Page Contents for Martinsville, Virginia

Statistics & Facts

Location

History & History-related items

City Attractions

Government

Chamber of Commerce.

Schools.

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Statistics & Facts

The Virginia state capital is Richmond.
The population of Martinsville is approximately 16,162 (1990), 13821 (2010).
The approximate number of families is 7,310 (1990), 6084 (2010).
The amount of land area in Martinsville is 28.377 sq. kilometers.
The amount of surface water is 0.135 sq kilometers.
The distance from Martinsville to Washington DC is 222 miles.
The distance to the Virginia state capital is 147 miles. (as the crow flies)
Martinsville is positioned 36.68 degrees north of the equator and 79.86 degrees west of the prime meridian.

Location

west of Danville in southern Virginia near the North Carolina border. Nearby communities include: Stanleytown, Bassett, Collinsville, Fieldale, Axton and Horse Pasture. Martinsville is an independent city not associated with any county.
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History & History Related Items

During the 1500's and 1600's, it is likely that small groups of the Saura Indian tribe lived in the area encompassing Martinsville and Henry County. This is supported by artifacts found in archeological digs throughout the county. William Byrd found no evidence of Indians living in the area in 1728, when he surveyed the Virginia / North Carolina border region. The Irvine (now Smith) and Mayo Rivers were named in honor of the Byrd party's two surveyors. In the mid-1700's, the forts of Mayo and Trial were built as part of a line of forts constructed to protect the settlers from Indians throughout the colonies. Fort Trial was on the Smith River, at the mouth of Reed Creek, near the town that today is called Martinsville. George Washington visited both of these remote outposts during his 1756 inspection of frontier forts. Early roads played an important role in the settlement early growth of the region. The Pennsylvania Wagon Road, following the old Iroquois Indian War Trail, came right through the area that is today called Henry County. Settlers came to the area via that road, bringing with them their knowledge of tobacco growing. Information taken from a href="http://www.mhcchamber.com/tourism/index.cfm?topic=history&item=60&sub=20">this history page
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Attractions

The bMartinsville Speedway
PO Box 3311
Martinsville, Virginia 24112
Toll-free: 877-RACE-TIX (Tickets)

Virginia Museum of Natural History
1001 Douglas Avenue
Martinsville, VA 24112
Phone: 276-666-8600
Fax: 276-632-6487
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Martinsville City Government

City of Martinsville
55 West Church Street
Martinsville, Virginia 24112
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 1112
Martinsville, Virginia 24114-1112
Phone: 276-656-5000 Martinsville is located within Henry County but as an incorporated city in Virginia, is not affiliated with Henry County. It is a separate entity.

Martinsville Chamber

Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce
P. O. Box 709
115 Broad Street
Martinsville, Virginia 24114
Phone: 276-632-6401
Fax: 276-632-5059
Email

Martinsville Organizations

Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce
P. O. Box 709
115 Broad Street
Martinsville, Virginia 24114
Phone: 276-632-6401
Fax: 276-632-5059
Email

Martinsville Schools

Martinsville City Public Schools
202 Cleveland Avenue
P.O. Box 5548
Martinsville, VA 24115
Phone: 276-632-6313
Fax: 276-632-7576

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Henry County Public Schools
3300 Kings Mountain Road
P.O. Box 8958
Collinsville, VA 24078
Phone: 276-634-4700
Fax: 276-638-2925