View source for Madison County, Mississippi

{{short description|County in Mississippi, United States}}
{{For|counties with the same name|Madison County (disambiguation)}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county       = Madison County
 | state           = Mississippi
 | seal                 = 
 | founded date     = January 29
 | founded year         = 1828
 | seat wl              = Canton
 | largest city wl     = Madison
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 742
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 715
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 27
 | area percentage      = 3.7
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 109145
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2024
 | population_est       = 114247 {{gain}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | web      = www.madison-co.com
 | ex image             = Madison County Mississippi Courthouse.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Madison County Courthouse in Canton
 | district             = 2nd
 | district2            = 3rd
 | time zone           = Central
 | named for = [[James Madison]] }}

'''Madison County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Mississippi]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 109,145.<ref>{{cite web|title=Census - Geography Profile: Madison County, Mississippi|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Madison_County,_Mississippi?g=0500000US28089|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 14, 2023}}</ref> The [[county seat]] is [[Canton, Mississippi|Canton]].<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> The county is named for [[Founding Fathers of the United States|Founding Father]] and [[President of the United States|U.S. President]] [[James Madison]].<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> Madison County is part of the [[Jackson, Mississippi|Jackson]], MS [[Jackson, Mississippi metropolitan area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|742|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|715|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|27|sqmi}} (3.7%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_28.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 6, 2014|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928074019/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_28.txt|archive-date=September 28, 2013}}</ref> The southeastern border of the county is defined by the old course of the [[Pearl River (Mississippi-Louisiana)|Pearl River]] before it was dammed to create the {{convert|33,000|acre|km2}} [[Ross Barnett Reservoir]].

In 1828 that part of [[Yazoo County, Mississippi]] east of the [[Big Black River (Mississippi)]] was organized as Madison County.<ref>Franklin L. Riley. (1905). School history of Mississippi for use in public and private schools. Richmond, Va.: B. F. Johnson Publishing Company. p. 158.</ref>

The boundaries of the county are set in Mississippi Code section 19-1-89 as:
Madison County is bounded by beginning at a point on [[Big Black River (Mississippi)|Big Black River]], where the same crosses the center line in township twelve, range three, east; thence east to the old Choctaw boundary line; thence north on said boundary line to the center line of township twelve, range five, east; thence through the center of said township twelve, range five, east, to the range line between townships five and six, east; thence south on said range line to Pearl River; thence down said river, with its meanderings, to the line between townships six and seven, north; thence west on said township line to the basis meridian of the Choctaw survey; thence north on said meridian line to the line between townships seven and eight, north; thence west on said township line to the line between ranges two and three, west; thence north on said range line to Big Black River; thence up said river, with its meanderings, to the beginning.<ref>[http://www.mscode.com/free/statutes/19/001/0089.htm Mississippi Codes SEC. 19-1-89. Madison County.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610213304/http://www.mscode.com/free/statutes/19/001/0089.htm |date=June 10, 2011 }}</ref>

===Major highways===
{{div col}}
* [[File:I-55.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 55]]
* [[File:I-220.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 220 (Mississippi)|Interstate 220]]
* [[File:US 49.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 49]]
* [[File:US 51.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 51]]
* [[File:Circle sign 16.svg|20px]] [[Mississippi Highway 16]]
* [[File:Circle sign 17.svg|20px]] [[Mississippi Highway 17]]
* [[File:Circle sign 22.svg|20px]] [[Mississippi Highway 22]]
* [[File:Circle sign 43.svg|20px]] [[Mississippi Highway 43]]
* [[Natchez Trace Parkway]]
{{div col end}}

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Attala County, Mississippi|Attala County]] (north)
* [[Leake County, Mississippi|Leake County]] (east)
* [[Scott County, Mississippi|Scott County]] (southeast)
* [[Rankin County, Mississippi|Rankin County]] (south)
* [[Hinds County, Mississippi|Hinds County]] (southwest)
* [[Yazoo County, Mississippi|Yazoo County]] (west)

===National protected area===
* [[Natchez Trace Parkway]] (part)

==History==
{{Expand section|with=more details on the county history, other than one event mentioned from 1835 only|small=no|date=May 2024}}
Madison County was the site of the [[Mississippi Slave Insurrection Scare of 1835]] at [[Beatties Bluff]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Morris |first=C. |date=September 1, 1988 |title=An Event in Community Organization: The Mississippi Slave Insurrection Scare of 1835 |url=https://academic.oup.com/jsh/article-lookup/doi/10.1353/jsh/22.1.93 |journal=Journal of Social History |language=en |volume=22 |issue=1 |pages=93–111 |doi=10.1353/jsh/22.1.93 |issn=0022-4529|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

