North Carolina

Madison

21,193
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About Madison

Madison, North Carolina, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 5,908. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 21,193.

Its recorded population peaked at 22,522 in 1940, and has since declined by roughly 6 percent.

On the ground today, 3 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Action at Warm Springs (Hot Springs) NC, Kirk-Stoneman Raid — Marshall NC, Thomas' Legion — Big Ivy Creek Action, and 19 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202021,193
201020,764
200019,635
199016,953
198016,827
197016,003
196017,217
195020,522
194022,522
193020,306
192020,083
191020,132
190020,644
189017,805
188012,810
18708,192
18605,908
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, North Carolina.

Action at Warm Springs (Hot Springs) NC
1863
Kirk-Stoneman Raid — Marshall NC
1864
Thomas' Legion — Big Ivy Creek Action
1864

Historic places in Madison

National Register of Historic Places listings in Madison, North Carolina.

California Creek Missionary Baptist Church
Mars Hill
Mars Hill High School
Mars Hill
White, James H., House
Marshall
Bank of French Broad
Marshall
Ottinger, Henry, House
Hot Springs
Madison County Courthouse
Marshall
Marshall Main Street Historic District
Marshall
Murray, Thomas J., House
Mars Hill
Hot Springs Historic District
Hot Springs
Marshall High School (Additional Documentation)
Marshall
Capitola Manufacturing Company Cotton Yarn Mill
Marshall
Mars Hill College Historic District
Mars Hill
Mars Hill School
Mars Hill
Browse all North Carolinahistoric sites ›

Other counties in North Carolina

Explore census history and historic records for more North Carolina counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Madison County, North Carolina

This page charts the census history of Madison County, North Carolina. 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, North Carolina first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 5,908.
What is the population of Madison?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Madison had a recorded population of 21,193.
When did Madison's population peak?
Madison's recorded population peaked at 22,522 in 1940.
Were any battles fought in Madison?
3 documented military engagements took place in Madison, including Action at Warm Springs (Hot Springs) NC, Kirk-Stoneman Raid — Marshall NC, Thomas' Legion — Big Ivy Creek Action.
How many historic places are in Madison?
19 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Madison, North Carolina.
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