Overview

Introduction to Madison

Madison, Wisconsin is the second largest city in Wisconsin. The University of Wisconsin calls Madison home, and the city is 77 miles away from Milwaukee. Outdoor activities, distinctive cultural amenities, and fine restaurants and shopping make Madison an enjoyable place to visit or live. The city is surrounded by five lakes and boasts over 200 parks for an incredible array of cross-country skiing, biking, swimming, sailing, ice fishing, hiking, and snow sailing. It’s a city that combines aspects of urban vibrancy with small-town friendliness.

Madison Culture

The city of Madison offers its residents a wide array of cultural activities not typically found in a city of its size. High-class entertainment can be found virtually any night of the week at the University of Wisconsin performance venues. The Madison Repertory Theater, the Madison Opera, and the Madison Symphony all offer performance year-round. Small town charm meets urban activity in an area known for its natural beauty. The city has an active music scene, including rock bands, opera, and folk singing. There are plenty of museums to choose from, including the University of Wisconsin’s Chazen Museum of Art, the Wisconsin Historical Museum, the Wisconsin Veteran’s Museum, and the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. The performing arts are alive and well in the city, with performances by the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra and the Madison Ballet.

Madison Sports and Leisure

Residents and visitors of the Madison area can always find something to do that involves sports. The area boasts a range of golf courses open to the public, including championship courses and par-3 alike. Tennis courts are popular throughout the city, usually available on a first come, first served basis. Spectator sports opportunities include the University of Wisconsin’s athletics, minor league baseball with the Madison Mallards, and many other events.

Madison Outdoors

Madison has five lakes and hundreds of miles of trails that can satisfy any outdoor enthusiast. This has resulted in the city repeatedly being ranked one of the best small cities in the United States. There’s Lake Monona and the UW Arboretum, two spots perfect for biking and hiking. The Madison Parks Division maintains over 240 parks, 10 beaches, 4 off-leash dog areas, and 14 conservation parks. During the winter months, there is plenty of outdoor sports to be enjoyed, including skiing, skating, and sledding at the many lakes and parks. Madison is also considered the bike capital of the Midwest because it has more bikes than cars and over 100 miles of bike trails.

Madison at Night

When nighttime rolls around in Madison, the entertainment and social scenes kick into high gear. There’s always something going on, from comedy to dancing to billiards to pub crawling. Madison is a vibrant college town, and there are many activities to keep people, both young and old, satisfied and entertained. The university has had a reputation for decades as a party school, earning it the nickname Mad Town. The Mifflin Street Block Party and the State Street Halloween Party are commonly attended by tens of thousands of partiers, including many who come from other states to take part in the festivities.

Demographics

People

Total Population252,086
Male Share of the Population49.5%
Female Share of the Population50.5%
Senior Citizens11.3%
Employed Population 16+146,330
Age of the Population31

Families

% of people married37.8%
Average household size2

Education and Earnings

Population % with Bachelor Degree or Higher57.9%
Median Earnings25+$44,004
Median Earnings Without High School Qualification$23,223
Median Earnings With High School Degree$30,207

Wealth

Median Family Income$88,743
% Above Poverty Level82.1%
% Below Poverty Level17.9%

Commute & Sprawl

Average Commute Time19 minutes
% Working from Home4.2%
% Walking and Biking to Work14.1%
% Using Public Transportation9.3%

Housing

People Living Alone34.7%
Median Gross Rent$1,068
Median House Value$234,100

Ancestry

German32%
Other(often includes Hispanic and African American)25.6%
Irish13.1%
English8.1%
Norwegian8.1%
Polish5.8%
Italian4.1%
French Except Basque3%
Swedish2.6%
Dutch1.8%
Scottish1.5%
Czech1.4%
African1.3%
Swiss1.2%
Russian1.1%
Danishn1%
Welsh0.8%
Arab0.7%
Hungarian0.5%
Austrian0.5%
Belgian0.5%
Canadian0.5%
Finnish0.5%
Ukrainian0.4%
Greek0.4%
Lithuanian0.3%
Slovak0.2%
West Indian0.2%
Nigerian0.2%
Romanian0.2%
Iranian0.2%
Lebanese0.2%
Croatian0.2%
Turkish0.1%
Jamaican0.1%
Egyptian0.1%
Albanian0.1%
US/American0.1%
Moroccan0.1%
Haitian0.1%
Liberian0.1%
Serbian0.1%
Icelander0.1%
Luxemburger0.1%
Slovene0.1%
Brazilian0.1%
Portuguese0.1%
Ethiopian0.1%
Australian0.1%
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Madison Almanac

