Page "Madison, West Virginia" Paragraph 1

Madison was first established as Boone Court House.

The town was renamed about 1865, presumably for James Madison, the fourth president of the United States.

Other theories hold that it was named for lawyer James Madison Laidley or for Madison Peyton, a pioneer coal operator, who was a leader in the movement which resulted in the formation of Boone County and for whom Peytona on Big Coal River was named.

Madison was incorporated in 1906.