Madison County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 census, the population was 35,585, and was estimated to be 35,579 in 2024, making it the eighth-most populous county in Nebraska. The county seat is Madison and the largest city is Norfolk.
Madison County is part of the Norfolk, NE micropolitan area.
In the Nebraska license plate system, Madison County was represented by the prefix "7" (as it had the seventh-largest number of vehicles registered in the state when the license plate system was established in 1922).
Madison County was created on January 26, 1856 and organized on January 21, 1868.
Madison County was likely named for Madison, Wisconsin, which is where many of the county's residents came from; the city was named for James Madison, fourth President of the United States.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.49%) is water. It is the 53rd-largest county in Nebraska by total area.
The terrain in Madison County consists of gently rolling terrain, sloped to the east-southeast, largely devoted to agriculture. The Elkhorn River runs eastward across the upper central portion of the county.
As of the third quarter of 2025, the median home value in Madison County was $218,668.
As of the 2024 American Community Survey, there are 14,462 estimated households in Madison County with an average of 2.39 persons per household. The county has a median household income of $63,128. Approximately 13.1% of the county's population lives at or below the poverty line. Madison County has an estimated 65.3% employment rate, with 23.7% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 91.1% holding a high school diploma. There were 15,510 housing units at an average density of .
The top five reported languages (people were allowed to report up to two languages, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (87.1%), Spanish (10.9%), Indo-European (0.9%), Asian and Pacific Islander (1.0%), and Other (0.1%).
The median age in the county was 37.4 years.
As of the 2024 estimate, there were 35,579 people, 14,462 households, and _ families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 15,510 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 91.5% White (76.9% NH White), 1.9% African American, 2.5% Native American, 1.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, _% from some other races and 2.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 17.2% of the population.
As of the 2020 census, there were 35,585 people, 14,024 households, and 8,915 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 15,094 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 81.21% White, 1.16% African American, 1.50% Native American, 1.26% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 7.21% from some other races and 7.64% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 15.50% of the population.
The median age was 37.4 years. 24.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.0 males age 18 and over.
72.6% of residents lived in urban areas, while 27.4% lived in rural areas.
There were 14,024 households in the county, of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 25.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 15,094 housing units, of which 7.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 66.0% were owner-occupied and 34.0% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.9%.
As of the 2010 census, there were 34,876 people, 13,939 households, and 9,168 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 13,939 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 88.18% White, 1.27% African American, 1.15% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 7.13% from some other races and 1.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 12.91% of the population.
As of the 2000 census, there were 35,226 people, 13,436 households, and 8,894 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 14,432 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 91.35% White, 0.94% African American, 1.19% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 5.06% from some other races and 1.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 8.64% of the population.
There were 13,436 households, out of which 33.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.70% were married couples living together, 8.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.80% were non-families. 27.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.12.
The county population contained 26.80% under the age of 18, 11.60% from 18 to 24, 27.10% from 25 to 44, 20.10% from 45 to 64, and 14.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,807, and the median income for a family was $45,073. Males had a median income of $30,631 versus $21,343 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,804. About 7.50% of families and 11.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.00% of those under age 18 and 11.50% of those age 65 or over.
Madison County voters have been strongly Republican for many decades, voting for the Republican candidate in every presidential election except for three from 1880 onward. In addition, no Democratic presidential candidate has won the county since 1936.
The 2013 film Nebraska is set mostly in Madison County, in the fictional town of Hawthorne. Some of the filming was done in Madison and Norfolk.
School districts include: