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View of Madison. From the Water Cure, South Side of Lake Monona, 1855.
View of downtown and Capitol from Washington Street, 1865.
Project
Madison was created in 1836, when former federal judge James Duane Doty purchased over a thousand acres (4 km²) of swamp and forest land on the isthmus between Lakes Mendota and Monona within the Four Lakes region, with the intention of building a city on the site. The Wisconsin Territory had been created earlier that year and the territorial legislature had convened in Belmont, Wisconsin. One of the legislature's tasks was to choose a permanent location for the territory's capital. Doty lobbied aggressively for the legislature to select Madison as the new capital, offering buffalo robes to the freezing legislators and promising choice Madison lots at discount prices to undecided voters. He had James Slaughterplat two cities in the area, Madison and "The City of Four Lakes," near present-day Middleton. Doty named the city Madison for James Madison, the 4th President of the U.S. who had died on June 28, 1836 and he named the streets for the other 38 signers of the U.S. Constitution.[2] Even though Madison was still only a city on paper, the territorial legislature voted on November 28 in favor of Madison as its capital, largely because of its location halfway between the new and growing cities around Milwaukee in the east and the long established strategic post of Prairie du Chien in the west, and because of its location between the highly populated lead mining regions in the southwest and Wisconsin's oldest city, Green Bay in the northeast. Being named for the much-admired founding fatherJames Madison, who had just died, and having streets named for each of the 39 signers of the Constitution, may have also helped attract votes.[3]
Creation and expansion
The cornerstone for the Wisconsin capitol was laid in 1837, and the legislature first met there in 1838. Madison was incorporated as a village in 1846, with a population of 626. When Wisconsin became a state in 1848, Madison remained the capital, and the following year it became host to the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The Milwaukee & Mississippi Railroad (a predecessor of what would become known as the Milwaukee Road) connected to Madison in 1854. Madison became a city in 1856, with a population of 6,863, leaving the unincorporated remainder as a separate Town of Madison.[4] The original capitol was replaced in 1863. The second capitol burned in 1904, and the current capitol was built between 1906 and 1917.[5]
During the American Civil War, Madison served as a center of the Union Army in Wisconsin. The intersection of Milwaukee, East Washington, Winnebago and North Streets is known as Union Corners, as a tavern located there was the last stop for Union soldiers before heading to fight the Confederates. Camp Randall, on the west side of Madison, was built and used as a training camp, a military hospital, and a prison camp for captured Confederate soldiers. After the war ended, the Camp Randall site was absorbed into the University of Wisconsin—Camp Randall Stadium was built over the site in 1917. In 2004 the last vestige of active military training on the site was removed when the stadium renovation replaced a firing range used for ROTC training.
The City of Madison continued annexations from the town almost from the date of the city's incorporation, leaving the latter (by the end of the 20th century) a collection of discontinuous areas subject to annexation. In the wake of continued controversy and an effort in the state legislature to simply abolish the town, an agreement was reached in 2003 to provide for the incorporation of the remaining portions of the Town into the City of Madison and the City of Fitchburg by October 30, 2022.[6]
According to the United States Census Bureau, Madison's area is 84.7 square miles (219.4 km2), of which, 68.7 square miles (177.9 km2) of it is land and 16.0 square miles (41.4 km2) of it (18.9%) is water.
The city is sometimes described as The City of Four Lakes, comprising the four successive lakes of the Yahara River: Lake Mendota ("Fourth Lake"), Lake Monona ("Third Lake"), Lake Waubesa ("Second Lake") and Lake Kegonsa ("First Lake"),[7] although Waubesa and Kegonsa are not actually in Madison, but rather just south of it. A fifth smaller lake, Lake Wingra, is within the city as well; it is connected to the Yahara River chain by Wingra Creek. The Yahara flows into the Rock River, which in turn, flows into the Mississippi River. Downtown Madison is located on an isthmus between Lakes Mendota and Monona. The city's trademark of "Lake, City, Lake" reflects this geography.
Local identity varies in different parts of Madison, although there are over 120 officially recognized neighborhood associations.[8] Neighborhoods on and near the eastern part of the isthmus, some of the city's oldest, have the strongest sense of identity and are the most politically liberal. Historically, the north, east, and south sides were blue collar while the west side was white collar, and to a certain extent this remains true. Students dominate on the University of Wisconsin campus and to the east into downtown, while to its south and in Shorewood Hills on its west, faculty have been a major presence since those neighborhoods were originally developed. The turning point in Madison's development was the university's 1954 decision to develop its experimental farm on the western edge of town; since then, the city has grown substantially along suburban lines.
Madison, along with the rest of the state, has a humid continental climate (Köppen: Dfb/Dfa), characterized by variable weather patterns and a large seasonal temperature variance: winter temperatures can be well below freezing, with moderate to occasionally heavy snowfall; high temperatures in summer average in the lower 80s °F (27–28 °C), reaching 90 °F(32.2 °C) on an average 12 days per year,[9] often accompanied by high humidity levels. The warmer months usually see the greater precipitation.
As of the census[1] of 2010, there were 233,209 people, 89,019 households and 42,462 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,029.7 people per square mile (1,169.8/km²). There were 108,843 housing units at an average density of 1,345.4 per square mile (519.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 83.96% White, 7.07% African American, 0.36% Native American, 7.34% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.67% from other races and 2.55% from two or more races. 6.83% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 89,019 households out of which 22.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.0% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 52.3% were non-families. 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the city the population was spread out with 17.9% under the age of 18, 21.4% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $41,941, and the median income for a family was $59,840. Males had a median income of $36,718 versus $30,551 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,498. About 5.8% of families and 15.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.4% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.
Madison is governed by a mayor-council system. The city council, known as the Common Council, consists of 20 members, one from each district. The mayor is elected in a citywide vote.
