Martinsville, Virginia | |
---|---|
Nickname(s): M-Ville, The 276, Titletown | |
Motto: A City Without Limits | |
Coordinates: 36°41′10″N79°52′9″W / 36.68611°N 79.86917°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Virginia |
County | None (Independent city) |
Founded | 1791 |
Incorporated (town) | 1873 |
Incorporated (city) | 1929 |
Named for | Joseph Martin |
Government | |
• Type | Council-manager |
• Mayor | L.C. Jones (I) |
• Vice Mayor | Aaron Rawls |
• Council | Martinsville City Council |
Area | |
• Total | 11.01 sq mi (28.51 km2) |
• Land | 10.96 sq mi (28.37 km2) |
• Water | 0.05 sq mi (0.14 km2) |
Elevation | 1,017 ft (310 m) |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 13,485 |
• Density | 1,200/sq mi (470/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
ZIP codes | 24112-24115 |
Area code | 276 |
FIPS code | 51-49784 [2] |
GNIS feature ID | 1498514 [3] |
Website | http://www.martinsville-va.gov |
Martinsville is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,485. [4] A community of both Southside and Southwest Virginia, it is the county seat of Henry County, [5] although the two are separate jurisdictions. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Martinsville with Henry County for statistical purposes.
Martinsville is the principal city of the Martinsville Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes the communities and towns of Axton, Bassett, Chatmoss, Collinsville, Fieldale, Horsepasture, Laurel Park, Oak Level, Sandy Level, Stanleytown, Villa Heights, Spencer and Ridgeway. The Martinsville Micropolitan Area has a population of 63,765 as of the 2020 census. [6] [7]
The paper clip-shaped Martinsville Speedway, the shortest track in the NASCAR Cup Series at 0.526 miles (847 m) and one of the first paved "speedways", is located just outside the city near the town of Ridgeway.
Martinsville was founded by American Revolutionary War General, Native American agent and explorer Joseph Martin, born in Albemarle County. [8] He developed his plantation Scuffle Hill on the banks of the Smith River near the present-day southern city limits. General Martin and revolutionary patriot Patrick Henry, who lived briefly in Henry County and for whom the county is named, were good friends. [9] [10]
DuPont in 1941 built a large manufacturing plant for producing textile nylon filament, a vital war material. During the Cold War, the city was identified as a target for strategic bombing by the Soviet Union. This nylon production jump-started the growth of the textiles industry in the area. [11] [12]
In 1947, the paperclip-shaped oval Martinsville Speedway opened. In use by NASCAR since their inaugural season in 1949, it is still in operation by the racing organization today. The speedway is the shortest oval in NASCAR. [13]
For several years Martinsville was known as the "Sweatshirt Capital of the World", and in the 1980s it boasted of having more millionaires per capita than any city in America. [14] [15] [16]
Business leaders in the mid-20th century, like Whitney Shumate, worked to improve sub-standard housing in Martinsville. He helped clear out a portion of Martinsville called "Mill Town", which had sub-standard rental housing originally provided for 19th century employees of a now defunct cotton mill. New homes were constructed in the neighborhood, built with sound materials and with all city services for the first time. What had originally been considered a depressed civic area rapidly became a center of progress as middle class Black residents finally began to prosper. As an editorial in the local newspaper noted, "One of the projects which won him considerable attention and praise was the instigation of the redevelopment of what was once known as Martinsville Cotton Mill Village. He and associates purchased about 50 houses in North Martinsville, and using private capital rather than federal aid, rebuilt them into comfortably inhabitable homes, making it possible for many persons to purchase homes within their financial range." [17]
In the early 1990s, changing global economic conditions and new trade treaties made Martinsville textiles and furniture manufacturing economically unsustainable. Many firms closed shop and laid off thousands of workers; the production moved offshore to other countries. [18] The city is repositioning itself long-term as a center for technology development and manufacturing.
MZM, Inc. opened a facility in Martinsville as part of the Cunningham scandal. [19] [20]
Memorial Hospital of Martinsville (now combined with the hospital in Danville, Virginia to become Sovah Health.) serves the greater Martinsville and Henry County area. [21] The earliest local hospital was the 50-bed Shackelford Hospital, [22] founded by Dr. Jesse Martin Shackelford, [23] who was later joined by surgeon son Dr. John Armstrong Shackelford, an early graduate of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. [24] Founder of the Hospital Association of Virginia, Dr. Jesse Shackelford was an early advocate of comprehensive care for state citizens. Shackelford Hospital was sold in 1946, and Martinsville General Hospital subsequently opened with Dr. John Shackelford as its first chief surgeon. [25] In 1970 Memorial Hospital of Martinsville opened its doors, replacing Martinsville General.
