Madison County has many stories to tell that are the stuff of legends. The abundance of natural beauty in Madison County is the background against which these stories unfold, stories of people of unique character who made their mark on American life and our cultural landscape. Stories of a place that must be experienced first-hand.

From its heartland beauty to its storied history, Madison County is an American legend, a place with the soul of this country—honest, authentic, with warmth, history and depth of character.

Click on Visit & Explore for downloading maps of the county and for bridge locations.  For brochures highlighting historical information, attractions and movie sites, contact the Madison County Chamber of Commerce toll free at 800-298-6119, or send an Email to chamber@madisoncounty.com

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From African American agricultural revolutionaries to the Delicious Apple, Hall of Fame baseball players to movie stars, Madison County has a history like no other.

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Discover Madison County, Iowa

Welcome to the birthplace of John Wayne and home of the historic covered bridges popularized by Robert James Waller's novel The Bridges of Madison County and the feature film starring Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood. 

 

2011 Madison County Business & Community Award Recipients Announced!

  • 2011 Business Person of the Year - Marchia Hendricks
  • 2011 Customer Service of the Year - Winterset Family Chiropractice
  • 2011 Business Improvement of the Year - Madison County Health Care System
  • 2011 Chamber Volunteer Award Alan Feirer, Kendall Kerns & Jared McDonald
  • 2011 Covered Bridges Festival Volunteer Award - Nicole Kems
  • 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award - Willard & Eva Short

Eligibility Requirements:

Nominees must have been chamber members for at least the last full calendar year.

Nominations were accepted from the community, as well as chamber members, who were able to nominate their own business.

2010’s winners in each category were not eligible to win in 2011.

Betterment Grant Recipients Announced

The Madison County Chamber of Commerce established the Community Betterment Grant for the purpose of providing grants to the Madison County community for “permanent” improvements such as vertical infrastructure, beautification, renovations, repairs, etc. This program is funded annually by proceeds from the Madison County Covered Bridge Festival, and all nonprofit and for-profit businesses and organizations are eligible to receive grants. Grant applications were due by October 1st, 2011. In this round of grant requests, the 5 member grant board recieved requests equaling a total ask of $45,895.01. Two recipients were announced at the Annual Banquet on January 26th, 2012. Congratulations to the following two projects:

  1. Madison County Bell Project receiving $2,500
  2. John Wayne Gazebo receiving $1,500

Grant Guidelines (pdf)

Grant Application (pdf)

Discover the Heartland of America

Located just 30 minutes from Des Moines, Madison County includes the towns of Winterset, Earlham, Bevington, Patterson, Macksburg, St. Charles, East Peru and Truro, Iowa.

It’s a fascinating and fun place to visit, explore and live, with a rich history, enticing shopping and dining, welcoming lodgings, a thriving business community, a responsive economic development group, and a whole calendar’s worth of great community events.