CategoryValue
CountyDane County, Waukesha County
Standard Zip Codes53703, 53725, 53704, 53717, 53718, 53705, 53706, 53715, 53726, 53744, 53716, 53714, 53711, 53719, 53713
P.O. Box Zip Codes53707, 53708, 53701
Company Zip Codes53777, 53778, 53791, 53702, 53774, 53779, 53786, 53788, 53790, 53792, 53782, 53783, 53784, 53785, 53789, 53793, 53794
Phone Area Codes608
Time ZoneAmerica/Chicago
Approximate Latitude43.08
Approximate Longitude-89.38

Madison Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

Notes:

  • Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
  • Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

StationARBORETUM UNIV WIS
Distance1.6 miles
Jan Temp5 to 27 F
Apr Temp33 to 58 F
Jul Temp58 to 84 F
Oct Temp36 to 62 F
Annual Precip36.5 inches
StationCHARMANY FARM
Distance4.2 miles
Jan Temp6 to 24 F
Apr Temp35 to 54 F
Jul Temp60 to 81 F
Oct Temp38 to 59 F
Annual Precip33.4 inches
StationARLINGTON UNIV FARM
Distance15.9 miles
Jan Temp8 to 23 F
Apr Temp36 to 55 F
Jul Temp60 to 81 F
Oct Temp40 to 59 F
Annual Precip32.8 inches

Nearby Cities and Towns

LocationPopulationMedian Family Income
Fitchburg28,722$81,427
Maple Bluff1,422$185,000
McFarland8,492$103,551
Middleton19,235$100,608
Monona8,068$105,461
Shorewood Hills2,214$180,000

Madison Public Libraries

Madison Public Library
201 W. MIFFLIN ST.
Madison, Wisconsin
(608) 266-6363

library logo

More Information for Librarians

Madison Hospitals

University Of Wi Hospitals & Clinics Authority
(Non-profit)
600 Highland Avenue
(608) 263-8991
St Marys Hospital
(Non-profit)
700 South Park St
(608) 251-6100
Meriter Child And Adolescent Psych Hospital
(Non-profit)
202 S Park St
(608) 417-5336
Mendota Mental Hlth Institute
(Government - State)
301 Troy Dr
(608) 301-1000
Select Specialty Hospital Madison
(Proprietary)
801 Braxton Place
(608) 260-2700
Meriter Hsptl
(Non-profit)
202 S Park St
(608) 417-6210
William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital
(Government - Federal)
2500 Overlook Terrace
(608) 256-1901