Madison is associated with "Fighting Bob" La Follette and the Progressive movement. La Follette's Magazine, The Progressive, founded in 1909, is still published in Madison. City voting patterns have supported the Democratic Party in national elections in the last half-century, and a liberal and progressive majority is generally elected to the city council. Detractors refer to Madison as The People's Republic of Madison, the "Left Coast of Wisconsin" or as "78 square miles surrounded by reality." This latter phrase was coined by former Wisconsin Republican governor Lee S. Dreyfus, while campaigning in 1978, as recounted by campaign aide Bill Kraus.
In the 1960s and 1970s, the Madison counterculture was centered in the neighborhood of Mifflin and Bassett streets, referred to as Miffland. The area contained many three-story apartments where students and counterculture youth lived, painted murals, and operated the co-operative grocery store, the Mifflin Street Co-op. The neighborhood often came into conflict with authorities, particularly during the administration of Republican mayor Bill Dyke, a one-time personality on WISC-TV who was later to run for U.S. vice president with segregationist Lester Maddox. Dyke was viewed by students as a direct antagonist in efforts to protest the Vietnam War, because of his efforts to suppress local protests that had resulted in property damage. The annual Mifflin Street Block Party became a focal point for protest, although by the late 1970s it had become a mainstream community party.
Madison is home to the Freedom from Religion Foundation, which attempts to influence government in matters relating to the separation of church and state. The foundation is known for its lawsuits against religious displays on public property, among other things. In recent years, they have made removal of In God We Trust from American currency a main focus.
During the late 1960s and early 1970s, thousands of students and other citizens took part in anti-Vietnam War marches and demonstrations, with more violent incidents drawing national attention to the city and UW campus. These include:
the 1969 strike to secure greater representation and rights for African American students and faculty, which necessitated the involvement of the Wisconsin Army National Guard;
the 1970 fire that caused damage to the Army ROTC headquarters housed in the Old Red Gym, also known as the Armory; and
the 1970 late summer predawn ANFO bombing of Sterling Hall which housed the Army Mathematics Research Center, killing a postdoctoral student, Robert Fassnacht. Four bombers in the "New Year's Gang" were linked to the bombing, one of whom remains at large. (see Sterling Hall bombing)
These protests were the subject of the documentary The War at Home.[16] Tom Bates wrote the book Rads on the subject (ISBN 0-06-092428-4). Bates wrote that Dyke's attempt to suppress the annual Mifflin Street block party "would take three days, require hundreds of officers on overtime pay, and engulf the student community from the nearby Southeast Dorms to Langdon Street's fraternity row. Tear gas hung like heavy fog across the Isthmus." In the fracas, student activist Paul Soglin, then a city alderman, was arrested twice and taken to jail. Soglin was later elected mayor of Madison, serving from 1973 to 1979, 1989 to 1997, and is the current mayor, elected again in April, 2011. During his middle term he led the construction of the Frank Lloyd Wright designed Monona Terrace. David Maraniss wrote a book, They Marched into Sunlight, which incorporated the 1967 Dow protests into a larger Vietnam War narrative.
Madison city politics remain dominated by activists of liberal and progressive ideologies. In 1992, a local third party Progressive Dane was founded. Recently enacted city policies supported in the Progressive Dane platform have included an inclusionary zoning ordinance, later abandoned by the mayor and a majority of the city council, and a city minimum wage. The party holds multiple seats on the Madison City Council and Dane County Board of Supervisors, and is aligned variously with the Democratic and Green parties.
The city's voters are generally much more politically liberal than voters in the rest of Wisconsin. For example, 76% of Madison voters voted against a 2006 state constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage,[17] even though the ban passed statewide with 59% of the vote.[18]
In early 2011, Madison was the site for massive protests against a bill proposed by Governor Scott Walker that would remove most (or in some cases all) collective bargaining rights for most public worker unions. Protests in and around the capitol building involved between 10,000 and 85,000 people and lasted for several weeks.
Wisconsin state government and the University of Wisconsin–Madison remain the top two Madison employers. However, Madison's economy today is evolving from a government-based economy to a consumer services and high-tech base, particularly in the health, biotech and advertising sectors. Beginning in the early 1990s, the city experienced a steady economic boom and has been less affected by recession. Much of the expansion has occurred on the city's south and west sides, but it has also affected the east side near the Interstate 39-90-94 interchange and along the northern shore of Lake Mendota. Underpinning the boom is the development of high-tech companies, many fostered by the UW–Madison working with local businesses and entrepreneurs to transfer the results of academic research into real-world applications, most notably bio-tech applications.
Many businesses are attracted to Madison's skill base, taking advantage of the area's high level of education. According to city-data.com, 48.2% of Madison's population over the age of 25 holds at least a bachelor's degree. Forbes magazine reported in 2004 that Madison has the highest percentage of individuals holding Ph.D.s in the United States. In 2005, Forbes listed the city as having the lowest unemployment in the nation: 2.5%, less than half the U.S. 2004 average.[20] In 2006, the same magazine listed Madison as number 31 in the top 200 metro areas for "Best Places for Business and Careers."[21] However, Forbes has named Madison in the top ten several times within the past decade. In 2009, in the midst of the late-2000s recession, Madison had an unemployment rate of 3.5% and was ranked number one in a list of "ten cities for job growth".[22]
The University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics is an important regional teaching hospital and regional trauma center, with strengths in transplant medicine, oncology, digestive disorders, and endocrinology.[24] Other Madison hospitals include St. Mary's Hospital,[25] Meriter Hospital and the VA Medical Center.