In 2008, then Illinois Democratic Senator and 44th President of the United States Barack Obama held a campaign stop in Martinsville. [26] [27]
On January 2, 2013, Kim Adkins was re-elected as mayor. [28]
In August 2021, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam pardoned all 7 African-American men of the Martinsville Seven. [29] [30] [31]
On January 3, 2023, L.C. Jones was elected as new mayor. [32]
Martinsville's relationship with Henry County is somewhat complex. Martinsville was fully included in Henry County's jurisdiction until it was declared a city by court order in 1928. [33] As with all cities in Virginia, Martinsville's incorporation as a city made it independent from Henry County's jurisdiction. Although Martinsville technically remains the county seat of Henry County, nearby Collinsville serves as the de facto county seat, as it is where the county's primary administrative and judicial offices are located. However, the future of this jurisdictional arrangement became unclear when Martinsville's city council unanimously voted in favor of beginning the process of reverting from a city to a town (which would reincorporate it into the county's jurisdiction) on December 10, 2019, [34] citing economic and demographic concerns. [35] The time frame for this reversion remains unclear, as the city's petition to revert must first be approved by a three-judge panel [35] in the state courts, after which begins a complex process of negotiation with the county over the division of responsibilities. [34] [36] On January 11, 2023, the city council voted to end the reversion process. [37] [38]
The Beaver Creek Plantation, [39] John Waddey Carter House, [40] Dry Bridge School, [41] East Church Street-Starling Avenue Historic District, [42] Fayette Street Historic District, Little Post Office, [43] Martinsville Fish Dam, [44] Martinsville Historic District, Martinsville Novelty Corporation Factory, [45] and Scuffle Hill are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. [46]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.0 square miles (28.5 km2), of which 11.0 square miles (28.5 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km2) (0.5%) is water. [47] The north side of the city has the highest average elevation. The east side slopes gradually down to the Smith River on the south side. The west side is hilly. Martinsville is located in the Southern Virginia region near the Virginia–North Carolina state line and is 17 miles (27 km) northwest of Eden, North Carolina, [48] 30 miles (48 km) northwest of Danville, [49] 48 miles (77 km) north of Greensboro, North Carolina. [50] 51 miles (82 km) south of Roanoke, [51] and 54 miles (87 km) northeast of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. [52]
Climate data for Martinsville, Virginia (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1937–present) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °F (°C) | 79 (26) | 82 (28) | 89 (32) | 92 (33) | 101 (38) | 102 (39) | 104 (40) | 105 (41) | 101 (38) | 95 (35) | 86 (30) | 82 (28) | 105 (41) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 48.4 (9.1) | 52.2 (11.2) | 60.3 (15.7) | 70.8 (21.6) | 77.7 (25.4) | 84.7 (29.3) | 88.0 (31.1) | 85.9 (29.9) | 79.8 (26.6) | 70.7 (21.5) | 60.3 (15.7) | 51.1 (10.6) | 69.2 (20.7) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 36.1 (2.3) | 38.9 (3.8) | 45.9 (7.7) | 55.6 (13.1) | 64.0 (17.8) | 72.0 (22.2) | 76.0 (24.4) | 74.2 (23.4) | 67.6 (19.8) | 56.7 (13.7) | 46.0 (7.8) | 38.7 (3.7) | 56.0 (13.3) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 23.8 (−4.6) | 25.5 (−3.6) | 31.6 (−0.2) | 40.4 (4.7) | 50.3 (10.2) | 59.2 (15.1) | 64.0 (17.8) | 62.6 (17.0) | 55.5 (13.1) | 42.8 (6.0) | 31.7 (−0.2) | 26.3 (−3.2) | 42.8 (6.0) |
Record low °F (°C) | −7 (−22) | −7 (−22) | −3 (−19) | 18 (−8) | 26 (−3) | 35 (2) | 43 (6) | 41 (5) | 30 (−1) | 14 (−10) | 5 (−15) | −2 (−19) | −7 (−22) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.83 (97) | 3.04 (77) | 4.08 (104) | 3.60 (91) | 4.50 (114) | 4.41 (112) | 4.01 (102) | 4.17 (106) | 5.09 (129) | 3.57 (91) | 3.33 (85) | 3.72 (94) | 47.35 (1,203) |
Average snowfall inches (cm) | 3.3 (8.4) | 2.4 (6.1) | 1.7 (4.3) | 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 (0.0) | 2.0 (5.1) | 9.4 (24) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 9.5 | 9.1 | 10.5 | 9.7 | 12.0 | 11.3 | 11.7 | 9.8 | 9.0 | 8.0 | 8.2 | 9.9 | 118.7 |
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 1.9 |
Source: NOAA [53] [54] |
