Madison County, Nebraska (Plate 7)
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Madison County, Nebraska
Madison County is a thriving county in northeast Nebraska anchored by Norfolk, the region's largest city and commercial hub. With a population of approximately 35,226 (2020), Madison County stretches across rolling farmland and river valleys in the heart of the state's northeast corner. The county is home to Northeast Community College, Faith Regional Health Services, and a rich agricultural economy built on corn, soybeans, and cattle.
Named for President James Madison, the county was organized in 1867. The county seat of Madison sits at the crossroads of NE-32 and NE-121, while Norfolk — the county's largest city — anchors US-81 and US-275 as a regional center for commerce, healthcare, and culture. Norfolk is widely known as the hometown of television icon Johnny Carson, who grew up here before becoming one of America's most celebrated entertainers.
Madison County's northeast Nebraska setting gives it access to two major highway corridors. US-81 runs north-south through the heart of the county, connecting Norfolk to the Kansas border and beyond. US-275 runs east-west, linking Norfolk to Columbus and Omaha. The county's seven towns range from the regional hub of Norfolk to small villages like Enola and Meadow Grove that preserve the quiet character of rural Nebraska.
Towns in Madison County
Norfolk, Nebraska (68701)
The largest city in northeast Nebraska and Madison County's commercial, healthcare, and cultural hub. Birthplace of television icon Johnny Carson, with Northeast Community College and Faith Regional Health Services.
Pop: ~24,210 · Highways: US-81, US-275 · Designation: City
Madison, Nebraska (68748)
The county seat of Madison County, located at NE-32 and NE-121. Home of the Madison County Courthouse and Madison Public Schools (Vikings).
Pop: ~2,379 · Highways: NE-32, NE-121 · Designation: Village (County Seat)
Tilden, Nebraska (68781)
A village in western Madison County along NE-14 and NE-57, serving the agricultural community of the Elkhorn River region.
Pop: ~997 · Highways: NE-14, NE-57 · Designation: Village
Newman Grove, Nebraska (68758)
A village in southwest Madison County on US-275 and NE-23, with Czech and German heritage roots and a strong agricultural identity.
Pop: ~736 · Highways: US-275, NE-23 · Designation: Village
Battle Creek, Nebraska (68715)
A village in southeast Madison County approximately 8 miles east of Norfolk on NE-121, serving the Elkhorn River valley farming community.
Pop: ~1,224 · Highways: NE-121 · Designation: Village
Meadow Grove, Nebraska (68752)
A small village in northwest Madison County along NE-116, surrounded by farmland and serving the rural agricultural community.
Pop: ~357 · Highways: NE-116 · Designation: Village
Enola, Nebraska
A small unincorporated community in Madison County. Residents access services in nearby Norfolk.
Designation: Unincorporated Community
Madison County Cameras
View all Madison County cameras →
US-275 West of Norfolk
US-275 W of Norfolk: View 1
US-275 W of Norfolk: View 2
US-275 W of Norfolk: View 4
US-275 W of Norfolk: View 5
US-275 W of Norfolk: View 6
US-81 Near Norfolk
US-81 Near Norfolk: View 1
US-81 Near Norfolk: View 2
US-81 Near Norfolk: View 3
US-81 Near Norfolk: View 4
Travel Corridors
US-81 Corridor — North-south through Norfolk and Madison County
US-275 Corridor — East-west through Norfolk and Newman Grove
Directory
Browse Madison County Listings →
Region
Adjacent Counties
Pierce County (north) · Antelope County (northwest) · Boone County (southwest) · Platte County (south) · Stanton County (southeast) · Wayne County (east)
County Seat: Madison
Founded: Created January 1856; organised December 1867
Named For: Either James Madison or Madison, Wisconsin, the settlers’ former home — History Nebraska records both
License Plate Prefix: 7
Population: 35,585 (2020 census)
Area: 576 sq mi
History
Madison County was created in 1856 and organised in 1867, named by its early settlers for Madison, Wisconsin, where many of them had come from. The town of Madison is the county seat, but Norfolk has long been the county’s centre of gravity and is the regional city for all of north-east Nebraska.
Norfolk was founded in 1866 by German Lutheran colonists from Wisconsin who settled at the fork of the Elkhorn — the name comes from the north fork, not from Norfolk in England, and locals still say it the old way. The railroad made it a division point, and it grew into the trade, medical and retail hub it remains. Battle Creek, Tilden, Meadow Grove and Newman Grove fill out the county.
