Madison, Tennessee
Madison (originally Madison Station) is a former settlement, now a suburban neighborhood of northeast Nashville, in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is incorporated as part of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County.
The population of Madison's 37115 zip code as of the US Census Bureau 2016 estimates was 40,146.[2]
Location[edit]
Madison is only 8.2 miles north at its closest point to downtown Nashville. Ellington Parkway serves as a direct connection from downtown Madison to downtown Nashville with exits to Inglewood and East Nashville. Madison is located close to major highways and parkways: 65, 40, 24, Briley and local access roads St. Route 45 (Old Hickory) and Dickerson Road. It begins at Briley Parkway and extends to the Hendersonville line in Rivergate, from Dickerson Road to the Cumberland River.
Madison is one of 14 Community Plan areas in the Metro Nashville-Davidson County area for which zoning and land use planning is done. The 2015-updated Community Plan for Madison, an 89-page document adopted by the Metropolitan Planning Commission, was updated in 2015 as part of NashvilleNext's long-term planning.[3][4][5]
Madison has two major centers: Downtown Madison and Rivergate. The area between the two centers is called Motor Mile. Madison services several surrounding communities: East Nashville, Inglewood, Whites Creek, Joelton, Old Hickory, Hendersonville, Hermitage and more.
Madison is one of about 26 suburban neighborhoods of Nashville.[6]
History[edit]
Madison Station post office was opened in 1857, when Madison Station was about eight miles from Nashville proper, roughly half way between Nashville and Goodlettsville.[7] In the 20th century, Madison acted as a connecting suburb until being annexed into Nashville in 1963 due to the consolidation with Davidson County. Madison funnels traffic to Goodlettsville, Hendersonville, Gallatin, Inglewood, and downtown Nashville.
Old Hickory Boulevard (State Route 45) is a section of the Trail of Tears, the route of the forced removal of Cherokee Indians from North Carolina to Oklahoma, directed by U.S. President Andrew Jackson. This route passes directly by Jackson's estate, The Hermitage, in the neighboring community of Old Hickory, Tennessee.
Madison was once home to the "Hillbilly Day" festival. This festival was created as a fundraiser to benefit schools within the area. This fundraising festival included costumes, school events, and a parade. Madison's first "Hillbilly Day" was in 1952.[8]
Madison is also home to Amqui train station that was built by the Louisville and Nashville Railroad and serviced by the company until 1979. After L&N Railroad vacated the station, country music legend Johnny Cash purchased it and moved it from Madison to his home in nearby Sumner County. The station was later returned to Madison after the passing of Cash and his wife June Carter Cash. Today, it houses a museum and visitor center for the town.[9]
Recreation[edit]
Three public parks are within Madison: Madison Park is located in the center of State Route 45, Delaware Avenue, and North Dupont Avenue. Peeler Park is located off of Neelys Bend Road at the end of Overton Road. Cedar Hill Park is located at the corner of Old Hickory Boulevard and Dickerson Pike.
Another source of recreation for the Madison community is Rivergate Mall, which is located at the corner of Conference Drive and Gallatin Pike North. This mall houses over 130 different stores, including mainstream department stores.
The Madison Branch Library opened in 1977, and is part of the Nashville Public Library. A new facility, themed after the book The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, opened in 2000. Meeting rooms, group study rooms, and public computers are available.[10]
Cemeteries[edit]
Madison is the location of the Nashville National Cemetery. The Nashville National Cemetery covers around 64 acres and holds nearly 33,000 veterans as well as their spouses, and dependents. According to the National Park Service, the entrance to the cemetery is marked by a monumental arch which is, "one of five in the national cemetery system."[11] It and Spring Hill Cemetery, across Gallatin Pike, delineated the generally accepted boundary between Madison and Inglewood prior to the construction of nearby Briley Parkway.
Notable residents that were born or reside in Madison, Tennessee include :