One of  downtown Madison’s finest features is it’s accessibility on foot and bicycle. This great accessibility furthers the sense of connectedness and community that Madison imbues to those of us who reside here and to those folks fortunate enough to be able to visit our fair city. Unfortunately Madison is divided into two parts,downtown and the hilltop,and,until the construction of the Heritage Trail,there was no easy access between the two parts of our city for pedestrians and bicyclists.

The Heritage Trail of Madison is the much desired link between the two distinct areas that’s been missing from the equation. While not connected to the commercial areas of the hilltop,the trail does give Madisonians a safe,and attractive,path to use both for exercise and for non-motorized travel to or from the hilltop and downtown. The trail begins downtown along the far west end of Vaughn Drive along the Ohio River,following the tracks of the railroad that was so vitally important to commerce here. Eventually terminating on the hiltop on the grounds of the old State Hospital.

The following is a photo review of the trail (only a fraction of it so far,there’s more to come later) offered in an effort to show those of you haven’t trekked along it yet what it is that you’re missing.

Enjoy!

The sign marking the beginning of the trail.

Old foundations.

The trail passes along the waterfront where the city’s once bustling shipping industry was located. These foundations are almost all that’s left of that time.

Exploring off path could be dangerous due to the treacherous footing here,so use caution if you decide to play archaeologist.

Another view of the remnants of the old waterfront along the trail.

Riding the rail.

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Independence Day a.k.a. the 4th of July to we ’kids’ both young and old alike! Considering the history of the day we’re celebrating and the events surrounding America’s independence it would be wrong not to at least take a moment to ponder the ACTUAL bombs bursting in air that Francis Scott Key,lyricist of “The Star Spangled Banner”,bore witness to during the War of 1812. On the whole most of us just want to see some colorful lights blazing across the night sky and hear the thunderous reports as these modern non-martial shells burst in air!

To that point I now offer my opinions of WHERE to watch the colorful display from:

1. Downtown Madison. Pros: As lovely as Madison is there aren’t a great many points in downtown from which to clearly view the fireworks. The  BEST view from downtown is from the river. The river itself is where the barges that are the staging area for the fireworks are located and it is THE place to be if you want to FEEL the report of the shells as they burst.

Cons: You have to get there EARLY (gates open to the public for free admission at 6 p.m.) and the show doesn’t start until 10 p.m.in order to get a seat and even then there are NO guarantees that you’ll find an open spot to sit. The proximityto those explosions is not for the faint of heart! Small children will likely be terribly frightened by the severity of that sound and the crowd down there has never been a  place that I wanted to take my kids. Just too small a space with too many people packed into it.

2. A Rooftop. Pros: Elevation is what it’s all about!  Atop one of the many buildings downtown you’re sitting above most of the trees and,by virtue of the fact that you’ll be sitting on a rooftop,the surrounding skyline will be below your view of the show.

Cons: First of all,do you,or anyone you know have rooftop access? If not then the rest of this paragraph will be useless to you. If you do have access then you should then consider these factors: rooftops are potentially dangerous,if you have children you may want to rethink this type of venue since you may be too busy watching the kids to enjoy the fireworks show,or vise versa. The means by which you access the roof should be considered too. Crawl through a window,climb a ladder or open a door;which is the method you’ll get up there by? What seems simple ,safe,and easy in the light of day may be anything but when it gets dark;not to mention if you’ve imbibed at all while there.

3. Madison’s Hilltop. Pros: The old Madison State Hospital grounds are a fantastic place to go for a view of the fireworks! The crowd is SMALL(compared with the river) and the view is great. The hospital grounds are well elvated and quite close the edge of the hill itself so they overlook downtown quite nicely. Another potential location on the hilltop is Clifty Falls State Park. The view from the Inn is incredible and sweeping. I have also been told that the view from atop the fire observation tower in the park is a fine spot for fireworks watching. The tower is a bit off the beaten path but not hard to get to.

