History & Heritage
Illinois territorial origins, river commerce, abolitionist history and industry.
Explore Chapter →MADISON COUNTY · ILLINOIS
Madison CountyWhere River Heritage Meets Modern Opportunity
Explore Madison County, Illinois, from the historic Mississippi River cities of Alton and Granite City to the university neighborhoods of Edwardsville, growing communities such as Glen Carbon and Troy, and the agricultural landscapes farther east. Discover architecture, homes, schools, trails, employers and community history across the Metro East.
Madison County includes city neighborhoods, suburban subdivisions, industrial corridors and rural acreage. Verify school assignments, zoning jurisdiction, floodplain status, utilities and property conditions by exact address.
263,1102025 Population Estimate
1812Year Established
715.50Land Square Miles
EdwardsvilleCounty Seat
Metro EastGreater St. Louis Region
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Homes For Sale
Explore current real estate for sale across Madison County, including homes, condos, land, acreage, multifamily and commercial properties.
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Recently Sold Homes
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Madison County Home Tours
Listings show you photographs. Countywide home tours make it easier to compare scale, layout, architecture and housing eras across communities throughout Madison County.
Madison County Home Tours are on the way. As Archway Abodes adds walkthroughs from Madison County, new tours will automatically appear here.
Want to explore beyond Madison County? Our Community Home Tours collection brings together video walkthroughs from communities throughout Greater St. Louis, making it easy to compare homes, architecture, layouts and local character across the region.
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Madison County Home Tours
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New Madison County walkthroughs will appear here automatically.
Archway Abodes × Madison County Checking the current Madison County playlist…
Explore Madison County
From River Cities to University Communities
Discover Madison County through its architecture, coal and labor history, small-town housing, employment, schools, recreation, Route 66 landmarks and land-use decisions.
Homes & Architecture
Historic Alton homes, Leclaire architecture, suburban neighborhoods and acreage.
Explore Chapter →Economy & Employment
Industry, river freight, health care, universities, commerce and logistics.
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Roads & Getting Around
Interstates, bridges, state routes, Madison County Transit and connected trails.
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Schools & Education
School district boundaries, SIUE and Lewis and Clark Community College.
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Parks, Trails & Rivers
Horseshoe Lake, MCT trails, wetland habitats and Mississippi River scenery.
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Historic Towns & Local Life
Alton, Edwardsville, Highland, Collinsville and local community traditions.
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Growth, Development & Land
Historic reinvestment, rural property rules, farms and infrastructure.
Explore Chapter →County Overview
Four Distinct Regions, One Connected County
Madison County connects historic Mississippi River cities, established industrial neighborhoods, expanding suburban communities, and agricultural landscapes. Housing, jobs, transportation and architectural character vary considerably between these local markets.
Edwardsville, Glen Carbon & Central Suburbs
Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Troy and Maryville combine the county seat, SIUE, historic districts, shopping, professional services and newer residential development.
Examples: Edwardsville · Glen Carbon · Troy · Maryville
Alton, Godfrey & Northern River Country
Alton, Godfrey, Bethalto and East Alton offer riverfront architecture, traditional residential streets, historic institutions, commercial services and access to the Mississippi River bluffs.
Examples: Alton · Godfrey · Bethalto · East Alton
Granite City, Wood River & River Industry
Granite City, Wood River, Roxana, Hartford, Madison, Venice and Pontoon Beach reflect manufacturing, refining, logistics, rail and river transportation alongside long-established neighborhoods.
Examples: Granite City · Wood River · Roxana · Hartford · Pontoon Beach
Highland, Collinsville & Eastern Communities
Highland, Collinsville, Marine, St. Jacob, Hamel, Alhambra, Worden and surrounding places combine historic Main Streets, residential subdivisions, Route 66 connections and farmland.
Examples: Highland · Collinsville · Marine · St. Jacob · Hamel
County Signature Section
From Illinois Territory to the Modern Metro East
Established before Illinois statehood, Madison County has evolved from early settlements and Mississippi River commerce into a major metropolitan center shaped by industry, education, transportation and diverse residential communities.
Territorial Foundations & River Commerce
Madison County was established in 1812 and named for President James Madison. Edwardsville became its county seat. Alton developed as a Mississippi River port and historic commercial center.
Industrial Communities & Modern Growth
Steel, petroleum refining, glassmaking, rail, freight and manufacturing shaped the river corridor. Later highway infrastructure and the establishment of SIUE contributed to suburban development and a more diverse employment base.
2025 population estimate263,110
2020 Census population265,859
2020–2025 estimate change−1.1%
County established1812
County seatEdwardsville
Land area715.50 sq mi
Housing & Architecture
Historic River Homes, University Neighborhoods and Suburban Living
Madison County includes nineteenth-century brick and Victorian houses, early industrial-era neighborhoods, postwar subdivisions, townhomes, custom construction and countryside acreage. Housing character is best understood at the community level.
Historic Alton & River Architecture
Alton contains historic commercial and residential buildings, including examples of nineteenth-century brick, Italianate, Victorian and vernacular architecture.
Edwardsville & Leclaire
The Leclaire Historic District reflects a cooperative industrial village founded in 1890, with Queen Anne, Craftsman, bungalow and other traditional architectural forms.
Industrial-Era Communities
Granite City, Wood River, East Alton, Roxana and other established towns include traditional modest residential blocks, brick homes and early-twentieth-century housing.
