples living together, 17.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.20% were non-families. 25.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.50% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 26.80% from 25 to 44, 25.00% from 45 to 64, and 15.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 86.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,793, and the median income for a family was $35,428. Males had a median income of $29,818 versus $19,167 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,102. About 16.30% of families and 20.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.50% of those under age 18 and 25.70% of those age 65 or over.

Martin County is a member of the Mid-East Commission regional council of governments.

Martin County is a historically Democratic county; in 2004, it voted Republican for only the fourth time, the first three having been in the Republican landslides of 1872, 1972, and 1984. Barack Obama won the county back for the Democratic Party in both 2008 and 2012, but in 2016, it narrowly backed Donald Trump. In 2020, it narrowly supported Trump again, voting for a losing Republican nominee for the first time ever.^[20] On the same day, Martin County voted to reelect Democratic Governor Roy Cooper in the North Carolina gubernatorial election.

The primary and secondary public school functions are performed by Martin County Schools, a district covering the entire county. Martin Community College is located in Williamston.

• Bear Grass
• Everetts
• Hamilton
• Hassell
• Jamesville
• Oak City
• Parmele
• Robersonville
• Williamston (county seat and largest community)

• Annie Moore Cherry, professor, author, and playwright
• Wilber Hardee, founder of Hardee's
• William Drew Robeson I, minister of Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church
• Gaylord Perry, hall of fame Major League Baseball pitcher.

• List of counties in North Carolina
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Martin County, North Carolina
• North Carolina in the American Civil War

• Geographic data related to Martin County, North Carolina at OpenStreetMap
• Official website
• NCGenWeb Martin County, genealogy resources for the county