MADISON COUNTY · LOCALdocument

Local Impact

Overview of Madison County, Florida

Original title: Madison County, Florida - Wikipedia

geography history demographics local government

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The Frame

What this does

This document serves as a factual reference for the county's administrative status, population size, and historical context.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Madison County Residents

Residents are subject to the county's administrative policies, geographic boundaries, and local laws.

What changed

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Summary

Madison County is a rural county in Florida's Big Bend region, founded in 1827 and named after President James Madison. This document provides a snapshot of the county's geography, historical background, and current demographic data.

Key Facts

Madison County was founded on December 26, 1827.
The county seat is the city of Madison.
The 2020 Census recorded a population of 17,968, with a 2025 estimate of 18,759.
The total area of the county is 716 square miles, consisting of 696 square miles of land and 20 square miles of water.
The county is located in Florida's 2nd Congressional District.
The county became a 'wet county' in August 2012, allowing the legal sale of alcoholic beverages.
A 2015 report by the Equal Justice Institute recorded 16 lynchings in Madison County between 1877 and 1950.
The last recorded lynching in the county occurred in October 1945.
In 1949, Ernest Thomas was killed in the county by a lynch mob.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Madison County founded?

Madison County was founded on December 26, 1827.

Is alcohol legally sold in Madison County?

Yes, as of August 2012, Madison County is a ',' meaning voters approved the legal sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages.

What is the current population of Madison County?

As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,968, with an estimated population of 18,759 in 2025.

Why It Matters

This document serves as a factual reference for the county's administrative status, population size, and historical context.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift100% confidence

Transition to Wet County Status

The county underwent a significant policy change in 2012 by transitioning from a dry to a wet county, allowing for the legal sale of alcohol.

Madison County

Connected Entities

personWillis V. McCall“Lake County Sheriff involved in the 1949 incident.”Map →

personJesse James Payne“A victim of a historical lynching in 1945.”Map →

locationMadison County“The subject of the document.”Map →

organizationEqual Justice Institute“Source of the 2015 report on lynchings.”Map →

personErnest Thomas“A WWII veteran killed in 1949.”Map →

personJames Madison“The namesake of the county.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

en.wikipedia.org

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance20
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy40
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment10
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz5
Current news / social attention level

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