MARTINSVILLE

city, seat (1793) of Henry county (though administratively independent of it), southern Virginia, U.S., in the eastern foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Established in 1793, when the county courthouse was located there, it was known as Henry County Courthouse until the name was changed to honour General Joseph Martin, an officer of the American Revolution, who had settled the site in 1773. Martinsville is largely an industrial city. The manufacture of furniture, chemicals, and textiles and tobacco processing are the economic mainstays. Fairy Stone State Park and Philpott Lake are nearby. Inc. town, 1873; city, 1928. Pop. (1990) 16,162; (1998 est.) 15,668.