Madison County is located north of Platte County in eastern Nebraska. Norfolk, population 31,000, is its largest city. Nearby Madison, population 2,400, serves as its county seat. The county is named after former U.S. President James Madison.

Norfolk is known as the home of late comedian Johnny Carson. Exhibits at the Elkhorn Valley Musuem are dedicated to the hometown hero and every June his legendary career is honored with the Great American Comedy Festival. Find out more about the history of Madison County, including its other famous resident baseball Hall of Famer Richie Ashburn, at the Madison County Historical Society.

Learn more by contacting the Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau at visitnorfolkne.com or (402) 371-2932.

Discover Activities in Madison County

  • Madison Sesquicentennial Celebration

    The year 2017 is the 150th anniversary of Nebraska. It also marks 150 years for the community of Madison. Residents invite all to join in on the party with a car ...

  • Skyview Park

    Skyview Park is in the northwest part of Norfolk. The park’s 50-acre Skyview Lake is home to herons, muskrats, painted turtles, ducks, largemouth bass and an occasional loon. ...

  • Battle Creek Fun Days

    Battle Creek Fun Days takes place each year the third weekend in June and includes a parade, carnival and community barbecue. The only "battle" here is who gets their ...

  • Madison County Historical Society

    The Madison County Historical Society formed in 1928. The current museum opened in 1998 in a building that also houses the Madison Public Library and Madison’s city offices. A 2009 addition ...

  • Evergreen Hills Golf Course

    Evergreen Hills Golf Course is three miles south of Battle Creek and is a nine-hole course in the Scottish links style. Surrounded by scenic hills and farmland, this course ...

  • Divots Conference Center

    Divots Conference Center is a large entertainment complex on Norfolk's western edge. Divots includes a luxury hotel, two restaurants, an onsite brewery, sand volleyball courts, miniature golf course and ...

  • Elkhorn Valley Museum

    The Elkhorn Valley Museum in Norfolk contains items unlikely to be seen elsewhere. In fact, many of the artifacts here exist nowhere else in the world. Johnny Carson grew ...

  • Downtown Norfolk

    Downtown Norfolk, called Riverpoint, is an up-and-coming part of the city, with recent cityscape projects and a selection of restaurants, shops, art galleries and retail stores. Music plays over ...

  • Ta-Ha-Zouka Park

    In more linguistic idiosyncrasies, Ta-Ha-Zouka Park is on the north bank of the Elkhorn River on Norfolk’s south side. The park’s name means “horn of the elk.” ...

  • Great American Comedy Festival

    The Great American Comedy Festival was founded in 2008 to honor hometown comedy hero Johnny Carson. The four-day comedy festival event brings world-class entertainment to Norfolk and preserves Carson’s ...

  • Norfolk Arts Center

    The Norfolk Arts Center serves as an important cultural resource for the northeast corner of the state, but visitors regularly come from across Nebraska and the surrounding region. The ...

  • Poppy’s Pumpkin Patch

    Poppy’s Pumpkin Patch south of Norfolk includes myriad avenues for fun. You can ride a train, hayrack, ferryboat and a 100-foot-long slide. Don’t forget to check out ...

  • Nebraska Life Magazine

    Nebraska Life Magazine

    The publishing headquarters of Nebraska Life Magazine can be found in downtown Norfolk. Located in a restored 1920-era building, its offices are open for tours. Stop in and meet ...

  • DeGroot Orchard

    The DeGroot family has been growing apples near Madison for nearly 80 years. Their 40 acres of apple trees produce 22 varieties. DeGroot Orchard’s quaint roadside produce stand along Highway 81 also ...

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