Editing Madison County, North Carolina

{{Short description|County in North Carolina, United States}}
{{Distinguish|Madison, North Carolina}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | ex image             = Court House, Madison County, NC.jpg
 | ex image cap         = [[Madison County Courthouse (North Carolina)|Madison County Courthouse]] in Marshall
 | county       = Madison County
 | state        = North Carolina
 | seal                 = Madison County Seal.png
 | founded              = 1851
 | named for = [[James Madison]]
 | seat wl            = Marshall
 | largest city wl   = Mars Hill
 | city type      = municipality
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 451.49
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 449.62
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 1.87
 | area percentage      = 0.41
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 21193
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 22071 {{gain}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | coordinates          = {{coord|35.86|-82.71|type:adm2nd_region:US-NC_source:USCensusBureau2020gazetteerfiles|display=inline,title}}
 | web = www.madisoncountync.gov
 | district             = 11th
 | time zone           = Eastern
 | flag                 = Madison County Flag.jpg }}

[[File:Advertisement for Warm Springs Hotel Madison County North Carolina.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Advertisement]] for Warm Springs Hotel, Madison County, ca. 1880]]

'''Madison County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[North Carolina]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 21,193.<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts"/> Its [[county seat]] is [[Marshall, North Carolina|Marshall]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> Madison County is part of the [[Asheville, North Carolina|Asheville]], NC [[Asheville metropolitan area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

==History==
The county was formed in 1851 from parts of [[Buncombe County, North Carolina|Buncombe County]] and [[Yancey County, North Carolina|Yancey County]]. It was named for [[James Madison]], fourth [[president of the United States]] (1809–1817).<ref>{{cite book|last=Gannett|first=Henry|title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ|year=1905|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n195 196]}}</ref>

The community of Long Ridge, outside of [[Mars Hill, North Carolina|Mars Hill]], is a traditionally African American community, and boasts one of the last remaining [[Rosenwald School]]s in [[Western North Carolina]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The Historic ~ Mars Hill Anderson Rosenwald School: Our Story, This Place Notated History |url=http://andersonrosenwaldschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/mhrs_history-notated-v4.pdf |website=Anderson Rosenwald School |access-date=January 2, 2023}}</ref>

==Geography==
{{maplink|frame=yes|zoom=8|id=Q506300|type=shape-inverse|text=Interactive map of Madison County}}
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|451.49|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|449.62|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|1.87|sqmi}} (0.41%) is water.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 23, 2022 |title=2020 County Gazetteer Files – North Carolina |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_counties_37.txt |access-date=September 9, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>

Madison County is located deep in the [[Appalachian Mountains]] of western North Carolina, and much of the county's terrain is rugged, heavily [[forested]], and sparsely populated. The county's northern border is with the State of [[Tennessee]]. Madison County's largest river is the [[French Broad River]], which flows north-northwest through the county, first past the county seat of [[Marshall, North Carolina|Marshall]], then past the resort town of [[Hot Springs, North Carolina|Hot Springs]].

===National Protected area===
* [[Pisgah National Forest]] (part)

===State and local protected areas===
* [[Harmon Den Wildlife Management Area]] (part)
* [[Pisgah National Forest Game Land]] (part)<ref name="NCWRC Game Lands">{{Cite web |title=NCWRC Game Lands |url=https://www.ncpaws.org/ncwrcmaps/gamelands |access-date=March 30, 2023 |website=www.ncpaws.org}}</ref>
* [[Sandy Mush Game Land]] (part)<ref name="NCWRC Game Lands"/>

===Major water bodies===
* [[Big Laurel Creek (North Carolina)|Big Laurel Creek]]
* [[French Broad River]]
* [[Gabriel Creek (North Carolina)|Gabriel Creek]]
* [[Ivy Creek (North Carolina)|Ivy Creek]]
* [[Little Creek (North Carolina)|Little Creek]]
* [[Little Laurel Creek (North Carolina)|Little Laurel Creek]]
* [[Simmons Creek (North Carolina)|Simmons Creek]]
* [[Whiteoak Creek (North Carolina)|Whiteoak Creek]]

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Greene County, Tennessee]] – north
* [[Unicoi County, Tennessee]] – northeast
* [[Yancey County, North Carolina|Yancey County]] – east
* [[Buncombe County, North Carolina|Buncombe County]] – south
* [[Haywood County, North Carolina|Haywood County]] – southwest
* [[Cocke County, Tennessee]] – northwest

