The progressive cosmopolitan city of over 200,000, Madison is home to the University of Wisconsin, the seat of State of Wisconsin Government, and an eclectic, electric atmosphere that energizes North America's only isthmus city. Madison offers small town charm with it's unique neighborhoods while offering a range of cultural and recreational opportunities of larger cities. With four lakes and over 200 parks it is one of the nations most scenic and diverse cities.

Population
Madison: 220,683
Dane County: 426,526

Average Temperatures
Spring: 49º F
Summer: 72º F
Autumn: 51º F
Winter: 27º F
Average Annual Precipitation: 30 inches
Snow Cover: 40% of the time from mid-December to March

Geography
Average Elevation: 845.6 feet above sea level
Topography: Rolling
Area of Madison: 62.2 square miles
Area of Dane County: 1,200 square miles
Number of lakes in Dane County: 35 (25 with public access)
Major lake names: Mendota, Monona, Waubesa, Kegonsa, Wingra
Farmland: 568,000 acres (72% of total county)

Recreation
Public land for recreational use -
Dane County: 16,000 acres including over 170 camping sites
Madison: 5,800 acres with
- over 200 parks
- 46 miles of hiking trails and over 160 miles of biking trails
- 40 skating facilities
- 92 miles of shoreline with 13 beaches, 32 swimming areas and 40 boat launch sites
- One 36-hole, nine 18-hole and five 9-hole public golf courses

Education
The Madison School District operates 29 Elementary Schools, 11 Middle Schools and 5 High Schools
Academic performance K-12 well above the national average
High School graduation rate ranks 8th in the nation
Since 1995 Wisconsin has received the top ACT scores for college admission testing
UW-Madison ranks among the top universities in the country and is the top publicly funded research institution
University of Wisconsin has 27 campuses statewide
About 38,000 students enroll at the UW in the fall & spring semesters, while over 12,000 attend summer sessions

Housing
Madison housing: over 95,000 units
Dane County median housing value: $164,815
Average appreciation value in Madison from 1995-2000: 5.2%

Cultural
Construction is scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2004 on the Overture Center Arts District, thanks to a $100 million gift
Memorial Library: with 3.25 million volumes, the state's largest, the library is a vital source for research at the university
State Historical Library: the largest library in the nation devoted to North American history
Elvehjem Museum of Art: one of the leading university art museums because of exhibitions, educational programs & art activities
Madison's Children Museum: offers interactive exhibits for children that are both fun and educational
There's a wide variety of theatres, drama & dance troupes, art galleries, musical acts that range from free to expensive

Health
Lowest cost of hospitals stays
Prenatal care 4th best in nation
Infant mortality rate 4th lowest in nation
Public health care ranks 5th highest in support
Ranks 9th in nation for being the lowest in infectious diseases
Ranks 11th lowest in nation for motor vehicle deaths
Madison has the lowest murder and assault rate compared to cities of the same size

Affordability
Single-family homes 37% more affordable than the national average
Homeowners insurance rates 4th lowest in country
Dane County consistently has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation
Electric rates up to 20% below the national average
Auto insurance tenth lowest nationally
Average commute to work is 18 minutes

Mad-Town Fun Facts
Madison is the only North American city built on an isthmus - a strip of land located between two bodies of water (Lakes Mendota & Monona)
Madison has the most restaraunts per capitia of any city in the United States
Madison ranks second in the nation in per capita book purchases
The UW Badger football team is the only Big Ten Team to win back to back Rose Bowls
Madison has more households with internet access than Silicon Valley

Contact Madison
City of Madison www.ci.madison.wi.us
Visitors Bureau (800) 373-6376 www.visitmadison.com
Madison School District (608) 663-1879 www.mmsd.org
Chamber of Commerce (608) 256-8348 www.greatermadisonchamber.com
Government www.co.dane.wi.us
Department of Natural Resources (608) 266-2621 www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/er/invasive/intro.htm
Madison Festivals www.madfest.org
Madison Arts Center (608) 257-0158 www.madisonartscenter.org

For further information on Madison CLICK HERE to receive a relocation packet.

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