Madison County is in the third tier of counties, south from the Missouri River, on the north line of the State, and the fourth tier from the same river on the east line of the State. Its area contains 576 square miles, or 368,640 acres.
The county was created in 1856, by the Territorial Legislature, and its boundary lines fixed by statute; nor have these original boundaries since been changed.
The surface of Madison County is composed of upland, valley, bluff and bottom lands in the following proportions: Upland, 40 per cent; valley, 40 per cent; bluff and sandy lands, 15 per cent; bottom lands, 5 per cent. The bottom lands lying immediately along the creeks are subject to overflow; the sandy lands lie mainly in the eastern part of the county, midway from north to south; they furnish excellent pasture, and constitute 12 per cent of the surface; the Elkhorn Valley extends across the northern end of the county, varying from three to six miles in width; Union and Taylor Valleys are in the southeastern comer, and Shell Creek Valley in the hundred feet above the bottom lands.
The surface soil of the bottom lands, uplands and valleys, is mainly a dark sandy loam, varying in depth from two to eight feet. Beneath this the subsoil is either sand or clay, which lie upon each other to an unknown depth, the rock below not having been reached in any deep borings as yet. At a depth of about twelve feet in some places, a coarse gravelly layer is found.
Biographies of Madison County, Nebraska
History of Madison County, Nebraska
- Natural Resources of Madison County, Nebraska
- Early Settlements in Madison County, Nebraska
- Native Americans of Madison County, Nebraska
- The Organization of Madison County, Nebraska
- Railroads of Madison County, Nebraska
- Schools and Population of Madison County, Nebraska
Maps of Madison County, Nebraska
- 1885 Map of Madison County, Nebraska
- 1885 Map of Madison and Battle Creek Nebraska
- 1885 Map of Norfolk Nebraska
- 1912 Plat Map of Madison County, Nebraska (pdf)
Townships of Madison County, Nebraska
- History of Battle Creek, Madison County, Nebraska
- History of Madison, Madison County, Nebraska
- History of Norfolk, Madison County, Nebraska
- History of Other Towns in Madison County, Nebraska
Source: Andreas, A. T. History of the State of Nebraska, p. 1102-11. Chicago: The Western Historical Company. 1882.
1 thought on “Genealogy and History of Madison County, Nebraska”
I was asked to find a Home Stead by Knut Wingestad from Norway, by some family members also from Norway. I was told Knut had a claim close to Newman Grove. I also know Knut went back to Norway years later. So any chance to go through to see if someone can find the location of the home stead?
That would be great. I would then take a photo and send it to Norway, as long as it’s ok by todays owner.
This may be Boone, Madison, or Platte counties.