Martin, Kentucky

Not to be confused with Martin County, Kentucky.

Martin, Kentucky
City
Main Street in Martin
Location of Martin in Floyd County, Kentucky.
Coordinates: 37°34′22″N82°45′10″W / 37.57278°N 82.75278°W / 37.57278; -82.75278
Country	United States
State	Kentucky
County	Floyd
Incorporated	1920
Government
• Type	Mayor-Council
• Mayor	Sam Howell
Area [1]
• Total	0.76 sq mi (1.95 km2)
• Land	0.73 sq mi (1.90 km2)
• Water	0.02 sq mi (0.06 km2)
Elevation [2]	656 ft (200 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	513
• Density	700.82/sq mi (270.62/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	41649
Area code	606
FIPS code	21-50286
GNIS feature ID	497596 [2]

Martin is a home rule-class city in Floyd County, Kentucky, in the United States. The population was 634 as of the 2010 census. ^[3]

History

Martin developed as a coal mining community in the early 1900s. Its first post office, established in 1910, was named "Bucks Branch" after a tributary of Beaver Creek, the stream that runs through the city. In 1913, the community was renamed "Smalley" after a local landowner, Smalley Crisp. By 1915, however, the community had been renamed "Martin" after the postmaster, Martin Van Allen. The post office began officially using this name in 1926. ^[4]

Geography

Martin is located near the center of Floyd County. Kentucky Routes 80 and 122 run along the western side of the city. KY 80 leads southwest 41 miles (66 km) to Hazard and north 5 miles (8 km) to U.S. Route 23 at a point 3 miles (5 km) south of Prestonsburg, the county seat. KY 122 leads northwest by a narrower road 11 miles (18 km) to Prestonsburg and south 4 miles (6 km) to Printer. Kentucky Route 1428 (signed as Main Street within the city) connects Martin with Allen to the northeast.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city of Martin has a total area of 0.75 square miles (1.95 km²), of which 0.02 square miles (0.05 km²), or 2.67%, is water. ^[3] Beaver Creek, a tributary of the Levisa Fork, flows northward through the center of Martin.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1930	799		—
1940	957		19.8%
1950	1,170		22.3%
1960	992		−15.2%
1970	786		−20.8%
1980	827		5.2%
1990	694		−16.1%
2000	633		−8.8%
2010	634		0.2%
2020	513		−19.1%
U.S. Decennial Census [5]

As of the census ^[6] of 2000, there were 633 people, 295 households, and 166 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,357.5 inhabitants per square mile (524.1/km²). There were 339 housing units at an average density of 727.0 per square mile (280.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.31% White, 0.32% Native American, 1.11% Asian, 1.11% Pacific Islander, and 0.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.95% of the population.

There were 295 households, out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.2% were married couples living together, 21.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.4% were non-families. 40.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.08 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.6% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 77.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $12,917, and the median income for a family was $18,571. Males had a median income of $35,469 versus $19,167 for females. The per capita income for the city was $10,773. About 46.1% of families and 44.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 64.8% of those under age 18 and 19.5% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Martin uses a mayor–council form of government. The current mayor is Sam Howell. The representative body of the city of Martin is the city council. The council members include: Gary Akers, Bobby Dingus, April Gayheart, Charles Justice, Eulene Ratliff, and James (Jim) Reynolds. ^[7]

Education

Martin's public schools are operated by Floyd County Schools. The following schools are in Martin:

• May Valley Elementary School
• Renaissance Learning Center

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
2. "Martin". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved June 6, 2024.
3. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001), Martin city, Kentucky". American FactFinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
4. Robert Rennick, Kentucky Place Names (University Press of Kentucky, 1984), p. 189.
5. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
6. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
7. Kentucky Secretary of State-Land Office Retrieved on 2010-04-12

Further reading

• Slatalla, Michelle, The Town on Beaver Creek: The Story of a Lost Kentucky Community, Random House, New York, 2006 ISBN   978-0-375-50905-6