The modern city was founded as a settlement of the Sklabinsky population. The first information about it dates back to 1284. Throughout its existence, the settlement has repeatedly suffered from wars and natural disasters (earthquakes). Only by the 18th century the situation in the city began to improve. At that time, Martin was the capital of Touros County. The fascinating history of the city, its hard times and the heyday are told by the expositions of the Slovak National Museum.

The industrial industry is developed in the present city. Due to the close location of the mountains, Martin has become a famous winter and summer recreation center. Not far from the city, there are famous ski resorts of the country, equipped with slopes of different difficulty levels.