In the mid 2000s Madison partnered with Merrimac Communications to develop and build a wireless internet infrastructure.[29] In early 2010 a grass-root effort began to bring Google's new high-speed fiber Internet to Madison. In a public forum in March 2010, Mayor Dave Cieslewicz (chez-LEV-itch) criticized Topeka, Kansas, which had changed its name to Google, Kansas, saying that its move was a cheap stunt.[30]
According to Forbes magazine, Madison ranks second in the nation in education.[31][32] It is home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Edgewood College, Madison Area Technical College and Madison Media Institute, giving the city a student population of nearly 50,000. The University of Wisconsin contributes the vast majority of these, with roughly 41,000 students enrolled, of whom 30,750 are undergraduates.[33] This makes it one of the largest public universities in the United States. It is consistently rated among the top public post-secondary schools in the country. In a Forbes magazine city ranking from 2003, Madison had the highest number of Ph.D.s per capita, and third highest college graduates per capita, among ranked cities in the United States.[34][dead link]
Madison is served by the Dane County Regional Airport, which serves more than 100 commercial flights on an average day, and nearly 1.6 million passengers annually. Madison Metro operates bus routes throughout the city and to some surrounding towns.[39] Madison has five taxicab companies, as well as several companies that provide specialized transit for individuals with disabilities. Most major General Aviation operations take place at Morey Field in Middleton 15 miles (24 km) away from the city center.
A high-speed rail route from Chicago through Milwaukee and Madison to Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, was proposed as part of the Midwest Regional Rail Initiative. Funding for the railway connecting Madison to Milwaukee was approved in January, 2010, but Governor-elect Scott Walker's opposition to the project led the Federal Railroad Administration to retract the $810 million in funding and reallocate it to other projects.[40] The nearest passenger train station is 28 miles (45 km) away, in Columbus, Wisconsin, from which the eastbound Empire Builder provides daily service to Milwaukee and Chicago, while the westbound Empire Builder provides daily service to the west. A commuter light rail system has been proposed, particularly for a corridor passing through the isthmus and alongside the university campus, but has remained on paper for decades.[41]
WSOR number 4025 painted for the railroad's 25th anniversary, seen in Madison July 23, 2005.
Railroad freight services are provided in Madison by Wisconsin and Southern Railroad (WSOR) and Canadian Pacific Railway (CP). Wisconsin & Southern has been operating since 1980, having taken over trackage owned since the 19th century by the Chicago and North Western and the Milwaukee Road. Some of the proposed light rail and commuter routes would use existing WSOR rights-of-way, such as the line between the Kohl Center and Middleton. Limited commuter trains were tested along this line in the early 2000s as "football specials". The trains took passengers from the Middleton depot to Camp Randall Stadium to help alleviate parking issues on game days.
The Badger Bus connects Madison to Milwaukee running multiple buses a day. Greyhound Lines, a nationwide bus company, has a local stop and offers routes through most of the country. Van Galder Bus Company, a subsidiary of Coach USA, provides transportation through Rockford to Chicago – Downtown at the Amtrak station, O'Hare Airport and Midway Airport. Jefferson Lines provides transportation to the Twin Cities. First Student offers charter bus rental services to groups in the Madison and Milwaukee area.
Madison is home to an extensive and varied number of print publications for a small city, reflecting the city's role as the state capital and diverse political, cultural and academic population. The Wisconsin State Journal (weekday circulation: ~95,000; Sundays: ~155,000) is published in the mornings, while its sister publication, The Capital Times (Thursday supplement to the Journal) is published online daily. Though conjoined in a joint-operating agreement operated under the name Capital Newspapers, the Journal is owned by the national chain Lee Enterprises, while the Times is independently owned. Wisconsin State Journal is the descendant of the Wisconsin Express, a paper founded in the Wisconsin Territory in 1839. The Capital Times was founded in 1917 by William T. Evjue, a business manager for the State Journal who disagreed with that paper's editorial criticisms of Wisconsin Republican Senator Robert M. La Follette, Sr. for his opposition to U.S. entry into World War I. Through Capital Newspapers, Lee also owns many other papers in southwest Wisconsin and northeast Iowa.
The city is home to the free weekly alternative newspaper Isthmus (weekly circulation: ~65,000), which was founded in 1976. The Onion, a satirical weekly, was founded in Madison in 1988. Two student newspapers are published during the academic year, The Daily Cardinal (Mon-Fri circulation: ~10,000) and The Badger Herald (Mon-Fri circulation: ~16,000). The Herald began during the tumultuous Vietnam War era as a conservative alternative to the liberal Cardinal. Madison is home to numerous other specialty print publications focusing on local music, politics and sports, including The Madison Times, Wisconsin Sports WeeklyThe Mendota Beacon, The Madison Observer, Madison Magazine and The Simpson Street Free Press. There is a strong community of local blogs including Althouse, Dane101, and The Critical Badger.
Madison is home to The Progressive, a left-wing periodical that may be best known for the attempt of the US government in 1979 to suppress one of the Progressive's articles before publication. However, the magazine eventually prevailed in the landmark First Amendment case, United States v. The Progressive, Inc. During the 1970s, there were two radical weeklies published in Madison, known as TakeOver and Free for All.
Madison hosts two volunteer-operated and community-oriented radio stations, WORT and WSUM.
WORT Community Radio (89.9 FM), founded by progressive Madisonians in 1975, is one of the oldest volunteer-powered radio stations in the United States. A listener-sponsored community radio station broadcasting from 118 S. Bedford Street, WORT offers diverse music and talk programming that is locally produced and hosted by local DJs. WSUM 91.7 FM is a student radio station whose programming and operation are carried out almost entirely by students.
Madison's Wisconsin Public Radio station, WHA, was one of the first radio stations in the nation to begin broadcasting, and remains the longest continuously broadcasting station in the nation.