Madison Public Schools

4k Pk Off Site
545 W Dayton St
ZIP: 53703
(608) 204-6561
Primary
Total Enrollment 881
Diploma Completion High
545 W Dayton St
ZIP: 53703
(608) 663-1907
Innovative & Alternative High
1045 E Dayton St
ZIP: 53703
(608) 204-4235
High
Total Enrollment 301
Innovative & Alternative Middle
1045 E Dayton St
ZIP: 53703
(608) 204-4235
Middle
Total Enrollment 13
Lapham Elementary
1045 E Dayton St
ZIP: 53703
(608) 204-4140
Primary
Total Enrollment 285
Marquette Elementary
1501 Jenifer St
ZIP: 53703
(608) 204-3220
Primary
Total Enrollment 220
Metro School
115 W Doty St
ZIP: 53703
(608) 663-1634
Other
Total Enrollment 21
O'keeffe Middle
510 S Thornton Ave
ZIP: 53703
(608) 204-6820
Middle
Total Enrollment 467
Black Hawk Middle
1402 Wyoming Way
ZIP: 53704
(608) 204-4360
Middle
Total Enrollment 380
Central Wisconsin Center
317 Knutson Dr
ZIP: 53704
(608) 249-2151
Other
Total Enrollment 8
East High
2222 E Washington Ave
ZIP: 53704
(608) 204-1600
High
Total Enrollment 1592
Emerson Elementary
2421 E Johnson St
ZIP: 53704
(608) 204-2000
Primary
Total Enrollment 425
Gompers Elementary
1502 Wyoming Way
ZIP: 53704
(608) 204-4520
Primary
Total Enrollment 288
Lake View Elementary
1802 Tennyson Ln
ZIP: 53704
(608) 204-4040
Primary
Total Enrollment 278
Lindbergh Elementary
4500 Kennedy Rd
ZIP: 53704
(608) 204-6500
Primary
Total Enrollment 233
Lowell Elementary
401 Maple Ave
ZIP: 53704
(608) 204-6600
Primary
Total Enrollment 379
Mendota Elementary
4002 School Rd
ZIP: 53704
(608) 204-7840
Primary
Total Enrollment 320
Mendota Mental Health Institution
301 Troy Dr
ZIP: 53704
(608) 244-2411
Other
Total Enrollment 31
Sandburg Elementary
4114 Donald Dr
ZIP: 53704
(608) 204-7940
Primary
Total Enrollment 434
Shabazz-city High
1601 N Sherman Ave
ZIP: 53704
(608) 204-2440
High
Total Enrollment 109
Sherman Middle
1610 Ruskin St
ZIP: 53704
(608) 204-2100
Middle
Total Enrollment 420
Crestwood Elementary
5930 Old Sauk Rd
ZIP: 53705
(608) 204-1120
Primary
Total Enrollment 391
Hamilton Middle
4801 Waukesha St
ZIP: 53705
(608) 204-4620
Middle
Total Enrollment 851
Muir Elementary
6602 Inner Dr
ZIP: 53705
(608) 663-8170
Primary
Total Enrollment 456
Shorewood Hills Elementary
1105 Shorewood Blvd
ZIP: 53705
(608) 204-1200
Primary
Total Enrollment 457
Spring Harbor Middle
1110 Spring Harbor Dr
ZIP: 53705
(608) 204-1100
Middle
Total Enrollment 259
Stephens Elementary
120 S Rosa Rd
ZIP: 53705
(608) 204-1900
Primary
Total Enrollment 564
Van Hise Elementary
4747 Waukesha St
ZIP: 53705
(608) 204-4800
Primary
Total Enrollment 414
Cherokee Heights Middle
4301 Cherokee Dr
ZIP: 53711
(608) 204-1240
Middle
Total Enrollment 470
Falk Elementary
6323 Woodington Way
ZIP: 53711
(608) 204-2180
Primary
Total Enrollment 339
Huegel Elementary
2601 Prairie Rd
ZIP: 53711
(608) 204-3100
Primary
Total Enrollment 481
Midvale Elementary
502 Caromar Dr
ZIP: 53711
(608) 204-6700
Primary
Total Enrollment 473
Orchard Ridge Elementary
5602 Russett Rd
ZIP: 53711
(608) 204-2320
Primary
Total Enrollment 377
Stoner Prairie Elementary
5830 Devoro Rd
ZIP: 53711
(608) 845-4200
Primary
Total Enrollment 405
Thoreau Elementary
3870 Nakoma Rd
ZIP: 53711
(608) 204-6940
Primary
Total Enrollment 462
Toki Middle
5606 Russett Rd
ZIP: 53711
(608) 204-4740
Middle
Total Enrollment 544
Badger Rock Middle
501 E Badger Rd
ZIP: 53713
(608) 442-2990
Middle
Total Enrollment 84
James Wright Middle
1717 Fish Hatchery Rd
ZIP: 53713
(608) 204-1340
Middle
Total Enrollment 255
Leopold Elementary
2602 Post Rd
ZIP: 53713
(608) 204-4240
Primary
Total Enrollment 676
Lincoln Elementary
909 Sequoia Trl
ZIP: 53713
(608) 204-4900
Primary
Total Enrollment 403
Hawthorne Elementary
3344 Concord Ave
ZIP: 53714
(608) 204-2500
Primary
Total Enrollment 385
Kennedy Elementary
221 Meadowlark Dr
ZIP: 53714
(608) 204-3420
Primary
Total Enrollment 546
Schenk Elementary
230 Schenk St
ZIP: 53714
(608) 204-1500
Primary
Total Enrollment 423
Whitehorse Middle
218 Schenk St
ZIP: 53714
(608) 204-4480
Middle
Total Enrollment 460
Franklin Elementary
305 W Lakeside St
ZIP: 53715
(608) 204-2292
Primary
Total Enrollment 423
Allis Elementary
4201 Buckeye Rd
ZIP: 53716
(608) 204-1056
Primary
Total Enrollment 573
Elvehjem Elementary
5106 Academy Dr
ZIP: 53716
(608) 204-1400
Primary
Total Enrollment 509
Glendale Elementary
1201 Tompkins Dr
ZIP: 53716
(608) 204-2400
Primary
Total Enrollment 468
Lafollette High
702 Pflaum Rd
ZIP: 53716
(608) 204-3600
High
Total Enrollment 1455
Sennett Middle
502 Pflaum Rd
ZIP: 53716
(608) 204-1920
Middle
Total Enrollment 622
Jefferson Middle
101 S Gammon Rd
ZIP: 53717
(608) 663-6403
Middle
Total Enrollment 541
Memorial High
201 S Gammon Rd
ZIP: 53717
(608) 663-5990
High
Total Enrollment 1922
Cesar Chavez Elementary
3502 Maple Grove Dr
ZIP: 53719
(608) 442-2000
Primary
Total Enrollment 706
Randall Elementary
1802 Regent St
ZIP: 53726
(608) 204-3300
Primary
Total Enrollment 389
West High
30 Ash St
ZIP: 53726
(608) 204-4100
High
Total Enrollment 2062

