Near Madison in Lake County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Old Madison – First County Seat

¾ Mile East

Photographed by Ruth VanSteenwyk, March 29, 2016

1. Old Madison – First County Seat Marker

Inscription. Lake County was started October, 1873 when Herman N. Luce and John T. Hare, the first qualified County Commissioners, met at the cabin of William Lee near the site of old Madison, to organize. William Van Eps platted the old town of Madison June 1874 and in the fall of 1874 the County Seat was located there by election. Old Madison was County Seat until the railroad came to the present site of Madison in 1880. The safe and county records were secretly moved at night, changing the County Seat to New Madison without an election. William Lee was the first postmaster, appointed in March 1874.

Erected 1955 by Lake County Historical Society and State Highway Commission. (Marker Number 112.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Political Subdivisions. In addition, it is included in the South Dakota State Historical Society Markers series list. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1874.

Location. 43° 57.851′ N, 97° 4.178′ W. Marker is near Madison, South Dakota, in Lake County. It is at the intersection of State Highway 19 and 236th Street, on the right when traveling south on State

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Highway 19. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Madison SD 57042, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in East River

and in Greater Sioux Falls.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

in the Corn Belt,

on the prairies,

and on the Northern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Site of Old Madison (approx. 0.7 miles away); Lake Madison Chautauqua Grounds (approx. 1.1 miles away); South Dakota Baptist State Convention (approx. 1.1 miles away); Madison Depot (approx. 3½ miles away); Lake County Courthouse Veterans Memorial (approx. 3½ miles away); Memorial Creek Walls (approx. 3.9 miles away); C. B. Kennedy (approx. 3.9 miles away); Madison Memorial Park (approx. 3.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Madison.

Related marker. Click here for another

Photographed by Ruth VanSteenwyk, March 29, 2016

2. Old Madison – First County Seat Marker

marker that is related to this marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 6, 2022. It was originally submitted on April 3, 2016, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. This page has been viewed 734 times since then and 69 times this year. Last updated on July 17, 2021. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 3, 2016, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.