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Real Estate & Homes in Madison - Wisconsin - Madison, Wisconsin homes and communities Madison Background Wisconsin’s capital is a thriving Midwestern city situated in and amongst the Four Lakes: Mendota, Monona, Wingra and Waubesa. Home to one of the top post-secondary schools in the country, the enormous University of Wisconsin, Madison has consistently ranked near the top of best-places lists for many years due to its white-collar atmosphere, eclectic culture, and liberal politics. History The city of Madison had its genesis in 1836, when a former judge named James Duane Doty purchased a thousand acres of land surrounding the Four Lakes, intending to build a new city. When the territorial government, created in the same year (Wisconsin did not become a state until 1848), was deciding upon a capital for the new territory, Doty lobbied heavily to have Madison selected. The legislature agreed, despite the fact that the city did not yet exist. Construction on the domed capitol building began in 1837, and Madison was incorporated as a town in 1846. In 1848 Madison became host to the University of Wisconsin, and in 1856 it became a full-fledged city with a population of 6,863. Madison was a key city for the Union Army during the Civil War; Camp Randall was built as a training camp, hospital and prison camp for POWs. Camp Randall Stadium, home of the University of Wisconsin Badgers, was built upon its site in 1917. Madison’s politics have played a significant role in its development. It was home to Robert LaFollette, founder of the Progressive Movement, and his magazine, “The Progressive,” has been published there since 1909. The city’s steadfast left-wing politics have often led some residents and visitors to refer to the city as The People’s Republic of Madison. During the political unrest of the Vietnam era, Madison was a hotbed of protest and activism, drawing national attention when thousands of students and citizens took part in antiwar protests. Fast Facts City population: 208,054 Community Madison is by all descriptions a healthy, liberal and friendly community. The demographics skew towards young professionals, especially due to the recent boon in the research, high-tech and healthcare industries, which are beginning to dominate the city’s economics. While most of the outlying neighborhoods have a distinctly suburban feeling, the heart of the city feels old-fashioned and eclectic. The downtown area, situated on an isthmus only one mile wide between lakes Monona and Mendota, is particularly appealing with its funky, antique houses, picturesque hills, and total lack of intrusive skyscrapers (city codes prohibit the construction of any building taller than the Capitol). The omnipresence of Madison’s lakes, especially Monona and Mendota, lend a feeling of vacation to even an everyday walk to the office. Downtown Madison is dominated by two features: the Capitol Square and the University. Located no more than a mile apart, these two epicenters of the Madison scene are linked by famous State Street, a narrow thoroughfare that is restricted to foot traffic only. It is lined with shops, eateries, cultural venues and ample opportunities for people watching. Frequented by students, street performers, local denizens and visitors alike, State Street is the heart of Madison’s social scene and a mainstay of the University community. It is also notable that Madison has a well-deserved reputation as an intellectual community. As of 2004, Forbes Magazine reported that Madison has the highest percentage of Ph.D. degrees per 1000 residents in the nation. This high educational level has spurred the influx of high-tech industry into the city Attractions Madison’s number one attraction is the Henry Vilas Zoo, which was founded with the stipulation that it would always be free to all. Despite not having access to the funds of many big-city zoos, the Vilas Zoo has built a very respectable collection, including a children’s zoo. A visit to Madison would also not be complete without a tour of the Wisconsin State Capitol Building, the only state capitol building patterned upon the national capital. The building’s dome is, in fact, the largest dome in the United States and the only one constructed of granite. Located in the heart of downtown, the building is easily accessible from State Street. Tours are free every day, year round. Arts & Culture Madison is predictably rich in cultural offerings, given its University-influenced atmosphere and educated populace. The city has a symphony and Opera Company, a repertory theater, a Civic Center on State Street, and will be hosting many touring productions at the new Overture Center for the Performing Arts (to be finished in 2006). Madison also has a very active local music scene; in particular, the Irish traditional music community is known for its regular pub sessions and education classes. Madison is also home to the Madison Scouts, a top-ranked drum-and-bugle corps that can be seen competing in televised DCI competitions annually. In addition, the Badger Marching Band is renowned for its excellence; after each home football game, the band plays a traditional “fifth quarter” performance. One of Wisconsin’s most famous natives, architect Frank Lloyd Wright, is a major influence on the local cultural scene. Aside from the Madison buildings, which he designed (such as the Unitarian meeting house), his Taliesin studio is located in nearby Spring Green. There are many other cultural venues only a short drive from Madison. Spring Green is also home to the American Players’ Theater, an outdoor Shakespeare venue, and the famous Fireside Dinner Theater is located in nearby Fort Atkinson. Sports & Recreation The University of Wisconsin dominates the Madison sports scene. The football Badgers, a member of the Big Ten conference, compete in Camp Randall stadium to packed stands. The hockey Badgers are also a steady competitor. Madison, with its four lakes and hundreds of miles of bike trails, was voted by Men’s Health magazine as the healthiest city in the United States. Nearby Kettle Moraine State Park is a popular mountain biking spot, and the city itself features many trails suitable for hiking, running or biking. This being Wisconsin, there is no less than four major downhill ski areas within a short drive of Madison. Festivals Madison is well laid out to host festivals and events; the lakeshores, State Street and Capitol Square are always busy on the weekends. The Square is home to the largest Farmer’s Market in the nation, held weekly every Saturday from May until November, while the Mad City Ski Team performs free shows on Lake Monona every Sunday evening. Madison hosts a July 4th celebration, Rhythm & Booms, every year; the following weekend finds downtown taken over by artisans participating in Art Fair on the Square. As summer turns to fall, the annual Taste of Madison festival is held in September, leading up to one of Madison’s most famous events: the State Street Halloween party. Attended by people from all over the state, the party is notoriously boisterous. Dining Madison features a rich array of dining, including many unusual ethnic restaurants. Ella’s Deli, a famous kosher eatery, maintains two locations, one on State Street. The opportunities to enjoy German and Scandinavian foot are numerous, which is unsurprising given the predominant ethnicity of Wisconsinites. The Essen Haus is a favorite German restaurant, and the charmingly named Dotty Dumpling’s Dowry is a perpetual local hangout. If you’re ready to spend a little more, visit L’Etoile on Capitol Square for an exquisite dining experience. In addition to the usual Chinese, Italian and Indian restaurants, Madison also has not one but two Nepali restaurants, several excellent Greek restaurants, and a wide assortment of Vietnamese, Thai, Afghani and other ethnic cuisines. A walk up State Street could never leave you hungry. Economy Although the state government and the University of Wisconsin remain major employers, Madison’s economy is broadening to include many service and tech-based employers. The city has been enjoying a financial boom since the early 1990’s and has been relatively unaffected by recession. Cost of living measures are higher than average in most categories; Madison is not exactly the cheapest city in which to live, especially when one takes into account Wisconsin’s hefty property taxes. However, consider that the median income for a household in Madison is $41,941, and for a family it is a whopping $59,840 and it’s easy to see how most Madisonians can afford to live there.
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