Martin

Formed January 1, 1774 (32^nd county)

Martin County (22,035), Williamston (5,249)

A Modern red brick courthouse was built in 1985 in Williamston.  Main and Biggs streets is the site for the courthouse.  Main Street is United States Highway 17 Business.  Fred Folson Associates are the architects.  Veteran memorials are on the grounds and a County Office Building is across the street.  There was an 1887 version previously in Williamston, the only county seat.  The county was organized on January 1, 1774 from parts of Halifax and Tyrrell counties as the 32^nd county.  It was named for Royal Governor Josiah Martin.  Williamston is named for Revolutionary War Colonel William Williams. 

Martin County government consists of a manager, a register, a sheriff, an attorney, and a clerk (executive).  It has 5 Commissioners (legislative.)  Sixteen Superior Court Judges serve Martin, Beaufort, Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Durham, Edgecombe, Franklin, Gates, Granville, Halifax, Hertford, Hyde, Nash, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Person, Pitt, Tyrrell, Vance, Warren, Washington, and Wilson counties, Three District Court Judges serve Martin, Beaufort, Hyde, Tyrrell, and Washington counties and a court clerk serves Martin County (judicial.)  The county is in the northeast part of the state.  Raleigh, North Carolina is west and Norfolk, Virginia is northeast of the county.  The county center is 5.6 miles West of Williamston nearer Everetts.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Bertie, Washington, Beaufort, Pitt, Edgecombe, and Halifax counties. 

The area of the county is 457 square miles.  It is 56 out of 100 in the state.  It ranks 77 out of 100 in population in the state.  It has a density of 48.2 persons per square mile making it 81 out of 100 in the state.  Martin County has 36.5% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 13 enters the county from the north, Bertie County, and exits to the southwest, Pitt County.  United States Highway 17 is joined with United States Highway 13 from Bertie County, splits and goes south into Beaufort County.  United States Highway 64 goes east to west from Washington County to Edgecombe County.  The county resembles a scoop.  Williamston is located slightly east of center in the county.  Williamston is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 23.8% of the county population.