With a population of 203,704, Madison, Wisconsin is the second-largest city in this state and the 81st-largest city in the United States. The area is growing at a fast pace, yet still retains the feel of both a small town and a state capital. Madison consistently ranks highly among American cities for livability, employment rates, health and safety and has taken the top ranking in all these categories within the past decade. This "City of the Four Lakes" in south-central Wisconsin is an excellent moving destination.
Economy:
In recent years, the city of Madison has had one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country. Many residents work for the state government and the University of Wisconsin, although there is also a major presence from high-tech and biotech companies. Much of the workforce is highly-educated, and Madison has the highest percentage of PhDs of any city in the United States. Companies based in Madison include Oscar Mayer, Spectrum Brands (formerly Rayovac), Alliance Energy, PanVera, NetConcepts, Renaissance Learning and the Wisconsin Realtors Association.
Tourism:
Madison's many attractions are among the reasons it was named America's "Most Livable City" in 2007. Museums include the Chazen Museum of Art, the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art and the Madison Children's Museum. The city also boasts an opera company, a symphony orchestra, the Madison Ballet and a repertory theater. The main shopping districts are along State Street (open only to pedestrians, bicycles, emergency vehicles and buses) and King Street, both of which are attached to the central State Capitol Square. College sports are a major activity for residents of Madison, where the University of Wisconsin Badgers football team plays at Camp Randall Stadium. Although the stadium's official capacity is 80,321, crowds as high as 83,000 have packed in to watch the game. You can fly into Madison's Dane County Regional Airport on one of more than 100 commercial flights per day. Within Madison, transportation is provided by the Madison Metro Bus System. With all of these wonderful area attractions, it's no wonder so many are moving to Madison.
History:
The Winnebago Nation of Native Americans lived in the Madison area in the early 1800s. James Duane Doty, a Wisconsin territorial judge, purchased the future site of Madison in 1829, with the idea of building a new capital city. Although the city was only mapped on paper, Doty used persuasion and bribes to secure his land for the capital. The territorial legislature approved the change in 1836. However, the first settlers in the new capital of Madison did not arrive until 1837 when construction began on the capitol building. The village of Madison was incorporated in 1846 (with a population of just over 600), in time to become the capital of the new state of Wisconsin in 1848. The village grew quickly into a city (incorporated as such in 1858) with the founding of the University of Wisconsin in 1849 and the arrival of the railroad in 1854.