Madisonville was founded by Jean Baptiste Baham in 1800, before the United States acquired this area, as the town of "Coquille" or "Cokie" because of the abundance of shells in the area, at the site of the Native American village of "Chiconcte".

[4] Madisonville was a notable port, providing bricks and other products of the towns along the Tchefuncte River to New Orleans, in the decades before the Civil War.

After the Capture of New Orleans by the Union Army, this area remained under nominal Confederate control; and the cutoff of trade with New Orleans across enemy lines was devastating to the local economy, which did not recover for decades after the peace.

The opening of the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway and associated highways gradually brought Madisonville into the sphere of Greater New Orleans, in the second half of the 20th century.

Much of the town flooded with the Lake Pontchartrain storm surge of Hurricane Katrina, on August 29, 2005.

In 1905 he purchased the remaining interest, acquiring land for yards, as well as warehouses, docks, storage facilities and equipment.

[5] The Jahncke Shipyard, once a hub of shipbuilding activity during World War I, is no longer operational.

[6] The Tchefuncte River is a key feature of the area, offering scenic views and opportunities for boating and recreation.

This marina provides easy access to the river, making it a popular choice for boaters and visitors looking to explore the waterway.

Madisonville hosts the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Maritime Museum, which sponsors the Wooden Boat Festival each fall.

[10] The Tchefuncte River Lighthouse is owned by the Town of Madisonville and is operated by the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Maritime Museum with a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Southeastern Museum Conference, a gift from the Southeastern Louisiana University Development Fund that included live-streaming security cameras and on-site information about lake levels and wind and wave action by the Department of Computer Science, as well as contributions from private groups and individuals.

The lighthouse, visible from Marina del Ray down to the parking area at the Madisonville Boat Launch, survived Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and remains an important historical site.