Martinsville, Virginia

20th century

Many African American churches, schools and businesses were established along Fayette Street in the early 20th century.^[19] Dr. Dana Olden Baldwin, the area's first Black physician, moved to Martinsville in 1910. Baldwin's entrepreneurial vision expanded the number of businesses along Fayette Street, creating "Baldwin's Block" as an epicenter of African American commerce and social life during the racial segregation of Jim Crow laws.^[19]

DuPont in 1941 built a large manufacturing plant for producing textile nylon filament, a vital war material. During the Cold War, the city was identified as a target for strategic bombing by the Soviet Union. This nylon production jump-started the growth of the textiles industry in the area.^[20][21]

In 1947, the paperclip-shaped oval Martinsville Speedway opened. In use by NASCAR since their inaugural season in 1949, it is still in operation by the racing organization today. The speedway is the shortest oval in NASCAR.^[22]

For several years Martinsville was known as the "Sweatshirt Capital of the World", and in the 1980s it boasted of having more millionaires per capita than any city in America.^[23][24][25]

Business leaders in the mid-20th century, like Whitney Shumate, worked to improve sub-standard housing in Martinsville. He helped clear out a portion of Martinsville called "Mill Town", which had sub-standard rental housing originally provided for 19th century employees of a now defunct cotton mill. New homes were constructed in the neighborhood, built with sound materials and with all city services for the first time. What had originally been considered a depressed civic area rapidly became a center of progress as middle class Black residents finally began to prosper. As an editorial in the local newspaper noted, "One of the projects which won him considerable attention and praise was the instigation of the redevelopment of what was once known as Martinsville Cotton Mill Village. He and associates purchased about 50 houses in North Martinsville, and using private capital rather than federal aid, rebuilt them into comfortably inhabitable homes, making it possible for many persons to purchase homes within their financial range."^[26]

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; the production moved offshore to other countries.^[27] The city is repositioning itself long-term as a center for technology development and manufacturing.

MZM, Inc. opened a facility in Martinsville as part of the Cunningham scandal.^[28][29]

Memorial Hospital of Martinsville (now combined with the hospital in Danville, Virginia to become Sovah Health.) serves the greater Martinsville and Henry County area.^[30] The earliest local hospital was the 50-bed Shackelford Hospital,^[31] founded by Jesse Martin Shackelford,^[32] who was later joined by surgeon son John Armstrong Shackelford, an early graduate of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.^[33] Founder of the Hospital Association of Virginia, Jesse Shackelford was an early advocate of comprehensive care for state citizens. Shackleford recruited Dr. Dana O. Baldwin to work with him as an anesthesiologist.^[19] Baldwin established his own medical practice to provide care for Martinsville's African American population and opened the first Black hospital, St. Mary's, in 1926.^[34] Shackelford Hospital was sold in 1946, and Martinsville General Hospital subsequently opened with John Shackelford as its first chief surgeon.^[35] In 1970 Memorial Hospital of Martinsville opened its doors, replacing Martinsville General.

21st century

In 2008, then Illinois Democratic Senator and 44th President of the United States Barack Obama held a campaign stop in Martinsville.^[36][37]

On January 2, 2013, Kim Adkins was re-elected as mayor.^[38]

In August 2021, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam pardoned all 7 African-American men of the Martinsville Seven.^[39][40][41]

On January 3, 2023, L.C. Jones was elected as new mayor.^[42]

In April 2026, the City Council released a forensic audit that studied large issues with financial controls during former City Manager Aretha Ferrell-Benavides's term of employment. While many expenses failed to comply with city policy and best financial practices, they were not identified as rising to the level of fraudulence. Other issues included employment documentation and outsize travel and office expenses of the City Manager's office. Reforms have been underway, including increasing financial controls, revisiting more than 25 policies, requiring Council approval for changes to the budget, increasing oversight over hiring, and improving standards for documentation.^[43]

Relationship with Henry County

Martinsville's relationship with Henry County is somewhat complex. Martinsville was fully included in Henry County's jurisdiction until it was declared a city by court order in 1928.^[44] As with all cities in Virginia, Martinsville's incorporation as a city made it independent from Henry County's jurisdiction. Although Martinsville technically remains the county seat of Henry County, nearby Collinsville serves as the de facto county seat, as it is where the county's primary administrative and judicial offices are located. However, the future of this jurisdictional arrangement became unclear when Martinsville's city council unanimously voted in favor of beginning the process of reverting from a city to a town (which would reincorporate it into the county's jurisdiction) on December 10, 2019,^[45] citing economic and demographic concerns.^[46] The time frame for this reversion remains unclear, as the city's petition to revert must first be approved by a three-judge panel^[46] in the state courts, after which begins a complex process of negotiation with the county over the division of responsibilities.^[45][47] On January 11, 2023, the city council voted to end the reversion process.^[48][49]

