List of mayors of Madison, Wisconsin facts for kids
Madison, Wisconsin, has a rich history, and many important people have helped lead the city over time. These leaders, first called village presidents and later mayors, have guided Madison's growth and development. This list shows the different individuals who have held these important positions, helping to shape the city we know today.
Leaders of Madison
The leaders of Madison have played a big role in its journey from a small village to a bustling city. They make important decisions about how the city runs, from building roads to managing public services.
Village Presidents
Before Madison became a city, it was a village. The main leader of a village was called a "village president." These individuals helped set up the early rules and services for the community.
| President | Years in Office |
|---|---|
| Thomas W. Sutherland | 1846 |
| Alexander L. Collins | 1847–1849 |
| William N. Seymour (1808–1886) |
1850 |
| Simeon Mills | 1851 |
| Chauncey Abbott | 1852 |
| Horace A. Tenney | 1853 |
| Simeon Mills | 1854 |
| Peter Van Bergen (1809–1879) |
1855 |
City Mayors
In 1856, Madison officially became a city. From that point on, the main leader of the city was called a "mayor." Mayors are elected by the people and work to make sure the city runs smoothly and serves its residents. They lead the city government and represent Madison to the rest of the world.
| Order | Mayor | Started Office | Left Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jairus C. Fairchild | 1856 | 1856 |
| 2 | Augustus A. Bird | 1857 | 1857 |
| 3 | George Baldwin Smith | 1858 | 1860 |
| 4 | Levi Baker Vilas | 1861 | 1861 |
| 5 | William T. Leitch | 1862 | 1864 |
| 6 | Elisha W. Keyes | 1865 | 1866 |
| 7 | Alden Sprague Sanborn | 1867 | 1868 |
| 8 | David Atwood | 1868 | 1868 |
| 9 | Andrew Proudfit | 1869 | 1870 |
| 10 | James Barton Bowen | 1871 | 1871 |
| 11 | James L. Hill | 1872 | 1872 |
| 12 | Jared Comstock Gregory | 1873 | 1873 |
| 13 | Silas U. Pinney | 1874 | 1875 |
| 14 | John N. Jones (1817–1898) |
1876 | 1876 |
| 15 | Harlow S. Orton | 1877 | 1877 |
| 16 | George Baldwin Smith | 1878 | 1878 |
| 17 | John R. Baltzell | 1879 | 1879 |
| 18 | Philip L. Spooner, Jr. | 1880 | 1880 |
| 19 | James Conklin | 1881 | 1883 |
| 20 | Breese J. Stevens | 1884 | 1884 |
| 21 | Hiram N. Moulton | 1885 | 1885 |
| 22 | Elisha W. Keyes | 1886 | 1886 |
| 23 | James Conklin | 1887 | 1887 |
| 24 | Moses Ransom Doyon | 1888 | 1889 |
| 25 | Robert McKee Bashford | 1890 | 1890 |
| 26 | William H. Rogers | 1891 | 1892 |
| 27 | John H. Corscot | 1893 | 1894 |
| 28 | Jabe B. Alford | 1895 | 1895 |
| 29 | Albert A. Dye | 1896 | 1896 |
| 30 | Mathias J. Hoven | 1897 | 1897 |
| 31 | Charles Elbert Whelan | 1898 | 1898 |
| 32 | Mathias J. Hoven | 1899 | 1900 |
| 33 | Storm Bull | 1901 | 1901 |
| 34 | John W. Groves | 1902 | 1903 |
| 35 | William Dexter Curtis (D.) | 1904 | 1905 |
| 36 | Joseph C. Schubert (D.) | 1906 | 1911 |
| 37 | John B. Heim (D.) | 1912 | 1913 |
| 38 | Adolph H. Kayser | 1914 | 1915 |
| 39 | George C. Sayle (1864–1951) |
1916 | 1919 |
| 40 | Isaac Milo Kittleson | 1920 | 1925 |
| 41 | Albert G. Schmedeman | 1926 | 1932 |
| 42 | James R. Law, Jr. | 1932 | December 1943 |
| 43 | Fred Halsey Kraege | December 1943 | 1947 |
| 44 | Leonard G. Howell (1894–1980) |
1947 | 1950 |
| 45 | George J. Forster | 1950 | April 1955 |
| — | Alfred W. Bareis | April 1955 | 1956 Interim |
| 46 | Ivan A. Nestingen (D.) | 1956 | 1961 |
| — | Harold E. Hanson | 1961 | 1961 Interim |
| 47 | Henry Edward Reynolds (R.) | 1961 | 1965 |
| 48 | Otto Festge (D.) (1921–2007) |
April 1965 | April 1969 |
| 49 | William Dyke (R.) | April 1969 | April 17, 1973 |
| 50 | Paul Soglin (D.) | April 17, 1973 | April 17, 1979 |
| 51 | Joel Skornicka (D.) | April 18, 1979 | April 17, 1983 |
| 52 | F. Joseph Sensenbrenner Jr. (D.) | April 17, 1983 | April 18, 1989 |
| 53 | Paul Soglin (D.) | April 18, 1989 | April 15, 1997 |
| 54 | Susan J. M. Bauman (D.) | April 15, 1997 | April 22, 2003 |
| 55 | Dave Cieslewicz (I.) | April 22, 2003 | April 19, 2011 |
| 56 | Paul Soglin (D.) | April 19, 2011 | April 16, 2019 |
| 57 | Satya Rhodes-Conway (D.) | April 16, 2019 | present |
See also
- Mayoral elections in Madison, Wisconsin
