District Health Department

Martin-Tyrrell-Washington

District Health Department

Martin County Community Health Assessment

2010

Martin County Health Department

210 West Liberty Street

Williamston, NC 27892

252.793.1619

Tables of Contents

Martin County 2010 Community Health Assessment

Purpose

Every four years local health departments within North Carolina are required to conduct a community health assessment. The purpose of the assessment is to examine the health status of the community in order to determine the health priorities for the next four years. The community health assessment process and findings should represent the concerns of the public and be conducted in such as a way as to involve the various stakeholders including members of the community.

Team Composition

Martin-Tyrrell-Washington District Health Department (MTW) and the Martin County Health Assessment Team have jointly conducted the community health assessment for the past several years. For this assessment, a committee was formed in early 2010 with representatives from the MTW District Health Department, Martin County School System, Martin County Senior Center, Martin General Hospital, Martin Community College, Comprehensive Interventions Inc., Community Homecare and Hospice, Martin County Chamber of Commerce, Martin County Faith Community, and members of the community. Leadership for the committee was provided by the MTW District Health Department. Members of the committee were recruited from MTW District Health. Several meetings were held for the primary purpose of determining how best to solicit input from the community regarding health concerns. The assessment team decided that this year Community Health Opinion Surveys would be the best avenue for collecting health information for MartinCounty. Once questions were developed for collecting information, the surveys were then distributed throughout MartinCounty. Paper copies of the surveys were available, along with electronic surveys available through Survey Monkey.

Process Overview

One requirement for the community health assessment process is the collection of primary data from members of the community. A community health survey was developed to ascertain community members’ perception of health concerns and suggestions for improving the health within the communities of MartinCounty. A review of secondary data was conducted by reviewing county level health data primarily compiled by the NC State Center for Health Statistics. Other resources were also utilized such as CecilG.ShepsCenter for Health Services Research at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill.

It is well recognized that other factors within a community affect the health of a community. Demographic, educational, economic, and environmental data for the County were reviewed as well to determine the potential for impact on health status within the county.

Additionally, where possible, MartinCounty data was compared to data from Eastern North Carolina, North Carolina, and MartinCounty peer counties: Anson, Greene and LenoirCounties. A review of several years of data was also conducted to determine trends in health status for Martin County.

The data that was then compiled and a formal presentation were made to the Martin County Community Health Team at the November 2010 meeting. Each member was given the opportunity to vote for the top health priorities. The health categories/priorities were based on the 2010 Health Objectives. Members who could not be present at the meeting were given an opportunity to vote by mailing in their priorities. This meeting was announced through e-mails and through the MTW call-down system.

A review of the data was conducted at the November Board of Health meeting. The Board voted to endorse the priorities identified by the Martin County Community Health Assessment Team.

Outcomes

The priority health objectives for 2010 – 2014 are as follows:

• Obesity
• Chronic Diseases (Heart, Diabetes, Asthma)
• Communicable Diseases
• Teen Pregnancy
• Crime/Gang Prevention
• Dental Health
• Mental Health
• Health Disparities
• Access to Health Care

Community Health Assessment Acknowledgements

Martin County Health Assessment Team included representatives from all areas of Martin County. Members also included individuals that work to provide the health, wellness, and support resources to citizens in the Martin-Tyrrell-Washington District Health Department. The Community Health Assessment Team met on the second Thursday of each month starting in August 2010 to create a plan for conducting the health assessment and solving any problems encountered. The following individuals have contributed to the preparation of this document.

Lisa Edmonds

Martin County Department of Aging

Reverend Joseph R. Horton

Church of the Advent Episcopal Church

Desiree Rodgers

Comprehensive Intervention Inc.

Sylvia Coley, RN

Martin General Hospital

Megan Hauser

Public Health Education Specialist

Martin-Tyrrell-Washington District Health Department

Kathleen DeVoreJones

Health Director/Community Member

Martin-Tyrrell-Washington District Health Department

Natalie Wiggins

Community Outreach Service Coordinator/Community Member

Martin-Tyrrell-Washington District Health Department

Trey Knox

Community Home Care & Hospice

Sherrie Bazemore

Martin Community College

David Whitley

Martin County Chamber of Commerce

Marsha Anderson

Martin County Department of Aging

Shelia Godard

Martin County United Way

Sharon Kenyon

Martin County Schools

Susan Davenport

Martin County Department of Social Services

Tonya Wynn

Martin County Cooperative Extension

Donna Gooding

Martin County Parks and Recreation

Reverend Ernest Brooks, Jr.