Postwar Residential Growth
Bethalto, Collinsville, Godfrey, Granite City and other communities contain postwar ranches, split-levels, traditional houses and neighborhood subdivisions.
Contemporary Subdivisions & Attached Housing
Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Troy, Maryville, Highland and other developed centers have newer single-family homes, custom houses, townhomes and condominiums.
Rural Land & Acreage
Eastern and northern areas include agricultural tracts, custom acreage residences, farms and country properties requiring site-specific due diligence.
Economy & Employment
River Industry, Universities, Health Care and Regional Logistics
Madison County's economy includes manufacturing, refining, distribution, transportation, educational institutions, health care, retail and professional services. Its major employment systems vary from the industrial riverfront to suburban and university communities.
Industrial & Freight Corridors
Granite City, Wood River, Roxana and the nearby river corridor feature manufacturing history, petrochemical facilities, freight rail, America’s Central Port and logistics infrastructure. Current facility operations should be verified directly.
Institutions, Services & Local Commerce
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, hospitals, public schools, community colleges and local governments contribute to employment. Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Collinsville, Alton, Highland and Troy support varied commercial districts.
Roads & Getting Around
Interstates, Mississippi Crossings and Connected Trails
The county's transportation network includes interstate highways, bridges to Missouri, major state routes, freight rail, river infrastructure, and Madison County Transit. Individual commute patterns differ significantly by location.
Roads, Bridges & Freight
I-55/I-70, I-255 and I-270 connect major Madison County corridors. Illinois Routes 3, 111, 143 and 159 and U.S. 67 serve regional communities; Clark Bridge connects Alton with Missouri.
Transit, Bikeways & Regional Access
Madison County Transit provides local transportation options and maintains more than 138 miles of interconnected trails. Rail, inland port facilities and interstates also support regional freight movement.
Schools & Education
Public School Districts, SIUE and Community Colleges
Madison County has a diverse school district network, including separate elementary and high-school districts. Verify assignment by the property's exact address using the district's official boundary information.
Public School Districts
Regional Office of Education 41 lists Roxana CUSD 1, Triad CUSD 2, Venice CUSD 3, Highland CUSD 5, Edwardsville CUSD 7, Bethalto CUSD 8, Granite City CUSD 9, Collinsville CUSD 10, Alton CUSD 11, Madison CUSD 12, East Alton ESD 13, East Alton–Wood River HSD 14 and Wood River–Hartford ESD 15.
University, College & Workforce Learning
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a major regional university. Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey provides postsecondary and workforce opportunities, along with additional educational and training programs throughout the region.
Parks, Trails & Rivers
Oxbow Lakes, Connected Trails and River Landscapes
Horseshoe Lake State Park near Granite City protects a former Mississippi River oxbow and offers wildlife watching, fishing and nature recreation, subject to current park access.
Madison County Transit operates an extensive trail network, while the Watershed Nature Center, Lewis & Clark State Historic Site and county parks offer additional outdoor and cultural experiences.
Historic Towns & Local Life
Downtowns, River Culture and Neighborhood Traditions
The county's local identities range from Alton's historic Mississippi River streets and Edwardsville's courthouse district to Highland's heritage, Collinsville's established neighborhoods and the industrial river towns.
Historic Districts & Main Streets
Edwardsville features downtown history and the Leclaire district; Alton offers significant architecture, river history and nineteenth-century sites. Highland and other communities retain their own Main Streets and civic traditions.
Local Experiences & Regional Heritage
Madison County Transit trails, historic Route 66 associations, Mississippi River attractions, local parks, shopping districts, museums, festivals and community events offer diverse activities throughout the county.
Growth, Development & Land
Historic Reinvestment, New Housing and Responsible Land Use
Development and redevelopment vary across Madison County, from conservation and rehabilitation of historic buildings to suburban construction, industrial land uses and agricultural properties. Zoning, utilities, stormwater and floodplain rules are site-specific.
Municipal & County Planning
Incorporated communities administer their own planning requirements; Madison County regulates land use in unincorporated areas. Confirm zoning, setbacks, subdivision rules and permits with the applicable authority.
Floodplains, Environmental History & Due Diligence
River-adjacent and industrial-area properties warrant attention to flood maps, drainage, environmental records, utilities and land history. Rural acreage buyers should verify wells, septic, easements, access and applicable restrictions.
Official County & Regional Resources
Featured Community Guides
Discover Madison County Communities
Explore the county's river cities, historic downtowns, university communities and suburban neighborhoods through dedicated guides as they become available.
Featured Community Guides
Future local guides will cover Edwardsville, Alton, Glen Carbon, Godfrey, Collinsville, Granite City, Highland, Troy, Wood River, Bethalto, Maryville and other Madison County communities.
Community Atlas & Local Geography
Use the county-filtered Community Atlas below to discover municipalities and recognized local places. Where communities cross county borders, verify the property’s actual jurisdiction.
Explore Madison County Communities
Madison County Community Atlas
Explore communities throughout Madison County. Search by community, browse the geographic hierarchy, or use the map to understand how individual municipalities and unincorporated places relate to neighboring communities and the broader Greater St. Louis region.
Madison County Community Atlas
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Terrain/topographic basemap by MapTiler. Metropolitan and county-equivalent boundaries use U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb geography.
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Search a community directly or narrow the alphabetical directory by one of the metropolitan area's component jurisdictions. The map is a discovery tool, not a ranking.
Community Directory · A-Z
Atlas Scope County Madison County
Illinois communities within the Greater St. Louis metropolitan region
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Geographic Areas
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