It was named for Josiah Martin, the last royal governor of North Carolina (1771–75).

The Martin County Courthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

25.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

Martin County is a member of the Mid-East Commission regional council of governments.

In 2020, it narrowly supported Trump again, voting for a losing Republican nominee for the first time ever.

[14] On the same day, Martin County voted to reelect Democratic Governor Roy Cooper in the North Carolina gubernatorial election.