Madison was founded in 1872 northwest of the present town. In 1879, the town was relocated to its present site when the Howard Branch of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad was built from Emporia to Moline. The first building was the home of W. H. Green, a Civil War veteran. Green came to Kansas in 1867, took up a homestead, and operated a trading post on the original town site. Madison took its name from Madison Township. Welcome to the place we call home!