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Madison County, Mississippi facts for kids

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Madison County
U.S. county
Madison County Courthouse in Canton
Madison County Courthouse in Canton
Map of Mississippi highlighting Madison County
Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi
Map of the United States highlighting Mississippi
Mississippi's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Mississippi
Founded January 29, 1828
Named for James Madison
Seat Canton
Largest city Madison
Area
 • Total 742 sq mi (1,920 km2)
 • Land 715 sq mi (1,850 km2)
 • Water 27 sq mi (70 km2)  3.7%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 109,145
 • Estimate 
(2023)
 112,511 Increase
 • Density 147.10/sq mi (56.79/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts 2nd, 3rd

Madison County is a county in the state of Mississippi. In 2020, about 109,145 people lived here. The main town, or county seat, is Canton.

The county is named after James Madison. He was one of the Founding Fathers and a U.S. President. Madison County is part of the larger Jackson, Mississippi area.

Where is Madison County?

Madison County covers about 742 square miles (1,920 km2) (square miles). Most of this is land, with about 27 square miles (70 km2) (3.7%) being water.

The Pearl River forms part of the county's southeastern border. This river was dammed to create the Ross Barnett Reservoir. This is a large lake that covers about 33,000 acres (130 km2).

In 1828, Madison County was created from a part of Yazoo County, Mississippi.

Main Roads in Madison County

Getting around Madison County is easy with several important roads:

  • I-55.svg Interstate 55
  • I-220.svg Interstate 220
  • US 49.svg U.S. Highway 49
  • US 51.svg U.S. Highway 51
  • Circle sign 16.svg Mississippi Highway 16
  • Circle sign 17.svg Mississippi Highway 17
  • Circle sign 22.svg Mississippi Highway 22
  • Circle sign 43.svg Mississippi Highway 43
  • Natchez Trace Parkway

Neighboring Counties

Madison County shares borders with these other counties:

Protected Areas

A part of the Natchez Trace Parkway runs through Madison County. This historic road follows an old path used by Native Americans and early European settlers.

A Look at History

Madison County has a rich history. An important event happened here in 1835 at a place called Beatties Bluff. This event was a significant moment in the county's early history.

Who Lives in Madison County?

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1830 4,973 —
1840 15,530 212.3%
1850 18,173 17.0%
1860 23,382 28.7%
1870 20,948 −10.4%
1880 25,866 23.5%
1890 27,321 5.6%
1900 32,493 18.9%
1910 33,505 3.1%
1920 29,292 −12.6%
1930 35,796 22.2%
1940 37,504 4.8%
1950 33,860 −9.7%
1960 32,904 −2.8%
1970 29,737 −9.6%
1980 41,613 39.9%
1990 53,794 29.3%
2000 74,674 38.8%
2010 95,203 27.5%
2020 109,145 14.6%
2023 (est.) 112,511 18.2%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2014

The population of Madison County has grown a lot over the years. In 2020, there were 109,145 people living here. These people lived in over 40,000 households.

Population Makeup in 2020

Madison County Racial Composition
Race Number of People Percentage
White 60,273 55.22%
Black or African American 38,526 35.3%
Native American 160 0.15%
Asian 3,167 2.9%
Pacific Islander 13 0.01%
Other/Mixed 2,889 2.65%
Hispanic or Latino 4,117 3.77%

Towns and Cities

Madison County has several towns and cities where people live and work.

Cities

Town

Other Communities

There is also a ghost town called Beatties Bluff. This means it was once a community but is now abandoned.

Learning and Education

Madison County has good schools and colleges for students.

School Districts

There are two main public school districts:

  • Madison County School District
  • Canton Public School District

Private Schools

Several private schools also serve the area:

  • Canton Academy
  • Madison-Ridgeland Academy
  • St. Andrew's Episcopal School (This is a secondary school campus.)
  • St. Joseph Catholic School (This school is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jackson.)

Colleges

  • Holmes Community College is a local community college.
  • Tougaloo College is also located in Madison County.

Images for kids

  • Madison County Mississippi Courthouse

    Madison County Courthouse in Canton

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Madison (Misisipi) para niños

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