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1880 | 289 | — | |
1900 | 2,384 | — | |
1910 | 3,368 | 41.3% | |
1920 | 4,075 | 21.0% | |
1930 | 7,705 | 89.1% | |
1940 | 10,080 | 30.8% | |
1950 | 17,251 | 71.1% | |
1960 | 18,798 | 9.0% | |
1970 | 19,653 | 4.5% | |
1980 | 18,149 | −7.7% | |
1990 | 16,162 | −10.9% | |
2000 | 15,416 | −4.6% | |
2010 | 13,821 | −10.3% | |
2020 | 13,485 | −2.4% | |
U.S. Decennial Census [55] 1790-1960 [56] 1900-1990 [57] 1990-2000 [58] 2010-2020 [59] |
Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010 [60] | Pop 2020 [59] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|
White alone (NH) | 6,707 | 5,732 | 48.53% | 42.51% |
Black or African American alone (NH) | 6,191 | 6,043 | 44.79% | 44.81% |
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 18 | 23 | 0.13% | 0.17% |
Asian alone (NH) | 127 | 116 | 0.92% | 0.86% |
Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 0 | 4 | 0.00% | 0.03% |
Some Other Race alone (NH) | 10 | 46 | 0.07% | 0.34% |
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 216 | 496 | 1.56% | 3.68% |
Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 552 | 1,025 | 3.99% | 7.60% |
Total | 13,821 | 13,485 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.
As of the census [61] of 2010, there were 13,821 people, 6,498 households, and 4,022 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,407.1 people per square mile (543.3 people/km2). There were 7,249 housing units at an average density of 661.7 per square mile (255.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 48.38% White, 45.45% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.69% from other races, and 0.81% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 5.70% of the population.
There were 6,498 households, out of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.0% were married couples living together, 19.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.1% were non-families. 34.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.89.
The age distribution was 22.6% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,441, and the median income for a family was $35,321. Males had a median income of $28,530 versus $21,367 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,251. About 14.0% of families and 19.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.6% of those under age 18 and 16.9% of those age 65 or over. As of August 2010, the city's unemployment rate stood at 20 percent. [62]
The city's chief industry for many early years was the manufacture of plug chewing tobacco. The Henry County area became known as the "plug tobacco capital of the world". [63] In the wake of the collapse of the plantation economy following the American Civil War, the local economy was reeling. Stepping into the breach were several thriving plug firms which sold their merchandise across the nation beginning in the nineteenth century.
Local families were heavily involved in these companies, bestowing their names on them and reaping sizeable profits until the early twentieth century, when the tobacco monopolies created by R.J. Reynolds and James Buchanan Duke bought out most firms. [64] (In most cases, in bold anti-competitive moves, the two tobacco titans simply shut down their acquisitions overnight. [65] These actions resulted in a U.S. government lawsuit against American Tobacco Company. [66] ) Among the earliest of these firms were D.H. Spencer & Sons and Spencer Bros. Other families soon joined in founding other early firms, including the Gravelys, the Comptons, the Ruckers, the Wittens, the Lesters and the Browns.
The city's main industry for a century was furniture construction, and today Virginia furniture makers still reside in the region. [67]
On the retail front, Liberty Fair Mall opened in 1989. [68] In 2014, it was renamed the Village of Martinsville. [69]
On October 28, 2021, it was announced the Colorado-based apparel and footwear company VF Corporation will continue to expand in Martinsville creating 82 new jobs, while investing $10 million into the area. [70] Other companies such as Georgia Pacific, Radial, Inc., Crown Holdings, and Eastman Chemical Company are also located in the area. [71] [72] [73] [74] [75]
The City of Martinsville operates under a council-manager government. [76] The city council has five members who serve four-year terms. Every two years, the council elects a mayor and vice-mayor from among its members. An appointed city manager controls daily operations and manages the city's activities.
