Madison is in Lake County, in the heart of the prairie
Madison, the seat of Lake County, is between Lake Madison and Lake Herman and about 50 miles northwest of Sioux Falls . Madison's slogan, "the Heart of the Prairie," fits the location. "It's within the Prairie Pothole Region, which has wetlands, lakes and rolling hills," says Chere Rosa de Sharon, a broker and the owner of Hi-Tech Realty, who is assisting in expanding HomeSmart Adventure Realty. According to U.S. Census estimates, the population is about 6,200.
Madison is also home to Dakota State University (DSU), a public educational establishment with more than 3,700 students, about 1,400 attending classes in person. "So, it's a lake town and it's a college town," Rosa de Sharon says. Education has played a large role in the town's history; nicknamed the City of Schools and Churches, Madison had the territory's first teacher-education school, a precursor to DSU. There's a long tradition of churches, with various denominations represented.
Vintage architecture, ranch-style and contemporary homes
Madison's residential streets are walkable, mainly in an even grid pattern. Sidewalks are set a bit back from the road, leaving room for a tree or two in front of small yards. Some streets have alleys between them, and there's a winding multiuse trail near South Egan Avenue. Driveways and garages are the norm.
Older homes, found throughout central Madison, include historical architectural styles like Victorian and Dutch Colonial. Ranch-style homes have been common since the mid-20th century, followed by contemporaries. Homes built in the 2020s are concentrated in the northeast part of town. These include twin homes reminiscent of duplexes, though each side usually has a separate owner. Overall, home prices typically range from about $150,000 to $420,000. Homes by Lake Madison are more expensive. "Year-round residents are in town, and seasonal residents — vacationers and second-home owners — are around Lake Madison," Rosa de Sharon says.
Though not common in Madison, tornadoes are a risk in the region. Five magnitude 2 tornadoes have been reported within 10 miles of Madison since the 1950s. Madison generally doesn't have a high flood risk, though a few parts are more susceptible, including the area south of Fourth Street in the vicinity of Silver Creek.
Downtown stores and dining, grocery stores and a movie theater
Madison's downtown along Egan Avenue has a focus on small businesses, such as Four Seasons Flea Market, Berry Fast Bicycles and Unlock Madison, which offers escape room challenges and axe throwing. Restaurants include steakhouse Prime Time Tavern, Los Tapatios Mexican restaurant and Country Café for homestyle meals, pies and baked goods. Options for groceries include Sunshine Foods, DG Market and Tienda Mama. On the northwest side of Madison, Dakota Cinema shows first-run films.
Events downtown, at the community center and in Prairie Village
Downtown in MadTown is a six-week summer event and concert series with nights themed after things like classic cars, agriculture and DSU. Other events include Easter on Egan, MadTown Bike Day in May and the Prairie Village Steam Threshing Jamboree in August, which celebrates vintage farming practices. Prairie Village, about 2 miles west of Madison, features a recreation of a turn-of-the-century main street, a steam-powered carousel with hand-carved horses and locomotive rides on the Prairie Village Herman & Milwaukee Railroad. In addition to the Jamboree, the village hosts antique tractor pulls, a Fourth of July fireworks show, Opera House concerts and bull riding tours.
Madison has community parks, an aquatic center and nature trails
Madison's outdoor amenities include Baughman/Belatti Park, which has a playground, sports fields and a disc golf course. The Gerry Maloney Nature Area has looped prairie and woodland trails. Other Madison highlights are Totland Park, community garden plots and the Madison Aquatic Center, which has indoor and outdoor features.
Lake Herman State Park and Walker's Point Recreation Area at Lake Madison are within a short drive. Biking, birdwatching, boating and canoeing are popular activities on the lakes.
All grades covered at Madison's three public schools on Ninth Street
Students may attend public schools in the Madison Central School District, which has all its schools on Ninth Street. The elementary school is within a mile of the combo middle and high school building. Madison Elementary School earns a B grade from Niche, and Madison Middle School and Madison High School receive B-minus grades. High school students can enroll in courses for college credit through schools such as DSU and South Dakota State University, which is in Brookings. Madison Christian School and St. Thomas School are private options for prekindergarten through fifth grade.
Dakota State University's campus and its public amenities
Students moving on to Dakota State University have over 45 undergraduate majors to choose from. The university also offers several graduate degrees and has over a dozen official sports teams. The campus, about 80 acres, is also a significant job site, employing over 180 faculty, adjuncts and graduate assistants and more than 250 professional staffers.
Some amenities are open to the public. "Our Madison Community Center is frequently used by the public and is a shared facility between the university and the city of Madison. The library is open to the public as well," says Andrew Sogn, DSU's chief marketing officer. Also on campus are the Dakota Prairie Playhouse and the Beacom PREMIER Complex, a state-of-the-art athletic facility with a football stadium. DSU operates summer camps for youth and adults.
Nearby highways and East Dakota Transit Inc.
Although the town itself is pretty walkable, people usually drive over long distances. State Route 34 passes through Madison to the south, U.S Route 81 is to the north and west and there's access to state Route 19 to the southeast. East Dakota Transit Inc. provides shuttle service by reservation.
Snow is part of winter here, and the city has designated emergency snow routes for priority plowing. Vehicles cannot remain parked on those routes when there is over two inches of snow. Additionally, snow and ice must be removed from residential properties within 24 hours.
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Written By
Robin Silberman