Mt. Shiloh Baptist Church

Vickey Manning

Social Worker/Community Member

Martin-Tyrrell-Washington District Health Department

Billie Patrick

Health Education Supervisor/Public Health Preparedness Coordinator

Martin-Tyrrell-Washington District Health Department

Lynette Romero

Health Educator I/Community Member

Martin-Tyrrell-Washington District Health Department

Erica Payton

Public Health Educator II

Martin-Tyrrell-Washington District Health Department

County Overview

English colonists were exploring for new homeland and found a spot of land on the Roanoke River. This tract of land is now Williamston, North Carolina. Williamston is where the Martin County Government Seat is located. There is evidence to prove the existence of a village here as early as 1730. The first settlers were suspected to have moved from BertieCounty to the south side of the MoratockRiver (present day Roanoke River). After their journey, they chose a site near the ruins of what had been a Tuscarora Indian village for their new home. However, the Tuscarora had left this site behind long before the white man ever came to the New World.

The locality was previously known to the Indians as "Squhawky", but it was renamed "Tar Landing" by the new settlers. “Tar Landing” eventually became the prime shipping point for forest products such as tar, pitch, and turpentine, and meat produced in the area. Williamston flourished, and as a result was designated the county seat when it was chartered in March 1774. MartinCounty was formed in 1774 from the counties of Halifax and Tyrrell. It was named in honor of Josiah Martin, the last Royal Governor of North Carolina. It is probable that this county's name would have been changed like those of Dobbs and Tryon but for the popularity of Alexander Martin, who was governor, 1782-1785 and l789-1792 the name remained the same. In establishing the county there was no provision made for the courthouse, prison and stocks. However, a law was passed making a provision for levying special taxes for the county seat. There is nothing to indicate the location. During the Revolutionary War in 1779, Williamston became the first incorporated town in the newly established county. The charter was granted at a session of the General Assembly that was held in Halifax during October and November 1779. In addition to Williamston, Jamesville (1785) and Hamilton (1804) made up the original "river" towns in MartinCounty. All three were important shipping and trading centers along the Roanoke River.

Two versions exist of how “Williamston” got its name. First, based largely on hearsay and legend, is that the name was chosen in honor of a poor Irish weaver named "Dick" Williams, who was supposed to have settled in the area around the middle of the 18th Century. It is said he arrived with 75 cents in his pocket, but by hard work and strict economy, he managed to create a substantial fortune and became one of the most influential men in the colony. The alternate version is that the town was named in honor of Colonel William Williams. He was a scion of a wealthy and distinguished family which owned large plantations in the northwestern part of the county prior to the Revolution.

The name "Williams" is prominently connected with the early history of the county. Colonel Williams' father, also named William Williams, migrated to the United States from Wales in the early 1700s and settled on the south bank of the Roanoke River in the upper end of the county, which at that time was in Edgecombe and was later a part of Halifax before it became Martin.

William Williams II was a delegate to the Hillsborough and Halifax conventions in 1776. He was then elected colonel of MartinCounty's militia when it was organized, and he continued in that capacity until he was elected the county's first state senator in 1777. He resigned his military commission shortly afterwards. Colonel Williams was succeeded as commanding officer of the county's militia by his nephew, Lt. Col. Whitmel Hill.

Williamston's importance as a town and its growth and development immediately before and after its incorporation was largely based on two factors. First was its location on the banks of a navigable river; and second, its designation as the county seat. The Roanoke River enabled ships of considerable size to navigate as far upstream as Williamston before there were any roads other than the few that followed winding Indian trails. Being the seat of county government necessarily brought most of the residents of the county to Williamston. The purposes of their visits varied ranging from recording legal documents, attendance at court sessions, and for military missions, elections, or related functions. Having a public landing, it was automatically an important shipping point for river freight traffic, both incoming and outgoing. The Railroad was established in MartinCounty during the Industrial Revolution resulting in increased commerce by rail and water.

The 20th century brought new and exciting changes for MartinCounty. The bridging of the Roanoke River at the eastern edge of the city limits occurred in 1922. This new development spawned a whole new transportation system for MartinCounty. As a result, Williamston became the hub of a system of major highways and roads upon which business and commercial life grew. Many beneficial establishments came about that serve not only MartinCounty but all of Eastern North Carolina. They include Martin Community College, Martin County General Hospital, Martin County Health Department, and the Bob Martin Agricultural Center.

Geographic Information of MartinCounty

According to the State Library of North Carolina, MartinCounty is located in the northeastern part of the state in the Coastal Plain Region. The northern boundary of the county is the Roanoke River. MartinCounty is bordered by Bertie and Halifax to the north, Washington to the east, Beaufort and Pitt to the south, and Edgecombe to the west. Martin County is characterized as a primarily rural area with a population density of 55 persons per square mile and a total area of 462.44 square miles with 462.11 square miles of land and .99 square miles of water areas.

