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Nebraska Counties
There is ninety-three counties in state of Nebraska. Despite the fact that Sarpy County contained the oldest settlement in the state, it was one of the last lands along the river to be recognized by law. Finally, on February 1, 1857, the land "where the cities meet the country" was officially created.Madison County, Nebraska
Madison County Education, Geography, and History
Madison County is a county located in the state of Nebraska. Based on the 2010 census, the population was 34,876. Its county seat is
Madison. Madison County was named for James Madison, 4th President of the United States.
Madison County is part of the Norfolk, NE Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Etymology - Origin of Madison County Name
There are two accounts regarding the county's name. One is that it was named in honor of President James Madison. The second and most widely accepted is that it was named after the Wisconsin county from which the German settlers came. It is said the county seat of Madison was named either after the county or after a descendant of an early homesteader.
Demographics:
County QuickFacts: CensusBureau Quick Facts
Madison County History
A small group of German pioneers was
credited with the early development of what is today Madison County. Fertile
soil, sufficient water, and natural groves of timber attracted the first
settlers to the area.
Madison County was created by the Territorial Legislature on Jan. 26, 1856.
Eleven years later the county was officially organized and the first election
conducted. The county's boundaries would be redefined in 1873.
In 1865, two years before the county was created, German pioneers Herman Braasch
and Frederick Wagner came to the area in search of a location to establish a
colony. They chose a site on the north fork of the Elkhorn River. The pair
returned to Wisconsin and organized a group of 125 people who would settle on
this new land. The group arrived by wagon in July 1866 only to find a small
party of young men from Illinois had settled there in the meantime.
The Illinois men did not desire to share the area with the Germans, so they sold
their 160-acre claim to Braasch for $200 and moved on. The Germans proceeded to
lay out claims. Lots were determined by a random drawing to ensure equality and
prevent any conflicts. The Germans, said to represent 24 families, lived in
their wagons while they built log cabins before winter arrived. The settlement
would eventually evolve into Norfolk, the county's largest city.
There is an interesting note regarding the city's name. When it came time to
establish a post office, the name Nor'Fork was submitted since the settlement
was on the north fork of the Elkhorn River. The post office department accepted
the petition, but respelled the name Norfolk, presuming the petitioners had
misspelled it.
Geography: Land and Water
As reported by the Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 575 square miles (1,490 km2), of which 573 square miles (1,480 km2) is land and 2.7 square miles (7.0 km2) (0.5%) is water.
Neighboring Counties
Bordering counties are as follows:
- Stanton County (east)
- Platte County (south)
- Boone County (southwest)
- Antelope County (northwest)
- Pierce County (north)
Education
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