Madison, WI

Madison is a city located in Dane County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 58,409. The city is named after James Madison, fourth President of the United States. Madison is the county seat of Dane County and home to the University of Wisconsin– Madison.

The history of Madison dates back to 1836 when General James H. Lane purchased land on the east side of Lake Monona for a military post and settlement. The area grew rapidly with the establishment in 1848 of a U.S. Post Office and Customs House on State Street (now State Street at Washington Avenue). In 1851, Lane's son-in-law, John C. Breckinridge, founded what became known as Breckinridge College (now UW– Madison). The city's first public school opened in 1855 on Capitol Square; it was later moved to its present location on East Washington Avenue in 1865. In 1856, Madison became capital of Wisconsin when Governor Lewis Fitch moved his state government from Viroqua to Madison after being driven out by a mob there during an attempted coup d'état against him led by Edward Coles Phillips (father-in-law of future Ulysses S Grant).

The early economy was based upon agriculture and small manufacturing; however, with increased railroads leading into town and new technology that made transportation more efficient, businesses began to move into Madison in larger numbers beginning in the late 1800s. Manufacturing continued to be important through World War II but began to decline afterward due to increasing automation and other factors; today manufacturing accounts for only about 10% of jobs within the city limits. Today's economy is based more heavily upon services than ever before; according to Forbes magazine, Madison ranks third nationally in terms of venture capital investment per capita as well as having one of America's highest percentages of high-tech jobs (compared with other cities its size). This has led to an increase in housing prices within the city limits over recent years; according to Zillow®, median home prices within Madison are currently $269/sqft which makes it one of America's most expensive real estate markets overall!