In 2017 the [[ACLU]] filed a lawsuit (Brown v. Madison County), claiming that black residents are being systematically targeted by the sheriff’s department.<ref name=aclu>{{cite web|title=Brown v. Madison County|periodical=aclu-ms.org|url=https://www.aclu-ms.org/en/cases/brown-v-madison-county|accessdate=2025-11-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=ACLU sues Mississippi sheriff over alleged excessive force, racial profiling - CNN.com|trans-title=|periodical=edition.cnn.com|publisher=|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2017/05/13/us/aclu-mississippi-police-force/index.html|accessdate=2025-11-09|last=|date=|year=|language=|pages=|quote=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Blacks arrested 5 times more than whites in Madison County, lawsuit says|trans-title=|periodical=usatoday.com|publisher=|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/05/08/lawsuit-accuses-madison-county-sheriff-of-racial-profiling/101429008/|format=|accessdate=2025-11-09|last=|date=|year=|language=|pages=|quote=}}</ref> In 2019 this lead to a [[consent decree]] aimed at preventing unconstitutional policing tactics by the County.<ref name=aclu /><ref>{{cite web|title=Judge Places Consent Decree on Madison County, Mississippi Sheriff's Department|periodical=theroot.com|publisher=|url=https://www.theroot.com/federal-judge-places-consent-decree-on-racist-mississip-1838752657|url-status=|format=|access-date=2025-11-09|archive-url=|archive-date=|last=|date=|year=|language=|pages=|quote=}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1830= 4973
|1840= 15530
|1850= 18173
|1860= 23382
|1870= 20948
|1880= 25866
|1890= 27321
|1900= 32493
|1910= 33505
|1920= 29292
|1930= 35796
|1940= 37504
|1950= 33860
|1960= 32904
|1970= 29737
|1980= 41613
|1990= 53794
|2000= 74674
|2010= 95203
|2020= 109145
|estyear=2024
|estimate=114247
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2024">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 3, 2025}}</ref>
|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=November 6, 2014}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=November 6, 2014}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ms190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 6, 2014}}</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|access-date=November 6, 2014}}</ref> 2010-2014<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/28/28089.html |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=September 4, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607051448/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/28/28089.html |archive-date=June 7, 2011 }}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Madison County Racial Composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US28089&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 8, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]]
|60,273
|55.22%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]]
|38,526
|35.3%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
|160
|0.15%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
|3,167
|2.9%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
|13
|0.01%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
|2,889
|2.65%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|4,117
|3.77%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 109,145 people, 40,046 households, and 28,374 families residing in the county.

===2000 census===
As of the [[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> of 2000, there were 74,674 people, 27,219 households, and 19,325 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|104|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 28,781 housing units at an average density of {{convert|40|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 60.29% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 37.48% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.11% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 1.30% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.27% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.53% from two or more races. 0.99% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 27,219 households, out of which 37.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.90% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 15.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.00% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.23.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.60% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 32.40% from 25 to 44, 20.30% from 45 to 64, and 9.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $46,970, and the median income for a family was $58,172. Males had a median income of $41,460 versus $29,170 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $23,469. About 10.60% of families and 14.00% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 21.30% of those under age 18 and 13.20% of those age 65 or over.

Madison County has the [[Mississippi locations by per capita income|highest]] per capita income in the State of Mississippi. It is the only county in Mississippi with a per capita income higher than the national average.

==Communities==
===Cities===
* [[Canton, Mississippi|Canton]] (county seat)
* [[Gluckstadt, Mississippi|Gluckstadt]]
* [[Jackson, Mississippi|Jackson]] (mostly in [[Hinds County, Mississippi|Hinds County]], also in [[Rankin County, Mississippi|Rankin County]])
* [[Madison, Mississippi|Madison]]
* [[Ridgeland, Mississippi|Ridgeland]]

===Town===
* [[Flora, Mississippi|Flora]]

===Census-designated place===
* [[Kearney Park, Mississippi|Kearney Park]]

===Other unincorporated communities===
* [[Camden, Mississippi|Camden]]
* [[Farmhaven, Madison County, Mississippi|Farmhaven]]
* [[Livingston, Mississippi|Livingston]]
* [[Sharon, Madison County, Mississippi|Sharon]]
* [[Vernon, Madison County, Mississippi|Vernon]]
* [[Way, Mississippi|Way]]

===Ghost town===
* [[Beatties Bluff, Mississippi|Beatties Bluff]]

==Politics==
Madison County is a Republican leaning county although Democrats do respectable by receiving over 40% of the vote. The last Democrat to win the county was [[Jimmy Carter]] in 1980.
{{stack begin | float=left | clear=true | margin=true}}
{{PresHead|place=Madison County, Mississippi|source=<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 4, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|11|663|59|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|36|782|22|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|57|831|8|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|109|1,598|0|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|124|1,519|0|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|51|1,474|8|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|32|1,838|1|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|66|2,038|0|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|104|1,921|0|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1948|Dixiecrat|51|81|1,833|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|1,496|1,425|0|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1956|Dixiecrat|377|996|1,022|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1960|Dixiecrat|525|753|1,583|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|3,283|251|0|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|876|4,515|4,071|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|5,047|3,464|313|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|4,838|6,240|238|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|6,024|7,621|394|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|9,298|8,002|163|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|11,399|8,242|184|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|12,810|9,386|1,525|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|14,467|9,354|867|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|19,109|10,416|334|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|24,257|13,268|203|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|27,203|19,831|235|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|28,507|20,722|342|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|28,265|20,343|1,523|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|31,091|24,440|830|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|32,333|22,700|902|Mississippi}}
{{PresFoot}}
{{stack end}}
{{clear}}

==Education==
There are two school districts: [[Madison County School District (Mississippi)|Madison County School District]] and [[Canton Public School District (Mississippi)|Canton Public School District]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st28_ms/schooldistrict_maps/c28089_madison/DC20SD_C28089.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210701034954/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st28_ms/schooldistrict_maps/c28089_madison/DC20SD_C28089.pdf |archive-date=July 1, 2021 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Madison County, MS|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=June 30, 2021}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st28_ms/schooldistrict_maps/c28089_madison/DC20SD_C28089_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>

Private schools:
* [[Canton Academy]]
* [[Madison-Ridgeland Academy]]
* [[St. Andrew's Episcopal School (Mississippi)|St. Andrew's Episcopal School]] (Secondary school campus)
* [[St. Joseph Catholic School (Madison, Mississippi)|St. Joseph Catholic School]] (of the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Jackson]])
* [[Veritas School (Ridgeland, Mississippi)|Veritas School]] (CLOSED)

The local community college is [[Holmes Community College]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://holmescc.edu/about-us/|title=About Us|publisher=[[Holmes Community College]]|accessdate=June 30, 2021}}</ref>

[[Tougaloo College]] is in Madison County.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tougaloo.edu/|title=Home|publisher=Tougaloo College|accessdate=June 30, 2021|quote=500 West County Line Road  •  Tougaloo, MS 39174}} - Compare with the county map.<br>Campus map: {{cite web|url=https://www.tougaloo.edu/sites/default/files/page-files/2012TC-ParkingPlanwithBuildingNames.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907180607/https://www.tougaloo.edu/sites/default/files/page-files/2012TC-ParkingPlanwithBuildingNames.pdf |archive-date=September 7, 2015 |url-status=live|title=Proposed Parking Plan|publisher=Tougaloo College|accessdate=June 30, 2021}}<br>Compare with a map of Madison County: {{cite web|url=https://da.mdah.ms.gov/series-files/mdot/s0154/s0154-Madison/pdf/Madison%20County%20Maps%20Of%20Ms%201987.PDF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210701031029/https://da.mdah.ms.gov/series-files/mdot/s0154/s0154-Madison/pdf/Madison%20County%20Maps%20Of%20Ms%201987.PDF |archive-date=July 1, 2021 |url-status=live|title=General Highway Map of Madison County, Mississippi|publisher=[[Mississippi State Highway Department]]|year=1987|accessdate=June 30, 2021}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Madison County, Mississippi]]
* [[Disappearance of Myra Lewis]], a child who went missing from Madison County in 2014

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline|Madison County, Mississippi}}

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Madison County, Mississippi
|North     = [[Attala County, Mississippi|Attala County]]
|Northeast =
|East      = [[Leake County, Mississippi|Leake County]]
|Southeast = [[Scott County, Mississippi|Scott County]]
|South     = [[Rankin County, Mississippi|Rankin County]]
|Southwest = [[Hinds County, Mississippi|Hinds County]]
|West      = [[Yazoo County, Mississippi|Yazoo County]]
|Northwest =
}}

{{Madison County, Mississippi}}
{{Mississippi}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|32.63|-90.03|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MS_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Madison County, Mississippi| ]]
[[Category:Mississippi counties]]
[[Category:Jackson metropolitan area, Mississippi]]
[[Category:1828 establishments in Mississippi]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1828]]