Martin, Tennessee

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.

Martin, Tennessee
City
Businesses along Lindell Street
Location of Martin in Weakley County, Tennessee.
Coordinates: 36°20′31″N 88°51′6″W
Country	United States
State	Tennessee
County	Weakley
Area [1]
• Total	12.45 sq mi (32.24 km2)
• Land	12.40 sq mi (32.13 km2)
• Water	0.04 sq mi (0.11 km2)
Elevation [2]	407 ft (124 m)
Population  (2020)[3]
• Total	10,825
• Density	872.63/sq mi (336.92/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes	38237-38238
Area code	731
FIPS code	47-46240[4]
GNIS feature ID	1292789[2]
Website	http://www.cityofmartin.net/

History

Martin is named for Captain William Martin.^[5] William Martin was born in Halifax County, Virginia in 1806, and moved to Weakley County, Tennessee with his wife Sarah in 1832.^[5] Captain Martin prospered through tobacco farming and began working to establish a railroad connection in what would later become Martin in 1852.^[5] 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.^[5]

Martin was initially named Green Briar Glade and then renamed Frost in honor of an official of the Illinois Central Railroad.^[6] 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 laid 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.^[7]

In 1878, a yellow fever outbreak infected 400 of the 500 inhabitants and killed 52.^[8] 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.^[9]

Esquire listed Martin as one of the happiest towns in the United States in 1970.^[7]

Geography

Martin is located at 36°20′31″N 88°51′6″W (36.341836, -88.851647).^[10]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.4 square miles (32 km²), of which 12.4 square miles (32 km²) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km²) (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

Climate data for Martin, Tennessee (University of Tennessee at Martin) 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1936–present
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	77 (25)	81 (27)	86 (30)	90 (32)	98 (37)	107 (42)	105 (41)	106 (41)	105 (41)	96 (36)	87 (31)	78 (26)	107 (42)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	45.9 (7.7)	50.8 (10.4)	59.5 (15.3)	70.2 (21.2)	78.8 (26.0)	86.5 (30.3)	89.8 (32.1)	89.5 (31.9)	83.4 (28.6)	72.4 (22.4)	59.6 (15.3)	49.3 (9.6)	69.6 (20.9)
Daily mean °F (°C)	36.2 (2.3)	40.5 (4.7)	48.7 (9.3)	58.7 (14.8)	68.3 (20.2)	76.3 (24.6)	79.7 (26.5)	78.4 (25.8)	71.5 (21.9)	59.7 (15.4)	48.5 (9.2)	39.8 (4.3)	58.9 (14.9)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	26.5 (−3.1)	30.3 (−0.9)	37.8 (3.2)	47.3 (8.5)	57.8 (14.3)	66.2 (19.0)	69.7 (20.9)	67.4 (19.7)	59.6 (15.3)	47.1 (8.4)	37.4 (3.0)	30.2 (−1.0)	48.1 (8.9)
Record low °F (°C)	−18 (−28)	−14 (−26)	−2 (−19)	20 (−7)	31 (−1)	44 (7)	48 (9)	44 (7)	33 (1)	17 (−8)	0 (−18)	−13 (−25)	−18 (−28)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	4.18 (106)	4.74 (120)	5.32 (135)	5.29 (134)	5.66 (144)	4.30 (109)	4.24 (108)	3.45 (88)	3.77 (96)	3.98 (101)	4.48 (114)	5.31 (135)	54.72 (1,390)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	1.2 (3.0)	1.4 (3.6)	0.4 (1.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.1 (0.25)	0.0 (0.0)	3.1 (7.9)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)	10.6	9.7	11.6	10.9	11.9	9.6	8.2	7.7	7.6	8.2	9.4	11.5	116.9
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)	0.9	0.9	0.1	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.1	0.3	2.3
Source: NOAA[11][12]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1900	1,730		—
1910	2,228		28.8%
1920	2,837		27.3%
1930	3,300		16.3%
1940	3,587		8.7%
1950	4,082		13.8%
1960	4,750		16.4%
1970	7,781		63.8%
1980	8,898		14.4%
1990	8,600		−3.3%
2000	10,515		22.3%
2010	11,473		9.1%
2020	10,825		−5.6%
Sources:[13][14][3]

2020 census

Martin racial composition^[15]

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 848.9 inhabitants per square mile (327.8/km²). There were 4,106 housing units at an average density of 331.5 per square mile (128.0/km²). 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%.^[4]

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

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

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

• WCMT-AM 1410 100.5FM
• WCMT-FM 101.3
• WUTM-FM 90.3
• (WCDZ FM 95.1 and 102.9FM)
• WCMT-AM 1410 "your best friend"

Points of interest

• University of Tennessee at Martin
• University of Tennessee Botanical Gardens
• Westview High School (Tennessee)

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

See also

• United States portal

• List of cities in Tennessee
• Tennessee Soybean Festival