Illinois

Madison

265,859
2020 population
1820
first census record
21
census records

About Madison

Madison, Illinois, first appears in the United States federal census in 1820, when it recorded a population of 13,550. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 265,859.

Its recorded population peaked at 269,282 in 2010, and has since declined by roughly 1 percent.

On the ground today, 5 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Cahokia Tract 15A Mass Grave, Mund Site Mass Burial – Illinois River, Murdock Mound Cahokia Violence, and 45 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020265,859
2010269,282
2000258,941
1990249,238
1980247,691
1970250,934
1960224,689
1950182,307
1940149,349
1930143,830
1920106,895
191089,847
190064,694
189051,535
188050,126
187044,131
186031,251
185020,441
184014,433
18306,221
182013,550
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Madison

Military engagements that took place in Madison, Illinois.

Cahokia Tract 15A Mass Grave
1050
Mund Site Mass Burial – Illinois River
1100
Murdock Mound Cahokia Violence
1200
Cahokia-Period American Bottom Raids
1200
Illinois — Alton Federal Military Prison
1862

Historic places in Madison

National Register of Historic Places listings in Madison, Illinois.

Guertler House
Alton
Mitchell Archeological Site
Mitchell
Weir, John, House
Edwardsville
Miners Institute Building
Collinsville
Haskell Playhouse
Alton
Collins, Daniel Dove, House
Collinsville
Emmert-Zippel House
Granite City
Glen Carbon Grade School
Glen Carbon
Bethalto Village Hall
Bethalto
Granite City YMCA
Granite City
Salem Baptist Church
Alton
Trumbull, Lyman, House
Alton
Collinsville City Hall and Fire Station
Collinsville
Post House
Alton
Jarvis, William W., House
Troy
Hotel Stratford
Alton
Alton Military Prison Site
Alton
Carney, John, House
Troy
State Bank Building
Collinsville
St. Louis Street Historic District
Edwardsville
Berlemann House
Edwardsville
Narodni Sin
Edwardsville
Brooks Catsup Bottle Water Tower
Collinsville
Christian Hill Historic District
Alton
Browse all Illinoishistoric sites ›

Other counties in Illinois

Explore census history and historic records for more Illinois counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Madison County, Illinois

This page charts the census history of Madison County, Illinois. 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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Explore Illinois records

Illinoishistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from Illinois›

Frequently asked about Madison

When does Madison first appear in the US census?
Madison, Illinois first appears in the federal census in 1820, with a recorded population of 13,550.
What is the population of Madison?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Madison had a recorded population of 265,859.
When did Madison's population peak?
Madison's recorded population peaked at 269,282 in 2010.
Were any battles fought in Madison?
5 documented military engagements took place in Madison, including Cahokia Tract 15A Mass Grave, Mund Site Mass Burial – Illinois River, Murdock Mound Cahokia Violence.
How many historic places are in Madison?
45 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Madison, Illinois.
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