Madison, Wisconsin

The city of Madison is the county seat of Dane County in the state of Wisconsin and is also the state capital. The city was incorporated in 1848 and the area where the city currently stands was a swampland. The city is in south-central Wisconsin and is popularly known as the city of four lakes as it has four famous lakes within its areas which are all filled by the waters of the Yahara River. The city is a divided mix of the old and the new, the conservative and the liberal in most areas. The 120 plus neighborhoods that make up the city are all divided on different lines. Some of the oldest of the city's neighborhoods still maintain their identities even today.

The employment in the region is dominated mostly by state and the University of Wisconsin but of late trends have been changing. A large number of consumer services and high tech companies have found their home in the city. The high number of well-educated people in the city have also called upon some skill based companies and services to make their home in the city of Madison. The city has managed to remain unaffected by most recession periods and has built on a strong economy supported well by its well-developed education system which also includes higher learning.

Madison is an attractive city for both local residents as well as tourists. There are intriquing options in entertainment, education, affordable living and many other benefits the city offers its residents. People of any age or any profession will surely find the city exciting and vivacious to their own liking.

Madison History

The city of Madison was founded by James Duane Doty who in 1836 bought around 4 square kilometers of land where the city stands today. The territories of Wisconsin had already been formed at the time and the city was designated as the capital in 1848 when the state was formed. The strategic location of the city in the region was one of the reasons why it was chosen as a capital even though it was still a small town at the time. It is named after one of the founding fathers of the United States, James Madison. Madison was officially made a city in 1856 and the city capital was replaced in 1863.

The city was an important part of the American Civil War. It was used as a base by Union troops throughout the war. Even today the University of Wisconsin stands on the grounds where Camp Randall once used to be. The city was strategically located between many important cities in the area and it is the reason it was an important base and a transit point.

Politics and History

The city has always been somewhat liberal in its political outlook. Even the working class in the city is not afraid to come out and protest against city or state made laws. In between 1960-70, a popular countercultural settlement came up in Mifflin and Bassett which were two popular streets in the city. Mostly youth were involved in living in these communities running a co-operative store. The city administration did not take kindly to this and several clashes occurred. The Mifflin Street Block Party was formed which was involved in protests against the Vietnam War. Many clashes between protestors and the administrators happened in the following years. Even today the city is a mix of people of different liberal viewpoints.

Education and Media

The city's print media is exceptional in many ways. The number of print publications that run in the city are astounding for the small city. The credit goes out to the excellent schools, colleges and higher learning education that the city has. The Wisconsin State Journal is one of the oldest running journals in the city and it has a circulation close to a 100,000 copies per day. The existence of a diverse academic, political and social population in the city has helped its development in many ways. The fact that the city has been featured as one of the top best places to live in the nation consistently speaks volumes for its amazing culture.

About Madison, Wisconsin

The city of Madison was incorporated as a village in 1846 and when the state of Wisconsin was formed in 1848, it was made the capital of the state. The city is a strategic point and has had its role to play in the development of the region. It is a city most well-known for the four lakes that it has and the level of education that it offers. The city has an area of 84.7 square miles, of which around 19% is made of water. The four lakes in the city are a big draw for tourists and locals alike. The climate is humid continental climate with winter temperatures going fairly low. The summers are also hot with humid conditions.

he city is run by a mayor council system which has 20 members. One person from each district is chosen to represent their area at the common council. The city also has a lot of new opportunities in almost every area of development. It has often made news as one of the best places for doing business and building a career. Almost 50% of the entire population of the city is well educated and holds a bachelor's degree. The high level of education has been a great asset in the sustained development of the city and the county as it has managed to remain self reliant when it comes to the economic progress. The city also has a large service sector growing which is based around healthcare, advertising and biotech. Skill based industries have also found their way into the city. This is primarily because of the large numbers of educated and skilled people in the city.

The University of Wisconsin employs the largest number of people in the city and these people are deemed as state employees. The University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics deliver quality healthcare and training to the people of the city.

The city's education system is much talked about. Madison is the second ranked city in the entire nation in terms of the level of education that it offers to its citizens. The city has a constant student population in excess of 50,000 students each year. It is not only higher education but also primary education that has been given a great boost in the city because its progress has remained unparalleled and unaffected.

About Dane County, Wisconsin

The county of Dane is in the US state of Wisconsin and is the second most populous county in the state. The county seat is the city of Madison which is also the capital of the state of Wisconsin. The county is made up of more than 60 towns, cities and villages and is centrally located in the state. The county is administered by a county executive and a legislature. The members of the legislature are selected from each of the 37 districts in the county. The area of the county is around 1238 square miles out of which only about 3% is water. The county is also well connected to most areas in the state by interstates and other smaller highways. The development of the railway system has also been an important factor in the growth of the region. The County also has several unincorporated areas to date which are mostly looked after by their own local governments.

The county of Dane is known to have an excellent level of education. The levels of education in some cities like Madison, Verona and Middleton to name a few is well known. The county seat is a well-established center for higher learning and many new companies have also ventured into many such areas in the county. The higher levels of education have also helped in many other areas which have managed to remain unaffected from economic recessions. Besides this the county has also made efforts to promote the preservation of nature through parks and reserves. The county is home to one of the few remaining free zoos in the entire nation. Some excellent tourist spots are offered all along the Yahara River out of which the most well-known are Madison's four lakes. Some of the highest yielding farms are in the county and so are some high tech companies which include a lot of biotech companies, which are setting up shop in different areas in the county.