Madison, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Madison
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Main Street in Madison in 2007
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| Nickname(s):
The Gateway to the Coal Fields
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Location of Madison in Boone County, West Virginia.
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| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Boone |
| Area | |
| • Total | 7.06 sq mi (18.29 km2) |
| • Land | 7.01 sq mi (18.14 km2) |
| • Water | 0.06 sq mi (0.15 km2) |
| Elevation | 702 ft (214 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,911 |
| • Estimate
(2021)
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2,838 |
| • Density | 381.53/sq mi (147.32/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
25130
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| Area code(s) | 304 |
| FIPS code | 54-50524 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1542678 |
Madison is a city in Boone County, West Virginia, United States. It used to be a town known for its coal mining. In 2020, about 2,911 people lived here. Madison is also the county seat of Boone County, which means it's where the main government offices for the county are located.
Contents
Discovering Madison's Past
Madison was first called Boone Court House. This was because it was where the county's courthouse was located. Around 1865, the town got its new name, Madison.
How Madison Got Its Name
People think Madison was named after James Madison. He was the fourth president of the United States. However, there are other ideas too! Some believe it was named after a lawyer named James Madison Laidley. Others think it was named for William Madison Peyton. He was an early coal mine owner. He helped create Boone County.
Courthouses and History
The very first courthouse in Madison was a log building. It was burned down during the Civil War. Later, a second courthouse was built from local bricks. This building was used until 1913. County officials then used a wooden building for a few years. The current Boone County Courthouse opened in 1921. It is a very important building. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a special historical site.
Madison's Role in Coal History
Madison is known as the "Gateway to the Coalfields." This is because it sits on a main road leading to the southern coal mining areas. The town played a key role during the Mine Wars. These were big conflicts between coal miners and mine owners. In August 1921, miners gathered at the town's ballpark. They discussed whether to continue their march. Thousands of armed marchers passed through Madison. They were on their way to and from the fighting at Blair Mountain.
Historic Buildings and Local Events
Besides the Boone County Courthouse, the Madison National Bank building is also historic. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Every June since 1994, Madison hosts the WV Coal Festival. It's a fun way to celebrate the area's coal heritage.
Exploring Madison's Geography
Madison is located at 38°3′43″N 81°49′6″W / 38.06194°N 81.81833°W. The Little Coal River starts right here in Madison. It forms when two smaller rivers, Spruce Fork and Pond Fork, join together. This joining is called a confluence.
The city covers about 7.07 square miles (18.29 square kilometers). Most of this area is land. Only a small part, about 0.06 square miles (0.15 square kilometers), is water.
People of Madison
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 295 | — | |
| 1920 | 604 | 104.7% | |
| 1930 | 1,156 | 91.4% | |
| 1940 | 1,205 | 4.2% | |
| 1950 | 2,025 | 68.0% | |
| 1960 | 2,215 | 9.4% | |
| 1970 | 2,342 | 5.7% | |
| 1980 | 3,228 | 37.8% | |
| 1990 | 3,051 | −5.5% | |
| 2000 | 2,677 | −12.3% | |
| 2010 | 3,076 | 14.9% | |
| 2020 | 2,911 | −5.4% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 2,838 | −7.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Population and Households
In 2010, Madison had 3,076 people living in the city. There were 1,299 households. A household is a group of people living together. About 881 of these were families. The city had about 438.8 people per square mile.
Many households had children under 18 living with them. Over half of the households were married couples. Some households had a single parent. About 28% of all households were individuals living alone. Many of these were people aged 65 or older.
Age and Gender in Madison
The average age of people in Madison in 2010 was 42.1 years. About 21% of residents were under 18. Around 7.8% were young adults aged 18 to 24. The largest group, about 30.4%, was between 45 and 64 years old. About 16% of the population was 65 or older. The city had a close balance of genders. About 48.2% were male and 51.8% were female.
Notable People from Madison
- Fred Haddad, who helped start and was president of the Heck's discount retail store chain.
See also
In Spanish: Madison (Virginia Occidental) para niños
