The City of Martinsville is positioned in the geographic center of Henry County within the southern Piedmont region of Virginia. Our rural community is located within a one day drive of 60% of the U.S. population and within 50 miles of Roanoke, Virginia and Greensboro, North Carolina. Henry County consists of 385 square miles and shares its borders with Patrick County, Virginia to the west, Franklin County, Virginia to the north, Pittsylvania County, Virginia to the east, and Rockingham County, North Carolina to the south.
Nestled in the foothills of the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains, our region is home to spectacular views of wooded hills, plush green valleys, pristine rivers, and tranquil lakes. With its beautiful location and rich history, Martinsville and Henry County is home to some of the finest recreational and cultural opportunities in the country, including one of Virginia’s six original state parks, a world-class trout stream, a Smithsonian-affiliated museum of natural history, a first-class art center, and an emerging artisan community.
In addition to outstanding natural and cultural tourist attractions, Martinsville’s most acclaimed asset is the Martinsville Speedway. Opened in 1947, this infamous paper clip-shaped short-track features tight turns and 800-foot straight-aways. The Speedway currently hosts two Nextel Cup races, two Craftsman Truck series races, a NASCAR Late Model Stock car race, and a NASCAR Whelen Modified Race, each bringing thousands of people into Martinsville and Henry County.
While our community has faced difficult economic challenges and changes over the last several years, we are once again rallying with renewed hope. Within the last two years, the community has celebrated the development of the New College Institute, the grand opening of the Virginia Museum of Natural History, the announcement of new recreational opportunities, including a state-of-the-art field sports complex, an indoor sports facility, walking and biking trails, as well as significant corporate investments.
Nestled in the foothills of the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains, our region is home to spectacular views of wooded hills, plush green valleys, pristine rivers, and tranquil lakes. With its beautiful location and rich history, Martinsville and Henry County is home to some of the finest recreational and cultural opportunities in the country, including one of Virginia’s six original state parks, a world-class trout stream, a Smithsonian-affiliated museum of natural history, a first-class art center, and an emerging artisan community.
In addition to outstanding natural and cultural tourist attractions, Martinsville’s most acclaimed asset is the Martinsville Speedway. Opened in 1947, this infamous paper clip-shaped short-track features tight turns and 800-foot straight-aways. The Speedway currently hosts two Nextel Cup races, two Craftsman Truck series races, a NASCAR Late Model Stock car race, and a NASCAR Whelen Modified Race, each bringing thousands of people into Martinsville and Henry County.
While our community has faced difficult economic challenges and changes over the last several years, we are once again rallying with renewed hope. Within the last two years, the community has celebrated the development of the New College Institute, the grand opening of the Virginia Museum of Natural History, the announcement of new recreational opportunities, including a state-of-the-art field sports complex, an indoor sports facility, walking and biking trails, as well as significant corporate investments. 
