The first written mention about Villa Sancti Martini came from the 1284. All districts of today´s Martin are situated in the places of old settling, which the oldest part archaeologists place in order to the late Stone Age (about 2200 B.C.). The wealthy discoveries came from the Bronze Age. Popular tradition identified Hrádok in town part Košúty with ostensibly tomb of the Hunnic leader Attila (died in 435 A.C.) -up to now the named hill popular calls "Attilov hrob". Not well-founded. On rampart namely were found the older discoveries from the first century B.C. In unwritten book of history in today´s Martin territory the archaeologists had read through further chapters of his history - barrows from the Great Moravian time (9th century) and many memories from the 11-l3th century. The important discovery was ordinal burial place near the Catholic church with manifold layers tombs and foundations of the walled building. The oldest building in Martin is the Gothic church which was build before the 1284. It was consecrated by holy Martin and the town got nomenclature according of hirn.

In 1340 the city got town privileges.From the l7th century the town was the residence of Turčianska stolica. From the half of the l9th century it was the center of the Slovak national and cultural life. In 1861 was declared the memorandum of the Slovak nation in Martin, in 1863 was founded the Matica slovenská, in 1866 was established one of the first Slovak grammer school. Here was published the national News papers, Slovak perspectives. In 1918 was created the Slovak national advice which accepted on October 30, 1918 the Martin declaration. The city was one of the centers of the SNP (Slovak national rebellion). In Martin is resides the important national institution "Matica slovenská", here situate the National cemetery and other important institutes.