Martinsville, Virginia
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| Martinsville, Virginia | |||
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| Coordinates: | |||
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Virginia | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor | Kimble Reynolds | ||
| Area | |||
| - Total | 11.0 sq mi (28.5 km²) | ||
| - Land | 11.0 sq mi (28.4 km²) | ||
| - Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.1 km²) | ||
| Elevation | 1,017 ft (310 m) | ||
| Population (2000) | |||
| - Total | 15,416 | ||
| - Density | 1,406.6/sq mi (543.1/km²) | ||
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) | ||
| ZIP codes | 24112-24115 | ||
| Area code(s) | 276 | ||
| FIPS code | 51-49784[1] | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 1498514[2] | ||
| Website: http://www.ci.martinsville.va.us | |||
Martinsville is an independent city located within the confines of Henry County, Virginia. The population was 15,416 at the 2000 census. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Martinsville with Henry county for statistical purposes. Martinsville is home to the paper clip-shaped Martinsville Speedway, the shortest track in NASCAR stock car racing (0.526 mi) and also one of the first paved "speedways", being built in 1947.
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[edit] History
Martinsville was founded by American Revolutionary War General Joseph Martin, who had an estate called Scuffle Hill on the Smith River, on the present-day southern city limits. The city's main industry for a century was furniture construction, and today Virginia furniture makers still reside in the region. Shortly after World War II, DuPont built a chemical manufacturing plant. The booming chemical industry led to Martinsville declaring itself an independent city in 1928, while still retaining its status as county seat.
DuPont later built a large manufacturing plant for producing nylon, a vital war material, which made the city a target for strategic bombing during the Cold War. This nylon production jump-started the growth of the textiles industry in the area. For several years Martinsville was known as the "Sweatshirt Capital of the World." In the early 1990s, changing global economic conditions and new trade treaties made Martinsville textiles and furniture manufacturing economically unsustainable. Many firms closed shop and laid off thousands of workers. Currently, the city is repositioning itself long-term as a center for technology development and manufacturing. Due to the local government's inability to fund certain services, in the near future the city of Martinsville may decide to legally convert into the town of Martinsville.
Recently, MZM, inc. opened a facility in Martinsville as part of the Cunningham Scandal. Illegal contributions were made to US Representative Virgil Goode's campaign for the purpose of securing government funding to open the facility.
The lone high school within the Martinsville City School District is Martinsville High School which averages about 900 students. Its mascot is the bulldog and the school colors are red and white. The school's varsity men's basketball team competes in the Virginia AA High School division and won its most recent state championship in March 2006. This victory makes Martinsville High School the only high school in the Commonwealth of Virginia to win 13 state titles. The Martinsville City Public Schools system has 1 high school, 1 middle school, 2 elementary schools, and 1 preschool.
Additionally, there is a private PS-12 school in Martinsville, Carlisle School. The school serves approximately 400 students, about 100 of them high school students.
Martinsville is also home to the Virginia Museum of Natural History, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, and Piedmont Arts Association, an affiliate of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.0 square miles (28.5 km²), of which, 11.0 square miles (28.4 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.45%) is water. The north side of the city has the highest average elevation. The east side elevation slopes gradually down to the Smith River on the south side. The west side is quite hilly, full of ups and downs.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 15,416 people, 6,498 households, and 4,022 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,407.1 people per square mile (543.1/km²). There were 7,249 housing units at an average density of 661.7/sq mi (255.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 55.38% White, 42.55% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.69% from other races, and 0.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.32% of the population.
There were 6,498 households out of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.0% were married couples living together, 19.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.1% were non-families. 34.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.6% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 82.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,441, and the median income for a family was $35,321. Males had a median income of $28,530 versus $21,367 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,251. About 14.0% of families and 19.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.6% of those under age 18 and 16.9% of those age 65 or over.
Recently the U.S. Census Bureau designated Martinsville and Henry County as a micropolitan area, with a population of over 79,000 people. Martinsville and Henry County are part of the Greater Southern Virginia Area, which includes the city of Danville, the town of South Boston, Pittsylvania County, and Halifax County. The city of Danville has a population of 49,000, and Pittsylvania County has a population of over 55,000 people.
[edit] Notable residents
Rabih Abdullah - National Football League player
Buddy Arrington - NASCAR driver
Baton Bob - Costumed street performer
John Robert Brown (Virginia politician) - US House of Representatives
Johnny Bryant - Drummer for Ray Charles band
Thomas G. Burch - American farmer, tobacco manufacturer, and politician (US House of Representatives and US Senate)
Greg Gaines - National Football League player
Carl Hairston - National Football League player
Patrick Henry - American patriot (lived on Leatherwood plantation, outside of current city limits)
Magdalen Hsu-Li - American singer-songwriter, painter, speaker, poet, and activist
Randy Hundley - Major League Baseball player
Todd Hundley - Major League Baseball player
J. C. Martin - Major League Baseball player
Joseph Martin (general) - American Revolutionary War general
Barry Michaels - American radio personality
Shawn Moore - National Football League and Canadian Football League player
Stephen Mark Rainey - Author of novels, short stories, and various works of nonfiction
Nancy Redd - Miss Virginia 2003, Top 10 in Miss America 2004
Sonny Wade - Canadian Football League player
Lou Whitaker - Major League Baseball player
Red Top Young - Blues, rhythm and blues, country, rock & roll, and jazz musician
[edit] References
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
[edit] External links
- City of Martinsville
- Martinsville Bulletin
- Martinsville Speedway
- New College Institute
- Virginia Museum of Natural History
- Old Photos
- Martinsville, Virginia is at coordinates Coordinates:
