Martin, Tennessee

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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.<ref name="William Martin">Template:Cite web</ref> William Martin was born in Halifax County, Virginia in 1806, and moved to Weakley County, Tennessee with his wife Sarah in 1832.<ref name="William Martin"/> Captain Martin prospered through tobacco farming and began working to establish a railroad connection in what would later become Martin in 1852.<ref name="William Martin"/> 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.<ref name="William Martin"/>

Martin was initially named Green Briar Glade and then renamed Frost in honor of an official of the Illinois Central Railroad.Template:Sfn 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 layed 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.Template:Sfn

In 1878, a yellow fever outbreak infected 400 of the 500 inhabitants and killed 52.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn

Esquire listed Martin as one of the happiest towns in the United States in 1970.Template:Sfn

Geography

Martin is located at Template:Coord (36.341836, -88.851647).<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (0.32%) is water.

Major roads and highways

U.S. Route 45E (Elm St., Lindell St.)
State Route 22
State Route 431 (Main Street, University Street)
State Route 43 (Skyhawk Parkway)

Climate

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Demographics

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2020 census

Martin racial composition<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Race	Num.	Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)	7,892	72.91%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	1,910	17.64%
Native American	14	0.13%
Asian	131	1.21%
Other/Mixed	549	5.08%
Hispanic or Latino	329	3.04%

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 Template:Convert. There were 4,106 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. 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%.<ref name="GR2" />

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

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Mayors of Union Springs, Alabama
#	Mayor	Term start	Term end	Note	Reference
1	John Smith	1874	1875	Appointed	Template:Sfn
2	Baldwin Crawford	1875	1877	Elected	Template:Sfn
3	L.A. Blake	1877	1878	Died of yellow fever	Template:Sfn
4	J.P. Beach	1878	1880		Template:Sfn
5	J.M. Ridgeway	1880	1886		Template:Sfn
6	John L. Brooks	1886	1894		Template:Sfn
7	Ruffan R. Aycock	1894	1896		Template:Sfn
8	James E. Kennedy	1896	1900		Template:Sfn
9	George E. Bowden	1900	1902	Brother of Thomas A. Bowden	Template:Sfn
10	Thomas A. Bowden	1902	1902	Brother of George E. Bowden; Died two months into term	Template:Sfn
11	Wiley B. Blakemore	1902	1908		Template:Sfn
12	J.T. Perkins	1908	1914		Template:Sfn
13	A.B. Adam	1914	1918		Template:Sfn
14	J.D. Jones	1918	1920		Template:Sfn
15	George P. Hurt	1920	1922		Template:Sfn
16	D. Walter Harper	1922	1928		Template:Sfn
17	George M. Brooks	1928	1930		Template:Sfn
18	L.G. McMillion	1930	1931	Resigned due to poor health	Template:Sfn
19	George M. Brooks	1931	1932		Template:Sfn
20	L.A. Elliott	1932	1934		Template:Sfn
21	George M. Brooks	1934	1939		Template:Sfn
22	Frank Smith	1939	1940		Template:Sfn
23	George M. Brooks	1940	1950		Template:Sfn
24	Jack Vincent	1950	1954		Template:Sfn
25	Milburn Gardner	1954	1957	Died in office	Template:Sfn
26	Max Burchard	1957	1958		Template:Sfn
27	Jack Vincent	1958	1962		Template:Sfn
28	Doug Murphy	1962	1966		Template:Sfn
29	Cliff Weldon	1966	1974		Template:Sfn
30	Tom Copeland	1974	1976		Template:Sfn
31	H.C. Brundige	1976	1982		Template:Sfn
32	Tom Copeland	1982	1984		Template:Sfn
33	Virginia Weldon	1984	1988	Wife of Cliff Weldon	Template:Sfn Template:Sfn
34	Bob Peeler	1988	1990		Template:Sfn
35	Carl Savage	1990	1992		Template:Sfn
36	Larry Taylor	1992	2002		Template:Sfn
37	Randy Brundige	2002	Present		Template:Sfn

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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

Chad Clifton - NFL player for the Green Bay Packers
Leonard Hamilton - UTM alumnus, men's basketball coach, Florida State University
Justin Harrell - NFL player for the Green Bay Packers
Crystal Renee Hayslett - Actress and costume designer, known for BET's Sistas and BET+'s Zatima
Lester Hudson - UTM alumnus, NBA player
Pat Summitt - UTM alumna, Head Coach emerita, UT Knoxville Lady Vols Basketball
Jerry Reese - UTM alumnus, General Manager, New York Giants (football)
Hayden White - narrative historian.
Lin Dunn - UTM alumna, first coach and general manager for the Seattle Storm (basketball)
Van Jones - UTM alumnus, CNN commentator, Emmy award winner
Ty Simpson - Westview alumnus, quarterback for Alabama Crimson Tide