Williamston & Martin County History

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 its waters 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 at some point, for recording legal documents, for their attendance at court sessions, and for military musters, elections or similar functions. Having a public landing, it was automatically an important shipping point for river freight traffic, both incoming and outgoing. Later the railroad came, resulting in increased commerce by rail and water.

In the 20th century, with the bridging of the Roanoke River at the eastern edge of the city limits in 1922, Williamston became the hub of a system of major highways and roads upon which business and commercial life grew. Along with Williamston, Jamesville (1785) and Hamilton (1804) made up the original "river" towns in Martin County. All there were important shipping and trading centers along the Roanoke River.