awards & designations
| 1972 | Charles Kuralt referred to Madison as the "Princess of the Rivers" in Family Circle Magazine |
| 1973 | Madison’s downtown is listed in the National Register of Historic Places |
| 1976 | Madison is selected as one of three Main St. Pilot Project Communities by the National Trust on Historic Preservation |
| 1994 | The Lanier State Historic Site and the Windle/Shrewsbury House are designated National Historic Landmarks by the National Parks Service |
| 1995 | Madison is selected as one of America’s Great Public Places by the Urban Institute |
| 1996 | Madison’s Main Street is designated as part of the Ohio River Scenic Byway |
| 1996 – Present |
Madison has received a Tree City designation and Growth Award from the National Arbor Day Foundation |
| 1996 | The Chicago Tribune recognizes Madison as the "Best Preserved Town in the Midwest" |
| 1998 | The Ladies Home Journal awards Madison the designation "Prettiest Small Town in the Midwest." |
| 1998 | Midwest Living designates Madison one of the "Best of the Midwest" (an award we are receiving again this year) |
| 2001 | Madison is named as one of "12 Distinctive Destinations" in America by the National Trust for Historic Preservation |
| 2001 | Historic Southern Indiana recognizes Madison with its "Community Legacy Award." |
| 2002 | The Indiana Association of Cities and Towns awards Madison its Community Achievement Award for the Riverfront Development Project |
| 2003 | Madison is the first city in Indiana to be recognized as a "Preserve America" community |
| 2006 | Madison is designated as a National Historic Landmark District by The U.S. Department of the Interior |
| 2007 | Madison is listed by Midwest Living magazine as #4 in the top 100 places to visit in the Midwest. |
| 2007 | Madison is listed in "1,000 Places To See Before You Die in Canada & North America" |
