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North Carolina Counties

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North Carolina Counties

North Carolina is divided into 100 counties. North Carolina ranks 28th in size by area, but has the seventh most counties in the country.

Martin County, North Carolina

Martin County History, Geography, Demographics, Cities and Towns, and Education

County Seat: Williamston
Year Organized: 1774
Square Miles: 463

Court House:

PO Box 668
County Governmental Center
Williamston, NC 27892-0668

Etymology - Origin of County Name

It was named in honor of Josiah Martin, the last Royal Governor of North Carolina. It is probable that this county's name would have been changed like those of Dobbs and Tryon but for the popularity of Alexander Martin, who was governor, 1782-1785 and 1789-1792.

Demographics:

County QuickFacts: Census Bureau Quick Facts

County History

Martin was formed in 1774 from Halifax and Tyrrell. It was named in honor of Josiah Martin, the last Royal Governor of North Carolina. It is probable that this county's name would have been changed like those of Dobbs and Tryon but for the popularity of Alexander Martin, who was governor, 1782-1785 and 1789-1792. It is in the eastern section of the State, and is bounded by Washington, Beaufort, Pitt, Edgecombe, Halifax and Bertie counties. The present land area is 461.17 square miles and the 2000 population was 25,546. The act establishing the county made no provision for the courthouse, prison and stocks. However, a law was passed making provision for levying special taxes for the county seat. There is nothing to indicate the location. In 1779 Williamston, first called Squhawky, was laid out on the land of Thomas Hunter. Williamston is the county seat.

Neighboring Counties:

Washington
Beaufort
Pitt
Edgecombe
Halifax
Bertie

Cities and Towns:

- Bear Grass	town	Incorporated Area
- Everetts	town	Incorporated Area
- Hamilton	town	Incorporated Area
- Hassell	town	Incorporated Area
- Jamesville	town	Incorporated Area
- Oak City	town	Incorporated Area
- Parmele	town	Incorporated Area
- Robersonville	town	Incorporated Area
- Williamston (County Seat)	town	Incorporated Area

County Resources:

Enter County Resources and Information Here

County Resources

The history of our nation was a prolonged struggle to define the relative roles and powers of our governments: federal, state, and local. And the names given the counties, our most locally based jurisdictions, reflects the "characteristic features of this country!"

But age, size and colorful names of our counties isn't the only reason to explore counties' role in American history, or the history of county government itself. In fact, the story of county government reflects the larger meanings of American history.

Today's counties are the most flexible, locally responsive and creative governments in the US. They are the most diverse, varying in size, population, geography, and governmental structure. In their politics and policies, they express a 1990's political slogan "Think globally, act locally."