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Madison County, Florida facts for kids

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Madison County
Madison County Courthouse
Madison County Courthouse
Map of Florida highlighting Madison County
Location within the U.S. state of Florida
Map of the United States highlighting Florida
Florida's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Florida
Founded December 26, 1827
Named for James Madison
Seat Madison
Largest city Madison
Area
 • Total 716 sq mi (1,850 km2)
 • Land 696 sq mi (1,800 km2)
 • Water 20 sq mi (50 km2)  2.8%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2019)
18,493
 • Density 26.5/sq mi (10.2/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 5th

Madison County is a county located in the north central portion of the state of Florida, and borders the state of Georgia to the north. As of the 2010 census, the population was 19,224. Its county seat is also called Madison. As of August 28, 2012, Madison became a wet county, meaning that voters had approved the legal sale, possession, or distribution of alcoholic beverages.

History

Madison County was created in 1827. It was named for James Madison, fourth President of the United States of America, who served from 1809 to 1817.

The small town of Greenville in Madison County was the childhood home of rhythm and blues giant Ray Charles.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 716 square miles (1,850 km2), of which 696 square miles (1,800 km2) is land and 20 square miles (52 km2) (2.8%) is water.

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1830 525
1840 2,644 403.6%
1850 5,490 107.6%
1860 7,779 41.7%
1870 11,121 43.0%
1880 14,798 33.1%
1890 14,316 −3.3%
1900 15,446 7.9%
1910 16,919 9.5%
1920 16,516 −2.4%
1930 15,614 −5.5%
1940 16,190 3.7%
1950 14,197 −12.3%
1960 14,154 −0.3%
1970 13,481 −4.8%
1980 14,894 10.5%
1990 16,569 11.2%
2000 18,733 13.1%
2010 19,224 2.6%
2019 (est.) 18,493 −3.8%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2019

2020 census

Madison County racial composition
(Hispanics excluded from racial categories)
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race Pop 2010 Pop 2020 % 2010 % 2020
White (NH) 10,582 10,132 55.05% 56.39%
Black or African American (NH) 7,423 6,281 38.61% 34.96%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 76 53 0.4% 0.29%
Asian (NH) 43 45 0.22% 0.25%
Some Other Race (NH) 6 63 0.03% 0.35%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) 195 513 1.01% 2.86%
Hispanic or Latino 899 881 4.68% 4.9%
Total 19,224 17,968

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 17,968 people, 6,778 households, and 4,232 families residing in the county.

Transportation

Major highways

  • I-10.svg Interstate 10 is the main interstate highway through Madison County, running west and east through the panhandle from Alabama to Jacksonville. Four interchanges exist in the county at US 221 south of Greenville, (Exit 241), SR 14 (Exit 251) and SR 53 (Exit 258) south of Madison, and CR 255 south of Lee (Exit 262).
  • US 19.svg US 27.svg US 19/27 is a multiplexed pair of south-to-north US highways that briefly runs through the southwestern corner of the county known as the Florida-Georgia Parkway.
  • US 90.svg US 90 was the main west-to-east route through Madison County until it was supplanted by I-10.
  • US 221.svg US 221 is the main south-to-north US highway in western Madison County.
  • Florida 6.svg State Road 6 runs northeast from US 90 into Jasper in Hamilton County east of Madison.
  • Florida 14.svg State Road 14 is a short state road from I-10 to US 90 in Madison, with a western county extension in Taylor and Madison Counties, and a truck route to SR 53 (see below)
  • Florida 53.svg State Road 53
  • Florida 145.svg State Road 145

Railroads

Madison County has at least two railroad lines. The primary one is a CSX line formerly owned by the Seaboard Air Line Railroad; it served Amtrak's Sunset Limited until it was truncated to New Orleans in 2005 by Hurricane Katrina. The station was Madison County's only active passenger railroad station until that point. The other line is owned by the Georgia and Florida Railway, and runs in close proximity to US 221 throughout Madison County.

Libraries

Madison County is served by the Suwannee River Regional Library System, which contains eight branches and also serves Hamilton and Suwannee counties.

  • Branford
  • Greenville
  • Jasper
  • Jennings
  • Lee
  • Live Oak
  • Madison
  • White Springs

Communities

Hanson Sign, Florida 145 NB
Hanson on State Road 145
Pinetta Sign, Fl145 NB
Pinetta on State Road 145

City

Towns

Unincorporated communities

  • Cherry Lake
  • Hamburg
  • Hanson
  • Hopewell
  • Lamont
  • Lee
  • Lovett
  • Pinetta
  • Sirmans

Education

Madison County School Board
Madison County Schools headquarters

Madison County Schools operates public schools. Madison County High School is one of the two high schools in Madison, the other is a charter high school, James Madison Preparatory High School.

Libraries

Madison County is served by the Suwannee River Regional Library System, which contains eight branches and also serves Hamilton and Suwannee counties.

  • Branford
  • Greenville
  • Jasper
  • Jennings
  • Lee
  • Live Oak
  • Madison
  • White Springs

Notable residents

The small town of Greenville was the childhood home of rhythm and blues giant Ray Charles. Professional football player Chris Thompson is also from the Town of Greenville. Professional baseball player Lorenzo Cain is from Madison County. Scott Phillips, drummer for the bands Creed and Alter Bridge is also from Madison.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Madison (Florida) para niños

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