This set of Town Sign Pictures is from the last town sign harvesting road trip I went on with my Mom. We went through a couple counties on that Saturday. The first one was Madison County:

Here are some facts about Madison County:

+ The population is 15,679.
+ The county seat and largest town is Winterset.
+ John Wayne was born in Madison County.
+ Madison County is most famous for its covered bridges.
+ Major highways in Madison County: I80, US6, US169, and IA-92.
+ Adjacent counties are Dallas, Warren, Clarke, Union, Adair, and Polk.
+ Was formed in 1846.
+ Self-governed since 1849.
+ Named for James Madison.
+ First white settler was a suspected murderer, arsonist, and hog thief.
+ Population peaked in 1880 at 17,224.

Franklin County does have a pretty courthouse:

Madison County Courthouse

The Madison County Freedom Rock is located in Winterset, next to the John Wayne Museum:

Here is the Madison County Photo Map:

Madison County Photo Map – Boundaries are not close.

With Madison County conquered, here is the updated Photography 139 Conquest Map:

PURPLE=COMPLETED

17 counties completed. 17.2% of the Cyclone State conquered!

Here are the Madison County signs:

Winterset, Iowa
Welcome to Winterset – Covered Bridge Capital of Iowa
Population: 5,190

Earlham, Iowa
Earlham
Population: 1,450

Saint Charles, Iowa
St Charles – Gateway to the Bridges
Population: 653

Truro, Iowa
Truro
Population: 485

Patterson, Iowa
United Methodist Church – Patterson – 150 North 6th Street – Welcome
Population: 130

East Peru, Iowa
East Peru, Iowa – Home of the Original Delicious Apple – 1887-1987
Population: 125

Macksburg, Iowa
Welcome to Macksburg – 1876 – Home of the National Skillet Throw
Population: 113

Bevington, Iowa (Partially in Warren County)
Bevington City Hall – Platted March 1872 – Incorporated March 6th, 1916
Population: 63

I think the worst town sign in Madison County is pretty obvious. It is Patterson. It isn’t even a true town sign, it is a church that put up a sign because Patterson couldn’t be bother to put up their own sign. Patterson is also one of the worst towns I’ve ever visited, but it wasn’t even the worst town from this trip. I don’t know that Madison County has a strong collection of signs. I think Macksburg missed an opportunity to have a great sign so I’m going to have to give best sign to East Peru.

Easter Peru – Best in Show – Madison County

Madison County did have a few alternate town signs:

Truro Alternate

St. Charles Alternate

Winterset Alternate

The current list of Best in Shows:

Best in Show – Audubon County

Best in Show – Boone County

Best in Show – Carroll County

Best in Show – Crawford County

Best in Show – Dallas County

Best in Show – Franklin County

Best in Show – Greene County

Best in Show – Guthrie County

Best in Show – Hamilton County

Best in Show – Hardin County

Best in Show – Jasper County

Best in Show – Madison County

Best in Show – Marshall County

Best in Show – Polk County

Best in Show – Story County

Best in Show – Webster County

Best in Show – Wright County

No change to the BENNETT TOWN SIGN POWER RANKINGS:

#10. Ricketts

#9. Dexter

#8. Menlo

#7. Templeton

#6. Farnhamville

#5. Haverhill

#4. Pilot Mound

#3. Moingona

#2. Coon Rapids

#1. Ackley

The next time we check in with THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT we will visit Union County.