Madison, Mississippi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Madison, Mississippi
City
Madison Central High School
Flag Seal
Nickname(s):  "Madison the City", "The Brick City"
Location in Madison County and the state of Mississippi
Madison, Mississippi Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	Mississippi
County	Madison
Government
• Type	Municipality
Area
• Total	26.43 sq mi (68.5 km2)
• Land	25.25 sq mi (65.4 km2)
• Water	1.18 sq mi (3.1 km2)
Elevation	308 ft (94 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	27,747
• Density	1,098.59/sq mi (424.17/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP codes	39110, 39130
Area code(s)	601, 769
FIPS code	28-44520
GNIS feature ID	2404992

Madison is a city in Mississippi, United States. It's the 11th largest city in the state. You can find it in Madison County, about 13 miles (21 km) north of Jackson, the state capital. In 2020, about 27,747 people lived there. Madison is part of the larger Jackson Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History of Madison, Mississippi

The city of Madison is named after James Madison, who was the fourth president of the United States. It grew up around a busy railroad track before the American Civil War.

Early Beginnings: Madison Station

Madison started in 1856 with the opening of Madison Station by the Illinois Central Railroad. This station was the beginning of what would become the city of Madison.

A nearby town called Madisonville was an older settlement. It was located along a stagecoach route called the Natchez Trace. Madisonville was even the first county seat (the main town for county government) of Madison County in 1828. It had a race track, banks, and a wagon factory. However, people slowly moved from Madisonville to the new railroad community, and Madisonville eventually disappeared.

Civil War Impact and Recovery

Like many railroad towns in the South, Madison Station was badly damaged during the American Civil War. In 1863, after the siege of Jackson (where Union soldiers surrounded Jackson), Madison Station was mostly destroyed. No big battles happened right in Madison County, but a general named Stephen D. Lee gathered his troops there in February 1864. Stephen Lee later became the first president of Mississippi State College, which is now Mississippi State University.

After the Civil War, the railroad continued to help Madison grow. In 1897, a company called the Madison Land Company encouraged people from the northern states to move south. This company, based in Chicago, wanted to develop Madison. Their efforts led Madison to become an official village, but this status was lost because elections weren't held regularly.

The Madison Land Company sold land for as little as $3.00 an acre. They even claimed that Mississippi was a healthier place to live than New York and Massachusetts.

Modern Growth and Expansion

After many years of legal discussions, the city expanded its borders in the late 2000s. This made Madison much larger.

On November 24, 2001, a very strong F4 tornado hit the western parts of the city. Many homes were badly damaged or completely destroyed. The tornado traveled about 11.5 miles (18.5 km) across Madison County. It damaged or destroyed 164 homes. Sadly, two people died because of the tornado, and 21 others were hurt.

Geography of Madison

Madison is located in the southern part of Madison County. The city of Ridgeland is to its south. The city of Gluckstadt is about 5 miles (8 km) north.

Transportation Routes

Interstate 55 goes through Madison, with exits at Madison Avenue (Exit 107) and Highway 463 (Exit 108). U.S. Route 51 also passes through the city center. As Madison has grown westward, U.S. Route 51 is now in the eastern part of the city. The Natchez Trace Parkway runs along the eastern edge of the city.

Land and Water Features

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Madison covers a total area of about 26.4 square miles (68.4 km2). Most of this, about 25.2 square miles (65.3 km2), is land. The rest, about 1.2 square miles (3.1 km2), is water.

The eastern part of the city drains into the Ross Barnett Reservoir on the Pearl River. The northern part drains into Bear Creek, which flows into the Big Black River. The western part drains into Limekiln Creek, which also flows into the Big Black River.

Population and People

Strawberry Patch Park

2020 Census Information

The 2020 United States Census counted 27,747 people living in Madison. There were 8,972 households and 7,121 families.

Here's a look at the different groups of people living in Madison in 2020:

Fun Things to Do in Madison

Madison offers several places for recreation and outdoor activities:

• Strawberry Patch Park: This park has a one-mile running trail, a playground, and a pond where kids can fish.
• Liberty Park: Here you'll find sports fields and playgrounds.
• Simmons Arboretum: A wooded trail perfect for exploring nature.

Education in Madison

Students in Madison are served by the Madison County School District. On average, there are 19 students for every teacher.

There are also private schools in Madison:

• Madison-Ridgeland Academy: A private high school that is part of the MSAIS (Mississippi Association of Independent Schools).
• St. Joseph Catholic School: A private Catholic school that serves the Jackson Area. It is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jackson.

Some universities have also had campuses in Madison:

• Tulane University had a satellite campus here from 2010 to 2017.
• Jackson State University also has a satellite campus in the city.

Getting Around Madison

Madison has a small airport called Bruce Campbell Field.

For commercial flights, people in Madison use Jackson–Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport. This larger airport is about 13 miles (21 km) southeast of the city.

Places to Visit in Madison

• Simmons Arboretum: A great place to enjoy nature and wooded trails.
• Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce South Central U.S.: This organization was started in 1997.
• The Chapel of the Cross: This historic chapel is just outside the city limits in Mannsdale. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Famous People from Madison

Many notable people have connections to Madison, including:

• Joel Bomgar: A member of the Mississippi House of Representatives.
• Eddie Briggs: A lawyer and former lieutenant governor of Mississippi.
• Buddy Brown: A country music singer.
• Shaq Buchanan: A basketball player.
• John F. Burrow: A former member of the Mississippi State Senate and Mississippi House of Representatives.
• Corey Dickerson: A professional baseball player for the Miami Marlins. He lives in Madison during the off-season.
• Tate Ellington: An actor.
• Stephen Gostkowski: A professional football player.
• Parys Haralson: A former National Football League (NFL) linebacker.
• Larry Hart: A former NFL defensive end.
• Sarah Beth James: Miss Mississippi 2010.
• Timothy L. Johnson: A former member of the Mississippi State Senate.
• Will Longwitz: A member of the Mississippi State Senate.
• D. J. Montgomery: A wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts.
• Roy K. Moore: An FBI agent.
• Ronnie Musgrove: The 62nd governor of Mississippi.
• John Henry Rogers: A congressman from Arkansas and a federal judge.
• Chris Spencer: A former NFL center.
• Spencer Turnbull: A former Major League Baseball pitcher.
• Dallas Walker: A former NFL tight end.
• Ruston Webster: An NFL scout for the Atlanta Falcons.
• Sammy Winder: A former running back for the Denver Broncos.

See also

In Spanish: Madison (Misisipi) para niños