===Major highways===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|I|26}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|US|19}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|US|23}}
* {{Jct|US|23A|state=NC}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|US|25}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|US-Bus|25|dab1=Marshall}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|US|70}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|US-Bus|70|dab1=Marshall}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|63}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|208}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|209}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|212}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|213}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|251}}
{{div col end}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 5908
|1870= 8192
|1880= 12810
|1890= 17805
|1900= 20644
|1910= 20132
|1920= 20083
|1930= 20306
|1940= 22522
|1950= 20522
|1960= 17217
|1970= 16003
|1980= 16827
|1990= 16953
|2000= 19635
|2010= 20764
|2020= 21193
|estyear=2023
|estimate=22071
|estref=<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts"/>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 18, 2015}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=January 18, 2015}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/nc190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 27, 1995|access-date=January 18, 2015}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=January 18, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/36/36115.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 27, 2013|archive-date=February 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160219015412/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/36/36115.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> 2020<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/madisoncountynorthcarolina|title=QuickFacts: Madison County, North Carolina|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 21, 2024}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+Madison County racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US37115&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 19, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!scope="col"| Race
!scope="col"| Number
!scope="col"| Percentage
|-
!scope="row"| [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
| 19,233
| 90.75%
|-
!scope="row"| [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
| 197
| 0.93%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
| 56
| 0.26%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
| 84
| 0.4%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
| 1
| 0.0%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
| 874
| 4.12%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
| 748
| 3.53%
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 21,193 people, 8,403 households, and 5,456 families residing in the county.

===2000 census===
At the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]],<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> there were 19,635 people, 8,000 households, and 5,592 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|44|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 9,722 housing units at an average density of {{convert|22|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 97.63% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.83% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.27% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.23% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.01% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.45% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.59% from two or more races. 1.35% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 8,000 households, out of which 28.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.50% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.10% were non-families. 26.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.20% under the age of 18, 10.30% from 18 to 24, 26.50% from 25 to 44, 26.00% from 45 to 64, and 15.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 97.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,985, and the median income for a family was $37,383. Males had a median income of $27,950 versus $22,678 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $16,076. About 10.90% of families and 15.40% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 17.60% of those under age 18 and 19.20% of those age 65 or over.

==Law, government, and politics==
===Government===
Madison County is governed by a five-member Board of Commissioners who are elected every two years with staggered four year terms as proscribed by North Carolina state law. The Board selects its own chairman and holds scheduled meetings on the second Monday of each month.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.madisoncountync.org/-commissioners.html |title=Madison County Website - County Commissioners |access-date=March 6, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130104135424/http://www.madisoncountync.org/-commissioners.html |archive-date=January 4, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Madison County is a member of the [[Councils of governments in North Carolina|Land-of-Sky Regional Council]] of governments.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.visitmadisoncounty.com|title=Home}}</ref>

===Law and policing===
The Madison County Sheriff's Office protects the court, manages the jail, protects county owned facilities, and provides patrol and detective services for the unincorporated areas of the county. The towns of Mars Hill, Hot Springs, and Marshall have municipal police departments.

===Politics===
In Madison County, Republicans dominate by wide margins in national and state elections, though Democrats remain competitive in county and municipal elections.<ref>{{cite news| last = Gordon| first = Brian| title = Why do conservative WNC counties keep electing Democrats?| newspaper = The Fayetteville Observer| date = April 25, 2022| url = https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/2022/04/25/democrats-nc-rural-conservative-counties-like-madison-retain-power/6814755001/| access-date = November 9, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.wral.com/story/nc-rides-national-wave-of-democratic-victories/21139773/| title = NC rides national wave of Democratic victories| last = Leslie| first = Laura| date = November 8, 2023| website = WRAL-TV| publisher = Capitol Broadcasting Company| access-date = November 9, 2023}}</ref>

{{PresHead|place=Madison County, North Carolina|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 16, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|8,275|5,090|256|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|7,979|4,901|196|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|6,783|3,926|560|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|5,404|4,484|225|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|5,192|5,026|161|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|5,175|4,234|54|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|4,676|3,505|144|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|3,110|3,333|587|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|3,121|3,980|888|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|3,453|3,033|20|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|3,666|2,988|35|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|2,629|3,202|141|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|2,446|3,433|16|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|3,273|2,039|38|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|3,130|2,201|1,034|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|3,336|3,829|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|4,422|4,546|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|4,263|3,693|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|4,751|3,666|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|3,341|2,558|96|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|4,388|2,291|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|4,617|3,171|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1936|Republican|5,099|3,133|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1932|Republican|4,552|2,769|49|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|4,776|1,093|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|3,252|1,471|74|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|3,616|1,340|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|1,965|972|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Progressive|430|897|1,320|North Carolina}}

==Education==
Madison County's public educational system consists of one early college high school, one traditional high school ([[Madison High School (North Carolina)|Madison High School]], located in the county seat of Marshall), one middle school (Madison Middle School), and three elementary schools (Brush Creek Elementary, Hot Springs Elementary, and Mars Hill Elementary).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.madisonk12.net/|title=Madison County Schools / Homepage}}</ref>  Brush Creek Elementary was built as a merger of Marshall Elementary and Walnut Elementary after the latter burned down in 1998.

