Madison County is a county in North Carolina, United States, tucked into the Blue Ridge Mountains along the Tennessee state line north of Asheville. It had a population of 21,193 at the 2020 census and covers 451 square miles (1,169 km2) centred near 35°52′N 82°43′W.
Marshall is the county seat and its postal code is 28753. The county has three incorporated towns (Marshall, Mars Hill and Hot Springs) and more than a dozen unincorporated communities. Madison County is in the Eastern time zone and is part of the Asheville metropolitan statistical area.
Towns & Villages in Madison County
Madison County has three incorporated towns and roughly fifty named unincorporated communities scattered through its mountain coves and river valleys. “Unincorp.” below marks a small settlement, crossroads or former post-office community with no municipal government of its own.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marshall | Town · seat | 777 | 28753 |
| Mars Hill | Town | 2,007 | 28754 |
| Hot Springs | Town | — | 28743 |
| Allegheny | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Allenstand | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Andy Cove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Antioch | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Barnard | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Beech Glen | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Belva | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bethel | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Big Laurel | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Big Pine | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bluff | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Buckner | Unincorp. | — | — |
| California | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Carmen | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Chapel Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cutshalltown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ebbs Mill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| English | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Faust | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Foster Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Guntertown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hurricane | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ivy | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ivy Ridge | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Jarrett Cove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Little Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Long Ridge | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Luck | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lumptown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Paint Fork | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Paint Rock | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Petersburg | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Redmon | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Revere | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rice Mill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rollins | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Runion | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sandy Bottom | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sexton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Shaleville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Spillcorn | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Spring Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Stackhouse | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Terry Fork | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Trust | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Walnut | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Walnut Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Waverly | Unincorp. | — | — |
| White Rock | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Worley | Unincorp. | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 28753 — Marshall (also serves the county seat area)
- 28754 — Mars Hill (also serves Mars Hill University)
- 28743 — Hot Springs (also serves the Appalachian Trail crossing)
Most of the small unincorporated communities listed above share a ZIP code with the nearest post-office town rather than carrying one of their own; several, including Walnut and Spring Creek, have their own rural post offices but the exact ZIP boundaries were not independently verified for this page.
Geography
Madison County sits in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina, split by the French Broad River as it cuts north through a narrow gorge toward Tennessee. The terrain is steep and forested, with the Pisgah National Forest covering much of the southern and eastern county and the Appalachian Trail running along its northern ridgelines. The county is bordered by Yancey County to the east, Buncombe County to the south, Haywood County to the southwest, and by Cocke, Greene and Unicoi counties in Tennessee to the west and north.
Demographics
Madison County had 21,193 residents at the 2020 census. Mars Hill (2,007) and Marshall (777) are its two largest communities. The county’s median household income runs below the North Carolina median of $70,804, typical of the rural mountain counties in this part of the state. Population density is light, at roughly 47 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Mars Hill University, a private university founded in 1856, is the county’s largest institution and anchors the town of Mars Hill. Madison County Schools runs five K-12 schools. Tourism tied to the French Broad River, the Appalachian Trail and the mineral springs at Hot Springs draws visitors for whitewater rafting, hiking and hot-spring soaking, alongside farming and forestry in the outlying coves.
History
Madison County was formed in 1851 from parts of Buncombe and Yancey counties and named for James Madison, the fourth U.S. president (1809–1817). Hot Springs takes its name from the natural mineral springs that made it a resort destination as early as the 19th century, and later a World War I internment camp for German nationals. Long Ridge, near Mars Hill, is a historically African-American community that retains one of the last Rosenwald Schools in Western North Carolina.
Getting There
Interstate 26 crosses the southeastern part of the county, and US 25/70 and US 19/23 carry traffic along the French Broad River corridor. NC 208, 209, 212, 213 and 251 serve the outlying communities.
- Asheville — about 20 miles south via I-26
- Mars Hill — about 15 miles north of Asheville via US 23
- Hot Springs — about 35 miles northwest of Asheville via US 25/70
- Johnson City, Tennessee — about 40 miles north via US 25/70 and US 321
Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) is the nearest commercial airport, about 25 miles south of Marshall.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Madison County, North Carolina?
It is in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina, north of Asheville along the Tennessee border.
What is the population of Madison County?
21,193 at the 2020 census.
How big is Madison County?
451 square miles (1,169 km2), of which about 2 square miles is water.
What is the Madison County seat?
Marshall is the county seat.
How many towns are in Madison County?
Three incorporated towns — Marshall, Mars Hill and Hot Springs — plus about fifty unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Madison County?
Main ZIP codes include 28753 (Marshall), 28754 (Mars Hill) and 28743 (Hot Springs).
What is Madison County known for?
The hot mineral springs at Hot Springs, the French Broad River, the Appalachian Trail, and Mars Hill University.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in North Carolina.