Madison WI Moving Companies

Madison, Wisconsin

Chosen as the country’s “Most Livable City” in 2007, Madison is Wisconsin’s second-largest urban area, as well as its capital. Madison, Wisconsin has a rapidly-growing population of 203,704 and is located in the south-central part of Wisconsin. Anyone moving to Madison will be pleased to find that the city is highly-ranked among American cities for livability, safety, health and employment rates. Called both “Mad City” and the “City of the Four Lakes,” Madison provides a home for all sorts with numerous economic opportunities and cultural attractions.

Economy:
Unemployment rates in Madison have been consistently low over the past decades and have remained so even during the recent recession. State government and the University of Wisconsin provide much of the city’s employment and economic stability, but growth in sectors such as technology and biotechnology have had a positive affect as well. The city has a highly-educated workforce and more PhDs per capita than any other city in the United States. Major companies in Madison include Oscar Mayer, Alliance Energy, Spectrum Brands (formerly Rayovac), Nimblegen, Broadjam, Human Head Studios and Berbee Information Networks.

Tourism:
Madison provides museums, attractions and cultural and sporting events for its residents and visitors. Among the museums are the Chazen Museum of Art, the University of Wisconsin Geology Museum and the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. Other cultural highlights include the Madison Ballet, a repertory theater, an opera company and a symphony orchestra. Outdoor life is also important in this healthy city, with bicycle accessibility throughout its streets and trails. In the downtown area, there are two main shopping districts – on State and King Streets – extending from the central State Capitol Square. Both areas boast shops, art galleries and restaurants. The biggest draw for Madison’s sports fans is the University of Wisconsin’s football team, the Badgers. The team plays at the 80,321-seat Camp Randall Stadium, where capacity (and occasionally over-capacity) crowds gather. Madison’s Dane County Regional Airport serves the city’s air transportation needs with dozens of daily flights from many major hub cities. Local bus transportation is available through the Madison Metro Bus System.

History:
Prior to 19th-century white settlement of the Wisconsin territory, the Madison area was home to the Winnebago Nation. In 1829, the area that would become the city of Madison was purchased by James Duane Doty, a judge and land speculator. Doty did not immediately build but instead went to the territorial legislature to propose his site as the future capital city of Wisconsin. With only a map, persuasion and some bribery (including buffalo robes and land grants), Doty convinced the legislature to pick Madison, named after the former President, as the capital in 1836. Construction of the town and capitol building commenced in 1837, and about 600 residents lived in Madison by 1846. The city of Madison was incorporated in 1858, after thousands of residents had come with the University of Wisconsin (founded in 1849) and the railroad (arrived in 1854). Despite fires that destroyed the first two State Capitols, the center of Wisconsin government has remained the focal point of Madison life since the city’s founding. Today, people are moving here in droves and moving companies in Madison are happy to help you with whatever you need to relocate here.

Colleges/Universities:

• Globe University
• Lakeland College
• Cardinal Stritch University
• University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Madison Area Technical College
• Madison Media Institute
• Concordia University-Wisconsin
• Upper Iowa University

Interesting Facts:

• The satirical newspaper, the Onion, was founded by students at the University of Wisconsin in Madison in 1988. The paper today claims a weekly circulation of almost 700,000.
• As of 2009, the official city bird of Madison is the plastic pink flamingo.
• Madison’s famous residents have included naturalist and author John Muir, Oscar G. Mayer Sr. and Oscar G. Mayer Jr., architect Frank Lloyd Wright, novelist and playwright Thornton Wilder and actor Chris Farley.

Helpful Links:

• Madison Moving Guide
• Greater Madison Convention and Visitor Bureau
• Official City of Madison