Madison, Wisconsin

The capital of the state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County, the City of Madison requires no introduction. Second only to Milwaukee in population, Madison is the political and cultural hub of the state, a fact further bolstered by the city’s reoccurring placement on nationally-ranked best of lists. With schools ranked as some of the best in the nation, an unparalleled arts and entertainment scene, and a college sports team that constantly performs at the peak of perfection, it’s no wonder that people from all over the world continue to flock to Madison in hopes of calling the city home.

Real Estate in Madison, Wisconsin

Shopping for a home in Madison, one can expect to encounter an incredibly diverse and well populated real estate market that offers homes spanning a range of price points and styles. The abundance of homes for sale in Madison means that buyers have their choice of an extensive variety of house styles. Queen Anne, Georgian Revival, Tudor, Colonial  and Prairie style homes are just a few of the  types of homes included amongst in expansive selection of homes for sale in Madison.  From the bohemian neighborhood of “Wil-Mar,” to the sprawling estates on the shores of Lake Mendota, Madison is able to serve everyone from tightly budgeted undergraduates to high-powered business leaders and members of the state government.

Living in Madison, Wisconsin

Madison is a great place to live, a fact which is constantly reaffirmed not only by the smiling faces which line the city’s streets, but by the extensive list of accolades the city has accumulated over its long history. Most recently,  Madison has been named “Safest City in America for Kids” by Men’s Health,  #4 in the “Best Cities for Health Care”by The Daily Beast, #3 in the “Best City for Young Professionals” by Forbes, and # 10 in the “Best Town to Live In” by Outside Magazine. While certainly impressive, the city’s placement on these lists only scratches the surface of what truly makes living in Madison great.

         Sports

It’s hard to mention Madison without mentioning the Wisconsin Badgers, and the city’s reputation as a sports town. The perennial college football favorite draws some of the nation’s best student-athletes, and with them, one of the sport’s most dedicated fan bases. During football season, fans can be found cheering the Badgers on at Camp Randall Stadium. The city is also home to UW-Madison’s basketball and hockey programs, two high-performing men’s and women’s programs that can be found playing at the Kohl Center to raucous crowds.

         Shopping, Food and Nightlife

Like every city in America, Madison is defined by its unique community of local shopping, dining and nightlife businesses, not by the national chains. Unlike most cities, Madison’s community of small and local businesses is both bold and eclectic. Some of the city’s most notable businesses are located in and around State Street, Madison’s pedestrian-only (with a few exceptions) thoroughfare which links the University of Wisconsin campus with Capitol Square.  Local favorites Paul’s Book Store,  The Soap Opera, Redamtè ( a locally owned cafe) and State Street Brats are just some of the businesses which call State Street home, while businesses such as Sol’s On The Square (Authentic Korean cuisine), Sunprint Café,  and Espresso Royale Caffe are located on Capitol Square.

         Outdoors

Named “The Healthiest City in America” in 2004 by Men’s Journal, Madison offers opportunities for residents to get out and experience Wisconsin’s gorgeous landscape. During the warmer months, residents can enjoy exploring one of the city’s numerous parks (such as Blackhawk Park, James Madison Park, Warner Park or Cypress Spray Park), sailing on one of Madison’s four local lakes (Lake Waubesa, Lake Kegonsa, Lake Mendota, and Lake Monona) golfing at one of the city’s four public golf courses, relaxing on local beaches, or disc golfing at one of the city’s two courses. The outdoor fun doesn’t stop when winter comes to Madison. Ice skating, ice hockey, ice fishing, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling are all available during Wisconsin’s colder months. Information on some of the city’s opportunities for outdoor fun have been graciously catalogued by the City of Madison Parks Department.

         Celebrations

Madison residents love to party, as is evident by city’s proclivity for hosting celebrations both large and small. One of the largest student-driven parties is the State Street Halloween Party, which draws crowds of both students and out-of-town partygoers. Other Madison-based celebrations include The Great Taste of the Midwest, a craft beer festival established in 1987,  Rhythm and Booms, an annual 4th of July celebration which includes flyovers by F-16 fighter jets and the largest fireworks display in the Midwest, and Taste of Madison, the city’s premiere food festival.

         Arts and Entertainment

Arts, culture  and entertainment thrive in Madison, catering to the city’s hunger for a diverse selection of entertainment options. Some of the largest and most visible venues include the Orpheum Theatre, the Overture Center (home to The Madison Opera, The Madison Symphony Orchestra, Forward Theatre Company, the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, and The Madison Ballet), and the University Theatre. The city is also home to a plethora of independent art galleries (such as the HYART Gallery), comedy clubs (such as the Comedy Club on State), and museums, such as the Madison Children’s Museum, and the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art.

Schools in Madison, Wisconsin

Ranked by Forbes as the second best place to educate your child, Madison is a city which prides itself on providing fertile educational opportunities to each and every one of its residents. Primary education is managed by the Madison Metropolitan School District, which serves nearly 25,000 students in 46 schools. The city also includes five public high schools, three religiously affiliated schools and Madison County Day School, a private school serving students from pre-k to grade 12. The city is home to numerous higher learning institutions, including the University of Wisconsin-Madison (nationally recognized as one of the best colleges in the country), Edgewood College, Madison Area Technical College and the Madison Media Institute.

Business in Madison, Wisconsin

Business in Madison is driven by the city’s two largest employers, the Wisconsin State Government and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. However, in recent years, many businesses have flocked to Madison in hopes of attracting the city’s highly-educated workforce. This mix of new firms and locally founded businesses includes such big-name players as Oscar Mayer,  The Onion, Rocky Rococo, Ian’s Pizza, Spectrum Brands, Alliant Energy, American Family Insurance, Raven Software, Sonic Foundry and the biotech companies, Promega  and Nimblegen.

Reenforcing Madison’s business community is the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce, which, in addition to helping foster connections between local businesses and their customers, facilitates  professional networking opportunities by sponsoring numerous events. The chamber also aims assist new and potential residents by providing information on moving to Madison, and assisting in the acquisition of necessities such as childcare, insurance and housing. Aspiring entrepreneurs  will will find many helpful resources on the chamber’s website, including The Wisconsin Technology Council’s Entrepreneurs’ Toolkit.

History of Madison, Wisconsin

Madison’s history dates as far back as 1829, when James Duane Doty, a former federal judge, purchased in excess of one thousand acres of land between Lakes Mendota and Monona. It wasn’t until 1837, when construction began on what was then the second incarnation of the Wisconsin Capitol, did Madison begin its gradual transformation into the city it is today. Madison incorporated as a city in 1856. Its population at the time was just over 6,000 residents.

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