Madison: Recreation

Sightseeing

The starting point for sightseeing in Madison is the State Capitol building, located between lakes Mendota and Monona. The dome is topped with Daniel Chester French's gilded bronze statue, Wisconsin. The Capitol's interior features 43 varieties of stone and murals, glass mosaics, and hand-carved wood furniture. The State Historical Society on the Capitol Square recaptures the history of Wisconsin with exhibits on Native American tribal life from prehistoric times to the present, pioneer days, paintings and statues. Adjacent is the Wisconsin Veterans Museum, which honors Wisconsin's citizen-soldiers through large-scale exhibits, displays, and presentations.

The architect Frank Lloyd Wright, who resided in nearby Spring Green, designed two buildings that are open to the public in Madison. In 1997, the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center opened its doors some 60 years after Wright first proposed the project, which marries the capitol with Lake Monona. The Unitarian Meeting House, opened in 1951, still serves as a venue for Unitarian Universalist services. About 45 minutes away is Taliesin, Wright's home and architectural school in Spring Green.

To the north of town visitors will find the Circus World Museum, the Wollersheim Winery in Prairie du Sac (which holds a Grape Stomp Festival each fall at harvest time), and the Wisconsin Dells, a favorite family vacation destination with natural beauty, lakes and rivers, shopping, and "the waterpark capital of the world".

The University of Wisconsin Arboretum, maintained for research and instruction by the institution, consists of 1,200 acres of natural forests, prairie, and orchards inside the city; 250 varieties of lilacs and a number of effigy mounds highlight the Arboretum's park trails. Olbrich Botanical Gardens, a 52-acre park and conservatory, displays gorgeous annuals, perennials, and shrubs outside and a lush tropical paradise inside the 50-foot glass pyramid. The Tenney Park Locks and Dam connect Lakes Mendota and Monona, providing passageway for nearly 20,000 watercraft each season and a popular spot for fishing or feeding ducks. On the other end of Lake Mendota is the University of Wisconsin campus with its rich architectural history and scenic beauty. Along Observatory Drive is the Carillon Tower and Bells, the only carillon to be supported at a university by gifts of senior classes.

The Henry Vilas Park Zoo, bordering the shore of Lake Wingra, is home to hundreds of species of exotic animals.

Arts and Culture

The new jewel in downtown Madison's restoration and the city's arts scene is the Overture Center for the Arts, anchored by Overture Hall, new home of the Madison Symphony, the Madison Opera, and national touring productions. The Madison Art Center maintains six galleries and concentrates on modern and contemporary visual art by local, regional, and national artists; the intimate Isthmus Playhouse provides the stage for the Madison Repertory Theatre. Summer performances of Shakespeare and other classics by the American Players Theater are held in Spring Green.

Music is a popular pastime too, as evidenced by the free concerts throughout the year at Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center and the summertime Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra Concerts on the Square. The University of Wisconsin Elvehjem Museum of Art maintains an eclectic permanent collection ranging from Native American miniatures, Japanese prints, and European medals to Soviet paintings and European and American art. The university's other museums concentrate in the fields of geology and zoology. Exhibits at the Madison Children's Museum involve children in learning about science, culture, and art.

Festivals and Holidays

USA Today said about Madison: "There's always something to do. . . . an almost constant parade of free events." The Capitol Square is the center of many of Madison's special events and activities. In June "Cows on the Concourse" celebrates dairy month. The Badger States Games are held in June, attracting from throughout the state thousands of amateur athletes who participate in 18 different sports. Rhythm and Booms is Madison's Independence Day Celebration; it sets spectacular fireworks to music over Lake Mendota. Art Fair on the Square, held the second weekend in July, brings nearly 500 artists to the Capitol Square to exhibit their works. It is accompanied by Art Fair off the Square, highlighting Wisconsin artists. The Maxwell Street Days, a bazaar of bargains along Madison's famous State Street, is another popular event, as is the Paddle 'N Portage Canoe Race and Taste of Madison, held on Labor Day weekend, when area restaurants serve their most exotic and popular dishes. From May to October, the Dane County Farmers' Markets is held on Wednesday and Saturday mornings around the picturesque Capitol. Autumn features the Thirsty Troll Brewfest and the Annual Mount Horeb Fall Heritage Festival. The grey days of winter are brightened by the Madison Auto Show, a Travel & Vacation Show, and Kites on Ice, a two-day kite-flying event that attracts participants from around the world to Lake Monona in February. There is an annual St. Patrick's Day Parade on Capitol Square.

Sports for the Spectator

The University of Wisconsin Badgers compete in the Big Ten athletic conference in 12 sports; the football, basketball, and hockey teams consistently draw large crowds. Home football Saturdays in Madison are like a community holiday, with tailgate parties beginning early in the morning and parties lasting well into the night, regardless of how the team fared on the field that day. In 2004 Sports Illustrated magazine named Madison "Best College Sports Town" in America for its spirited support of the Badgers. The Madison Mallards is a collection of promising collegiate baseball players that play summer ball in the Northwoods League. The Green Bay Packers of the National Football League are adopted by the entire state of Wisconsin, and in nearby Milwaukee, professional baseball (the Brewers) and basketball (the Bucks) are closely followed by Madison fans.

Sports for the Participant

Water sports are particularly attractive in Greater Madison, where five lakes provide ideal conditions for swimming, fishing, boating, canoeing, windsurfing, and ice skating in winter. Year-round fishing is popular, with typical catches including muskie, northern pike, walleye, bass, panfish, and cisco. The Madison Parks Department maintains 7,213 acres of park land. Forty parks maintain ice skating ponds, the majority of which are lighted for evening skating; many provide warming houses. Cross country ski trails line city parks. Many of the parks are equipped with outdoor tennis courts. The Dane County Park System offers a spectacular array of scenery and recreational opportunities at more than 30 area metroparks.

In a city where bicycles may outnumber automobiles, 100 miles of bicycle paths are provided for cycling enthusiasts. Favorite routes circle Lake Monona and the University of Wisconsin Arboretum, cutting through Madison's historic residential district, the zoo, and alongside Lake Wingra. Public golf courses, of varying lengths and difficulties for golfers of all ability levels, are located in Madison. The Springs Golf Course and University Ridge are a highly rated 18-hole courses designed by Robert Trent Jones. In 2004 nearby Whistling Straits Golf Course in Kohler hosted the PGA Championship; the public course was designed by legendary golf course architect Pete Dye. The Mad City Marathon in late May brings thousands of runners to test their mettle against 26.2 miles through some of the most scenic spots in town.

Shopping and Dining

The major shopping malls—East Towne, Hilldale, West Towne, and Westgate—offer comprehensive selection and competitive prices. The Johnson Creek Outlet Center just 30 miles east of Madison has more than 60 brand name stores. The State Capitol district offers a selection of restaurants and stores in a park setting. The pedestrians-only State Street Mall connects the Capitol Square with the University of Wisconsin; the lower section of the Mall is populated by street vendors selling crafts and food. Madison boasts that it has more restaurants per capita than any city in America, with cuisine from around the world appealing to the eclectic tastes of the city's progressive population. Specialty shops and some of the city's finest restaurants are located on State Street. Monroe Street on Madison's near west side also offers charm and unique restaurants and shops. Friday night fish fries are a local custom, and one restaurant caters to specialties native to Wisconsin. The Farmers' Market comes highly recommended for purchasing fresh produce from local growers.

Visitor Information: Greater Madison Convention & Visitors Bureau, 615 East Washington Avenue, Madison, WI 53703; telephone (608)255-2537; toll-free (800)373-6376

Madison: Economy

Major Industries and Commercial Activity

The principal economic sectors in Madison are manufacturing, services, and government. Meat packing and the production of agriculture and dairy equipment have long been established industries in the city; among other items produced by area manufacturing firms are hospital equipment, advanced instrumentation, storage batteries, and air circulating fixtures. Diversified farming contributes significantly to the Madison economy; nearly one-sixth of all Wisconsin farms are located within the Greater Madison market region. Dane County ranks among the top ten counties in the nation for agricultural production, the primary products being corn, alfalfa, tobacco, oats, eggs, cattle, hogs, and dairy foods.

The home offices of more than 30 insurance companies are located in Madison; included among them are American Family, CUNA Mutual Insurance Group, and General Casualty. The city is also the world headquarters of Rayovac Corporation, Promega Corporation, and Oscar Mayer. Government and education are major economic sectors; about one third of the area work force is employed in federal, state, and local government jobs, and the University of Wisconsin employs more than 36,000 workers. Madison is a banking and finance center, serving the metropolitan region with more than 120 banks, credit unions, and savings and loan institutions. Other service areas important to the local economy are health care and research and development.

Items and goods produced: agricultural products, food packaging products, dry cell batteries, farm machinery, hospital equipment, optical instruments, lenses, fabricated structural steel

Incentive Programs—New and Existing Businesses

Local programs

The city of Madison Office of Business Resources leads start-up, relocating, and expanding businesses through the range of available financial and consultative benefits the local government has to offer. The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at the University of Wisconsin is an award-winning community resource that aids small businesses by providing practical, customer-focused management education, training, counseling and networking. In addition to counseling, the SBDC conducts workshops and seminars. The city provides below market-rate interest loans for real estate projects in the Downtown Isthmus area and selected other areas of the city. Madison Development Corporation (MDC) provides loans of up to $200,000 to businesses in the City of Madison that show continued job growth.

State programs

The Wisconsin Economic Development Association (WEDA) and the Wisconsin Economic Development Institute (WEDI) are two nonprofit agencies that provide information and financial services, legal and legislative assistance, and networking opportunities for their member businesses. On the government side, the Division of Business Development of the Wisconsin Department of Commerce provides technical assistance and financial incentives to businesses in the areas of business planning, site selection, capitalization, permits, training and recruitment, and research and development. On April 28, 2000, then Governor Tommy G. Thompson signed into law a bill that created the Wisconsin Technology Council, a nonprofit, nonpartisan board that serves to create, develop and retain science and technology-based business in Wisconsin, and to serve as an advisor to the Governor and the Legislature. The Council also serves as the key link between the state's colleges and universities and the business expertise and capital offered by the financial service industry. Recently the firm published its "Vision 2020: A Model Wisconsin Economy" as a blueprint for its efforts over the next two decades.

Job training programs

The area's universities and technical colleges offer ample education and training programs.

Development Projects

In July 1998, Madison businessman W. Jerome Frautschi announced a major civic gift to improve the cultural arts facilities in downtown Madison. Called the Overture Center for the Arts, it is a privately funded initiative to promote excellence in the arts and stimulate a downtown Madison renaissance. The Overture Project will transform the current Civic Center block, remodeling and expanding the existing facilities and adding new ones. Phase One of the project, including the brand new, state-of-the-art Overture Hall, a 2,250-seat theater which houses the Madison Symphony, Madison Opera, and the Madison Ballet, was completed in 2004, and by 2005 construction had begun on Phase Two, which includes a renovation of the old Capitol Theater and a new Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. All design comes under the guise of internationally known architect Cesar Pelli and as plans have expanded development costs have surpassed $205 million, all of which was being funded by Mr. Frautschi. In 2005 the Overture Foundation acquired the old Capital Square Building as the new home for the Madison Children's Museum.

Economic Development Information: Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce, 615 E. Washington Ave., PO Box 71, Madison, WI 53701-0071; telephone (608)256-8348. City of Madison Department of Planning and Development, 215 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Madison, WI 53710; telephone (608)266-4635; fax (608)267-8739.

Commercial Shipping

Madison is served by the Chicago & Northwestern, Soo/Milwaukee, and Wisconsin & Calumet railroads. More than 40 motor freight carriers link the city with markets throughout the nation via an extensive interstate highway system. Air cargo is shipped through Dane County Regional Airport by two companies.

Labor Force and Employment Outlook

Madison enjoys relatively low unemployment and a high percentage of high-paying jobs in the growing high-technology sector of the economy, all of which provides a strong boost to the local economy in many ways. Forbes magazine has called Madison a hotbed of biocapitalism and Entrepreneur ranks Madison as one of the top five cities in which to start a business. Many of these new businesses are in the high-tech sector of the local economy. In 2005 more than 450 firms in the Madison area were identified as high-tech. Madison Schools are consistently ranked among the best in the nation, and the University of Wisconsin is regarded as one of the nation's finest public universities, turning out thousands of graduates each year and providing a high number of jobs in research and development.

The following is a summary of data regarding the Madison metropolitan area labor force, 2004 annual averages.

Size of non-agricultural labor force: 343,100

Number of workers employed in . . .

mining and construction: 16,700

manufacturing: 31,900

trade, transportation and utilities: 60,400

information: 8,000

financial activities: 27,500

professional and business services: 32,000

educational and health services: 33,800

leisure and hospitality: 28,700

other services: 17,000

government: 79,700

Average hourly earnings of production workers employed in manufacturing: $16.19

Unemployment rate: 3.9% (February 2005)

Cost of Living

The following is a summary of data regarding several key cost of living factors in the Madison area.

2004 ACCRA Average House Price: Not reported

2004 ACCRA Cost of Living Index: Not reported

State income tax rate: Ranges from 4.6% to 6.75%

State sales tax rate: 5.0%

Local income tax rate: None

Local sales tax rate: 0.5% (Dane County)

Property tax rate: Effective tax rate $23.46 per $1,000 of assessed valuation (2004)

Economic Information: Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce, 615 E. Washington Ave., PO Box 71, Madison, WI 53701-0071; telephone (608)256-8348.

Madison: Education and Research

Elementary and Secondary Schools

Madison was recently singled out by Money magazine as the country's "best place for education." Public, elementary, and secondary schools in Madison are part of the Madison Metropolitan School District, the third-largest system in the state of Wisconsin. The Madison Metropolitan School District serves about 25,000 students in 46 schools, including 30 elementary schools (grades K-5), 11 middle schools (6-8), four comprehensive high schools and one alternative high school. The district also has early childhood programs and alternative programs at the secondary level (6-12). The district covers approximately 65 square miles, including all or part of the cities of Madison and Fitchburg, the villages of Maple Bluff and Shorewood Hills, and the towns of Blooming Grove, Burke and Madison. A superintendent is appointed by a seven-member, nonpartisan board of education.

The following is a summary of data regarding Madison public schools as of the 2004–2005 school year.

Total enrollment: 25,000

Number of facilities

elementary schools: 30

middle schools: 11

high schools: 4

other: 1 alternative

Student/teacher ratio: 12.3:1 (2002–03)

Teacher salaries

average: $37,701 (2002–2003)

Funding per pupil: $11,118 (2002–2003)

Parochial elementary and secondary school systems are operated by the Roman Catholic and Lutheran churches; three private schools in Dane County provide a kindergarten through grade eight curriculum; and four interdenominational schools offer instruction at all grade levels. There are also services for those with special mental and physical needs.

Public Schools Information: Madison Metropolitan School District, 545 West Dayton Street, Madison, WI 53703-1967; telephone (608)266-6270

Colleges and Universities

The University of Wisconsin—Madison, chartered in 1848, is one of the country's top 10 public universities. It enrolls more than 41,000 students and grants undergraduate and graduate degrees in more than 100 disciplines, including agriculture, allied health professions, education, environmental studies, law, pharmacy, medicine, veterinary medicine, and nursing. As a major research institution, the university is known for work in a variety of fields such as agriculture, bacteriology, chemistry, engineering, forest products, genetics, land use, medicine, nuclear energy, and physics. Edgewood College is a private liberal arts college awarding associate and baccalaureate degrees; a cooperative program in medical technology with area schools and limited cross-registration with the University of Wisconsin—Madison are available. Vocational training and/or bachelors degrees are offered by Madison Area Technical College (which enrolls more than 50,000), Herzing College of Technology, and Madison Media Institute; areas of specialization include aviation, computers, cosmetology, dance, electronics, music, nursing, recreation, and television.

Libraries and Research Centers

Madison is home to 180 public, governmental, special, and academic libraries. The Madison Public Library, with a centrally located main facility, operates nine branches throughout the city. Holdings include about 1.2 million volumes, including periodicals, and compact discs, DVD and video recordings, books on tape, maps, charts, and art reproductions; the library is a partial depository for federal and city documents. In 2004 the Library had 2.2 million visitors, another 2 million hits on its online databases, and circulated 4.3 million volumes. The University of Wisconsin-Madison Memorial Library is a major research facility, housing more than 5.5 million volumes, with more than 80 special collections in a wide range of scholarly fields. The State Historical Society library specializes in Wisconsin lore and has a special African American History Collection.

As the state capital, Madison is the site for libraries affiliated with governmental agencies; among them are the Wisconsin Department of Justice Law Library, the Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation Library, and the Wisconsin State Law Library. Several county agencies also maintain libraries in the city. Other specialized libraries are operated by colleges, public interest groups, labor organizations, churches, hospitals, corporations, museums, and newspapers.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison ranks among the top American research universities. UW-Madison annually receives total research funding exceeding $360 million. According to recent figures available from the National Science Foundation, this makes the University of Wisconsin-Madison the third largest funded research university in the country. U.S. government research laboratories located in Madison include the U.S. Forest Products Lab, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Laboratory, the Space Science and Engineering Center, the Waisman Center on Mental Retardation and Human Development, the Enzyme Institute, the Sea Grant Institute, Air Pollution Lab, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Research Service. A number of private research and testing centers, such as Hazelton Laboratories America, Inc., are also based in Madison.

Public Library Information: Madison Public Library, 201 West Mifflin Street, Madison, WI 53703; telephone (608)266-6300

Madison: History

Land Speculator Prevails in State Capital Bid

The Winnebago tribe were the first inhabitants of the area where the city of Madison now stands; these Native Americans lived off the land's bounty and camped alongside Lake Monona and Lake Mendota. Madison owes its founding to James Doty, a native New Yorker who served as circuit judge of the Western Michigan Territory, which included Wisconsin and points as far west as the Dakotas and Iowa.

Doty became a land agent for fur trader and financier John Jacob Astor and in August 1835, he started buying land around the site that was to become Madison; soon he owned more than 1,200 acres on the Four Lakes isthmus.

When the Wisconsin Territorial legislature convened for the first time in October 1836, with the task of selecting the site for the capital, land speculators flocked to the village with "paper" towns for the legislators to consider. In all, 18 townsites were considered, but Doty's vision proved to be the most persuasive. Doty had selected the name Madison in honor of James Madison, the former United States President, for the state capital. The recently deceased Madison had been the last surviving signer of the U.S. Constitution. Doty's design of Madison, with a square in the middle housing the Capitol and streets radiating diagonally from it like spokes in a wheel, was the same as Pierre Charles L'Enfant's street plat of Washington, D.C. The widest street was to be named Washington, and the other streets named after the other signers of the Constitution. When the legislators complained of being cold during their meetings, Doty dispatched a man to Dubuque, Iowa, to purchase Buffalo robes to warm the freezing public officials.

Eben and Rosaline Peck and their son Victor were the first non-Native American family to settle in Madison, arriving in the spring of 1837. They built a crude log inn and named it Madison House, which became the center of early activity and boarded the workmen who had arrived to begin work on the new capitol. Augustus A. Bird supervised a crew of workmen who first built a steam-driven sawmill and then proceeded to try to complete the capitol building before the first legislative session. In November 1838, the legislators arrived to find the statehouse incomplete; when they finally moved into the new statehouse, the conditions were terrible: inkwells were frozen, ice coated the interiors, and hogs squealed in the basement. Legislators threatened to move the capital to Milwaukee but better accommodations could not be guaranteed. The statehouse was not completed until 1848.

Growth and Development Preserve Natural Setting

Improvements were slow to come to Madison and the living conditions remained crude until the arrival of Leonard J. Farwell in 1849. Farwell, a successful Milwaukee businessman, began developing the land by channeling a canal between Lakes Mendota and Monona, damming one end of Lake Mendota, building a grist and flour mill, and opening streets and laying sidewalks. But even as late as 1850, when Madison's population numbered more than 1,600 people, the isthmus thickets were still dense and impenetrable.

The University of Wisconsin was founded in 1848, the year Wisconsin was admitted to the Union. The first graduating class, in 1854, numbered two men. That year the first railroad service arrived in Madison and during the decade before the Civil War, Madison's business economy began to grow. The Madison Institute sponsored a successful literary lyceum and boasted 1,300 volumes in its library. Streets were gas-illuminated by 1855, when three daily and five weekly newspapers were published in the new capital and the population had increased to more than 6,800 people. The city was incorporated in 1856. The following year Madison's citizens voted to donate $50,000 in city bonds to enable the legislature to enlarge and improve the Capitol building.

The Madison Park and Pleasure Drive Association was organized in 1894 and citizens donated lakeshore and forest-bluff tracts as well as money to create scenic drives, parks, and playgrounds in the city. Four years later, the city council started annual contributions to the park association. By 1916, the park association had spent more than $300,000 on improvements to the shoreline and parks. In February 1904, a fire destroyed much of the Capitol's interior. A new Capitol was constructed in stages between 1906 and 1917 on the site of the old one, featuring the only granite state Capitol dome in the United States. As both a state capital and home to a major state university, Madison has experienced a stable economic and educational base.

In rankings of U.S. cities, Madison consistently scores very high on seemingly every form of criteria. In recent years Madison has appeared several times on Money magazine's list of the best places to live. It has been cited by Zero Population Growth as the " #1 healthiest city in the nation to raise children." Outside magazine calls Madison a "Dream Town"; The Utne Reader calls it one of America's "10 Most Enlightened Towns" and "The Heartland's Progressive Hotbed." In addition, Sports Illustrated called Madison America's #1 College Sports Town, while Prevention magazine labeled it one of its "12 Best Walking Towns."

Historical Information: State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 816 State Street, Madison, WI 53706; telephone (608)264-6534

Madison: Communications

Newspapers and Magazines

Daily newspapers in Madison are the morning and Sunday Wisconsin State Journal and the evening (Monday through Friday; mornings on Saturday) The Capital Times. Several other newspapers also circulate in the city; among them are the alternative weekly Isthmus, and University of Wisconsin student dailies.

Madison is the center of extensive magazine and journal publishing activity, including Madison Magazine and In Business. Magazines with wide circulation focus on such subjects as agriculture, athletics, money management, economic justice, and Wisconsin recreation. Several academic journals are based at the University of Wisconsin, and numerous specialized magazines and journals, many affiliated with government agencies, are printed in Madison.

Television and Radio

Six television channels—four commercial and two public—broadcast from Madison, which also receives programming from Green Bay and Wausau. Cable service is available. Several television production firms are located in the city.

Thirteen AM and FM radio stations serve Greater Madison with a variety of programming that includes classical music, jazz, easy listening, farm news, and topics of public interest.

Media Information: The Capital Times, 1901 Fish Hatchery Road, PO Box 8060, Madison, WI 53708; telephone (608)252-6363; and, Wisconsin State Journal, 1901 Fish Hatchery Road, PO Box 8058, Madison, WI 53708; telephone (608)252-6363

Madison Online

City of Madison Home Page. Available www.ci.madison.wi.us

Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce. Available www.greatermadisonchamber.com

Greater Madison Convention and Visitors Bureau. Available www.visitmadison.com

Madison Metropolitan School District. Available www.madison.k12.wi.us

Madison Public Library. Available www.madisonpubliclibrary.org

University of Wisconsin-Madison. Available www.wisc.edu

Selected Bibliography

Brown, Harriet, Madison Walks (Madison, WI: Jones Books, 2003)

Guide to Archives and Manuscripts in the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay Area Research Center/State Historical Society of Wisconsin (Madison, WI: State Historical Society of Wisconsin. University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, 1982)

Madison 1 City (1990 pop. 12,006), seat of Jefferson co., SE Ind., on the Ohio River; settled c.1806, inc. 1838. It is a port of entry and a tobacco marketing center. Among its manufactures are transportation and industrial equipment, shoes, and chemicals. The city has many fine examples of Georgian, Federal, Classical Revival, Gothic, Italianate, and Victorian architecture in its c.2,000-acre (800-hectare) national historic landmark district. An annual regatta is held on the Ohio River. Hanover College is nearby.

2 Borough (1990 pop. 15,850), Morris co., NE N.J., a residential suburb of the New York-New Jersey area; settled 1685, inc. 1889. Drew Univ. and part of Fairleigh Dickinson Univ. are there, and many corporate headquarters are nearby. Originally called Bottle Hill, it was renamed in 1834. Sayre House (1745) in Madison was Gen. Anthony Wayne 's headquarters. The borough is noted for its roses.

3 City (1990 pop. 191,262), state capital, and seat of Dane co., S central Wis., on an isthmus between lakes Monona and Mendota, in the Four Lakes group; inc. 1856. It is a trading and manufacturing center in a fertile agricultural region. Foods and beverages, chemicals, machinery, medical supplies, and wood and metal products are made. Madison was founded in 1836, and (through the efforts of James Duane Doty) was chosen territorial capital before it was settled. It is the seat of the Univ. of Wisconsin and Edgewood College, and a U.S. forest-products laboratory is also there. Many parks that dot the wooded lake shores make it an attractive residential city. Among its points of interest are the elaborate capitol, which houses the legislative library organized by Charles McCarthy ; a Unitarian church designed by Frank Lloyd Wright ; the Overture Center for the Arts; a large arboretum; and Vilas Park, which contains a zoo. The Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center (1997) beside Lake Monona is largely based on Frank Lloyd Wright's design.

Madison: Population Profile

Metropolitan Area Residents

1980: 324,000

1990: 367,085

2000: 426,526

Percent change, 1990–2000: 16.2%

U.S. rank in 1980: 100th

U.S. rank in 1990: Not reported

U.S. rank in 2000: 97thth

City Residents

1980: 170,616

1990: 190,766

2000: 208,054

2003 estimate: 218,432

Percent change, 1990–2000: 8.9%

U.S. rank in 1980: 84th

U.S. rank in 1990: 82nd

U.S. rank in 2000: 81st

Density: 3,028.4 people per square mile (2000)

Racial and ethnic characteristics (2000)

White: 174,689

Black or African American: 12,155

American Indian and Alaska Native: 759

Asian: 12,065

Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 77

Hispanic or Latino (may be of any race): 8,512

Other: 3,474

Percent of residents born in state: 58.2%

Age characteristics (2000)

Population under 5 years old: 10,815

Population 5 to 9 years old: 10,016

Population 10 to 14 years old: 10,332

Population 15 to 19 years old: 18,192

Population 20 to 24 years old: 32,394

Population 25 to 34 years old: 37,054

Population 35 to 44 years old: 29,925

Population 45 to 54 years old: 26,553

Population 55 to 59 years old: 7,941

Population 60 to 64 years old: 5,648

Population 65 to 74 years old: 9,508

Population 75 to 84 years old: 7,025

Population 85 years and over: 2,651

Median age: 30.6 years

Births (2003)

Total number: 3,097

Deaths (2003)

Total number: 2,657 (of which, 12 were infants under the age of 1 year)

Money income (1999)

Per capita income: $23,498

Median household income: $41,941

Total households: 89,267

Number of households with income of . . .

less than $10,000: 8,645

$10,000 to $14,999: 5,285

$15,000 to $24,999: 10,696

$25,000 to $34,999: 11,561

$35,000 to $49,999: 15,934

$50,000 to $74,999: 18,338

$75,000 to $99,999: 9,271

$100,000 to $149,999: 6,542

$150,000 to $199,999: 1,631

$200,000 or more: 1,364

Percent of families below poverty level: 5.8% (39.3% of which were female householder families with related children under 5 years)

2002 FBI Crime Index Total: 8,847

Madison: Convention Facilities

In all, the Madison area has more than 8,000 hotel rooms and 400,000 square feet of meeting space, which makes it an annual gathering place for such conventions as the World Dairy Expo. Located on the shore of Lake Monona and inspired by a design created by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1938, Monona Terrace is two blocks from Capitol Square, to which it is linked by a pedestrian promenade. In 2001 the facility added the 250-room Hilton Madison Monona Terrace with direct access to the convention facility by enclosed walkway. The facility offers 250,000 square feet of convention and meeting space including a ballroom, an exhibit hall, a multimedia auditorium, gift shop, pre-function areas, and a 90-foot extension over the water. The roof features a park and bandshell, and there is parking for about 550 cars.

The Dane County Expo Center is a 160-acre multibuilding complex including 100,000 square feet of column-free exhibition space and a 9,500-seat arena. The brand new Overture Center for the Arts has unique meeting space for smaller groups in several spectacular settings. Three downtown hotels providing meeting and convention facilities are The Concourse, with three ballrooms and several meeting rooms; the Best Western Inn on the Park, with a variety of meeting room styles; and The Edgewater, with five meeting rooms.

Additional meeting accommodations are available on the campus of the University of Wisconsin—Madison, as well as at numerous hotels and motels throughout metropolitan Madison.

Convention Information: Greater Madison Convention & Visitors Bureau, 615 East Washington Avenue, Madison, WI 53703; telephone (608)255-2537; toll-free (800)373-63763

Madison

The City in Brief

Founded: 1836 (incorporated 1856)

Head Official: Mayor Dave Cieslewicz (since 2003)

City Population

1980: 170,616

1990: 190,766

2000: 208,054

2003 estimate: 218,432

Percent change, 1990–2000: 8.9%

U.S. rank in 1980: 84th

U.S. rank in 1990: 82nd

U.S. rank in 2000: 81st

Metropolitan Area Population

1980: 324,000

1990: 367,085

2000: 426,526

Percent change, 1990–2000: 16.2%

U.S. rank in 1980: 100th

U.S. rank in 1990: Not reported

U.S. rank in 2000: 97th

Area: 68.7 square miles (2000)

Elevation: 845.6 feet above sea level (average)

Average Annual Temperature: 45.2° F

Average Annual Precipitation: 30.16 inches of rain; 37 inches of snow

Major Economic Sectors: Government, services, wholesale and retail trade

Unemployment Rate: 3.9% (February 2005)

Per Capita Income: $23,498 (1999)

2004 ACCRA Average House Price: Not reported

2004 ACCRA Cost of Living Index: Not reported

2002 FBI Crime Index Total: 8,847

Major Colleges and Universities: University of Wisconsin–Madison

Daily Newspapers: Wisconsin State Journal; The Capital Times

Madison: Transportation

Approaching the City

The Dane County Regional Airport, east of the city, is an international airport served by 11 commercial airlines with 75 regularly scheduled daily flights. Renovations and expansions to be completed in 2005 are to double the airport's square footage.

