Madison County is a county in Nebraska, United States, in the northeastern part of the state along the Elkhorn River. It had a population of 35,585 at the 2020 census and covers 575 square miles (1,490 km2) centred near 41°55′N 97°36′W.
Madison is the county seat and its postal code is 68748. Norfolk is the county’s largest city. Madison County has four incorporated cities, one village, and four unincorporated communities, sits in the Central time zone, and carries FIPS code 31119.
Towns & Villages in Madison County
Ten named places make up Madison County: four cities (one of them the county seat), one village, and four unincorporated communities with no municipal government. Norfolk, the largest city, extends slightly into neighboring Stanton County; Newman Grove sits mostly in Madison County but crosses into Platte County to the south.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norfolk | City | 24,955 | 68701 |
| Madison | City · seat | — | 68748 |
| Battle Creek | City | — | 68715 |
| Tilden | City | — | 68781 |
| Newman Grove | City | — | 68758 |
| Meadow Grove | Village | — | 68752 |
| Emerick | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Enola | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Kalamazoo | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Warnerville | Unincorp. | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 68701 — Norfolk (also serves the surrounding rural area)
- 68748 — Madison
- 68715 — Battle Creek
- 68781 — Tilden
- 68758 — Newman Grove
- 68752 — Meadow Grove
Emerick, Enola, Kalamazoo, and Warnerville have no post office of their own and use the ZIP code of the nearest incorporated town.
Geography
Madison County sits on gently rolling farmland sloping to the east-southeast, drained by the Elkhorn River, which runs through the county on its way toward the Platte. Of the county’s 575 square miles, about 573 square miles are land and just under 3 square miles are water, mostly the river itself and small tributary creeks. Most of the land is devoted to row-crop agriculture, with the Norfolk-Madison corridor along US-81 carrying the bulk of the county’s non-farm development. Six counties share a border with Madison County: Pierce County to the north, Stanton County to the east, Platte County to the south, Colfax County to the southeast, Boone County to the southwest, and Antelope County to the west.
Demographics
Madison County had 35,585 residents at the 2020 census, for a density of about 62 people per square mile of land. Norfolk and Madison are the county’s two largest communities by a wide margin over the other cities and villages. Median household income in the county runs below the Nebraska median of $74,590, reflecting the county’s mix of farm income and manufacturing-town wages.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture anchors the county’s economy — corn, soybeans, and livestock feeding — alongside food processing and manufacturing centered on Norfolk. Norfolk is home to Nucor Steel Nebraska, a bar-mill steel plant, and to Faith Regional Health Services, the region’s main hospital system. Northeast Community College, a two-year public college, is also based in Norfolk and draws students from across northeast Nebraska. Grain elevators and a regional Affiliated Foods Midwest distribution center support the surrounding farm trade in the smaller towns. The Madison County Fair, held each summer in Madison, is a long-running local tradition drawing exhibitors from across the county.
History
Madison County was organized in 1856, carved out of unorganized Nebraska Territory land. Its name is attributed to one of two sources: either President James Madison, or the hometown of early settlers, Madison, Wisconsin — itself named for the president. Norfolk and Madison both grew as rail and agricultural trading centers in the decades after organization, with the arrival of the Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad through Norfolk cementing the city’s role as the county’s commercial hub. More recently, the 2013 film “Nebraska,” starring Bruce Dern, was partly filmed in and around Madison and Norfolk, standing in for the fictional town of Hawthorne.
Getting There
US-81 runs north-south through the county and US-275 crosses it east-west, both meeting at Norfolk. Norfolk Regional Airport offers limited commercial air service.
- Norfolk — 10 miles east of Madison
- Omaha — about 115 miles southeast of Norfolk
- Lincoln — about 115 miles south of Norfolk
- Sioux City, Iowa — about 65 miles northeast of Norfolk
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Madison County, Nebraska?
It lies in northeastern Nebraska along the Elkhorn River, about 115 miles northeast of Lincoln.
What is the population of Madison County?
35,585 at the 2020 census.
How big is Madison County?
575 square miles (1,490 km2), of which about 3 square miles is water.
What is the county seat of Madison County?
Madison is the county seat.
How many towns are in Madison County?
Four cities, one village, and four unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Madison County?
Norfolk (68701), Madison (68748), Battle Creek (68715), Tilden (68781), Newman Grove (68758), and Meadow Grove (68752).
What is Madison County’s largest city?
Norfolk, home to Nucor Steel Nebraska and Faith Regional Health Services, is the county’s largest city, though Madison is the seat.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Nebraska.