Madison County, Iowa

 

Founding: 1849 (declared in 1846)
Parent county: Unorganized territory

Namesake: James Madison, U.S. president
Seat: Winterset (1849–)

Land area: 561 square miles

Population (2020): 16,548

Population (historic): 1,179 (1850); 13,884 (1870); 15,977 (1890); 15,621 (1910); 14,331 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1850–1880; 1890s; 1930s; 1970s; 1990–2020

Subdivisions: Eight cities; 16 townships

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 2,183 (31.7%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 56.6%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 6.2%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 7.3%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 7.4%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $1,830
Average outbuilding value (1930): $1,906
Average farmhouse size (1940): 6.2 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 2,125
Average farm size (1920): 123.5 acres
Sources of settlement: Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and New York
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Winterset

Namesake: A play on the English name Somerset

Founding: 1849 (platting); 1850 (post office); 1857 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 5,353

Population (historic): 915 (1860); 2,583 (1880); 3,039 (1900); 2,921 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1849–1880; 1890s; 1910–1940; 1950–2020

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 755 (32.9%)
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Outstanding Buildings

1. Charles Bevington House (1856). 805 South 2nd Avenue. Lincoln. Gothic Revival.
2. Wesley Ford Farm (c. 1870). 1561 135th Road. Penn. Italianate.
3. Nimrod Hollingsworth Farm (c. 1875). 2797 Pioneer Road. Scott. Italianate.
4. Hogan Queen Farm (c. 1856). 2793 St. Charles Road. South. Gothic Revival.
5. John Drake House (c. 1856). 1102 State Route 92. Webster.

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