Situated along the south bank of the Roanoke River, Martin County was established in 1774. Vast pine forests in the region assured the countys early economic success with the production of naval stores, tar pitch, and turpentine. By the late 19th century, large-scale lumber concerns and tobacco and peanut farming ushered in a new era of prosperity. Today, the area leads the state in the production of peanuts and cotton. Twice during the 20th century, the county made national headlines--first with the 1925 Needleman Case and later with the famed Williamston civil rights events of 1963 and...

Situated in one of the most picturesque regions of Eastern North Carolina, Martin County has provided a setting for many of the important events in the Tar Heel State's history: from the early exploits of New World explorers and the county's part in the American
Revolution, to its plantation-style existence in the antebellum South and its strategic importance during the Civil War, to its developing role in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in the state's agriculture and timber commerce. Martin County, showcasing nearly 200 photographs, will take you on a visual journey...