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.
Martinez is located in eastern Columbia County at (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 , of which is land and , or 0.76%, is water.
Martinez has an elevation of above sea level, about 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.
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; Cordero means Lamb.
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).
Martinez was first listed as a CDP in the 1980 United States census.
As of the 2020 census, Martinez had a population of 34,535 and 8,153 families residing in the CDP.
The median age was 38.6 years. 23.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.6 males age 18 and over.
100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 13,418 households in Martinez, of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 52.3% were married-couple households, 16.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 26.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 23.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 14,154 housing units, of which 5.2% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.3%.
The school district is Columbia County School System.
Private schools: