Madison County is included in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area.

In 1787, the fledgling United States defined the Northwest Territory, which included the area of present-day Indiana.

Starting in 1794, Native American titles to Indiana lands were extinguished by usurpation, purchase, or war and treaty.

This included the future Madison County, which was authorized by the state legislature on January 4, 1823, designating areas covered by the Delaware New Purchase.

[7] The new county was named for James Madison, co-author of The Federalist Papers and the fourth President of the United States (1809 to 1817).

After considerable local competition, the town of Anderson was platted in 1827 on donated land with the stipulation that the seat be moved to that location.

[9] The settlers logged much of the area and cleared the remainder through burning; at present its terrain is completely devoted to agriculture or urban development, except for stands of brush in drainages.

[12] The county's terrain is nearly flat, with the exception of hilly areas along the White River and Fall Creek.

The highest terrain (around 1,010 feet/310 meters ASL) is a ridgeline at the county's SE corner.

The commissioners execute acts legislated by the council, collect revenue, and manage the county government.

The judge on the court is elected to a term of four years and must be a member of the Indiana Bar Association.

[24] As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 131,636 people, 51,927 households, and 34,319 families in the county.