Madison

by The Linguist

Madison, Wisconsin

Madison is the capital and second largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, Madison had a population of 259,680, making it the second-largest city in Wisconsin after Milwaukee. Madison is the county seat of Dane County and forms part of the Madison Metropolitan Area which had a population of 663,296.

For more information on Madison’s population and demographics, visit the Madison, Wisconsin Wikipedia page.

History

Madison was founded in 1836 when former federal judge James Duane Doty purchased over a thousand acres of swamp and forest land on the isthmus between Lakes Mendota and Monona. He built a house there and named the settlement “Madison” after then-President James Madison.

For more on the history of Madison, visit the City of Madison’s history page.

Economy

Madison has a diversified economy based largely on government, education, insurance, healthcare, technology and biotech industries. The University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Wisconsin state government are two of the city’s largest employers.

For more on Madison’s economy and major employers, visit the Madison Region Economic Partnership website.

101 East Washington Ave, Madison, WI 53703
(608) 256-2775

Attractions

Some of the top attractions in Madison include:

  • Wisconsin State Capitol – 2 E Main St, Madison, WI 53703
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison – 500 Lincoln Dr, Madison, WI 53706
  • Olbrich Botanical Gardens – 3330 Atwood Ave, Madison, WI 53704
  • Henry Vilas Zoo – 702 S Randall Ave, Madison, WI 53715
  • Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center – 1 John Nolen Dr, Madison, WI 53703

For more ideas on things to see and do, visit the official Madison tourism website.

Wisconsin State Capitol

The Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison is the tallest building in the city and houses the state legislature. Free tours are offered daily.

More information on visiting the Capitol

2 E Main St, Madison, WI 53703
(608) 266-0382

Public Transportation

Public transportation in Madison is provided by the city’s Metro Transit system. It offers over 50 bus routes serving the Madison area.

For maps, schedules and fare info, visit the Madison Metro Transit website.

1245 E Washington Ave, Madison, WI 53703
(608) 266-4466

Major Employers

Some of the largest employers in Madison include:

  • University of Wisconsin–Madison – 500 Lincoln Dr, Madison, WI 53706
  • Wisconsin State Government – 2 E Main St, Madison, WI 53703
  • Madison Metropolitan School District – 545 W Dayton St, Madison, WI 53703
  • American Family Insurance – 6000 American Pkwy, Madison, WI 53783
  • Epic Systems – 1979 Milky Way, Verona, WI 53593

County Information

Madison is located in Dane County. The Dane County website can be found here:

Dane County Website

210 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd #416, Madison, WI 53703
(608) 266-4121

School Districts

The primary public school districts in Madison are:

Local Resources

Here are some additional useful local resources and websites: