Madison County, Georgia

Madison County Education, Geography, and History

Madison County is a county located in the state of Georgia. Based on the 2010 census, the population was 28,120.  The county was created on December 5, 1811.
The county seat is Danielsville. The county is named in honor of James Madison (1751-1836), the fourth President of the United States and the chief writer of the U.S. Constitution.

Madison County was included in the Athens-Clarke County, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Atlanta-Athens-Clarke County-Sandy Springs, GA Combined Statistical Area.

Etymology - Origin of Madison County Name

The county is named in honor of President James Madison.

Demographics:

County QuickFacts: CensusBureau Quick Facts

Madison County History

Madison County, the 38th county formed in Georgia, was created in 1811 from parts of Clarke, Elbert, Franklin, Jackson and Oglethorpe counties. It was named for President James Madison.

Points of Interest

The soils of Madison County were heavily damaged by the cotton monoculture common in this region prior to the 1930s. Agribusiness dominates the local economy, with poultry production particularly important.

Madison and Oglethorpe counties share Watson Mill Bridge State Park, the site of the longest covered bridge in Georgia. The bridge, which is over 100 years old, spans 229 feet of the South Fork of the Broad River. There are also facilities for camping, hiking trails, picnicking and fishing in the park.

The Madison County Courthouse, one of the most ornate in Georgia, was built in 1901 for the sum of $18,314. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. New Hope Presbyterian Church, established in 1788, is the third oldest church in Georgia.

Notable Citizens

Crawford W. Long, the first doctor to use ether in surgery, was born in Danielsville in 1815.

Geography: Land and Water

As reported by the Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 286 square miles (740 km²), of which 282 square miles (730 km²) is land and 3.3 square miles (8.5 km²) (1.1%) is water.

 Madison county is located in north Georgia. The county is mostly in the Savannah River basin and a very small portion is in the Oconee River basin.

Neighboring Counties

Bordering counties are as follows:

• North: Franklin County
• Northeast: Hart County
• East: Elbert County
• Southeast: Oglethorpe County
• Southwest: Clarke County
• West: Jackson County
• Northwest: Banks County

Education

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