Cons: The State Hospital Grounds are dark,and tree filled. Dark is a plus for the fireworks but a minus for finding your way back to your car,so bring a light! The trees,while plentiful aren’t as much a detriment as I may be making them sound. With a little stategic placement of your blanket/chairs they shouldn’t much be in the way,however that may also depend on the wind and the direction the fireworks are blown. Mosquitos can be bad at this venue as well so please consider that factor before going and take the needed precautions!  Clifty Inn: There may be limited space ,so I suggest getting there a bit early to claim a spot,also you will have to pay for entry into the park which is $5.00 per vehicle for Indiana residents and $7.oo for out of state. The Observation Tower is not a spot to take the family,it is literally an observation tower and one must climb quite a few stairs to reach the open deck at the top. There is no lighting at the spot and there isn’t much room on the tower’s deck,so it would be a tight squeeze for any more than a few individuals.

No matter where you go to watch the fireworks in Madison this year,please be patient with the traffic and other watchers and,most importantly,HAVE FUN!

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Like all things Madison, there’s a bit of a learning curve if you’re not a local resident. This post is about helping newcomers made the most of our Madison’s Independence Day Parade. Read these pointers and then comment with to add your own advice.

Arrive Before  5 PM ~ The crowds are not massive, but getting your chair on the curb takes a head start. Come a little early and make some new friends.

Parking Is Tight ~ My preference is to park at King’s Daughters Hospital or at the very North end of Broadway Street. There’s plenty of parking there if you come early and it’s only a few blocks to Main Street.

Bring Your Own Chair ~ This is a long parade and about half the county enters there own float. Plan on staying at least 90+ minutes. Don’t bring a cooler, you’ll be better off buying dinner downtown.

Hang Around When It’s Done ~ There’s no rush and plenty to do downtown. The Regatta festival includes more downtown events after the parade. The traffic will be clear in less than an hour.

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1. Madison Regatta Parade (Celebrate Freedom Too)
2. 2011 Madison Regatta Parade Video & Photos
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Springtime is the ideal season to see Madison’s waterfalls in action. These pictures are from the  Tunnel Falls trail #5 at Clifty Falls State Park. Enjoy and see the full set on our Facebook page. While you’re there, be sure to upload your photos of Madison Indiana.

Here is a snapshot of the park map with my route marked. Even at a slow pace with plenty of pictures this only took about an hour. These photos are roughly in the order that I took them.

This is a photo of the largest waterfall on this route. The drop is several stories and the sound filled the valley. It’s more impressive with more rain, but then the trails are too muddy for much hiking.

This trail overlooks a deep valley. The route seems safe, but I would hesitate to bring immature children on this section.

This was an interesting formation. I would call it a rock seat, but have not idea how it came to be. I was not daring enough to get much closer. The rock walls were towering overhead.

Here is a glimpse inside the tunnel. Foot traffic is not allowed past this point for preservation reasons. As you approach you can feel the cool air at the mouth of the tunnel.

While this is one of the shorter trials, you’ll need sure feet to navigate the many stone & wooden steps. Be sure to rest often and wear the right shoes.

I imagine a professional photographer could spend days just capturing the different scenes on this one short trail in Clifty Falls State Park. On my next trip I’ll bring along my video camera to offer more perspective on the trail.

Be sure to check out the other 40+ photos in this set on our Facebook page.

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Open for lunch, dinner, and late evenings 7 days a week.

In early 2010, Roger’s Corner was remodeled and became a new eatery called “Shooter’s Sports Bar.” Many residents were disappointed to see the classic soda fountain close, but the success of the new resurgent is undeniable.

It’s become my favorite place downtown for classic burgers. An average meal will cost $10 without drinks. The menu is simple, but has enough variety for everyone. You’ll find salads, soups, specialty sandwiches, and dozens of appetizers.

Shooter's is located at 101 E Main St. on the corner of West St.

The atmosphere is what you might expect from a Sports Bar. The lighting is dim, except for the large open windows at the storefront. The walls are covered with at least a dozen flat panel televisions. The servers are friendly and quick with your order.

Shooter's has about 15 tables and additional seating at the bar.

Dozens of mounted TVs stream a variety of sports.

The double bar seats about 16 people and has a large selection.

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After looking over the new Cenus data and making population charts for the website, I wanted to dig a little deeper. How much of Jefferson County’s population is contained within the city of Madison? Has this changed over time? What does this trend tell us about our future as a community. The following chart will answer some of these questions.

As you can see, the percent has held steady for most of Madison’s history. The average is 36.7% and very close to the most recent figure.

The most dominate Madison was in the period from 1960-1990 when the percent was over 40% and crested at 48.4% in 1970. Part of this growth spur was the annexation and development of the North Madison.

The current trend suggests the outlying county areas will continue to grow relative to the consolidated city of Madison.

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The 2010 Census data gives us a fresh look at the population trends in our community. We’ve compiled the following chart to show the historical population trends in Jefferson County based on US Census Data 1820-2010.

Jefferson County Population Change

Every number tells a story about the history of Madison and Jefferson County. It’s encouraging to see the total county population showing growth in recent years, even while the city remains flat. To learn more about Jefferson County’s history, click here to visit our local historical society.

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With the new 2010 Census numbers being released, it’s a good time to look back at the historical figures for Madison’s population. The following chart was created with numbers from the US Census Bureau and compiled by Wikipedia. Scroll down to see the detailed breakdown of these figures.

Historical Census Data for Madison, Indiana

There is a great deal of history behind these numbers. Madison has seen boom and bust over the years. The most dramatic period of decline marked the rise of the railroads. Recent history shows a slight downgrade in population, but the stability is welcome when compared to other times in Madison’s history.

There are a few key dates to keep in mind, particularly with big jumps & declines.

• In 1952, the North Madison “hilltop” was annexed to city of Madison. This is reflected in the 1960 Census jump.
• In 1984, the Marble Hill Nuclear Plant project was abandoned after six years of construction. Many residents see this as a major blow to the local economy.

For more history of Madison, click here to visit the Jefferson County Historical Society.

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This 2001 feature motion picture tells the story of the 1971 Unlimited hydroplane gold cup championship. It was filmed in Madison Indiana. It follows the famous Jim McCormick victory in the Miss Madison. You can learn much about our city and the sport of hydroplane boat racing from this film. This win has become a local legend, as the community owned Miss Madison triumphed in front of the hometown crowd.

Madison the Movie completed post production in 2001, but wasn’t released until April 2005. It ended up being the last film ever released by MGM as an independent company.

I remember watching this film for the first time. I was never more proud of our city. Yes there were some details that Hollywood got wrong, but the story is just as powerful. There is nothing like seeing all the familiar places in your life on the big screen.

Click here to purchase the DVD or download the movie online.

Video of the Movie Trailer from “Madison”

More About “Madison” the Movie

• Madison on IMDB
• Madison Movie on Wikipedia
• What Really Happened – local newspaper compares the movie to reality
• The Official Miss Madison Website

Trivia About the Movie

• McCormick resided in Owensboro, Kentucky; not in Madison, Indiana as the film stated.
• After winning the 1971 Gold Cup, Jim McCormick and the Miss Madison made it 2 wins in a row, when he won the Atomic Cup in Tri City, Washington, three weeks later on July 26, 1971.
• The film states that the APBA Gold Cup race at Madison, Indiana took place on Labor Day, in fact it took place on July 4 that year.

Watch our events page for more information about the upcoming Madison Regatta

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If you’re looking to stay in downtown Madison, only one hotel can offer an amazing overlook of the Ohio river, downtown, and the Milton-Madison bridge. The Hillside Inn is a historic property with style to spare. Here is a short video we shot in December 2009 of the property and its scenic views.

To learn more, check out the website for Hillside Inn. Here is the contact information:

HILLSIDE INN
Madison’s Boutique Hotel Overlooking the Ohio River
831 E. Main Street
Madison, Indiana 47250
812.265.3221
Reservations Call Toll Free 1.877.265.3232

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