Indiana Gazetteer: Madison 1833

The Madison section of the Indiana Gazetteer was reproduced in the Madison Courier as noted. It contains a good snapshot of many aspects of the cities development and commerce.

Madison Courier May 10, 1875

We take the following the from Indiana Gazetteer published in 1833”

Madison is a flourishing post town, and seat of justice for Jefferson county. It is handsomely situated on the north bank of the Ohio River, and on that part of the river, which is nearest the center of the State.

The average number of houses annually erected in Madison, during the last three or four years exceed thirty-six, mostly of brick, many of which are three stories high and constructed in the best style. Three of the principal streets are paved, or are now being paved, and it is intended, in the course of the present season, to construct a wharf for the more convenient landing of steamboats.

It is estimated that within the months of March and April last, an amount not less than $120,000 in merchandise was imported to this town, which was chiefly sold to country merchants at wholesale, on terms as fair as could be had at Cincinnati or Louisville. One mercantile house imported from the low country 300 bags coffee, 1000 hnds sugar, 50 hnds molasses and other articles in large quantities. The Eastern and Western mails pass this town daily by steamboats, and there is also a mail conveyance in stages thrice a week from Frankfort, Ky., to Indianapolis.

A branch of the Muscatatuck is navigable from within eighteen miles of Madison to its junction with White river and thence to the Wabash and Ohio; and many flatboats annually descend that river laden with the produce of the country. An insurance company was incorporated in Madison in the winter of 1830-31 with a capital of $100,000 which has connected itself with the Farmers’ & Merchants Bank of Indiana and is doing a profitable business and in good credit.

This town contains about 2,500 inhabitants, forty mercantile stores, a steam mill in successful operation, a printing office from which is issued a weekly journal, a book-store and mechanics of almost every trade.—The public buildings are a market house, a jail, a large and commodious courthouse, and four houses of worship, one of which is for the Baptists, one for the Episcopal Methodists, one for the Reformed Methodists, and one for the Presbyterians.