Madison County, Virginia
Madison County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,837.[1] Its county seat is Madison.[2]
History
[edit]Madison County was established in December 1792, created from Culpeper County.[3] The county is named for the Madison family that owned land along the Rapidan River. President James Madison is a descendant of that family.
One of Madison County's most well-known residents was John Hoffman (1692-1772). He lived along the Robinson River, where he owned 3,525 acres. He established the Hebron Lutheran Church on his property, which is still in use today. He had five children with his first wife, Anna Haeger; and 12 children with his second wife, Maria Sabina Folg. Two of his daughters, Margaret Hoffman and Elizabeth Hoffman, married two brothers, John Back and Henry Back, who were the sons of his neighbor, John Henry Back. After Margaret and Elizabeth became widows, they moved to nearby Rockingham County, where they lived out the rest of their lives along Wolf Run, and were buried there. John and Henry Back's other brother, Joseph Back, married Elizabeth Hoffman-Maggard; they migrated to southeastern Kentucky in 1791 and founded the Bach (Back) family there.
Geography
[edit]According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 322 square miles (830 km2), of which 321 square miles (830 km2) is land and 1.2 square miles (3.1 km2) (0.4%) is water.[4]
A significant portion of western Madison County is within Shenandoah National Park, including Hawksbill Mountain, the highest point in both the park and in Madison County, Old Rag Mountain, one of the park's most popular tourist destinations, and Rapidan Camp, the presidential retreat built by Herbert Hoover. Hoover's Camp was built between 1929 and 1932. The camp consisted of 13 buildings with the main one being "The Brown House". In 2017, only three of these houses are still standing (The Brown House, The Prime Minister Cabin, and The Creel). The camp was built where two streams merge to form the Rapidan River because fishing was Hoover's favorite pastime. Hoover even made sure that the camp was built at an elevation where mosquitos would not be a nuisance while fishing. The camp was donated to the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1932 so other presidents could use it and in December 1935 it officially became a part of Shenandoah National Park.[5]
Adjacent counties
[edit]- Page County – northwest
- Rappahannock County – north
- Culpeper County – east
- Orange County – southeast
- Greene County – southwest
National protected area
[edit]- Shenandoah National Park (part)
Major highways
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Demographics
[edit]Racial and ethnic composition
[edit]| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[6] | Pop 1990[7] | Pop 2000[8] | Pop 2010[9] | Pop 2020[10] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 8,280 | 10,156 | 10,800 | 11,394 | 11,563 | 80.92% | 84.99% | 86.26% | 85.62% | 83.57% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 1,805 | 1,697 | 1,423 | 1,292 | 1,056 | 17.64% | 14.20% | 11.37% | 9.71% | 7.63% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 7 | 29 | 17 | 22 | 14 | 0.07% | 0.24% | 0.14% | 0.17% | 0.10% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 7 | 22 | 63 | 74 | 86 | 0.07% | 0.18% | 0.50% | 0.56% | 0.62% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | x [11] | x [12] | 3 | 4 | 1 | x | x | 0.02% | 0.03% | 0.01% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 14 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 53 | 0.14% | 0.08% | 0.09% | 0.08% | 0.38% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x [13] | x [14] | 107 | 276 | 623 | x | x | 0.85% | 2.07% | 4.50% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 119 | 35 | 96 | 236 | 441 | 1.16% | 0.29% | 0.77% | 1.77% | 3.19% |
| Total | 10,232 | 11,949 | 12,520 | 13,308 | 13,837 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2020 census
[edit]As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 13,837. The median age was 45.8 years. 21.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.2 males age 18 and over.[15][16]
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[17]
There were 5,317 households in the county, of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 22.2% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 22.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[15]
There were 6,051 housing units, of which 12.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 77.2% were owner-occupied and 22.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 3.9%.[15]
2000 Census
[edit]As of the census[18] of 2000, there were 12,520 people, 4,739 households, and 3,521 families residing in the county. The population density was 39 people per square mile (15 people/km2). There were 5,239 housing units at an average density of 16 units per square mile (6.2 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 86.71% White, 11.41% Black or African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.50% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.29% from other races, and 0.93% from two or more races. 0.77% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 4,739 households, out of which 30.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.40% were married couples living together, 8.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.70% were non-families. 21.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.10% under the age of 18, 6.90% from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 26.40% from 45 to 64, and 15.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 95.00 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 94.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $39,856, and the median income for a family was $44,857. Males had a median income of $30,805 versus $24,384 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,636. About 6.90% of families and 9.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.70% of those under age 18 and 10.20% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
[edit]Towns
[edit]Census-designated place
[edit]Other unincorporated communities
[edit]- Aroda
- Aylor
- Banco
- Beaver Park
- Big Meadows
- Burnt Tree
- Criglersville
- Decapolis
- Duet
- Elly
- Etlan
- Five Forks
- Fletcher
- Fordsville
- Graves Mill
- Haywood
- Hood
- Kinderhook
- Leon
- Locust Dale
- Madison Mills
- Nethers
- Novum
- O'Neal
- Oakpark
- Oldrag
- Pratts
- Radiant
- Repton Mills
- Rochelle
- Ruth
- Shelby
- Syria
- Tanners
- Tryme
- Twyman's Mill
- Uno
- Waylandsburg
- Wolftown
- Zeus
Politics
[edit]Madison County is a Republican stronghold and has not voted for a Democratic presidential nominee since 1940.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 210 | 31.02% | 402 | 59.38% | 65 | 9.60% |
| 1916 | 348 | 37.50% | 572 | 61.64% | 8 | 0.86% |
| 1920 | 431 | 45.80% | 499 | 53.03% | 11 | 1.17% |
| 1924 | 347 | 35.74% | 589 | 60.66% | 35 | 3.60% |
| 1928 | 772 | 57.10% | 580 | 42.90% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 522 | 37.83% | 849 | 61.52% | 9 | 0.65% |
| 1936 | 662 | 45.13% | 804 | 54.81% | 1 | 0.07% |
| 1940 | 646 | 48.14% | 692 | 51.56% | 4 | 0.30% |
| 1944 | 811 | 56.79% | 616 | 43.14% | 1 | 0.07% |
| 1948 | 662 | 55.72% | 428 | 36.03% | 98 | 8.25% |
| 1952 | 1,012 | 64.96% | 540 | 34.66% | 6 | 0.39% |
| 1956 | 850 | 56.86% | 533 | 35.65% | 112 | 7.49% |
| 1960 | 998 | 60.38% | 636 | 38.48% | 19 | 1.15% |
| 1964 | 1,060 | 55.12% | 862 | 44.83% | 1 | 0.05% |
| 1968 | 1,188 | 48.71% | 478 | 19.60% | 773 | 31.69% |
| 1972 | 1,864 | 73.41% | 639 | 25.17% | 36 | 1.42% |
| 1976 | 1,710 | 52.97% | 1,466 | 45.42% | 52 | 1.61% |
| 1980 | 1,959 | 55.64% | 1,351 | 38.37% | 211 | 5.99% |
| 1984 | 2,723 | 67.15% | 1,302 | 32.11% | 30 | 0.74% |
| 1988 | 2,501 | 62.12% | 1,427 | 35.44% | 98 | 2.43% |
| 1992 | 2,341 | 48.99% | 1,700 | 35.57% | 738 | 15.44% |
| 1996 | 2,296 | 50.91% | 1,734 | 38.45% | 480 | 10.64% |
| 2000 | 2,940 | 58.48% | 1,844 | 36.68% | 243 | 4.83% |
| 2004 | 3,556 | 61.61% | 2,176 | 37.70% | 40 | 0.69% |
| 2008 | 3,758 | 56.10% | 2,862 | 42.72% | 79 | 1.18% |
| 2012 | 3,869 | 58.50% | 2,639 | 39.90% | 106 | 1.60% |
| 2016 | 4,419 | 63.32% | 2,203 | 31.57% | 357 | 5.12% |
| 2020 | 5,300 | 65.20% | 2,698 | 33.19% | 131 | 1.61% |
| 2024 | 5,671 | 66.88% | 2,700 | 31.84% | 109 | 1.29% |
| 2016 | 1 | 33.33% | 1 | 33.33% | 1 | 33.33% |
Education
[edit]Madison County Public Schools has around 2000 students in four schools. Madison Primary School has grades K–2 and has around 370 students. Waverly Yowell Elementary School has grades 3–5 and around 410 students. William Wetsel Middle School has grades 6–8 and around 415 students. Madison County High School has grades 9–12 and has around 665 students. All statistics based on 2007–2008 VA DOE statistics. It is also home to Woodberry Forest School, a private, all-male boarding school.
Censorship
[edit]In January 2023, the Madison County School Board banned 21 books from the high school library, including books by Stephen King, Toni Morrison, and Anne Rice.[20]
Madison County High School
[edit]Madison County High School is the county's only High School. Grades 9–12 attend MCHS. The total number of students at MCHS was 584 for 2013–2014.[21] Madison County's nickname is the Mountaineers and have two main logos. One is an inked drawing of a Mountaineer standing on a mountain. In the background, a caravan of people and covered wagons can be seen being led by the Mountaineer. The second main logo is a "M" with a "C" offset and connected to it standing for Madison County, the name of both the county and high school. The colors are blue and white. MCHS fields athletic teams in football, basketball, soccer, volleyball, wrestling, track, cross country, golf, baseball and softball. Swimming was added as a sport in 2011. Cheerleading teams are also fielded for football and basketball games. Madison is home to the 2012 Group A, Division 1 state champions in Forensics.
MCHS offers AP courses and dual enrollment courses through Germanna Community College. MCHS has full accreditation from the Virginia Department of Education with Virginia Standards of Learning passing rates ranging from 94 percent on the history to 86 percent on the science. MCHS graduates more than 90% of its students per year.
William H. Wetsel Middle School
[edit]William H. Wetsel Middle School was opened in August 1993 under the leadership of Principal, John Anderson. Grades 6 and 7 were moved from Waverly Yowell Elementary School and Grade 8 was removed from Madison County High School to form a Grades 6-8 middle school. William Wetsel, the school's namesake, was a former agriculture teacher and superintendent in Madison County.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ "Madison County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
- ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ↑ "Madison County, Virginia". genealogenie.net. Archived from the original on January 2, 2013. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
- ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ↑ "Herbert and Lou Henry Hoover's Rapidan Camp--Presidents: A Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary". www.nps.gov. Archived from the original on April 30, 2009. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
- ↑ "1980 Census of Population - General Social and Economic Characteristics - Virginia - Table 15 - Persons by Race: 1980 and Table 16 - Total Persons and Spanish Origin Persons by Type of Spanish Origin and Race: 1980" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 13-24. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 18, 2026 – via WayBack Machine.
- ↑ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Virginia: Tables 3-6 - Race and Hispanic Origin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 13-51. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 24, 2021 – via WayBack Machine.
- ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Madison County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Madison County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Madison County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
- ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
- ↑ not an option in the 1980 Census
- ↑ not an option in the 1990 Census
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
- ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
- ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
- ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
- ↑ "Madison County School Board bans 21 books from high school library". madrapp.com. Retrieved January 17, 2023.[dead link]
- ↑ VA Dept of Education. "School Report Card". VA State Govt.
External links
[edit]- Official Madison County Website
- Official Madison County Map Archived July 5, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
- Madison County Historical Society
- Madison County Chamber of Commerce
Template:Geographic Location Template:Madison County, Virginia Template:Virginia