Cityscape to Madison, GA - The #1 Small Town in America

Happiness is a small town life.

Did you know that according to a recent study if you want to be happier you should live in a country town with fewer than 30,000 people. Maybe that's why so many people have chosen Madison, GA as their favorite place to raise a family, grow old, and build a legacy.

52 miles east of Atlanta; 73 miles west of Augusta; 21 miles north of Eatonton in Georgia's Piedmont, Madison is the seat of Morgan County.

Madison has the 2nd largest designated historic district in Georgia . This time-warp town, with charm galore, is a national treasure of antebellum architecture.

Madison is a living example of a small southern town, full of charm, and southern hospitality.

The town of Madison is jammed with national treasures, beautiful rural sceneries, antebellum mansions, Victorian homes, museums, antique shops, and splendid manicured gardens.

Antebellum travelers called it "the wealthiest and most aristocratic village between Charleston and New Orleans."

Most of its nearly 100 Antebellum homes have been carefully restored, which led to Holiday Travel magazine's naming Madison "The Prettiest Small Town in America."

Throughout the year, Madison offers an array of historical, scenic, and tasteful pleasures, perfect for a romantic date or a delightful afternoon visit.

Madison is also home to the first graded school of Georgia. Located at what is now known as the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center, this 1895 Romanesque Revival style school building is one of Madison’s most popular attractions.

The term "graded school", molded into the terra cotta panel over the door of the red-brick school house, refers to the progressive educational facility that offered the citizens of Madison a separate classroom for each grade.

The students were not mingled into one or two rooms as they were in many of the outlying schools. The building was also one of the first brick schools in the area.

Later a separate building was built for high school students, grades eight through eleven and, even later, a lunch room building and gymnasium were added to the property.

The Madison-Morgan Cultural Center is closed on Mondays. Admissions is $3.00 adults, $2.50 seniors, and for $2.00 students.

Madison is also home to the Morgan County African-American Museum and several house museums, including the Rogers House (1810), Heritage Hall (1811), and the Rose Cottage (1891).

The city is an important stop on several tourist trails, including Georgia's Antebellum Trail, the March to the Sea Civil War Heritage Trail, and Georgia's Antiques Trail.

Another popular attraction is The Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum. Housing the largest collection of microcars in the world, the Microcar Museum features over 300 bubble cars, which are tiny two-door vehicles with engines no greater than 300ccs. The microcar was born in Europe during the depression after World War II.