The county is also home to [[Mars Hill University]], a private, [[coed]], four-year [[liberal-arts]] university. Founded in 1856, Mars Hill is the oldest college or university in western North Carolina. The university offers 34 majors and seven degrees: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Social Work, and Master of Education.

==Culture==
Madison County was historically a center for [[old-time music|old-time folk music]]. Among others, the folk song ''[[Rain and Snow]]'' likely originated there, in the late 19th century.<ref name=Rain&Snow_Blackman1>{{cite magazine |url=https://singout.org/2012/09/10/cold-rain-and-snow-introduction/ |magazine=[[Sing Out!]] |title=Cold Rain and Snow – Introduction |date=September 10, 2012 |author=Blackman, Patrick |access-date=January 13, 2019}}</ref>

==Communities==
[[File:Map of Madison County North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels.PNG|thumb|300px|Map of Madison County with municipal and township labels]]

===Towns===
* [[Hot Springs, North Carolina|Hot Springs]]
* [[Mars Hill, North Carolina|Mars Hill]] (largest municipality)
* [[Marshall, North Carolina|Marshall]] (county seat)

===Townships===
The county is divided into twelve [[township (United States)|townships]] that are both numbered and named:
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* Township 1, North Marshall
* Township 1, South Marshall
* Township 2, Laurel
* Township 3 Mars Hill
* Township 4, Beech Glenn
* Township 5, Walnut
* Township 6, Hot Springs
* Township 7, Ebbs Chapel
* Township 8, Spring Creek
* Township 9, Sandy Mush
* Township 10, Grapevine
* Township 11, Revere Rice Cove<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/1991/Bills/House/PDF/H689v1.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071202204414/http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/1991/Bills/House/PDF/H689v1.pdf |archive-date=December 2, 2007 |url-status=live |title=1991 General Assembly of North Carolina - House Bill 689 - Madison County School Elections}}</ref>
{{div col end}}
Formerly there were sixteen townships, which were both numbered and named:
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* 1 (Marshall)
* 2 (Shelton Laurel)
* 3 (Bull Creek)
* 4 (Middle Fork of Ivy)
* 5 (West Fork of Ivy)
* 6 (Sandy Mush)
* 7 (Little Pine Creek)
* 8 (Spring Creek)
* 9 (Hot Springs)
* 10 (Big Laurel)
* 11 (Upper Laurel)
* 12 (Big Pine Creek)
* 13 (Meadow Fork of Spring Creek)
* 14 (Grapevine)
* 15 (Mars Hill)
* 16 (Foster Creek)
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col}}
* [[Barnard, North Carolina|Barnard]]
* [[Faust, North Carolina|Faust]]
* [[Hurricane, North Carolina|Hurricane]]
* [[Joe, North Carolina|Joe]]
* [[Luck, North Carolina|Luck]]
* [[Paint Rock, North Carolina|Paint Rock]]
* [[Petersburg, Madison County, North Carolina|Petersburg]]
* [[Revere, North Carolina|Revere]]
* [[Spring Creek, North Carolina|Spring Creek]]
* [[Trust, North Carolina|Trust]]
* [[Walnut, North Carolina|Walnut]]
* [[White Rock, North Carolina|White Rock]]
{{div col end}}

==Notable people==

* [[Claude DeBruhl]], [[North Carolina House of Representatives]]

==See also==
* [[List of counties in North Carolina]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Madison County, North Carolina]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{osmrelation|2528719}}
* {{Official website|http://www.madisoncountync.org/}}
* [http://www.ncgenweb.us/madison/ NCGenWeb Madison County], genealogy resources for the county

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Madison County, North Carolina
|North     = [[Greene County, Tennessee]]
|Northeast = [[Unicoi County, Tennessee]]
|East      = [[Yancey County, North Carolina|Yancey County]]
|Southeast =
|South     = [[Buncombe County, North Carolina|Buncombe County]]
|Southwest = [[Haywood County, North Carolina|Haywood County]]
|West      =
|Northwest = [[Cocke County, Tennessee]]
}}
{{Madison County, North Carolina}}
{{North Carolina}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Madison County, North Carolina| ]]
[[Category:Asheville metropolitan area]]
[[Category:1851 establishments in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1851]]