Martin

History

Martin is named for Captain William Martin. William Martin was born in Halifax County, Virginia in 1806, and moved to Weakley County, Tennessee with his wife Sarah in 1832. Captain Martin prospered through tobacco farming and began working to establish a railroad connection in what would later become Martin in 1852. 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. Martin was initially named Green Briar Glade and then renamed Frost in honor of an official of the Illinois Central Railroad. 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. In 1878, a yellow fever outbreak infected 400 of the 500 inhabitants and killed 52. 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. Esquire listed Martin as one of the happiest towns in the United States in 1970.

Geography

Martin is located at (36.341836, -88.851647). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and , or 0.32%, is water. * U.S. Route 45E (Elm St., Lindell St.) * State Route 22 * State Route 431 (Main Street, University Street) * State Route 43 (Skyhawk Parkway)

Largest nearby schools

• Westview High School
  High · Martin · 560 students · 11.7:1 ratio
• Dresden Elementary
  Elementary · Dresden · 467 students · 15.1:1 ratio
• Martin Primary
  Elementary · Martin · 451 students · 18:1 ratio
• Martin Middle School
  Middle · Martin · 446 students · 18.6:1 ratio
• Martin Elementary
  Elementary · Martin · 367 students · 14.1:1 ratio
• Dresden Middle School
  Middle · Dresden · 338 students · 14.7:1 ratio
• Sharon School
  Elementary · Sharon · 168 students · 7.3:1 ratio
• Weakley County Center For Adult Continuing Education
  High · Dresden