Madisonville, TN

Madisonville is a small town located in Madison County, Tennessee. The population was 2,527 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Madison County.

The town was founded in 1819 by James Patton and named for General James Madison, fourth President of the United States. Patton had purchased land in the area from John Sevier and other early settlers. The first buildings were constructed on Main Street near what is now known as Patton Park. A post office was established in 1820 and remained open until it was discontinued in 1955.

In 1821, Patton laid out a grid plan for the town which remains largely unchanged today. The original streets were named after states of the Union: Pennsylvania Avenue, New Hampshire Avenue, Connecticut Avenue, etc. In addition to its historical significance, this layout makes for easy navigation today.

Patton's original plat included two churches - one Presbyterian and one Methodist - as well as a schoolhouse and several stores. By 1830 there were already more than twenty businesses operating in Madisonville; among them were a blacksmith shop, a wagon shop, two general stores (one operated by Samuel Pate), an inn (the "Red Lion"), and a cotton gin (which belonged to John Sevier).

As early as 1824 there had been talk of building a railroad through Madisonville; however, it would be another decade before this became reality. In 1853 construction began on what would become the Memphis & Charleston Railroad; this line ran through downtown Madisonville along Pennsylvania Avenue (now Broadway). For many years this railway served as both an economic engine for the town and its primary transportation link between Memphis and Nashville.

In addition to railroads, other major industries that developed in Madisonville during the 19th century included agriculture (particularly tobacco) and manufacturing (including furniture). However, by 1900 most of these businesses had gone out of business or moved away; only a few remain today (most notably J&J Tire & Auto Service).

Despite these challenges -and perhaps because of them- Madisonville has always been characterized by its resilience and entrepreneurial spirit; it has never ceased to grow or change over time but has always held onto its traditions and values intact. This is evident not only in its architecture but also in its community spirit which remains strong to this day