City of Madison History
1884
Land was bought from John Anderson and at the time was a field of wheat. Many people moved from Lac qui Parle Village. Madison was located on the rail line of the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railroad. The name Madison was suggested by C.P. Moe in memory of his former home, Madison, WI.
1884
Both the first freight and the first passenger train arrived.
1885
Madison incorporated. Both Dawson and Madison started to petition for county seat status. The first county seat was in Lac qui Parle Village.
1885
Madison’s population grew to 600.
1886
The Independent Press moved from Lac qui Parle Village to Madison. Many of the homes in Lac qui Parle Village also moved to Madison. It was not uncommon to see a prairie house moving cross-country in the horizon.
1886
Lac qui Parle County Fair began on present site.
1889
Madison won county seat status.
1893
New school building replaces old one which had been destroyed by fire.
1894
Madison Milling Company was incorporated.
1895
Common school district changed to an independent school district and a high school was organized. First graduate from Madison High School finished in 1897. The second graduate finished in 1898.
1899
Courthouse was built.
1903
City Hall was built.
1908
School was expanded.
Through the years, four separate fires destroyed main street, which resulted in a lack of wood-framed buildings as main street buildings were replaced with modern brick structures.
1950’s
Memorial Athletic Park erected.
1960
Highest recorded population of 2,380.
1987
High School burned.
1990
The regional high school, Lac qui Parle Valley, began classes. Madison, Milan, Appleton and Marietta built a 7-12 school in the country centrally located among the cities.
1990s
New water and wastewater plants and water tower erected.