Madison, Wisconsin

This article is about the capital city of Wisconsin. For the former town, see Madison (town), Wisconsin.

Madison
State capital city
Madison Isthmus Wisconsin State Capitol Monona Terrace University of Wisconsin–Madison Olbrich Botanical Gardens
Flag Seal Logo
Nicknames:  Madtown, Mad City, The City of Four Lakes, 77 Square Miles Surrounded by Reality
Interactive map of Madison
Madison Location within Wisconsin Madison Location within the United States
Coordinates: 43°04′29″N 89°23′03″W
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
County	Dane
Founded	1836
Incorporated	1846 (village) 1856 (city)
Named for	James Madison
Government
• Type	Mayor-council
• Mayor	Satya Rhodes-Conway (D/PD)
• Body	Madison Common Council
Area
• City	101.53 sq mi (262.96 km2)
• Land	79.57 sq mi (206.09 km2)
• Water	21.96 sq mi (56.88 km2)
Elevation	873 ft (266 m)
Population  (2020)
• City	269,840
• Estimate  (2025)	286,233
• Rank	US: 77th WI: 2nd
• Density	3,390/sq mi (1,309/km2)
• Urban	450,305 (US: 89th)
• Urban density	3,010/sq mi (1,161/km2)
• Metro	707,606 (US: 85th)
• CSA	910,246 (US: 61st)
• Demonym	Madisonian
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Zip Codes	ZIP Codes 53701–53708, 53711, 53713–53719, 53725, 53726, 53744, 53774, 53777, 53782–53786, 53788, 53790–53794
Area code	608, 353
FIPS code	55-48000
GNIS feature ID	1581834
Website	cityofmadison.com

Preview warning: Page using Template:Infobox settlement with deprecated parameter blank1_info. Replace with custom_data1_sec1.

Preview warning: Page using Template:Infobox settlement with deprecated parameter blank_info. Replace with custom_data_sec1.

Preview warning: Page using Template:Infobox settlement with deprecated parameter timezone. Replace with time_zone.

Preview warning: Page using Template:Infobox settlement with deprecated parameter blank1_name. Replace with custom_label1_sec1.

Preview warning: Page using Template:Infobox settlement with deprecated parameter blank_name. Replace with custom_label_sec1.

Preview warning: Page using Template:Infobox settlement with deprecated parameter settlement_type. Replace with type.

Preview warning: Page using Template:Infobox settlement with deprecated parameter timezone_DST. Replace with time_zone_DST.

Preview warning: Page using Template:Infobox settlement with deprecated parameter image_skyline. Replace with image.

Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is the second-most populous city in the state (after Milwaukee), with a population of 269,840 at the 2020 census. The Madison metropolitan area has an estimated 708,000 residents. With a downtown centrally located on an isthmus between Lakes Mendota and Monona, the city also encompasses Lake Wingra. Madison was founded in 1836, and is named after American Founding Father and President James Madison. Madison is the county seat of Dane County.

As the state capital, Madison is home to government chambers, including the Wisconsin State Capitol. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison, the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. Major companies in the city include American Family Insurance, Exact Sciences Corporation, and TruStage Financial Group. Tourism also plays a vital role in the local economy, generating over $1 billion in 2018. The city features a variety of cultural and recreational institutions, including the Chazen Museum of Art, Henry Vilas Zoo, Olbrich Botanical Gardens, and Overture Center for the Arts.

As of 2024, Madison is the fastest-growing city in the state. The city has a longstanding reputation for progressive political activity and is regarded as Wisconsin's most politically liberal city. The presence of the University of Wisconsin–Madison and other educational institutions significantly shapes the local economy, culture, and demographics. Madison boasts one of the highest numbers of parks and playgrounds per capita among the 100 largest U.S. cities and is widely recognized as a bicycle-friendly community. Within the city are nine National Historic Landmarks, including several buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.