Iowa

Madison

16,548
2020 population
1850
first census record
18
census records

About Madison

Madison, Iowa, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 1,179. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 16,548.

Its recorded population peaked at 17,710 in 1900, and has since declined by roughly 7 percent.

On the ground today, 54 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202016,548
201015,679
200014,019
199012,483
198012,597
197011,558
196012,295
195013,131
194014,525
193014,331
192015,020
191015,621
190017,710
189015,977
188017,224
187013,884
18607,339
18501,179
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Historic places in Madison

National Register of Historic Places listings in Madison, Iowa.

Duncan, John M., House
Winterset
Bevington, C. D., House and Stone Barn
Winterset
Bevington, C. D. and Eliza Heath, Privy
Winterset
Kellogg, Miles and Elizabeth Smith, House
Winterset
Sprague, Brown, and Knowlton Store
Winterset
Morgan Bridge
Peru
Hogback Covered Bridge
Winterset
Bricker-Price Block
Earlham
Allen, James, Stone Barn
Earlham
Imes Covered Bridge
St. Charles
Evans, Henry and Elizabeth Adkinson, House
Winterset
Miller Bridge
Winterset
Cunningham Bridge
Bevington
Duff Barn
Winterset
St. Patrick's Church
Cumming
Guiberson House
Winterset
Macumber, John Andrew and Sara, Ice House
Winterset
Holliwell Covered Bridge
Winterset
North River Stone Schoolhouse
Winterset
Roseman Covered Bridge
Winterset
Seerley, William and Mary (Messersmith) Barn and Milkhouse-Smokehouse
Earlham
Winterset Courthouse Square Commercial Historic District
Winterset
Earlham Public School
Earlham
Schoenenberger, Nicholas, House and Barn
Winterset
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Everything a full report reveals about Madison County, Iowa

This page charts the census history of Madison County, Iowa. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Madison

When does Madison first appear in the US census?
Madison, Iowa first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 1,179.
What is the population of Madison?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Madison had a recorded population of 16,548.
When did Madison's population peak?
Madison's recorded population peaked at 17,710 in 1900.
How many historic places are in Madison?
54 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Madison, Iowa.
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