In September 2004, Madison became home to the first state Air America affiliate, "The Mic 92.1 FM" (WXXM). "Madison's Progressive Talk" arrived within weeks of the 2004 national elections, which positioned it well for audience appeal. It initially carried the full Air America lineup. Over time, its schedule included other progressive content from national and local programs, such as Matthew Rothchild's Progressive Radio and Free Thought Radio from the Freedom From Religion Foundation.
In 1996 Money magazine identified Madison as the best place to live in the United States.[42] It has consistently ranked near the top of the best-places list in subsequent years, with the city's low unemployment rate a major contributor.
The main downtown thoroughfare is State Street, which links the University of Wisconsin campus with the State Capitol Square, and is lined with restaurants, espresso cafes and shops. Only pedestrians, buses, emergency vehicles, delivery vehicles and bikes are allowed on State Street.
On the other side of Capitol Square is King Street, which is developing along State Street, but with less of a student character and more appeal to the growing young white-collar high-tech population in Madison. King Street has more upper-end restaurants and cafes than are found on the more student-budget State Street.
The skyline of Madison, with Wisconsin ANGF-16 jet fighters in the foreground
The Great Taste of the Midwest craft beer festival, established in 1987 and the second longest running such event in North America, is the second Saturday in August and the highly coveted tickets sell out within an hour of going on sale in May.[45]
Madison is host to Rhythm and Booms, a massive fireworks celebration (coordinated to music) that begins with a fly-over by several F-16s from the local Wisconsin Air National Guard. This celebration is the largest fireworks display in the Midwest in length, number of shells fired and the size of its annual budget.[46]
Sailboats approaching the south shore of Lake Mendota and downtown Madison – north side of isthmus
In 2004 Madison was named the healthiest city in America by Men's Journal magazine. Many major streets in Madison have designated bike lanes and the city has one of the most extensive bike trail systems in the nation. Madison has an active cyclist culture and it is commonplace to see groups of bicyclists in the city on nice days. Bicycle tourism is an $800 million industry in Wisconsin, which has 20 percent of the nation's bicycling industry manufacturing capacity.[48]
There are many cooperative organizations in the Madison area, ranging from grocery stores (such as the Willy Street Cooperative) to housing co-ops (such as Madison Community Cooperative and Nottingham Housing Cooperative) to worker cooperatives (including and engineering firm and a cab company). In addition, there are several credit unions.
In 2005, Madison was included in Gregory A. Kompes' book, 50 Fabulous Gay-Friendly Places to Live.[49] The Madison Metro area is also credited as the most liberal in the state, and has a higher percentage of gay couples than any other city in the area outside of Chicago and Minneapolis.[50] The city was also named the number one college sports town by Sports Illustrated in 2003.[51]
Among the city's various neighborhood fairs and celebrations are two large student-driven gatherings, the Mifflin Street Block Party and the State Street Halloween Party. Rioting and vandalism at the State Street gathering in 2004 and 2005 led the city to institute a cover charge for the 2006 celebration.[52] In an attempt to give the event more structure (and to eliminate opportunity for vandalism), the city and student organizations worked together to schedule performances by bands, and to organize activities. The event has been named "Freakfest On State Street."[53] Events such as these have helped contribute to the city's nickname of "Madtown."
In 2009, the Madison Common Council voted to name the plastic pink flamingo as the official city bird.[54]
Madison's vibrant music scene covers a wide spectrum of living musical culture.
Several venues offer live music every night of the week, spreading from the historic Barrymore Theatre on the eastside to the Annex on the west side. Several small coffee houses and wine bars offer live music every night in all formats. Closer to downtown, the High Noon Saloon is developing a national reputation for developing and breaking indie rock and local acts. The biggest headliners generally perform at the Orpheum Theatre, the Overture Center or at the UW Theatre on campus. Other popular rock and pop venues include the Majestic Theater, the Frequency, and as of late, the Great Dane Pub.
Garbage is the city's most recognized contemporary contribution to popular music. The multi-million album selling alternative-rock band has been based out of Madison since formation in 1994 by producer-musician Butch Vig of Viroqua. Vig is well-known for producing albums for such highly regarded bands as Bongzilla, The Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana, Fall Out Boy and Against Me!.
In the summer months Madison hosts many music festivals, most notably the Waterfront Festival, the Willy St. Fair, Atwood Summerfest, Isthmus Jazz Festival, The Orton Park Festival, Forward Music Festival, 94.1 WJJO's Band Camp, Greekfest, Madison Pop Festival, the WORT Block Party and the Sugar Maple Traditional Music Festival, with more being added all the time. One of the latest additions is the Fête de Marquette, taking place near or on Bastille Day (7/14), at Central Park. This new festival celebrates French music, with a focus on Cajun influences. Madison also hosts an annual electronic music festival, Reverence and Folkball, a world music and Folk dance festival held annually in January. More recently Madison is home to the LBGTQA festival Fruit Fest, celebrating queer culture and LGBT allies. The second annual Fruit Fest was June 18, 2011 and featured Tiffany, Erin McKeown, Bitch, Athens Boys Choir, and local Madison group Little Red Wolf.
Community-based theater groups abound in many neighborhoods of Madison including the Broom Street Theater which is not on Broom Street. Past productions have included comic-style riffs on regional and local news stories such as Audrey Seiler, a University of Wisconsin–Madison student who faked her own kidnapping, causing a county-wide search that gained national attention for several weeks. Other groups include Children's Theatre of Madison, Strollers Theatre, Madison Theatre Guild and the Mercury Players.
Madison offers one comedy club, the Comedy Club on State, and has other options for more alternative humor, featuring several improv groups, such as The Prom Committee, Spin Cycle Improv, Atlas Improv, The Monkey Business Institute, the now defunct ARC Improv and Comedy Sportz, and sketch comedy groups The Public Drunkards and The Rabid Badger Theatre Company. A spearheading organization called the WiSUC Project annually hosts the "Funniest Comic in Madison" contest at the High Noon Saloon.
Several films have been at least partially made in Madison. One of the most noted was the documentary The War at Home, which chronicled the anti-Vietnam War movement in Madison. Another film that made extensive use of the city as a backdrop was the 1986 comedy Back to School, starring Rodney Dangerfield. The University's Bascom Hill was used extensively, as was the University Bookstore. The film also showed many campus dormitories, and various outdoor locales, including the Union terrace and Library Mall. More recently, the 2006 film The Last Kiss used Madison and the university as a back-drop. One early scene in the film was also shot on the Union terrace. In 2008, scenes were shot at the state capitol and surrounding area for use in the 2009 film Public Enemies featuring Christian Bale and Johnny Depp.
The Wisconsin State Capitol dome, closely based on the dome of the U.S. Capitol, is the jewel of the Madison skyline, and is visible throughout the Madison area due to its position on the high point of the isthmus (and a state law that limits building heights within one mile (1.6 km) of the structure).[63] Because of its location in the urban core, Capitol Square is well integrated with everyday pedestrian traffic and commerce, and the spoke streets—especially State Street and E. Washington—offer dramatic views of the Capitol.
Architect Frank Lloyd Wright spent much of his childhood in Madison and studied briefly at the University, and is responsible for several Madison buildings. Monona Terrace, a meeting and convention center overlooking Lake Monona, designed by Taliesin Architect Anthony Puttnam, was based loosely on a 1938 Wright design. Wright did design the seminal Usonian House, which is located here. (Another key Wright building, the Unitarian Meeting House, is in the adjacent suburb of Shorewood Hills.) The Harold C. Bradley House, designed collaboratively by Louis H. Sullivan and George Grant Elmslie in 1908–1910 now serves as the Sigma Phi Fraternity in the University Heights neighborhood, along with many well-maintained early 20th-century residences.
Harold C. Bradley House
The Overture Center for the Arts, designed by Argentina-born architect César Pelli, and led by Flad Architects and Potter Lawson (Madison-based firms) as executive architect, also stands on State Street near the Capitol. Since opening in 2004, the center has already presented shows and concerts in its Overture Hall, Capitol Theater and The Playhouse. The center, also including smaller performance spaces, also houses the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. The style, unlike Pelli's Petronas Towers, leans toward sleek modernism, with simple expanses of glass framed by stone that are intended to complement the historic building facades preserved as part of the building's State Street exposure.
Many of the over 175 Madison buildings designed by the architectural firm of Claude and Starck are still standing, including Breese Stevens Field, Doty School (now converted to condominiums), and many private residences.[64]
The UW–Madison campus includes many buildings designed or supervised by architects J. T. W. Jennings (the Dairy Barn, Agricultural Hall) and Arthur Peabody (the Memorial Union and the Carillon Tower). The UW administration building Bascom Hall sits atop a steep hill overlooking Lake Mendota, and has been the site of many demonstrations and events. The density of the campus has grown to include 8 to 10 story high-rises including dormitories, research facilities, and classrooms. Several campus buildings erected in the 1960s exhibit brutalist architecture, which is now unpopular. In 2005 the University of Wisconsin embarked on a major redevelopment initiative that will transform the east end of its campus. The plan calls for the razing of a nearly a dozen 1950s to 1970s vintage buildings and the construction of new dormitories, administration, and classroom buildings, as well as the development of a new pedestrian mall extending to Lake Mendota.
The downtown and near east side is currently experiencing a building boom, with dozens of new condominium and apartment buildings being constructed.
In 1996, Madison was rated #3 in "Safest of Nation's 100 Largest Cities" by Morgan Quinto Press and #9 in "America's Safest Cities" by Money.[75] In 2008, Men's Health magazine ranked Madison as the "Least Armed and Dangerous" city in an article about "Where Men Are Targets" throughout the US.[76] Between 2004 and 2007, 17 murders were reported.[77][78][79] In 2008, Madison Police reported 10 homicides [80]
Inside the Kohl Center during a men's ice hockey game
Madison's reputation as a sports city exists largely because of the University of Wisconsin. In 2004 Sports Illustrated on Campus named Madison the #1 college sports town in the nation.[81] This sentiment was echoed by Scott Van Pelt in July 2010 on Dan Patrick's ESPN radio show when he proclaimed Madison the best college sports town in America.[82]
The UW–Madison teams play their home-field sporting events in venues in and around Madison. The football team plays at Camp Randall Stadium. In 2005 a renovation was completed that added 72 luxury suites and increased the stadium's capacity to 80,321, although crowds of as many as 83,000 have attended games. The basketball and hockey teams play at the Kohl Center. Construction on the $76 million arena was completed in 1997. In 2006, the men's and women's Badger hockey teams won NCAA Division I championships, and the women repeated with a second consecutive national championship in 2007.[83] Some events are played at the county-owned Alliant Energy Center (formerly Dane County Memorial Coliseum) and the University-owned Wisconsin Field House.
Despite Madison's strong support for college sports, it has proven to be an inhospitable home for professional baseball. The Madison Muskies, a Class A, Midwest League affiliate of the Oakland A's, left town in 1993 after 11 seasons. The Madison Hatters, another Class A, Midwest League team, played in Madison for only the 1994 season. The Madison Black Wolf, an independent Northern League franchise lasted five seasons, (1996–2000) before decamping for Lincoln, Nebraska. Madison is currently home to the Madison Mallards, a college wood-bat summer baseball league team in the Northwoods League (not to be confused with the Minor League Baseball). They play in Warner Park on the city's North side from June to August.
Madison is home to a new football team called the Madison Mustangs, a semi-pro football team that is part of the Ironman Football League that originated in Milwaukee in the late 1990s. Games are typically played on Saturday during the summer months, with the home field being Middleton High School.
The Blackhawk Ski Club, formed in 1947, provides ski jumping, cross country skiing and alpine skiing. The club's programs have produced multiple Olympic ski jumpers, two Olympic ski jumping coaches and one Olympic ski-jumping director. The club had the first Nordic ski facility with lighted night jumping.
Madison is home to the Wisconsin Rugby Club, the 1998 USA Rugby Division II National Champions, and the Wisconsin Women's Rugby Football Club, the state's only Division I women's rugby team. The city also has men's and women's rugby clubs at UW–Madison, in addition to four high school boy's teams and one high school girl's team. The most recent addition to the Madison rugby community, Madison Minotaurs Rugby Club, is composed largely of gay players and is Wisconsin's first and only IGRAB team, but is open to any player with any experience level. All ten teams play within the Wisconsin Rugby Football Union, the Midwest Rugby Union and USA Rugby.
Nearly 100 women participate in the adult women's ice hockey teams that are based in Madison (Thunder, Lightning, Freeze, UW–B and C teams), all of which play in the Women's Central Hockey League. The popular Madison Gay Hockey Association is also in Madison.
Madison is home to several endurance sports racing events, such as the Crazylegs Classic, Paddle and Portage, the Mad City Marathon, and Ironman Wisconsin, which attracts over 45,000 spectators.[86]
Madison was part of Chicago's 2016 Olympics bid. If the Chicago 2016 bid had been successful, 80,000-seat Camp Randall Stadium would have served as one of Chicago's stadiums during the Games.[87]
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Wisconsin School of Business 1. KPMG reported on the results of obtaining evidence and applying specified audit procedures relating to selected survey data provided for the Financial Times 2012 MBA ranking for selected business schools. Enquiries about the assurance process can be ...
Labor Wisconsin Recall Hopes Ebb as Walker Cash Pays Off “If Walker wins, the Republicans will think they have an opening,” said Edward Miller, a politics professor at the University of Wisconsin at Stevens ... After the bill’s passage, Madison, Wisconsin’s capital and a university town ...
Wisconsin research team reveals novel way to treat drug-resistant brain tumor cells MADISON — New research from the University of Wisconsin-Madison explains why the incurable brain cancer, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), is highly resistant to current chemotherapies. The study, from the brain-tumor research lab of Dr. John Kuo ...
UW-Madison to launch medical program at UWMC The University of Wisconsin-Madison will launch a physician assistant program in Wausau that's designed to attract northern Wisconsin residents to the profession. University officials said Thursday that the program, hosted by the UW Marathon ...
UW Athletics: Alvarez to add to senior staff University of Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez is looking to fill yet another hole on his senior staff. The last 14 months have seen four front-office departures. The latest to pull up stakes is senior assistant athletic director Tim Wise ...
UW-Madison: Online courses offer foreign policy training for modern military leaders MADISON - A series of online courses geared for members of the military to learn more about foreign policy and international relations is testing the geographic limits of one of the University of Wisconsin-Madison's guiding principles. In this case ...
Student beats tuition costs, guarantees career with ROTC Superior High School senior John Nowicki not only found a way to pay for four years of college at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, but guaranteed himself the career of his choice once he graduates. Superior High School senior John Nowicki ...
UW Medical School expands PA training program to Wausau WAUSAU, WI (WTAQ) - The UW Medical School in Madison says it will expand its physician assistant training program to Wausau. The goal is to encourage more people to become PA’s in northern Wisconsin, at a time when the Badger State is dealing ...
Wisconsin Native Bikes to St. Louis for Parkinson’s Fundraiser ST. LOUIS, MO (KTVI) – There was a surprise celebration in St. Louis last night as University of Wisconsin Alumni welcomed a new graduate, as he and a friend arrived after a very long bike ride. Donald Malchow left Madison, Wisconsin a week ago Wednesday.
Shelter Co. Promises the Most Luxurious Camping Experience and More Elite Choice - Luxury guide featuring most expensive thingsPeople who love the outdoors are always planning the next camping trip. The whole experience can be very exciting but it is advisable to go out with the right gear and equipment otherwise everything that can go wrong goes wrong. You could end up skipping dinner while pitching the tent in the dark. And still [...]
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Nappa Valley Winery with One Bedroom Luxurious House Listed for $35 Million Elite Choice - Luxury guide featuring most expensive thingsA one bedroom estate for $35 million sounds over the top but it is actually the Quixote Winery, a Stags Leap Winery Appellation property in Napa Valley that produces some of the most expensive wines. The total area on the property exceeds 42 acres. 27 acres of those are plantable and are currently planted in [...]
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Sir Elton John's Bentley for sale at Bonhams Karanvir Singh: We have earlier told you about Sir Elton John’s charity auctions, including the one-off Chromed Audi R8 Spyder which was sold for $400,000, besides his Rolls Royce Phantom Drop-head Coupe that fetched a price $1.6 million. Another luxury car formerly owned by Sir Elton John is now going up at Bonhams Oxford auction. Built between year 1971 and 1976, one of the only 45 Bentley Corniche Series 1 convertible, the 1975 Bentley Corniche covertible, is one of the highlights at the upcoming Bonhams Collectors Motor Cars sale, scheduled to be held on June 16 in Oxford, in association with Vintage Motor Cycle Club, Banbury Run. Described as one of the handful of extensively used Elton Johns cars, this particular 1975 Bentley is estimated to garner a handsome price of $76,550 to $91,860.
Sir Elton John’s Bentley for sale at for sale at Bonhams
The cars current owner bought this particular Corniche Bentley when a selection of beautiful cars from Sir John’s collection was auctioned back in year 2001, and at that time its odometer reading stood at 43,000 miles.
Finished in Silver Mink with matching hood and beige interiors, it was bought new by John Elton in September 1975, and he speaks highly of this Bentley, as he says, Ive had a lot of people in it, Princess Margerets been in it, everyones been in it.
