Martin, Georgia Explained

Official Name:Martin, Georgia
Settlement Type:Town
Mapsize:250px
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Georgia
Subdivision Type2:Counties
Subdivision Name2:Stephens, Franklin
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:6.56
Area Land Km2:6.50
Area Water Km2:0.06
Area Total Sq Mi:2.53
Area Land Sq Mi:2.51
Area Water Sq Mi:0.02
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:336
Population Density Km2:51.67
Population Density Sq Mi:133.81
Timezone:Eastern (EST)
Utc Offset:-5
Timezone Dst:EDT
Utc Offset Dst:-4
Coordinates:34.4867°N -83.1856°W
Elevation M:280
Elevation Ft:919
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:30557
Area Code:706
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:13-50008[2]
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:0317732[3]
Website:http://www.townofmartin.com

Martin is a town in Stephens and Franklin counties in the U.S. state of Georgia. The population was 381 at the 2010 census,[4] up from 311 in 2000.

History

Martin was incorporated in 1891. Its first settler, Henry C. Black, was the Air Line Railroad agent at its station (set up in 1877) at the junction of Red Hollow Road and the railroad.[5] Henry Black built houses and established stores around the junction, which attracted other settlers. The Red Hollow Road was an important conduit for farm products from the mountain areas to Augusta and Savannah. The town was named for John Martin, a Rhode Island man who became governor of Georgia in 1782.[6]

Geography

Martin is located in southeastern Stephens County at 34.4867°N -83.1856°W (34.486662, -83.185656)[7] A small portion extends south into Franklin County. It is bordered to the north by the town of Avalon. Georgia State Route 17 passes through Martin, leading northwest to Toccoa and southeast 6miles to Lavonia.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town of Martin has a total area of 6.6km2, of which 0.06sqkm, or 0.85%, is water.[4]

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 311 people, 127 households, and 84 families residing in the town. The population density was 207.8sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 153 housing units at an average density of 102.2sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the town was 72.03% White, 26.37% African American, 0.96% Asian, 0.32% from other races, and 0.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.64% of the population.

There were 127 households, out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.7% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $29,000, and the median income for a family was $43,750. Males had a median income of $31,333 versus $19,191 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,009. About 3.4% of families and 10.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.0% of those under age 18 and 41.9% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

As of September 2011, the town of Martin has a few Main Street business. Martin Tire is an example, an automotive repair shop. During the summer of 2011 an ice cream shop was opened up with a moving water wheel decoration. There is also an antique shop and a small plant nursery that is open seasonally. Shops tend to come and go at the mercy of consumers being that Martin is such a small town.

There is also a useable ball-field that very few take advantage of. It’s fenced in beside the fire department and is in a fairly good spot to be used for any correlation to baseball, softball, kick ball or whatever you choose to play.

Martin is the location of Shepherd's Hill Academy, a private therapeutic boarding school.

Events

Martin has an annual "Fall Festival". The festival is located in the main street of town, running approximately one quarter mile and occurs on the last Saturday of October of each year. The festival generally includes a live band, food vendors, local handmade crafts, and commercially made items.

Notable people

U.S. Congressman Phillip M. Landrum was from Martin.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. December 18, 2021.
  2. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. January 31, 2008.
  3. Web site: US Board on Geographic Names. January 31, 2008. United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007.
  4. Web site: Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001), Martin town, Georgia. U.S. Census Bureau. American FactFinder. April 28, 2016. https://archive.today/20200213051301/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1350008. February 13, 2020. dead.
  5. Web site: Seibert. David. Red Hollow Road historical marker. Digital Library of Georgia. October 13, 2016.
  6. Book: Cooksey. Elizabeth B.. Stephens County. 2014. New Georgia Encyclopedia. May 11, 2016.
  7. Web site: US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990. United States Census Bureau. April 23, 2011. February 12, 2011.