WELCOME to the Greater Madison Area!

You will find the best of all worlds in Wisconsin's vibrant capital city and picturesque surrounding towns: natural beauty and outdoor recreation, stimulating cultural offerings, distinctive restaurants and shops, and an irreverent spirit of fun.

Built on an isthmus between lakes Monona and Mendota, Madison is renowned for its beautiful scenery. A total of five area lakes and over 200 parks provide an abundance of year-round outdoor activities, from hiking, biking, swimming and sailing along with cross-country skiing, snow sailing, and ice fishing.

Urban culture, natural beauty, small town charm - the greater Madison area offers it all!

Madison & Dane County : History

Formed by retreating glaciers approximately 13,000 years ago, the Madison area has a wide and varied history. The following is just a brief overview of the many changes that have come to our area in the years that passed.

Between 1000 B.C. and 1000 A.D., groups of Native American known simply as "mound builders" occupied the Madison area. Of the many effigy mounds that once surrounded the lakes, only a few remain to remind us of this unique culture. By the time the Yankee settlers began to arrive in the 1800s, the Winnebago Nation called the area home.

In May of 1829, territorial Judge and land speculator James Duane Doty, enthralled by the natural beauty of the area, purchased 1200 acres of land from the federal government for $1.25 an acre. President Andrew Jackson created the territory of Wisconsin on April 20, 1836. Six months later, Wisconsin’s first governor, Henry Dodge, convened the first Legislature in Belmont to discuss the site of the territorial capital. Though several settlements vied for the honor of becoming the capital city, our central location was ultimately selected. Previously known only as the “Four Lakes Region,” the territorial capital has since grown into the state capital of Madison.

The State of Wisconsin officially became the 30th state on May 29, 1848. The City of Madison, established in 1856 (having been incorporated as a village in 1846), was named for former U.S. President James Madison, and the first streets were named for the other signers of the U.S. Constitution. Dane County, established in 1836, was named for Nathan Dane, a Massachusetts Congressman who was instrumental in passing the ordinance to establish the Northwest Territory.

The state capitol building that looks over Madison today is not the original Wisconsin capitol . . . in fact, it is the fourth capitol building on that site! The first building was demolished due to poor construction, the second was destroyed when one of the wings collapsed, and a fire extensively damaged the third. The current capitol building was completed in 1917. Recently refurbished to its original splendor, it is widely recognized as one of the most beautiful in the United States.

Madison & Dane County : Education

Academic Institutions in the greater Madison area.
With many first-rate educational institutions, such as the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Edgewood College, Madison Area Technical College, and the Madison Metropolitan School District, Madison is an intellectual center for Wisconsin. Thousands of students and the vibrant campus cultures contribute to the area's youthful spirit.

Examples of some of the extraordinary accomplishments by Madison area educational institutions include rankings of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Highlights are:

#1 in Research funds for a public U.S. educational institution with $550 million
#2 in Research funds for all U.S. educational institutions
#1 in Endowments for a public U.S. educational institution
#1 in Intellectual Property rights by a public U.S. educational institution (WARF: WI Alumni Research Foundation)

On Everyone's Short-list: Recent Awards for Madison

Madison, Wisconsin consistently ranks as a top community in which to live, work, play, and raise a family. A favorite Midwestern getaway, Madison is also a premier meeting and convention destination. The following is just a sampling of the accolades our destination has recently received!

For information about this ideal American city, call the Greater Madison Convention & Visitors Bureau: 800.373.6376 or 608.255.2537.

#1 City for Cycling (Population: 200,000–500,000)
Bicycling, March, 2006

"One of the 10 Best Places to Live the Athletic Life"
geezerJock, Fall, 2005

2005 Award for Garden Excellence, Olbrich Botancial Gardens
American Association of Botanic Gardens and Arboreta (AABGA), Summer, 2005

Madison Ranked the 4th "Brainiest" City in the Country
American City Business Journals Inc., Spring, 2005

Madison Ranked #3 in The Top 100 Healthiest Cities for Pregnancy
BabyFit.com, December, 2005

Madison Rated #1 in "Digital Cities Survey"
Center for Digital Government, November, 2005

Madison Rated #6 Mid-Sized City in the U.S. for Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneur magazine, October, 2005

Middleton Rated One of the Ten Best Places to Live 2005
Money, August, 2005

One of the Ten Best Metros for Business and Careers
Forbes, May, 2005

One of the 20 Best Walking Cities
Prevention, April, 2005

Madison's Public Schools Rank #3 in Nation
Expansion Management Magazine, April, 2005

Madison & Dane County : Geography & Statistics

A progressive, cosmopolitan city of over 200,000, Madison is home to the world-class University of Wisconsin-Madison, the seat of state government, and an eclectic, electric atmosphere that energizes any visitor's stay. Madison offers both small town charm and a range of cultural and recreational opportunities usually found in much larger cities. And, with four lakes and over 200 parks, it is one of the nation's most scenic cities. A host of picturesque communities, many retaining their strong ethnic heritage, surrounds the city.

Population
City of Madison: 217,935*
Dane County: 450,730*

*2004 estimate.

Weather
Average High Temperatures:
Spring: 51.6 F
Summer: 80.8 F
Autumn: 59.2 F
Winter: 28.4 F

Average Annual Snowfall: 42"

Madison Thirty-Year Normals: 1971-2000

Annual Maximum: 55.8
Annual Minimum: 36.4
Annual Mean: 46.1
Annual Precip: 32.95

Geography
Average Elevation: 845.6' above sea level
Topography: Rolling
Area of County: 1200 square miles
Area of City: 64 square miles
Number of County Lakes: 35 (25 with public access)
Area of County Lakes: 21,336 acres
Major Lake Names: Mendota, Monona, Wingra, Waubesa, Kegonsa
Farmland (Dane County): 568,000 acres (1999)

Recreation
Local Public Land Designated for Recreational Use:

Federal: 1,350 acres
State: 17,203 acres
County: More than 5,000 acres
City: 5,800 acres
Total: More than 29,000 acres

Water-Related Recreation Areas and Facilities (County):

Canoeing: 48 miles
Swimming: 32 areas, 92 miles of shoreline
Boating: 40 launching sites

Land-Related Recreational Areas and Facilities (County):

Bicycle Trails/Routes: more than 150 miles
Public Courses: 15
Private Courses: 5
Major Hiking Trails: 46 miles
Hunting: 8,548 acres
Snowmobile Trails: 240 miles
Cross-Country: 14 areas, more than 100 miles
Downhill: 1 area, 6 runs
Sledding Areas: 13 hills
Skating Facilities: 40

Sources: City of Madison Dept. of Planning and Development, Dane County Regional Planning Commission, Dane County Parks Division, Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce, National Weather Service, US Bureau of the Census and the Wis. Depts. of Administration and Public Instruction.

Learn more at the Visit Madison website!