Current council members: [77]
The city of Martinsville and also Henry County is located in Virginia's 9th congressional district and is currently served by Republican Morgan Griffith. [78] Martinsville is served by one member of the Virginia House of Delegates, Paul Krizek (D-16th), and one member of the Virginia Senate, Bill Stanley (R-20th). [79] [80]
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2024 | 2,155 | 37.99% | 3,435 | 60.55% | 83 | 1.46% |
2020 | 2,165 | 36.01% | 3,766 | 62.63% | 82 | 1.36% |
2016 | 2,149 | 36.38% | 3,533 | 59.81% | 225 | 3.81% |
2012 | 2,312 | 36.79% | 3,855 | 61.35% | 117 | 1.86% |
2008 | 2,311 | 35.44% | 4,139 | 63.48% | 70 | 1.07% |
2004 | 2,538 | 45.30% | 3,036 | 54.19% | 29 | 0.52% |
2000 | 2,560 | 44.96% | 3,048 | 53.53% | 86 | 1.51% |
1996 | 2,446 | 41.87% | 2,941 | 50.34% | 455 | 7.79% |
1992 | 2,690 | 40.65% | 3,073 | 46.44% | 854 | 12.91% |
1988 | 3,360 | 53.64% | 2,794 | 44.60% | 110 | 1.76% |
1984 | 4,234 | 58.37% | 2,942 | 40.56% | 78 | 1.08% |
1980 | 3,433 | 48.82% | 3,337 | 47.45% | 262 | 3.73% |
1976 | 3,147 | 45.38% | 3,491 | 50.34% | 297 | 4.28% |
1972 | 3,879 | 61.32% | 2,292 | 36.23% | 155 | 2.45% |
1968 | 2,618 | 35.98% | 2,727 | 37.48% | 1,931 | 26.54% |
1964 | 1,805 | 37.42% | 2,943 | 61.01% | 76 | 1.58% |
1960 | 1,729 | 49.16% | 1,699 | 48.31% | 89 | 2.53% |
1956 | 2,125 | 59.67% | 1,368 | 38.42% | 68 | 1.91% |
1952 | 1,772 | 55.83% | 1,391 | 43.82% | 11 | 0.35% |
1948 | 642 | 31.15% | 814 | 39.50% | 605 | 29.35% |
1944 | 458 | 29.49% | 1,093 | 70.38% | 2 | 0.13% |
1940 | 269 | 21.45% | 980 | 78.15% | 5 | 0.40% |
1936 | 255 | 21.11% | 949 | 78.56% | 4 | 0.33% |
1932 | 212 | 22.13% | 739 | 77.14% | 7 | 0.73% |
The Piedmont Area Regional Transit (PART) operates and serves the city of Martinsville. Routes include parts of both Martinsville and Henry county. [82]
Martinsville is served by two commercial airports. Roanoke–Blacksburg Regional Airport ( IATA : ROA) in Roanoke, and Piedmont Triad International Airport ( IATA : GSO) in Greensboro, North Carolina. [83]
The Blue Ridge Airport is used for general aviation and is located 9 miles (14 km) outside the city. [84]
The city is served by the Martinsville City Public Schools. [85] There are five public schools in Martinsville:
Piedmont Governor's School for Mathematics, Science, and Technology is a magnet school serving both 11th & 12th grade students who take advanced courses. [91]
The city is also home to the K-12 private school, Carlisle School. [92] The school serves approximately 400 students, about 130 of them are high school students. The School was established in 1968 [93]
Colleges and universities in Martinsville include the New College Institute [94] and Patrick & Henry Community College, where students can also take satellite courses through Old Dominion University. [95]
Houses of Worship in Martinsville:
Martinsville is home to the Martinsville Mustangs of the Coastal Plain League, a collegiate summer baseball league. [123] The Mustangs play at Hooker Field in Martinsville. [124] The Mustangs began play for the league's 2005 season. Martinsville was also home to two Minor league baseball teams, Martinsville Astros and Martinsville Phillies both Class-A affiliates of the Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies respectfully. [125] [126] [127]
The Martinsville area is also home to Martinsville Speedway, which opened in 1947. [128] The NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series hosts two races there every year while the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series hosts one race there every year. The speedway also host the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. [129]
Martinsville is served by television stations in the Roanoke/Lynchburg television market. In addition Martinsville also receive television stations in the Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point television market.
Roanoke is an independent city in Virginia, United States. It is located in Southwest Virginia along the Roanoke River, in the Blue Ridge range of the greater Appalachian Mountains. Roanoke is approximately 50 miles (80 km) north of the Virginia–North Carolina border and 250 miles (400 km) southwest of Washington, D.C., along Interstate 81. At the 2020 census, Roanoke's population was 100,011, making it the most-populous city in Virginia west of the state capital Richmond. It is the primary population center of the Roanoke metropolitan area, which had a population of 315,251 in 2020.
Manassas, formerly Manassas Junction, is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States. The population was 42,772 at the 2020 Census. It is the county seat of Prince William County, although the two are separate jurisdictions. Manassas borders the independent city of Manassas Park, Virginia. The Bureau of Economic Analysis includes both Manassas and Manassas Park with Prince William County for statistical purposes.
Lynchburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. First settled in 1757 by ferry owner John Lynch, the city's population was 79,009 at the 2020 census, making Lynchburg the 11th most populous city in Virginia. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of the James River, Lynchburg is known as the "City of Seven Hills" or the "Hill City". In the 1860s, Lynchburg was the only city in Virginia that was not recaptured by the Union before the end of the American Civil War.
Henry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 50,948. The county seat is usually identified as Martinsville; however, the administration building, county courthouse, and Henry County Sheriff's Office are located on Kings Mountain Road in Collinsville.The Henry County Adult Detention Center is located on DuPont Road in Henry County, just south of Martinsville.
Franklin County is a county located in the Blue Ridge foothills of the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 54,477. Its county seat is Rocky Mount. Franklin County is part of the Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area and is located in the Roanoke Region of Virginia. The Roanoke River forms its northeast boundary with Bedford County.
Danville is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. The city is located in the Southside Virginia region and on the fall line of the Dan River. It was a center of tobacco production and was an area of Confederate activity during the American Civil War, due to its strategic location on the Richmond and Danville Railroad. In April 1865 it briefly served as the third and final capital of the Confederacy before its surrender later that year.
Dare County is the easternmost county in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 36,915. Its county seat is Manteo.
Rocky Mount is a town in and the county seat of Franklin County, Virginia, United States. The town is part of the Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area, and had a population of 4,903 as of the 2020 census. It is located in the Roanoke Region of Virginia.
Martinsville High School is a four-year public secondary high school located in Martinsville, Virginia, United States. It is the only high school in the Martinsville City Public School system.
Magna Vista High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school in Henry County, Virginia. Named for the Magna Vista plantation which occupied the land where it sits, it is approximately three miles west of the town of Ridgeway, Virginia and ten miles (16 km) south of the city of Martinsville, Virginia. Magna Vista currently enrolls approximately 1000 students in grades 9-12. It is one of two comprehensive high schools operated by Henry County Public Schools.
Franklin County High School(FCHS) is located in Rocky Mount, Virginia. Approximately 1900 students attend Franklin County High School, which was founded in 1950. Since its founding, Franklin County High School, commonly known as FCHS, has grown to the largest school in the state west of Richmond.
Spencer is an unincorporated community in Henry County, Virginia, United States. It takes its name from its earliest settler, James Spencer Sr., who moved from Loudoun County to Henry County with his sons in the eighteenth century. Spencer's son ensign James Spencer, Jr. died of wounds suffered during the Revolutionary War.
Patrick & Henry Community College is a public community college in Henry County, Virginia. It was founded in 1962 as part of the University of Virginia's School of General Studies. The college became an independent two-year college in 1964 and part of the Virginia Community College System in 1971. Accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, PHCC offers a variety of associate degree programs as well as certification and career studies programs.
The 1988 Pannill Sweatshirts 500 was the eighth stock car race of the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 39th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, April 24, 1988, before an audience of 42,000 in Martinsville, Virginia at Martinsville Speedway, a 0.526 miles (0.847 km) permanent oval-shaped short track. The race took the scheduled 500 laps to complete. At race's end, Richard Childress Racing driver Dale Earnhardt would manage to dominate the latter stages of the race, leading the final 182 laps to take his 33rd career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his second victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Hagan Racing driver Sterling Marlin and Stavola Brothers Racing driver Bobby Hillin Jr. would finish second and third, respectively.
Ada Jessamine Shumate was an American artist, historian and cartographer, winner of the "Award of Distinction" in 1955 from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
The Martinsville Bulletin is a daily newspaper serving the city of Martinsville and the surrounding Henry County, Virginia. The Bulletin's roots date back to 1889, and it is the oldest continuously run business in Martinsville. The paper is owned by Lee Enterprises.
George Hairston was a Virginia planter, patriot and politician in Virginia who served one term in the Virginia House of Delegates representing Henry County after serving as a Colonel in the American Revolutionary War and later served as a Brigadier General in the War of 1812. The first of three men of the same name to serve in the Virginia General Assembly, unlike the two other men, he did not serve in the Virginia Senate, although this Hairston may be better known for building Beaver Creek Plantation, which remained his home and which he farmed using enslaved labor, or for helping to found Martinsburg.
George Waller was landowner, patriot and early settler in Henry County, Virginia, in the Colony of Virginia.
Armour G. McDaniel, Sr. (POW) (WIA) was an American military officer who served as a U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel and commanded the 332nd Fighter Group's 301st Fighter Squadron, a Tuskegee Airmen unit. McDaniels also served as the Commandant of Cadets at Tuskegee Army Airfield. He fought in World War II and was briefly held as a prisoner of war in Nazi Germany.