Interstate access could key growth spurt between Bloomington and Indy
At one point in the early 1900s, Martinsville was known as one of the country's top three sources of mineral water. Reminders of that identity remain even though that’s no longer the case — a prominent downtown sign proudly declares Martinsville the “City of Mineral Water,” and the lone high school’s mascot is the Artesians.
Today, Martinville’s economy is more tied to the highway that runs through it than the streams that flow through it. Interstate 69, connecting 40 miles north to Indianapolis and 20 miles south to Bloomington, reached completion in 2024 following a decade-long construction project. This newfound commuter convenience presents an opportunity for this town, where the population has hovered around 12,000 residents since 1990, to grow into a new identity. “We’re kind of in this niche where commuting is super easy for everybody, but Martinsville hasn’t been fully discovered yet,” says Michelle Chandler, Realtor and co-owner of the Shelia and Michelle Team. “We just sit in the heart of everywhere you want to go.”
From old homes on city blocks to large properties in the country
Residents categorize Martinsville homes in two ways: "in town" or "out of town." "Town" is the more established part of Martinsville, where houses sit on gridded streets with smaller city-sized lots. These homes date from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century, and many are bungalows. Houses in the more rural northernmost portion of Martinsville have more elbow room between them, ranging from multi-acre wooded lots to large contemporary houses beside Fish Hatchery Lake, Foxcliff Lake and Foxcliff Golf Club. Homes located in town are typically at the lower end of the area’s price range, with small cottages in need of some updates starting at around $110,000. Homes out of town with more land and square footage could sell for as high as $2 million. The median home price in Martinsville is about $30,000 more than in Indianapolis and $50,000 less than in Bloomington.
Although the city’s property crime rate is slightly above the national average, its violent crime rate is well below.
Craftsman style new build homes lining E York St in Martinsville.
A rambler next to a bungalow on S Main St in Martinsville.
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Martinsville High features student-produced broadcasting program
The Metropolitan School District of Martinsville earns a B-rating from Niche. Kindergarten through fourth-grade students attend one of seven elementary schools before advancing to Bell Intermediate Academy for fifth and sixth grades. John R. Wooden Middle School, named for Martinsville’s most well-known native son, incorporates Wooden’s Pyramid of Success into its curriculum. Martinsville High has a student-produced, FCC-licensed TV station that also broadcasts Artesian sporting events.
North Elementary School in Martinsville serves grades PK-2.
Bell Intermediate Academy
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Fisheries play unique role in local economy
Ozark Fisheries has a sprawling complex of ponds north of town and is the oldest continuously operating private goldfish and koi farm in the United States. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources also operates a fish hatchery, raising fish to be released throughout the state’s lakes and streams. Though the fisheries are unique to Martinsville, the city’s largest private employers include IU Health Morgan Hospital, Walmart Supercenter and novelty sock-maker For Bare Feet. The city and county governments and the Metropolitan School District of Martinsville are also prominent area employers.
Ozark Fisheries is another large employer in Martinsville.
Ozark Fisheries has a plethora of ponds on the property in Martinsville.
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A thriving downtown of locally owned businesses
Martinsville’s downtown square is a thriving shopping and dining district in the blocks surrounding City Hall and the Morgan County Courthouse. “You could literally just walk around the square and go from store to store,” Chandler says. “And they’re all small mom-and-pop businesses owned by people within the community.” Martinsville Candy Kitchen, a soda shop and candy store in operation since 1919, is one of the town’s most enduring businesses. An array of national chain restaurants and stores are found along the I-69 corridor.
Downtown Martinsville is lined with charming two-story historic buildings.
I love pizza; try the lunch buffet at Mr Gatti's Pizza in Martinsville.
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Parks and golf courses reflect the rolling hills of Southern Indiana
The nearly 25,000 acres of Morgan-Monroe State Forest are just 5 miles south of Martinsville. Morgan-Monroe is open for boating, fishing, hunting, hiking and even gold-panning. Jimmy Nash City Park is the gem of Martinsville’s park system, with multiple picnic shelters and playgrounds amid a landscape that serves as a proper introduction to the rolling hills of southern Indiana. A pair of public golf courses, Martinsville Golf Club and Foxcliff Golf Club, also take advantage of the local topography, which begins changing dramatically from the flatlands of Central Indiana.
Kids head to the play structure at Martinsville City Park after school.
Martinsville City Park has a pool, playground and pickleball courts.
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High school sports play a large role in local culture
High school sports have been a big deal in Martinsville for over a century. John Wooden was a basketball star at Martinsville High in the 1920s before playing at Purdue University and then coaching UCLA to a record 10 NCAA men’s basketball national championships in the 1960s and ‘70s. Many residents can simply walk to games on Friday or Saturday nights. Big-time college athletics are a short drive away – sporting events at Indiana University are just 20 miles south of town, and it’s not unusual for Martinsville hotels to fill up on weekends when the Hoosiers are playing at home. Major annual Martinsville events include the Morgan County Fair and the Fall Foliage Festival.
John R Wooden Middle School
Students heavily use the athletic fields behind Martinsville High School.
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Important to know
The legacy of one of the most notorious hate crimes in Indiana history — the 1968 killing of a 20-year-old Black woman who was selling encyclopedias door-to-door — affected the city’s reputation for decades as the case remained unsolved. In 2001, an out-of-towner who was traveling through Martinsville at the time of the murder was finally apprehended and charged with the crime. The town’s population was 99% white in the 2000 U.S. Census, compared to 95% in the 2020 Census.
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