Madison, Tennessee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Madison, Tennessee
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Downtown Madison
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 Madison, Tennessee
Location in Tennessee
Madison, Tennessee
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Tennessee |
| County | Davidson |
| Elevation | 482 ft (147 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Zip code |
37115, 37116
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| Area code(s) | 615 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1292483 |
Madison, originally called Madison Station, is a neighborhood in northeast Nashville, Tennessee. It used to be a separate settlement. Today, it is part of the government of Nashville and Davidson County.
In 2020, about 41,723 people lived in Madison. There were over 17,000 households.
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Where is Madison Located?
Madison is very close to downtown Nashville. It is only about 8 miles north. You can get there quickly using Ellington Parkway. This road connects downtown Madison to downtown Nashville.
Madison is near many major roads. These include Interstates 65, 40, and 24. It is also close to Briley Parkway. Local roads like State Route 45 (Old Hickory) and Dickerson Road help people get around.
Madison starts at Briley Parkway. It goes all the way to the Hendersonville border in Rivergate. Its area stretches from Dickerson Road to the Cumberland River.
Madison's Main Areas
Madison has two main centers. These are Downtown Madison and Rivergate. The area between them is known as Motor Mile. Madison serves many nearby communities. These include East Nashville, Inglewood, Whites Creek, and Hendersonville.
Madison is one of about 26 neighborhoods around Nashville.
A Look at Madison's History
The Madison Station post office opened in 1857. At that time, Madison Station was about eight miles from Nashville. It was roughly halfway between Nashville and Goodlettsville.
In the 1900s, Madison grew as a connecting suburb. It became part of Nashville in 1963. This happened when Nashville and Davidson County joined together. Madison helps direct traffic to Goodlettsville, Hendersonville, and downtown Nashville.
The Trail of Tears Connection
Old Hickory Boulevard (State Route 45) is a part of the Trail of Tears. This was the path where Cherokee Indians were forced to move. They moved from North Carolina to Oklahoma. This route goes right by U.S. President Andrew Jackson's home, The Hermitage. This home is in the nearby community of Old Hickory, Tennessee.
The "Hillbilly Day" Festival
Madison used to host a festival called "Hillbilly Day." This event helped raise money for local schools. The festival included fun costumes, school activities, and a parade. The first "Hillbilly Day" in Madison was in 1952.
Amqui Train Station
Madison is also home to the Amqui train station. The Louisville and Nashville Railroad built this station. They used it until 1979. After the railroad left, country music star Johnny Cash bought the station. He moved it to his home in nearby Sumner County.
After Johnny Cash and his wife June Carter Cash passed away, the station was returned to Madison. Today, it is a museum and a visitor center for the town.
Learning in Madison
Public schools in Madison are managed by Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools. Students in the Madison area usually attend schools in the Hunters Lane group. This group is named after Hunters Lane High School. Before Hunters Lane opened, the main high school was Madison High School. That building is now Madison Middle Prep.
Madison also has three private schools. These are Goodpasture Christian School, Madison Academy, and Saint Joseph School.
Fun and Recreation
Madison has three public parks for everyone to enjoy. Madison Park is in the center of State Route 45. Peeler Park is located off Neelys Bend Road. Cedar Hill Park is at the corner of Old Hickory Boulevard and Dickerson Pike.
Another popular spot for fun is Rivergate Mall. It is located at the corner of Conference Drive and Gallatin Pike North. This mall has over 130 different stores.
The Madison Branch Library opened in 1977. It is part of the Nashville Public Library. A new library building opened in 2000. It is designed to look like the book The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. The library has meeting rooms, study rooms, and public computers.
Getting Around Madison
Madison is easy to get to because of its many major roads and interstates.
Major roads that go through Madison include Old Hickory Boulevard (State Route 45) and Gallatin Pike (U.S. Route 31E). Dickerson Road runs along Madison's western edge. Briley Parkway (State Route 155) is on the south side. It connects easily to Interstates 24 and 40.
Ellington Parkway links downtown Nashville to downtown Madison. It has exits to key areas like East Nashville and Inglewood. Vietnam Vets Parkway is also easy to reach. It connects Madison and Goodlettsville to Hendersonville and Gallatin.
Madison is served by the Metro bus lines. The town also has many miles of sidewalks, making it easy to walk around. Bike lanes have been added to some roads. There are also plans to build a path for walkers and bikers. This path will connect Peeler Park to Stones River Park. It will link Madison to greenways that lead to downtown Nashville.
Cemeteries in Madison
Madison is home to the Nashville National Cemetery. This cemetery is about 64 acres in size. It is the resting place for nearly 33,000 veterans. Their spouses and family members are also buried there.
The entrance to the cemetery has a large arch. This arch is one of only five like it in the national cemetery system. The Nashville National Cemetery and Spring Hill Cemetery helped mark the old boundary between Madison and Inglewood.
Population Facts
As of 2020, the population in Madison was 41,723 people. There were 17,024 households. The average income for a household was about $59,429.
Because Madison has two main centers, Downtown Madison and Rivergate, population studies sometimes include nearby communities.
Famous People from Madison
Here are some notable people who were born or lived in Madison, Tennessee:
- William S. Harney (1800–1889), a Union general during the Civil War, was born in Madison.
- Patrick Turner, a former football player for the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins.
- Jim Reeves (1923–1964), a U.S. country singer, lived in Madison from 1958 until his death.
- Patsy Cline (1932–1963), a famous country singer.