Map 1-A.DisplaysMartinCounty’s exact location in Eastern North Carolina.

Map 1-B: This is a topographical map that shows all the towns and major highways and roads located in Martin County.

Source:

MartinCounty Community Health Assessment 2010Page 1

MartinCounty Government

The members on the Martin County Board of Commissioners is are follows:

• Tommy W. Bowen
• C. Mort Hurst
• Ronnie Smith (Chairman)
• Elmo “Butch” Lilley (Vice Chairman
• Derek Price
• Marion Thompson, Clerk to the Board

• J. Melvin Bowen, CountyAttorney
• W. Russell Overman, CountyManager

CountyFax: 252.789.4309

CountyEmail:

The Commissioners meet the second Wednesday of every month at 7:00 p.m.

The Governing Board of MTW District Health Department

The Board of Health of Martin-Tyrrell-Washington District Health is established and maintained as the governing body in accordance with the laws of the State of North Carolina of General Statues 130A-34 through 130A-42.

The Board of Health serves as the global policy-making, rule-making, and adjudicatory body for the district health department.The Board of Health has 15 members. The commissioners of each county in the district appoint one of their members to the Board of Health.These appointed commissioner members then appoint the other members of the Board including at least one physician licensed to practice in the State of North Carolina, one licensed dentist, one licensed optometrist, one licensed veterinarian, one registered nurse, one licensed pharmacist, and one professional engineer. If there is not a member of the district available for appointment as designated above, additional representatives of the general public shall be appointed.

When a member of the general public is appointed due to the unavailability of one of the licensed or professional level members, he/she shall serve only until a licensed or professional member can be appointed.

The composition of the Board of Health shall reasonably reflect the population makeup of the entire district and provide equitable district-wide representation. All members shall be residents of the district.

Board of Health Members

Chairman: Thomas Spruill, TyrrellCounty Commissioner

MartinCounty

Derek Price, Commissioner

Denise Edmondson, Registered Nurse

Robert M. Stalls, Public Member

Dr. Ben Shelton, Veterinarian

Ben Jones, Public Member

TyrrellCounty

Hannah Rogers, Public Member

WashingtonCounty

Jean Alexander, Commissioner

Dr. Carter Bennett, Dentist

Logan Womble, Pharmacist

Dr. Robert Venable, Physician

Judy Wright, Public Member, Vice Chairman

Eddie McNair, Public Member

Demographics

Population Estimates

According to 2009 population estimates, MartinCounty’s population is approximately 23, 993. From 2000 – 2009, MartinCounty’s population decreased by -8.6%. The County is divided into eight townships: Williamston, Hamilton, Robersonville, Hassell, Everetts, Jamesville, OakCity, and Parmele. Williamston is the largest municipality, with at 2008 population estimate of 5,675. Williamston also serves as the county seat for MartinCounty.[1]

Age Distribution

Martin County’s distribution of population by age is depicted in the graph on the next page.[2]

2009 Estimated Population by Age Distribution – Martin County

Race and Ethnicity

In Martin County 54.9% of residents are White, 43.2% are Black, and 1.9% are of Hispanic or Latino origin.[3]

Education

According to the 2000 U.S. Census Bureau 12.0% of Martin County’s population had less than a 9th grade education, 17.3% had no diploma, 34.6% were high school graduates, 17.7% had some college but no degree, 6.8% had an Associate’s degree, 8.3% had a Bachelors’ degree and 3.3% had a Graduate or professional degree.[4]

Martin County has 11 public schools: E.J Hayes Elementary, East End Elementary, Edna Andrews Elementary, Jamesville Elementary, Jamesville Middle, Riverside High, Rodgers Elementary, South Creek High, South Creek Middle, Williamston Middle, and Williamston Primary.

MartinCounty Drop Out Rates 2003 – 2009[5]

School Crime and Violence, 2008 – 2009

In the 2008 – 2009 school years, Martin County had a rate of 6.15 acts of committed crimes/violence compared to the state rate of 7.59 acts of committed crimes/violence.[6]

School Crime and Violence Acts

Key:

PW – Possession of a weapon PS – Possession of controlled substancePA – Possession of alcoholic beverage

AP – Assault on school personnelAR – Assault resulting in serious injurySA – Sexual Assault

AW – Assault involving use of a weaponSO – Sexual offensePF – Possession of firearm

RO – Robbery w/o a dangerous weaponRW – Robbery w/ a dangerous weaponIM – Taking indecent liberties w/ a minor

R – RapeD – Death by other than natural causesK – Kidnapping

BT – Bomb ThreatBS – Burning of school building

Performance of each student group on the End-of-Grade Tests, MartinCounty[7]

Martin County SAT scores, 2008[8]