Madison County, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Madison County
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Madison County Courthouse in Danielsville
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Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
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 Georgia's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Georgia |
| Founded | December 5, 1811 |
| Named for | James Madison |
| Seat | Danielsville |
| Largest city | Comer |
| Area | |
| • Total | 286 sq mi (740 km2) |
| • Land | 282 sq mi (730 km2) |
| • Water | 3.3 sq mi (9 km2) 1.1% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 30,120 |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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32,191  |
| • Density | 105.31/sq mi (40.66/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 9th |
Madison County is a county in the northeastern part of Georgia. In 2020, about 30,120 people lived here. The main town, or county seat, is Danielsville. The county was started on December 5, 1811. The biggest city in Madison County is Comer, with about 1,200 people. Madison County is part of the larger Athens–Clarke County metropolitan area. This area is also part of the even bigger Atlanta–Athens–Clarke County–Sandy Springs region.
Contents
History of Madison County
Madison County was officially created by the Georgia government on December 11, 1811. It was named after James Madison, who was the fourth president of the United States from 1809 to 1817. Madison County was the 38th county formed in Georgia. It began working as a county in 1812. Parts of five other counties were used to create Madison County. These were Clarke, Elbert, Franklin, Jackson, and Oglethorpe counties.
Early farming in Madison County focused on growing food and raising animals. People raised cattle, hogs, and sheep to feed themselves. After the Civil War, there was a big need for a crop that could be sold easily. This led to farmers growing a lot of cotton. Growing only cotton, year after year, damaged the soil in Madison County. From the 1930s onward, farming became more varied. Today, farming businesses are very important to the local economy. Raising chickens and other poultry is especially important.
Watson Mill Bridge State Park is shared by Madison and Oglethorpe counties. It has the longest covered bridge in Georgia. The bridge is over 100 years old. It stretches 229 feet across the South Fork of the Broad River. The park also has places for camping, hiking trails, picnics, and fishing.
The Madison County Courthouse was built in 1901. It cost $18,314, which was a lot of money back then. It is one of the most decorative courthouses in Georgia. This building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. New Hope Presbyterian Church was started in 1788. It is the third oldest church in Georgia.
On July 11, 1964, a sad event happened in Madison County. Lt. Col. Lemuel Penn was a brave veteran of World War II. He was also an officer in the United States Army Reserve. He was killed on a bridge over the Broad River. This happened just nine days after the Civil Rights Act was passed.
Mail Services in the Past
In 1879, Madison County had only four post offices. These were in Danielsville, Fort Lamar, Madison Springs, and Paoli. By 1889, there were more post offices. Some of these were in Carlton, Ila, and Planter.
By 1900, even more post offices had opened. These included places like Comer and Pocataligo. However, some older ones had closed. By 1910, most of these newer post offices had also closed. Only six main post offices remained. These were in Carlton, Colbert, Comer, Danielsville, Hull, and Ila. These six post offices are still open today.
Geography of Madison County
Madison County covers about 286 square miles. Most of this area, about 282 square miles, is land. The rest, about 3.3 square miles, is water.
Most of Madison County is in the Broad River area. This river flows into the Savannah River. A small part of the county on its western side is in the Upper Oconee River area. The Oconee River flows into the Altamaha River.
Neighboring Counties
- Franklin County, Georgia – to the north
- Hart County, Georgia – to the northeast
- Elbert County, Georgia – to the east
- Oglethorpe County, Georgia – to the south
- Clarke County, Georgia – to the southwest
- Jackson County, Georgia – to the west
- Banks County, Georgia – to the northwest
Main Roads
U.S. Route 29
State Route 8
State Route 22
State Route 72 Business- State Route 72 Bypass
- State Route 72 Spur
State Route 98
State Route 106
State Route 172
State Route 174
State Route 191
State Route 281
Towns and Communities
Cities
Smaller Communities
- Alvin
- Dogsboro
- Fort Lamar
- Hix
- Neese
- Paoli
- Planter
- Pocataligo
- Sanford
- Shiloh
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1820 | 3,735 | — | |
| 1830 | 4,646 | 24.4% | |
| 1840 | 4,510 | −2.9% | |
| 1850 | 5,703 | 26.5% | |
| 1860 | 5,933 | 4.0% | |
| 1870 | 5,227 | −11.9% | |
| 1880 | 7,977 | 52.6% | |
| 1890 | 11,024 | 38.2% | |
| 1900 | 13,224 | 20.0% | |
| 1910 | 16,851 | 27.4% | |
| 1920 | 18,803 | 11.6% | |
| 1930 | 14,921 | −20.6% | |
| 1940 | 13,431 | −10.0% | |
| 1950 | 12,238 | −8.9% | |
| 1960 | 11,246 | −8.1% | |
| 1970 | 13,517 | 20.2% | |
| 1980 | 17,747 | 31.3% | |
| 1990 | 21,050 | 18.6% | |
| 2000 | 25,730 | 22.2% | |
| 2010 | 28,120 | 9.3% | |
| 2020 | 30,120 | 7.1% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 32,191 | 14.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1880 1890-1910 1920-1930 1930-1940 1940-1950 1960-1980 1980-2000 2010 |
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| Group | Number | Percent |
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| White | 23,549 | 78.18% |
| Black or African American | 2,753 | 9.14% |
| Native American | 44 | 0.15% |
| Asian | 521 | 1.73% |
| Pacific Islander | 4 | 0.01% |
| Other/Mixed | 1,293 | 4.29% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1,956 | 6.49% |
In 2020, there were 30,120 people living in Madison County. There were 10,744 households and 8,153 families.
Education in Madison County
Public schools in Madison County are managed by the Madison County School District. The Madison County Board of Education runs the public charter school system. This system includes 5 elementary schools, 1 middle school, 1 high school, and 1 career academy.
Five elected board members oversee the Madison County Board of Education. These members represent different areas of the county. The Board chooses a School Superintendent. This person works for the Board and helps run the schools.
The school district has 290 full-time teachers. Over 4,621 students attend schools in Madison County.
Public Schools
- Colbert Elementary School
- Comer Elementary School
- Danielsville Elementary School
- Hull-Sanford Elementary School
- Ila Elementary School
- Madison County Middle School (MCMS), Home of the Mustangs
- Madison County High School (MCHS), Home of the Red Raiders
- Broad River College and Career Academy
Private Schools
- Union Christian Academy, Hull
- The Busy Box Pre-School, Hull
- The Learning Train Pre-School, Colbert
- Building Blocks Pre-School, Hull
Famous People from Madison County
- Allen Daniel Jr. – a major general and important political leader. The town of Danielsville is named after him.
- Josh Fields – a professional baseball player.
- Crawford W. Long – the first person to use ether to help with surgery.
- Ralph Hudgens – a state official for insurance and fire safety in Georgia.
- Jake Westbrook – a former professional baseball player.
Historic Places to Visit
- Watson Mill Bridge – This is the longest covered bridge in Georgia that is still in its original spot.
- Birthplace of Crawford W. Long – The home where the famous doctor was born.
- Murder site of Lt. Col. Lemuel Penn – A place with historical importance related to the Civil Rights era.
- William Bartram Trail – A trail named after a famous naturalist.
Images for kids
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Madison County Courthouse in Danielsville
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Madison (Georgia) para niños
