Madison County, North Carolina facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Madison County
U.S. county
Madison County Courthouse in Marshall
Flag Seal
Location within the U.S. state of North Carolina
North Carolina's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	North Carolina
Founded	1851
Named for	James Madison
Seat	Marshall
Largest municipality	Mars Hill
Area
• Total	451.49 sq mi (1,169.4 km2)
• Land	449.62 sq mi (1,164.5 km2)
• Water	1.87 sq mi (4.8 km2)  0.41%
Population  (2020)
• Total	21,193
• Estimate  (2023)	22,071
• Density	46.9401/sq mi (18.1237/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	11th

Advertisement for Warm Springs Hotel, Madison County, around 1880

Madison County is a county located in the western part of North Carolina, a state in the United States. In 2020, about 21,193 people lived here. The main town and county seat (where the county government is) is Marshall. Madison County is also part of the larger Asheville area.

History of Madison County

Madison County was created in 1851. It was formed from parts of two nearby counties: Buncombe County and Yancey County. The county was named after James Madison, who was the fourth president of the United States from 1809 to 1817.

There is a special community called Long Ridge near Mars Hill. This community has a long history as an African American settlement. It is also home to one of the last remaining Rosenwald Schools in Western North Carolina. Rosenwald Schools were special schools built for African American children in the early 1900s.

Geography and Nature

Madison County covers about 451 square miles. Most of this area, about 449 square miles, is land. Only a small part, less than 2 square miles, is water.

The county is located deep within the Appalachian Mountains in western North Carolina. This means much of the land is rugged and covered with thick forests. It is also not very crowded. The northern border of Madison County touches the state of Tennessee. The biggest river in the county is the French Broad River. This river flows north through the county, passing by Marshall and then the resort town of Hot Springs.

Protected Natural Areas

Parts of Madison County are protected to preserve nature. These areas include:

• Pisgah National Forest (a large national forest)

State and Local Protected Lands

There are also state and local areas set aside for wildlife and nature:

• Harmon Den Wildlife Management Area (part)
• Pisgah National Forest Game Land (part)
• Sandy Mush Game Land (part)

Major Rivers and Creeks

Important water bodies in Madison County include:

• Big Laurel Creek
• French Broad River
• Gabriel Creek
• Ivy Creek
• Little Creek
• Little Laurel Creek
• Simmons Creek
• Whiteoak Creek

Neighboring Counties

Madison County shares borders with several other counties:

• Greene County, Tennessee – to the north
• Unicoi County, Tennessee – to the northeast
• Yancey County – to the east
• Buncombe County – to the south
• Haywood County – to the southwest
• Cocke County, Tennessee – to the northwest

Main Roads and Highways

Many important roads run through Madison County, connecting it to other areas:

Population Changes Over Time

The population of Madison County has changed over the years. In 1860, there were about 5,908 people. The population grew steadily until the 1940s, reaching over 22,000. After that, it saw a decrease for a few decades before starting to grow again. By 2020, the population was 21,193 people.

2020 Census Information

According to the 2020 census, there were 21,193 people living in Madison County. These people lived in 8,403 households, which are groups of people living together. There were also 5,456 families. Most of the people in Madison County identified as White (non-Hispanic), making up about 90.75% of the population.

Education in Madison County

Madison County has a public school system for its students. It includes one early college high school, where students can earn college credits while still in high school. There is also one traditional high school, Madison High School, located in Marshall.

The county also has one middle school, Madison Middle School. For younger students, there are three elementary schools: Brush Creek Elementary, Hot Springs Elementary, and Mars Hill Elementary. Brush Creek Elementary was formed when Marshall Elementary and Walnut Elementary joined together after Walnut Elementary had a fire in 1998.

Madison County is also home to Mars Hill University. This is a private, four-year university where both male and female students attend. It focuses on liberal-arts education. Mars Hill University was founded in 1856, making it the oldest college or university in western North Carolina. Students at the university can choose from 34 different main subjects to study. They can earn various degrees, including Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Master of Education.

Local Culture and Music

Historically, Madison County was an important place for old-time folk music. This type of music often tells stories and has roots in traditional American and Appalachian culture. For example, the famous folk song Rain and Snow is believed to have started here in the late 1800s.

Communities in Madison County

Map of Madison County with municipal and township labels

Towns in the County

Madison County has three main towns:

• Hot Springs
• Mars Hill (which is the largest town)
• Marshall (which is the county seat)

County Townships

The county is divided into twelve areas called townships. These townships have both numbers and names:

Smaller Communities

There are also several smaller, unincorporated communities in Madison County. These are places that are not officially organized as towns:

Notable People from Madison County

• Claude DeBruhl, who served in the North Carolina House of Representatives.

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Madison (Carolina del Norte) para niños