Martinez, Georgia

Martinez is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Columbia County, Georgia, United States. It is a northwestern suburb of Augusta and is part of the Augusta, Georgia metropolitan area. The population was 34,535 at the 2020 census.

Geography
Martinez is located in eastern Columbia County at 33.51611°N, -82.1°W (33.516089, -82.100024). It is bordered to the southeast by the city of Augusta in Richmond County. To the north and northwest is the CDP of Evans. Interstate 20 forms the short southern boundary of Martinez, with access from Exits 194 (Georgia State Route 383/South Belair Road) and 195 (Wheeler Road).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 37.9 sqkm, of which 37.6 sqkm is land and 0.3 sqkm, or 0.76%, is water.

Martinez has an elevation of 361 ft above sea level, about 200 ft higher than downtown Augusta. The areas of the CDP closest to the Richmond County line tend to be relatively flat, while land further west is hillier. Trees in Martinez are seen mainly in the subdivisions, as the main roads are crowded with businesses. They include pine, oak, sweet gum, hickory, and a variety of other species.

History
The founder was Jose Antonio Martinez y Zaldivar, a wealthy man from Camagüey Cuba. He bought land in Columbia County in 1869 and named it El Cordero Ranch which Cordero means Lamb. His children were: Robert Martinez, Dolores Delgado, Fannie Martinez and Marie Perrin. Upon the death of Marie in 1936 in Bath, Georgia, Robert lived in Cuba, and both Dolores and Fannie in Jacksonville, Florida.

On November 5, 1876, Marie Martinez married Mr. George Perrin at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Augusta, Georgia. The 1880 US Census indicates George was a druggist and was 29 years old. Marie was 22, and they resided on Broad Street #1109. The couple had one son, Thomas Wright Perrin, born on August 23, 1885. El Cordero Ranch is now only 20 acres in size. His old hacienda and several buildings, barns and a water tower still stand off Old Ferry Road in Martinez (near the intersection of River Watch Parkway and Baston Road). It's private property not open to the public.

José Antonio Martinez y Zaldivar died on January 26, 1891, and is buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida, next to his wife Josefa Amalia Duque De Estrada y Varona who died on October 19, 1882

Demographics
Martinez was first listed as a CDP in the 1980 U.S. Census.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 34,535 people, 11,780 households, and 8,153 families residing in the CDP.

Schools
The school district is Columbia County School System.
 * Lakeside High School
 * Evans High School
 * Greenbrier High School
 * Adventist Christian School
 * Lakeside Middle School
 * Riverside Middle School
 * Columbia Middle School
 * Greenbrier Middle School
 * Evans Middle School
 * Stallings Island Middle School
 * Martinez Elementary School
 * Blue Ridge Elementary School
 * Westmont Elementary School
 * South Columbia Elementary School
 * Stevens Creek Elementary School

Private schools:
 * Augusta Preparatory Day School
 * Augusta Christian Schools