Sir Elton John’s Bentley for sale at Bonhams
Historically, in the year of John Eltons knighthood in 1998, he sold this Bentley to Robert Halley, his personal assistant, from whom he purchased back in 1999. And, during Mr. Robert Halleys ownership, the car was repainted in its present livery and updated later with alloy wheels.
Hand-built in the best traditions of British coachbuilding using finest quality materials including Wilton carpeting, burr walnut veneers and Connolly hide, these cars were thus priced 50% higher than that of the standard Silver Shadows. The car also accompanies documentation which consists letter of provenance from Sir John Elton, current MoT and Swansea V5 document.
Another interesting car rich with Britain’s automotive history being offered at the auction is the 1950 Jaguar XK 120 Roadster. Described to be a car which claimed 120 mph, a speed unheard for a production car in 1950s, it was bought by the current vendor on December 12th 2008. Since its acquisition, the Jaguar XK’s interior has been re-carpeted and the leather replaced on the dashboard. Some of its other noteworthy features include the C-type cylinder head, a stainless-steel exhaust system with twin tailpipes and full wet weather equipment.
1950 Jaguar XK 120 Roadster
Via: Bonhams
Worlds first bio-customized sneakers takes eco-fashion to new heights Suchandra Basu: If you are an environment conscious citizen, a fashion fanatic with a penchant for all things shoes, or simply put, have enough money to burn that spending $1800 on a pair of sneakers will not hurt much, then here is an interesting news. Rayfish Footwear Inc. has come out with a ground breaking concept which applies bio-customization to..errgrow sneakers! Under the arrangement, patterning and coloration genes from existing animal species are used by Rayfish engineers to produce stingray leather. All you need to do is visit the company site and choose a combination of fish patterns. The company will then apply their one off strategy and cultivate stingrays bearing your chosen design or patterns. What you have at the end of the day is a customized sneaker like no other on this planet!
Rayfish bio cutomized sneakers
Each and every pair is unique in its own little way. So rest assured if you have spent $1,800 getting those stingray sneakers, you wont find their twin adorning somebody elses feet. And just in case you are wondering whether sneakers made of stingray leather would be able to tolerate harsh conditions on road, the manufacturers have done their bit to guarantee a sturdy piece for you. With thick laces, hand stitched details and strong soles, these items have all it takes to serve you while on the go.
Customized sneakers made from stingray hide
The stingrays are cultivated at Rayfishs very own aqua culture facility till they reach harvestable size. A combination of bio engineering techniques ensures that as the fish grows, the predetermined patterns become eminent on its body. Once harvested, the pack moves to Rayfish workshops at Chon Buri, Thailand, where skilled workers craft the customized shoes. Stingray hide as material for clothes has been around for quiet some time now. It is what swanky armors in ancient times would ideally be made of. Their foray into the world of footwear happened much later. While Rayfish cannot really be credited with pioneering the trend of using stingray hide for shoes, their bioengineering techniques are undoubtedly unique and exclusive.
Stingray fish
For customers the whole process of choosing stingray shoes may appear as easy as having a piece of cake, the underlying technology took years to develop. According to Rayfish Footwear CEO Raymond Ong I saw an opportunity for innovation while keeping true to my familys long tradition of producing stingray leather goods. Ongs idea was brought to life by a team of bio-engineers who spent years devising the right strategy. No wonder then that the latest collection of customized sneakers from the stable of Rayfish is the first bio-customized range in the world.
General production of shoes will begin later this year
If you wish to become the proud owner of these stingray beauties, then there are two options available- either wait for the company to release their shoes publicly or participate in the design contest sponsored by Rayfish footwear. The sneakers are currently available only through this innovative contest running on the Rayfish official site. Each and every winner receives a pair of stingray sneakers once the fish has grown to full size. General production, however, will not begin till late 2012. All said and done, in our opinion there is but one way to describe Rayfishs latest collection- A magical blend of Thai craftsmanship and modern bio-engineering techniques.
Rayfish colorful sneakers are though not one of the most expensive shoes we have seen, including Testoni’s alligator-leather shoes, but the luxurious sneaker designs from Rayfish will leave the on-lookers gasping for sure.
Via: FastCompany/Rayfish
Moscow is the Billionaire capital where most of world's wealthiest reside
China may be one of the fastest growing countries for billionaires, but Russia is the new home for the affluent with riches to die for. Moscow has regained its title as the address for billionaires all over the world with 79 billionaires residents, as reported by BillionairesBunker.com. At the top of the list is Novolipetsk Iron & Steel owner Vladimir Lisin with a fortune of $24 billion, followed by Aleksey Mordashov, director of Severstal director with $18.5 billion and ONEXIM group president Mikhail Prokhorov who rounds up the top three with $18 billion. Moscow alone boasts of seventy nine billionaires with more coming to stay here in the future.
Last year the numbers were as low as 32 billionaires with another 62 in the making. Of the 300 European billionaires, a 100 along with 15 people from the worlds top 100 fortunes list call Russia home. The reason cited is the rise in the number of internet business men of the country.
The 13th youngest billionaire in the world, 35-year-old Nogotov is the founder of Svyaznoy Bank as well as the 2nd largest cell phone retailer Svyaznoy. At this rate, we can expect the census of billionaires to grow over two folds in the next year.
[Prweb and Hauteliving]
Mortgage news feed
SunTrust Settles YSP Lawsuit A lawsuit filed by the government against SunTrust Mortgage Inc. alleging that its retail originators and mortgage brokers increased pricing to minorities has been settled for $21 million.
At issue are alleged violations of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act on 20,000 mortgages to black and Hispanic borrowers originated between 2005 and 2009.
Brokers and originators were allegedly paid yield spread premiums for up-selling interest rates.
