Madison, Indiana Timeline

Madison's history is filled with surprises! Here is a small sample of events that have contributed to its rich heritage.

1784 The area including today's Madison, ceded by Virginia to the U.S. Government. Became part of the Northwest Territory.

1787 Northwest Ordinance of 1787 passed, opening for settlement area previously forbidden to development.

1805 August Southeastern Indiana ceded by Indian tribes to U.S. Government.

1806 Spring William and John Hall arrived and erected their cabin near the riverbank just east of Madison.

1807 First church in Madison founded by Baptist minister Jesse Vawter.

1808 May Blacksmith John H. Waggoner built the first cabin within the town.

1809 John Paul settled in Madison after purchasing land the previous year.

1811 January Jefferson County established from parts of Dearborn and Clark counties.

1811 February First sale of lots began in the new town of Madison.

1813 The Western Eagle, first newspaper in Madison, established by William Hendricks.

1813 First post office was established in Madison with John Sering as postmaster.

1814 September Farmers and Mechanics’ Bank, Indiana’s first successful bank, was incorporated at Madison.

1815 The First Presbyterian Church was established by Reverend William Robinson.

1816 December Territory of Indiana became a state. Jonathan Jennings, of Charlestown, was installed as governor.

1824 April Madison was incorporated as a town by a special act of the legislature.

1828 Construction of Michigan Road began; completed in 1841.

1832 Cholera epidemic hit Madison killing nineteen people.

1837 Construction began on Indiana’s first railroad, the Madison & Indianapolis Railroad.

1836 October Boatyard established on Madison's riverfront by James Howard for the building of steamboats.

1837 Weekly Madison Courier newspaper was established by Andrew Grey.

1837 Madison was incorporated as a city. Moody Park served as Madison's first mayor from 1838 to 1850.

1839 September Upper Seminary, Madison's first public school, was opened.

1839 October Springdale Cemetery opened and first burial made.

1841 September Fair Play No. 1 Volunteer Fire Company was established.

1841 November Railroad incline opened. Cars were pulled up the incline by horses until 1847.

1844 Sisters of Providence opened Catholic school at Broadway and Third Street.

1844 October J. F. D. Lanier Mansion completed. Mr. Lanier lived there for about ten years.

1846 Crooked Creek flash flood killed eleven people and caused extensive damage.

1846 Town of North Madison established.

1847 Spring Colored Baptist Church founded.

1847 October Railroad line completed from Madison to Indianapolis.

1849 Madison Courier purchased by Michael C. Garber, changed to daily publication.

1850 First waterworks and reservoir for Madison built west of railroad incline.

1850 The Madison Marine Railway and Shipyard established to build steamboats.

1851 Gas works established, bringing gas lighting to Madison streets and homes.

1851 April Internationally famous singer Jenny Lind performed in Madison.

1852 Over 131,000 hogs were processed in 1852 at Madison's pork slaughterhouses.

1855 September New brick courthouse, costing $36,000, dedicated.

1861 March Senator Jesse Bright of Madison expelled from the U.S. Senate.

1863 U.S. Army opened Madison General Hospital on present golf course site.

1873 First horse-drawn streetcar began service on Main Street.

1879 The first telephone service installed in Madison.

1884 Eagle Cotton Mill opened new factory on riverfront and became Madison's largest employer.

1885 Electric service began, bringing electric lighting to Madison.

1886 Broadway Fountain erected.

1899 King’s Daughters’ Hospital opened in converted house.

1901 The first Madison Chautauqua held and continued yearly until 1929.

1903 First street paving in Madison completed on Mulberry Street.

1908 Town of West Madison annexed to Madison.

1909 Madison celebrated their one hundredth birthday with a centennial parade and events.

1910 Madison State Hospital opened after four years of construction.

1911 First Madison boat race was staged on Ohio River and later became the Regatta.

1918 Bitter cold winter caused ice jam on Ohio River, destroying many steamboats.

1920 Clifty Falls State Park established.

1924 Clifty Inn opened.

1925 Lanier Home became a state historical site.

1929 November Madison-Milton Bridge completed.

1933 Hinkle's Sandwich Shop opened on Main Street.

1937 January Great Ohio River Flood devastated riverfront area.

1939 Crystal Beach Swimming Pool, a W.P.A. project, opened.

1941 Jefferson Proving Ground fired first rounds.

1950 Madison High School won state basketball tournament.

1952 North Madison “hilltop” annexed to city of Madison.

1952 December Ground broken for construction of Indiana-Kentucky Electric Plant. Plant began operation in March 1956.

1958 Hollywood movie, Some Came Running, filmed in Madison.

1960 Historic Madison Incorporated organized by John Windle.

1960 Madison area schools consolidated.

1968 Ivy Tech Community College Madison campus established its first classes.

1971 Miss Madison won Gold Cup in Regatta hydroplane race.

1974 Tornado leveled large areas of hilltop. Ten people were killed and more injured.

1984 Marble Hill Nuclear Plant project abandoned after six years of construction.

1984 Madison celebrated its 175th birthday with special events.

1989 November Madison established its Main Street Program.

1990 August Riverfront Walk development project began between West and Central Street.

1990 October Clifty Drive widening project completed, grand opening attended by Senator Lugar.

1995 September The Jefferson Proving Ground closed, ending fifty-four years of service.

1997 March Ohio River crested at 57.7 feet, flooding riverfront.

1999 July Feature movie, Madison, filmed in Madison, based on the 1971 Regatta.

2003 June Construction began for a $43 million addition to the Madison State Hospital.

2006 April Clifty Falls State Park completed new $9 million Inn and Conference Center.

2006 April National Historic Landmark designation for downtown Madison announced.

2006 August Arson fire destroyed the Madison Elks Lodge and damaged former city hall building.

2008 June King’s Daughters’ Hospital announced plans for a ninety-four-acre hilltop health campus.

2008 October Hurricane "Ike" winds passed through Madison, damaging trees and homes.

2008 October Ivy Tech Community College opened its newly expanded campus.

2009  Madison celebrates its Bicentennial!

Madison timeline courtesy of Jefferson County Historical Society.

This is a condensed version of the extensive 32-page "Madison Chronology of Events" document recently compiled by JCHS Research Library volunteer Bob Thomas. That document will soon be available for researchers. Contact the Jefferson County Historical Society by email or by phone at 812-265-2335.