Kentucky

Madison

92,701
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Madison

Madison, Kentucky, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 5,772. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 92,701.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 10 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Battle of Boonesborough (1778), Skirmish at Richmond (First Raid approach), Skirmish at Big Hill (Richmond Campaign), and 83 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202092,701
201082,916
200070,872
199057,508
198053,352
197042,730
196033,482
195031,179
194028,541
193027,621
192026,284
191026,951
190025,607
189024,348
188022,052
187019,543
186017,207
185015,727
184016,355
183018,751
182015,954
181015,540
180010,490
17905,772
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, Kentucky.

Battle of Boonesborough (1778)
1778
Skirmish at Richmond (First Raid approach)
1862
Skirmish at Big Hill (Richmond Campaign)
1862
Second Engagement near Richmond KY
1862
Battle of Richmond (Kentucky)
1862
Battle of Richmond KY
1862
Battle of Richmond
1862
Berea Area Skirmish (Madison County)
1863
Guerrilla Action at Big Hill (Madison County)
1864
Action near Berea (Madison County, 1864)
1864

Historic places in Madison

National Register of Historic Places listings in Madison, Kentucky.

Kirksville Christian Church
Kirksville
Madison County Courthouse
Richmond
Whitehall
Richmond
Louisville and Nashville Railroad Passenger Depot
Berea
Viney Fork Baptist Church
Speedwell
Boone Tavern Hotel
Berea
Blythewood
Richmond
Cane Springs Primitive Baptist Church
College Hill
Cornelison Pottery
Bybee
Tates Creek Baptist Church
Richmond
Archeological Site 15 Ma 24
Round Hill
Mt. Zion Christian Church
Richmond
Fort Boonesborough Townsite Historic District
Richmond
Lincoln Hall
Berea
Browse all Kentuckyhistoric sites ›

Other counties in Kentucky

Explore census history and historic records for more Kentucky counties.

PulaskiRobertsonRockcastleRowanRussellScottShelbySimpsonSpencerTaylorToddTriggTrimbleUnionWarrenWashingtonWayneWebsterWhitleyWolfe
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Everything a full report reveals about Madison County, Kentucky

This page charts the census history of Madison County, Kentucky. 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, Kentucky first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 5,772.
What is the population of Madison?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Madison had a recorded population of 92,701.
Were any battles fought in Madison?
10 documented military engagements took place in Madison, including Battle of Boonesborough (1778), Skirmish at Richmond (First Raid approach), Skirmish at Big Hill (Richmond Campaign).
How many historic places are in Madison?
83 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Madison, Kentucky.
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