Climate

Racial and ethnic composition

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Martinsville had a population of 13,485. The median age was 44.6 years. 21.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 85.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 81.4 males age 18 and over.^[72]

99.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.1% lived in rural areas.^[73]

There were 5,909 households in Martinsville, of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 31.1% were married-couple households, 21.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 41.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 38.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[72]

There were 7,053 housing units, of which 16.2% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 13.3%.^[72]

2010 census

As of the census^[75] of 2010, there were 13,821 people, 6,498 households, and 4,022 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,407.1 people per square mile (543.3 people/km²). There were 7,249 housing units at an average density of 661.7 per square mile (255.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 48.38% White, 45.45% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.69% from other races, and 0.81% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 5.70% 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.

The age distribution was 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. As of August 2010, the city's unemployment rate stood at 20 percent.^[76]

Local government

The City of Martinsville operates under a council-manager government.^[90] The city council has five members who serve four-year terms. Every two years, the council elects a mayor and vice-mayor from among its members. An appointed city manager controls daily operations and manages the city's activities.

Current council members:^[91]

• L.C. Jones, mayor
• Kathy Lawson, vice mayor
• Sands Anderson, city attorney
• Aaron Rawls, council member
• Rayshaun Gravely, council member
• Julian Mei, council member
• Robert Fincher, (interim) city manager

Federal, state and county representation

The city of Martinsville and also Henry County is located in Virginia's 9th congressional district and is currently served by Republican Morgan Griffith.^[92] Martinsville is served by one member of the Virginia House of Delegates, Eric Philips (R-48th), and one member of the Virginia Senate, Bill Stanley (R-20th).^[93][94]

Politics

Beginning in the 1990s, Martinsville has consistently supported Democratic presidential candidates. In 2008 Barack Obama performed better in the city than any Democrat since 1944 with over 63% of the vote, and in all but one election since then Democrats have continued to obtain over 60% of the vote.^{[citation needed]}

Interstate highways

• I-73 (future)
• US 58
• US 220
• SR 57
• SR 87
• SR 108
• SR 174
• SR 457

Public transportation

The Piedmont Area Regional Transit (PART) operates and serves the city of Martinsville. Routes include parts of both Martinsville and Henry county.^[96]

Air

Martinsville is served by two commercial airports. Roanoke–Blacksburg Regional Airport (IATA: ROA) in Roanoke, and Piedmont Triad International Airport (IATA: GSO) in Greensboro, North Carolina.^[97]

The Blue Ridge Airport is used for general aviation and is located 9 miles (14 km) outside the city.^[98]

Events and festivals

• Henry County Fair: An annual Fair held every September at the Martinsville Speedway.^[131]
• Martinsville Uptown Oktoberfest: An annual family friendly event held in Uptown Martinsville featuring music, crafts, beer gardens, food, and many children's activities.^[132][133]
• Wine by the River Festival^[134]
• Rooster Walk Music & Arts Festival^[135]
• Martinsville Kiwanis Pancake Day: An annual fundraiser for the Kiwanis Youth Foundation that provides scholarships to the youth in the Martinsville-Henry County community^[136]

Print

• Martinsville Bulletin, Martinsville's daily newspaper serving the city of Martinsville and Henry County, Virginia and is owned by Berkshire Hathaway.^[196]

Television

Martinsville is served by television stations in the Roanoke/Lynchburg television market. In addition Martinsville also receive television stations in the Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point television market.

• WDBJ, CBS affiliate based in Roanoke^[197]
• WSLS, NBC affiliate based in Roanoke^[198]
• WSET, ABC affiliate based in Lynchburg^[199]
• WFXR, Fox affiliate based in Roanoke^[200]
• WWCW, Fox affiliate based in Lynchburg^[201]
• WZBJ, an Independent station, based in Roanoke, licensed in Danville^[202]
• WPXR, ION affiliate based in Roanoke

Radio stations

• WHEE 1370, broadcast station based in Martinsville^[203]
• WROV-FM 96.3, commercial FM radio station licensed to Martinsville^[204]