I-90 and I-94, two of Wisconsin's interstate highways, pass through Madison, connecting the city with Chicago (2.5 hours), Minneapolis (4.5 hours), and Milwaukee (1.5 hours). The highway system also includes U.S. routes 12, 14, 18, 51, and 151 and state roads 30 and 113. The West Beltline, formed by U.S. 18, 151, 12, and 14, bypasses the city. Three companies provide inter-city bus service.

Traveling in the City

Madison is long and narrow, following a northeast-southwest orientation along the shores of Lakes Mendota and Monona. Within this configuration, downtown streets radiate from the Capitol hub; principal thoroughfares are Washington, Johnson, and Williamson, which run northeast and southwest, and State Street and University Avenue, which extend due east.

Madison is one of the most bicycle-friendly cities in America, with miles of paved bike paths and an extensive map system to help bikers get around. Intracity public bus transportation is operated by Madison Metro Bus Company, which provides Metro Plus service for elderly and handicapped patrons. Unlimited access to the bus system comes for just $3 per day.

Madison: Geography and Climate

Set on a narrow isthmus of land between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona, Madison is surrounded by a network of lakes and rivers. The topography is rolling. The continental climate is consistent with the city's location in interior North America; the temperature range is wide, with an extreme winter low of minus 40 degrees and an extreme summer high of 110 degrees. Tornadoes can be prevalent during spring, summer, and fall; moderate temperatures and humidity prevail during a generally pleasant summer. Annual average snowfall is 37 inches; the growing season is approximately 175 days.

Area: 68.7 square miles (2000)

Elevation: 845.6 feet above sea level (average)

Average Temperatures: January, 19.4° F; July, 68.6° F; annual average, 45.2° F

Average Annual Precipitation: 30.16 inches of rain; 37 inches of snow

Madison: Health Care

Madison, home to the University of Wisconsin Medical School, is a major center for medical research and testing. The University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics is comprised of 60 clinics throughout the state, with 44 in Dane County alone, including the UW Comprehensive Cancer Center, which has a national reputation for excellence in cancer care and research. As of 2005 the UW Children's Hospital was 75 percent toward its goal of raising $80 million for a new facility in Madison. Additional medical service for the region is provided by 6 Dane County general hospitals and 92 general and urgent-care clinics. Among the principal facilities are Meriter Hospital and St. Mary's Hospital.

Madison: Introduction

The capital of Wisconsin, Madison is also the seat of Dane County and the focus of a metropolitan statistical area that includes the entire county. The city was founded as the state capital, where no other permanent settlement had previously existed, on a unique geographic site, a narrow isthmus of land called Four Lakes Isthmus between two lakes. Since Madison was founded, the natural beauty of its setting has been enhanced by parks and boulevards with an impressive State Capitol Building and plaza at the center of the city. Madison is the base of the University of Wisconsin, a nationally respected research institution known for a tradition of academic excellence.

Madison: Municipal Government

The city of Madison operates under a mayor-alderperson form of government; 20 alders, representing 20 city districts, are chosen for a two-year term in a nonpartisan election. The mayor, who is not a member of council, is chosen for a four-year term in a non-partisan election.

Head Official: Mayor Dave Cieslewicz (since 2003; current term expires 2007)

Total Number of City Employees: 2,741 (2005)

City Information: City Hall, 210 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Madison, WI 53710; telephone (608)266-4611

Madison, Canada, USA There are at least 22 cities with this name in the USA and one in Saskatechewan, Canada; four other cities are called Madisonville. They are generally named after James Madison (1751–1836), 4th President of the USA (1809–17). However, Madison, South Dakota, was named after the city with this name in Wisconsin because its location by lakes was said to resemble the capital of Wisconsin.

Madison State capital and second-largest city of Wisconsin, USA; on an isthmus between lakes Mendota and Monona. Founded as the state capital in 1836, it incorporated as a city in 1856. It is an educational and manufacturing centre in a dairy-farming region. Industries: agricultural machinery, meat and dairy products, medical equipment. Pop. (2000) 208,054.

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