[5] Originally called "The Basin" after the circular valley the city is in, it is unclear whether Madras was named in 1903 for the cotton fabric called "Madras" that originated in the city of Madras (now Chennai) in Tamil Nadu, India or from the name of the city itself.

An Army Air Corps base was built nearby during World War II.

Homesteads approximately 5 miles (8 km) north of the city on Agency Plains were based on dryland wheat.

In 2003, a Scotts Company large field trial of GMO bentgrass near Madras resulted in pollen spreading the transgene, which is Roundup-resistant, over an area of 120 square miles (310 km2).

[10] The centerline of the path of totality of the Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017, ran through the center of Madras.

[13] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.02 square miles (13 km2), all land.

28.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

25.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

[3] In addition to the public City-County Airport, Madras has several private-use airports in the area: Madras has one sister city,[21] as designated by Sister Cities International: