Virginia

Martinsville

16,162
1990 population
1930
first census record
7
census records

About Martinsville

Martinsville, Virginia, first appears in the United States federal census in 1930, when it recorded a population of 7,705. At the most recent census, in 1990, its population stood at 16,162.

Its recorded population peaked at 19,653 in 1970, and has since declined by roughly 18 percent.

On the ground today, 9 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
199016,162
198018,149
197019,653
196018,798
195017,251
194010,080
19307,705
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Historic places in Martinsville

National Register of Historic Places listings in Martinsville, Virginia.

Martinsville Historic District (Additional Documentation)
Martinsville
Little Post Office
Martinsville (Independent City)
Scuffle Hill
Martinsville (Independent City)
Fayette Street Historic District
Martinsville (Independent City)
East Church Street-Starling Avenue Historic District
Martinsville (Independent City)
Dry Bridge School
Martinsville
Martinsville Novelty Corporation Factory
Martinsville (Independent City)
Browse all Virginiahistoric sites ›

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Everything a full report reveals about Martinsville County, Virginia

This page charts the census history of Martinsville County, Virginia. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Martinsville

When does Martinsville first appear in the US census?
Martinsville, Virginia first appears in the federal census in 1930, with a recorded population of 7,705.
What is the population of Martinsville?
At the most recent federal census (1990), Martinsville had a recorded population of 16,162.
When did Martinsville's population peak?
Martinsville's recorded population peaked at 19,653 in 1970.
How many historic places are in Martinsville?
9 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Martinsville, Virginia.
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