Places of Virginia

The geography and history of the Commonwealth

Madison County, Virginia

Quick answer: Madison County is a county in Virginia with its seat at Madison. Its estimated population in 2025 was 14,237, up 2.9% since 2020. It covers about 321 square miles of land.
Typecounty
County seatMadison
Established1792
Population, 2025 estimate14,237
Population, 2020 estimate13,862
Change 2020–20252.7%
Rank by population in Virginia102 of 133
View from the Great Valley Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia
Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author or not provided · Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Virginia has 95 counties, and Madison County is one of them.[1] The county seat is Madison.[2] The county was established in 1792.[2] The name comes from James Madison.[2]

Population of Madison County

The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the population of Madison County at 14,237 in July 2025, up 2.9% from the April 2020 base of 13,842.[1] That made it 102nd of Virginia's 133 counties and independent cities by population. It ranked 51st for growth since 2020.[1]

From 2020 to 2025 the Census Bureau counted about 680 births and 887 deaths, so deaths outnumbered births by 207.[1] More people moved in from other parts of the United States than moved away. Net domestic migration was 499. Moves from abroad added 107.[1]

Geography

Madison County covers 320.6 square miles of land and 1.2 square miles of water.[3] By land area it ranks 62nd of 133 in Virginia.[3] It had about 44 people per square mile in 2025, so it is mostly rural. Its geographic center lies near 38.41° N, 78.28° W.[3]

The county borders Culpeper County, Greene County, Orange County, Page County and Rappahannock County.[4]

The U.S. Geological Survey place-name database lists 47 named streams, 46 named summits, 5 lakes and reservoirs, 6 gaps and 1 spring, including Big Rock Falls, Climbing Rose Falls, Dark Hollow Falls, Rose River Falls in the county.[5]

Towns

Madison County has one incorporated town: Madison (211), with its estimated 2025 population in brackets.[6] In Virginia, towns remain part of the county around them, unlike independent cities.

Frequently asked questions

What is the county seat of Madison County?
Madison.

What is the population of Madison County?
About 14,237 people in 2025, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

How big is Madison County?
About 321 square miles of land, plus 1.2 square miles of water.

References

Official website: www.madisonco.virginia.gov

Boundary on the map: Census TIGERweb. See all counties and cities on the map.