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July 19, 2008 | Madison County Courthouse

Texas County Courthouse Project #16 Madison County (Madisonville, Texas)

European explorers came through future Madison County as early as 1542 and there are even some who believe Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle was killed here, near Madisonville, and not in Grimes County in 1687. Old Indian trails that traced through the area eventually became well traveled road ways, the Old San Antonio Road (to the East and West) and La Bahía Road (to the South). A Spanish settlement existed on the Trinity Rive here in 1774 before being abandoned due to fear of Comanche attacks and flooding.

Madison County was established in 1853 and named for U.S. President James Madison who was the president during the War of 1812 where several future Texas heroes cut their teeth.

Madison County has a very similar courthouse history to Walker County to the south. Both have had five courthouses and both have current courthouses built in 1970 after older ones were destroyed in a fire. In Madison County’s case, their beautiful 1886 building burned in 1967 and was replaced with what is easily one of the ugliest courthouses in Texas.

Madison County Courthouse