Madison County is a county in Georgia, United States, on the edge of the Piedmont between Athens and the South Carolina line. It had a population of 30,120 at the 2020 census and covers 282 square miles (730 km2) of land, centred near 34°08′N 83°13′W.
Danielsville is the county seat, and its postal code is 30633. The county has six incorporated municipalities and a number of unincorporated crossroads communities. Madison County sits in the Eastern time zone and carries FIPS code 13195.
Towns & Villages in Madison County
Six places in Madison County are incorporated cities; the rest of the list below is unincorporated crossroads and community names carried over from earlier local usage. Pop. figures are 2020 census counts where verified; unverified places are marked with —.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Danielsville | City · seat | 654 | 30633 |
| Colbert | City | — | 30628 |
| Comer | City | — | 30629 |
| Hull | City | — | 30646 |
| Ila | City | — | 30647 |
| Carlton | City | — | 30627 |
| Alvin | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bluestone | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bond | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cedar Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dalton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Diamond Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dogsboro | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fort Lamar | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Gholston Stand Crossroads | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Harrison | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hix | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Jeptha | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Madison Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Minish | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Neese | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Newtown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Paoli | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Patterson | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Phillips | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Planter | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pocataligo | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Porterfield | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rogers | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ross | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sanford | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Seagraves | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Shiloh | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Smiths Store | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Transco | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Velpoe | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Vineyard Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
All six incorporated cities keep their own ZIP codes; the unincorporated crossroads communities share whichever ZIP covers their end of the county, usually Danielsville, Colbert, or Comer.
ZIP Codes
- 30633 — Danielsville (also serves Fort Lamar, Sanford, and the county’s eastern edge)
- 30628 — Colbert (also serves Bond and Neese)
- 30629 — Comer (also serves Diamond Hill and Pocataligo)
- 30646 — Hull
- 30647 — Ila (a PO Box-only ZIP)
- 30627 — Carlton
Smaller communities such as Alvin, Bluestone, and Harrison are addressed under one of these six ZIPs rather than carrying their own.
Geography
Madison County lies on the Piedmont plateau, rolling terrain cut by small creeks draining toward the Broad and Oconee river systems. Of its 286 square miles, 282 are land and 3.3 are water. The county has no large natural lake; farm ponds and small creek impoundments account for most of its surface water.
Madison County borders Franklin County to the north, Hart County to the northeast, Elbert County to the east, Oglethorpe County to the south, Clarke County to the southwest, Jackson County to the west, and Banks County to the northwest.
Demographics
Madison County’s population was 30,120 at the 2020 census, giving a density of about 107 people per square mile. Danielsville and Comer are the county’s two largest incorporated towns; most residents live outside any city limits, in the unincorporated crossroads communities. The county’s median household income runs below the Georgia median of $74,632, consistent with its largely rural, agricultural tax base.
Economy & Local Life
Poultry production is the backbone of Madison County’s economy — broiler houses and related feed and processing operations employ a large share of the workforce, alongside row-crop and cattle farming. Danielsville and Comer serve as the county’s retail and civic centres, and Madison County Comprehensive High School in Danielsville is the county’s single public high school. Many residents commute southwest to jobs in Athens and the University of Georgia’s home Clarke County.
History
Madison County was created on December 5, 1811, from parts of Franklin, Clarke, Jackson, and Elbert counties, and named for James Madison, then serving as U.S. president. Its early economy relied on food crops and livestock before shifting to cotton monoculture after the Civil War; the boll weevil infestation of the early 20th century pushed farmers toward the diversified and poultry-based agriculture that defines the county today.
Getting There
Georgia Highway 98 and Georgia Highway 72 are the county’s main routes, crossing at Danielsville.
- Athens — 18 miles southwest
- Commerce — 15 miles northwest
- Elberton — 20 miles east
- Atlanta — 85 miles west
Athens-Ben Epps Airport, about 20 miles southwest, has limited regional service; Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, roughly 85 miles west, is the nearest major hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Madison County, Georgia?
It sits in the northeastern part of the state, between Athens and the South Carolina line, bordering Franklin, Hart, Elbert, Oglethorpe, Clarke, Jackson, and Banks counties.
What is the population of Madison County?
30,120 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Madison County?
286 square miles total, 282 of it land, making it a mid-sized Georgia county.
What is the county seat of Madison County?
Danielsville is the county seat.
How many towns are in Madison County?
Six incorporated cities — Danielsville, Colbert, Comer, Hull, Ila, and Carlton — plus around 30 unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Madison County?
30633 (Danielsville), 30628 (Colbert), 30629 (Comer), 30646 (Hull), 30647 (Ila), and 30627 (Carlton).
What is Madison County’s main industry?
Poultry production, alongside row-crop and cattle farming.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Georgia.