Madison County, located in North Carolina's Mountain [5] region, was formed from Buncombe [7] and Yancey [9] Counties in 1851 and was named for President James Madison [12]. Communities include the county seat of Marshall [13] (incorporated in 1863), Mars Hill [14], Faust, Hot Springs [10], Spring Creek, Joe, Trust, Luck, Walnut, and Whiterock.

Located along North Carolina's border with Tennessee, the area that became Madison County was, like many of the state's Mountain counties, originally inhabited by the Cherokee [15] and then settled by immigrants from Scotland [16] and Ireland. The Shelton Laurel Massacre [11], the execution of several men and boys suspected of Unionist sympathies in 1863, led to the moniker "Bloody Madison." Due in part to its geographic isolation, the county has preserved a vibrant folk tradition that has incorporated the customs of these Scotch-Irish pioneers. English folklorist Cecil Sharp collected ballads in the region in 1916. The mountains also yield a wide variety of outdoor recreational opportunities, including skiing, hiking, and mountain biking, while the French Broad River [17] is a popular destination for whitewater rafting as well as canoeing, kayaking, and fishing. In addition, Madison County is home to Hot Springs, a resort named for its warm mineral waters, which flourished in the nineteenth century (and for a brief period during World War I held German prisoners of war). Mars Hill College [18], a Baptist school, was established in 1856. As vital as tourism is to Madison County's economy, its farms and forests-principally tobacco but also Christmas trees and other products-remain its driving force. The estimated population of Madison County was 20,000 in 2004.