Record Low COFI (Again) It was the second consecutive month that the Cost of Funds Index established a new record.
April's COFI was 2 basis points less than a month earlier. The 11th District index is used to determine interest rate changes on adjustable-rate mortgages.
The latest reading represents yet another milestone for COFI, which is at its lowest level on record based on the oldest available data from July 1981.
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Tulum, California Single Family Home 2012-05-07 16:50:21 - Address: Calle Punta Allen Mz. 46 lote 4 Region 5 Type: Residential Style: Development Level: Built Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 2 Garage: Double, Attached Basement: No Size: 1,980 sq. ft. Lot Type: Rectangular Has Suite: Yes Year Built: 2012
Description
Currently under construction and ...
Guntersville, Alabama Ranch 2012-04-17 10:56:34 - "Rare" 67 acres within walking distance of Guntersville, Al city limits! Unusual, quality custom home, 5 car bays, shop, office, barn, pastures, views, creeks, and your own mountains! ...
Lakewood, Colorado Commercial Property 2012-03-26 14:49:31 - REAL ESTATE AUCTION
Don't Miss this Opportunity to Own this Rare Mixed-Use Parcel in Denver For a Fraction of It’s Value!
Min. Bid $99,000 – Previously Valued at over $250,000
Brokers Welcome - 3% Co Op
Will ABSOLUTELY SELL after Minimum Bid is Met!
AUCTION DATE: April 6 @ 11:07 am
PREVIEW DATE: Sat. March 31 ...
N. Ft. Myers, Florida Manufactured Home 2012-03-17 10:00:41 - PRICE JUST REDUCED!!! OWN YOUR LAND and 1980 "Homes of Merit - Twin Manor" home in this Active 55+ Community. This is a "Move In Ready", "mostly furnished home, including a lovely Grandfather Clock. Laminate flooring in dining, living, hall and both bedrooms - faux stone-look vinyl ...
Porto Seguro/Arraial d Ajuda, -- None Selected -- Residential Property 2012-03-12 19:18:35 - LOCATION OF THE PROPERTY
This house is located in the center, in a quiet street, two steps away from the shops, 5 minutes from the beach and 15-30 minutes from Porto Seguro and the airport.
PROPERTY DESCRIPTION
This LUXURY house of 182,57 qm has two floors and is totally EQUIPPED AND ...
Freehold, New Jersey Condo 2012-02-01 09:54:32 - DESIRABLE COMMUNITY NEAR JERSEY SHORE $164000
THE VILLAGES 55+ Adult Community- Nothing to do. Just move in!
RENOVATED 2008-2009 New Kitchen, cabinets, counter top,new appliances, washer & dryer. Two new full baths, master with 5' walk-in shower,new tile,vanity, fan ,lights ,recessed lights in kitchen. all electric outlets replaced, new 3/4" solid hardwood ...
Marshalltown, Iowa Duplex 2012-01-26 14:33:24 - Superb Investment Property with 2 wonderful apartments with private entrances. All the work is done. You could live in one unit & rent the other, or rent them both. Newer roof, permanent siding, newer energy efficient furnace, plumbing, & wiring are new. All but 2 windows ...
Swainsboro, Georgia Single Family Home 2011-12-04 15:08:44 - MUST SELL! Drive up the 180 ft. paved driveway to this 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath brick home close to Swainsboro Golf and Country Club. This fabulous house sits on over 3 acres and includes: granite counter tops in kitchen and master bath, large den with masonry fireplace and wood ...
Las Vegas, Nevada Commercial Property 2011-12-02 20:03:30 - INVESTOR SPECIAL: Beautiful 4 bed 2 bath 2,646 2 storey home with large front & rear yards in Spring Valley. High end Granite kitchen with all appliances, Solid cherry wood flooring, Brick fireplace and stone frontage. ...
Shingletown, California Single Family Home 2011-11-25 21:15:40 - Just two and a half miles east of Shingletown, pull off Highway 44,
onto a private driveway to arrive at this secluded mountain home.
Two majestic redwoods frame the east and west sides of the house.
Enjoy this turn-key, well-maintained 2000 square foot, 3 bedroom, 2 bath residence with easy access.
Stepping inside the ...
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Mexican-influenced House Plans from The House Designers In honor of the 150th anniversary of Cinco de Mayo, The House Designers is showcasing house plans that were inspired by the rich culture of Mexico. You’ll find homes designed in Adobe (also called Santa Fe and Pueblo house plans) with large open courtyards that are great for entertaining and Southwestern/Spanish styling featuring stucco, stone [...]
Sizzling Kitchen and Bath Designs | house plans Whether you were in Chicago or not this week at the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS), there’s been plenty of buzz about the newest, coolest kitchen and bath products. Check out this great article by Housing Zone, which covers the latest trends and innovations from the largest annual kitchen and bath show. In honor [...]
Go Green With ENERGY STAR House Plans With Earth Day right around the corner it’s the perfect time to think about how you can incorporate green elements into your new or existing home. The House Designers is committed to providing homeowners and builders with affordable, sustainable house plans that take advantage of passive solar design and innovative green building products so you [...]
House Plans: Latest Contemporary Designs If your dream style lends itself to a contemporary flair, you’ll enjoy The House Designers collection of modern house plans, which blend comfortable, livable elements to create a sophisticated, fresh look and feel. All of these designs feature magnificent outdoor living spaces, large open living spaces framed by spectacular, custom walls of windows, luxurious master [...]
Live Like a Celebrity with Luxury House Plans from The House Designers Live like a celebrity with luxury house plans from The House Designers. The luxury house plans in this collection were selected not only for being extravagant and grand, but because of their high-end amenities and features that include sprawling outdoor living spaces with pools, patios, living rooms and fully equipped kitchens; pampering master suites with spa-like baths; culinary [...]
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