Geography
Madison County covers about 573 square miles of north-east Nebraska, drained by the Elkhorn River and its north fork, which meet at Norfolk. The land is gently rolling farmland with wooded river bottoms. It borders Pierce County to the north, Wayne County to the north-east, Stanton County to the east, Platte County to the south, Boone County to the south-west and Antelope County to the west.
Outdoors — Camping, RV, Hunting & Fishing
Madison County has no state park, but Norfolk is the eastern terminus of the Cowboy Trail — and the trailhead sits in a city park with camping, which is a rare and useful combination.
Camping and RV
Ta-Ha-Zouka Park, Norfolk — 2201 South 13th Street, 180 acres on the Elkhorn. 18 concrete camper pads with 20/30/50-amp power, plus one accessible pad. There are no water or sewer hookups at the sites, though water is available in the park, and the dump station is at the west end — on site. $27 a night with pad and electric, $18 without. Maximum seven nights. Accessible restrooms and showers, closed mid-October to mid-April. Four rental cabins, dog park, disc golf, and the Cowboy Trail railhead in the same park.
La Bonita RV Park, 3207 South 12th Street, Norfolk — private, around 50 full-hookup sites on concrete, 30 and 50 amp with sewer at the site, laundry, roughly $40–$50. Users report only a few sites take big rigs.
Newman Grove City Park has eight or nine sites with electric to 50 amp, water, sewer at some, and a sanitary dump station, at $20 a night on the honour system, early April to late October. Battle Creek Municipal Park lists 20-amp electric and a dump station on a donation basis, but a recent camper reported the camping may have been discontinued — ring the village at (402) 675-2165 before relying on it.
Fishing
Skyview Lake, Norfolk — 50 acres, with bluegill, channel catfish, crappie, largemouth bass and walleye. Two boat ramps, two 150-foot rock jetties and an accessible 100-foot T-head fishing pier. No live baitfish. The city’s own pages disagree about whether electric trolling motors are allowed — check with Norfolk Parks and Recreation before you launch one.
Ta-Ha-Zouka Park Lake is five acres with bluegill, channel catfish, largemouth bass and seasonally stocked rainbow trout. The Elkhorn through the park gives canoe access, shore fishing and an accessible fishing platform. No park entry permit applies anywhere in the county.
Hunting
Yellowbanks WMA sits on the Elkhorn near Meadow Grove, and Oak Valley WMA is in the Battle Creek area. Neither has published acreage. Beyond those the county is farm ground — Open Fields and Waters walk-in tracts are the practical public option, and enrolment changes annually.
Note: Maskenthine Lake and Wood Duck WMA are commonly listed under Madison County. Both are in Stanton County.
The Cowboy Trail
Norfolk is the eastern end of the Cowboy Recreation and Nature Trail, which runs 317 miles to Chadron with 187 continuous miles of crushed limestone as far as Valentine. The surface through Norfolk is concrete. Hiking, biking and horseback riding; Class I, II and III e-bikes are allowed, motorised vehicles and ATVs are not. The railhead is at Ta-Ha-Zouka Park, so you can camp, water up and ride from one place.
Skyview Park adds two and a half miles of concrete trail with an arboretum, disc golf and a cross-country course.
Events
The Madison County Fair at Madison anchors the summer, and Norfolk’s calendar — as the regional city — is the fullest in this part of the state.
Dates move year to year, so they are kept with the listings rather than repeated here.
Browse event listings in Madison County →
Submit an event or correction →
Madison County at a Glance
Madison County, Nebraska — about 573 square miles of Elkhorn valley farmland, and the commercial centre of north-east Nebraska. County seat Madison; Norfolk, founded in 1866 at the north fork of the Elkhorn, is the regional city. 396 listings across 6 towns.
Getting there: US-275 and US-81 cross at Norfolk; NE-24, NE-32 and NE-121 serve the rest of the county. Norfolk is the eastern terminus of the Cowboy Trail.
For visitors: the Cowboy Trail railhead at Ta-Ha-Zouka Park, where the campground, the water and the trail are all in one place; Skyview Lake with its accessible fishing pier; and the fullest range of services between Sioux City and Grand Island.