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Foley, Foley & Peden - Martinsville, INPhoto: Paul Sableman · CC BY 2.0
A+History
History · Martinsville

Martinsville dates to 1822, and 32% of its homes were built before 1940

More historic than 96% of U.S. towns · #56 of 593 in Indiana. What drives it

11 places in town are on the National Register, among them three historic districts with 235 buildings between them. Below: maps from 1888 on and the census since 1850.

1822founded
11on the National Register
32%homes built before 1940
13famous people
Add an old photoShare a memory
Quick answers

How Martinsville began

When was Martinsville founded?

1822

Martinsville dates its founding to 1822 (Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history agree). The census first counted it in 1850.

First census: 334 in 18502020 census: 11,932204 years

How historic is Martinsville?

A+

More historic than 96% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.

What drives the grade ↓
Founding year: Wikidata; Wikipedia’s history section gives the same year. First post office: 1823.The full story ↓
History grade

What drives Martinsville’s History grade

On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Martinsville is more historic than 96% of U.S. towns, #56 of 593 in Indiana. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its National Register listings ranks highest and its age lowest.

A+
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Martinsville’s overall grade.
Founding era1822, from Wikidata: founded 1776–1849, an older era than 75% of U.S. townsA−Homes built before 194032.2% of homes (±4.1) · typical IN town 14.4% · U.S. 8.4%ANational Register11 listings, 243 historic buildings, 204 per 10,000 residents · typical IN town 7.9 · U.S. 2.4A
All U.S. towns we grade (21,289)Ahead of 96%
NewerOlder
Indiana towns of 2,500+ (593)Ahead of 91%

Indiana towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical Indiana town has 7.9 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Martinsville’s 204 sits above most of its state (88% of Indiana towns have fewer) while its 243 historic buildings outnumber those of 94% of U.S. towns.

How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from A to A+. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±4.1 points). Two sources give 1822.

Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →

What stands out about Martinsville’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of Martinsville are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.A historic districtThe Martinsville Northside Historic District takes in 96 historic buildings.Mapped building by building6 fire insurance maps, 1888 to 1916, drew every building in Martinsville.Landmarks on the Register11 places on the National Register.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Martinsville’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Martinsville’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
On the National Register

11 listings protect 243 historic buildings

The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.

places listed
11
National Historic Landmarks
0
none yet
historic buildings protected
243
each building in a district counts
first listed
1981
Martinsville High School Gymnasium
Martinsville High School GymnasiumMartinsville Vandalia DepotMorgan County CourthouseMorgan County Sheriff's House and JailBlackstone House and Martinsville Telephone Company BuildingMartinsville Northside Historic DistrictEast Washington Street Historic DistrictMartinsville Commercial Historic DistrictNeely HouseMartinsville SanitariumCrawford-Gilpin House
BuildingsDistricts

Architectural styles listings

Italianate3
Tudor Revival3
Queen Anne3
Bungalow/Craftsman2
Classical Revival2
Craftsman1
Martinsville High School GymnasiumBuilding
Martinsville Vandalia DepotCraftsman
Morgan County CourthouseItalianate
Morgan County Sheriff's House and JailLate Victorian
Blackstone House and Martinsville Telephone Company BuildingGothic Revival
Martinsville Northside Historic DistrictQueen Anne
East Washington Street Historic DistrictQueen Anne
Martinsville Commercial Historic DistrictItalianate
All 11 listings
Neely HouseBuilding · listed 2000Martinsville SanitariumBuilding · listed 2005Crawford-Gilpin HouseBuilding · listed 2008

National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.

Every building

Martinsville, building by building, 1888–1916

Fire insurance maps drew every building, what it was made of and what it was used for, so insurers could price the risk of fire. Pick a year, then a sheet.

Martinsville fire insurance map, 1888, sheet 11888Sheet 1 of 3
Edition
BrickWoodStone

Sanborn Map Company, via the Library of Congress. Editions published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.

The story

How Martinsville came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Martinsville.

Read it all →

Martinsville was founded in 1822. It is said to be named for John Martin, a county commissioner. A post office has been in operation at Martinsville since 1823.

The Morgan County Courthouse, completed in 1859, features a red brick and Italianate design, and is one of the few pre-Civil War courthouses in Indiana. Architect Isaac Hodgson designed the courthouse, and it was built by Perry Magnus Blankenship. Hodgson designed six Indiana courthouses including Jennings County Courthouse (1859), Morgan County (1857), Henry County Courthouse, Bartholomew County Courthouse (1871), and his largest in Marion County, in Indianapolis.

ChaptersRace relations

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

From the old history books

What they wrote about Martinsville in 1874

Passages that mention Martinsville, cut from the printed page as they were published.

Hyndsdale, a small station on the I. and V. Railroad, about 3 miles southwest of Martinsville, is the only town in the township of any business note. Stout & Richards have a very nice stock of dry goods, groceries, notions, etc. ; also keep the post office.
The people's guide, a business, political and religious directory of Morgan Co., Ind. ...1874 · page 288Read the page →
Read the text

Hyndsdale, a small station on the I. and V. Railroad, about 3 miles southwest of Martinsville, is the only town in the township of any business note. Stout & Richards have a very nice stock of dry goods, groceries, notions, etc. ; also keep the post office.

Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Martinsville, the county seat of the county, is located in this township, and so is also Hastings Station. This township is watered by White River, Indian Creek, and their tributaries.
The people's guide, a business, political and religious directory of Morgan Co., Ind. ...1874 · page 348Read the page →
Read the text

Martinsville, the county seat of the county, is located in this township, and so is also Hastings Station. This township is watered by White River, Indian Creek, and their tributaries.

Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.

Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.

Timeline

Martinsville, 1822 to 1974

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 19th century
  2. 1822
    FoundingMartinsville is established
  3. 1823Post officeThe Martinsville post office opens
  4. 1874Born hereEmmett Forrest Branch is born here
  5. 20th century
  6. 1913Born hereJohn R. Walsh is born here
  7. 1955On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  8. 1956Born hereJerry Sichting is born here
  9. 1974Born hereCatt Sadler is born here
By decade

Martinsville, decade by decade

Today32 recent
A bull accents this rural scene in Morgan County, Indiana, near Martinsville2016A bull accents this rural scene in Morgan County, Ind…Martinsville, IN 46151, USA - panoramio (1)2013Martinsville, IN 46151, USA - panoramio (1)Harrison Township, IN, USA2013Harrison Township, IN, USAWashington Street in Martinsville, 500 east block2011Washington Street in Martinsville, 500 east blockNeely House in2011Neely House inMorgan County Sheriff's House and Jail2011Morgan County Sheriff's House and JailMartinsville Vandalia Depot2011Martinsville Vandalia DepotMartinsville Sanitarium2011Martinsville SanitariumMartinsville High School Gymnasium2011Martinsville High School GymnasiumHouse at 90 E. Harrison in2011House at 90 E. Harrison inHite-Finney House site2011Hite-Finney House siteFoley, Foley & Peden2011Foley, Foley & PedenCrawford-Gilpin House2011Crawford-Gilpin HouseBlackstone House in2011Blackstone House inGreetings from Martinsville, Indiana, "The Artesian City" - Large Letter Postcard2011Greetings from Martinsville, Indiana, "The Artesian C…DocumentWild Vtech2010Wild VtechWhere is the whip cream?2010Where is the whip cream?Tree, trunk and pond2010Tree, trunk and pondSnake Hole2010Snake HoleSaying Goodbye2010Saying GoodbyePink Rose2010Pink RosePink Lilly2010Pink LillyOcto Spider2010Octo SpiderLupine2010LupineLilly?2010Lilly?Lilly -- Close up2010Lilly -- Close upLa vie en jaune2010La vie en jauneFlower2010FlowerFlower2010FlowerFloating on the green2010Floating on the greenCreek - Long exposure2010Creek - Long exposureDowntown Martinsville from SE2007Downtown Martinsville from SE
On the map

Martinsville on the map, 1955 to 1998

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Martinsville. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Martinsville on the 1955 USGS mapMartinsville on the 1965 USGS mapMartinsville on the 1980 USGS mapMartinsville on the 1998 USGS map1955Martinsville sheet · 1:24,000

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Martinsville.

People over time

Martinsville, census by census

02,0004,0006,0008,00010,00012,000185019001950200011,932

Grew from 334 people in 1850 to 11,932 in 2020, more than tenfold.

18 censuses, 1850–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Martinsville’s Wikipedia page.

Famous people

13 famous people were born in Martinsville

Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.

See all →
Jerry SichtingAmerican basketball player-coach · b. 1956
Emmett Forrest BranchAmerican politician · b. 1874
Catt SadlerAmerican talk show host · b. 1974
J
John R. WalshAmerican politician · b. 1913
C
Charles E. FordAmerican film director · b. 1899
D
Dale MoreyAmerican amateur golfer, professional basketbal… · b. 1918
Places that used to be

Old corners and burying grounds

Martinsville’s post office has been open since 1823.

Hamlets and corners on the map
Champlin MeadowsFrakers Mobile Home CourtHick's Mobile Home ParkLaveianan CourtMcDanielSpring Valley Mobile Home Park
2cemeteries and burying grounds inside Martinsville
HilldaleMaxwell

US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

Questions about Martinsville’s history

What year was Martinsville founded?

In 1822, according to Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history of the town. Martinsville’s post office opened in 1823, and the census of 1850 counted 334 people here.

How does Martinsville rank for history?

Martinsville is more historic than 96% of U.S. towns, #56 of 593 in Indiana. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.

What is on the National Register in Martinsville?

11 listings: 8 buildings, among them the Martinsville High School Gymnasium (listed 1981, the first), and 3 historic districts, the Martinsville Northside Historic District, the East Washington Street Historic District and the Martinsville Commercial Historic District, with 235 contributing buildings. 243 historic buildings in all.

How old are the homes in Martinsville?

32% of Martinsville’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±4.1 points), against a typical 14% for an Indiana town; the median home was built in 1961.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

From Wikimedia Commons (31), the Library of Congress (1), Wikidata (4), the National Register of Historic Places (11), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System, Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress) and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.