Madison Private Schools

Eastside Lutheran School
2310 Independence Ln
ZIP: 53704
Elementary
Total Enrollment 101
Holy Cross Lutheran School
2670 Milwaukee St
ZIP: 53704
Elementary
Total Enrollment 86
Madison Baptist Academy
2323 Portage Rd
ZIP: 53704
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 11
Operation Fresh Start
1925 Winnebago St
ZIP: 53704
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 30
Lighthouse Christian School
5202 Regent St
ZIP: 53705
Elementary
Total Enrollment 22
Edgewood Campus School
829 Edgewood College Dr
ZIP: 53711
Elementary
Total Enrollment 279
Edgewood High School Of The Scared Heart
2219 Monroe St
ZIP: 53711
Secondary
Total Enrollment 622
Madinah Academy Of Madison
4100 Nacoma Rd
ZIP: 53711
Elementary
Total Enrollment 24
Madison Central Montessori
4337 W Beltline Hwy
ZIP: 53711
Elementary
Total Enrollment 74
Madison Jewish Community Day
2702 Arbor Dr
ZIP: 53711
Elementary
Total Enrollment 17
Madison Waldorf School
6510 Schroeder Rd
ZIP: 53711
Elementary
Total Enrollment 61
Our Lady Queen Of Peace School
418 Holly Ave
ZIP: 53711
Elementary
Total Enrollment 455
Our Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran School
1701 Mckenna Blvd
ZIP: 53711
Elementary
Total Enrollment 95
St Maria Goretti Elementary School
5405 Flad Ave
ZIP: 53711
Elementary
Total Enrollment 428
Wingra School
718 Gilmore St
ZIP: 53711
Elementary
Total Enrollment 132
Horizon High School
29 S Mills St
ZIP: 53715
Secondary
Total Enrollment 8
St James Catholic School
1204 Saint James Ct
ZIP: 53715
Elementary
Total Enrollment 182
Woodland Montessori School
1124 Colby St
ZIP: 53715
Elementary
Total Enrollment 10
Abundant Life Christian School
4901 E Buckeye Rd
ZIP: 53716
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 251
High Point Christian School
7702 Old Sauk Rd
ZIP: 53717
Elementary
Total Enrollment 272
St Ambrose Academy
602 Everglade Dr
ZIP: 53717
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 69
Walbridge School
7035 Old Sauk Rd
ZIP: 53717
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 20
Capitoland Christian School
3651 Maple Grove Dr
ZIP: 53719
Elementary
Total Enrollment 9
Kids Express Learning Center
3276 High Point Rd
ZIP: 53719
Elementary
Total Enrollment 5
Montessori Children's House
5530 Medical Cir
ZIP: 53719
Elementary
Total Enrollment 16
Blessed Sacrament School
2112 Hollister Ave
ZIP: 53726
Elementary
Total Enrollment 292
Sources :
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Historic Madison

photo

Madison (view from University) c1898.

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Madison (view from University) c1898.

Madison (view from University) c1898.

Madison (niversity of Wisconsin) between 1880 and 1899

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