The map outlines the many neighborhoods of the City of Cincinnati. Madisonville is on the eastern side of the city (highlighted in red)
Today Madisonville is home to almost 18,000 people. Like every community we have seen our ups and downs, but we continue to believe in the significance of all people. We desire to be safe and happy and live in harmony with our neighbors. All are welcome here and we hope you will have a positive impact on our community and we leave a good feeling in your heart.
A Little History
Madisonville was established in 1809 as Madison, Ohio after the newly elected President James Madison, the fourth president of the United States. Prior to 1809 settlers had already begun to arrive in the territory.
The first permanent settler was Joseph Ward, a sixty-five-year-old Revolutionary War veteran from New Jersey. Joseph and his two sons, Usual and Israel, came overland by horseback intending to settle in the new outpost of Columbia. Joseph's wife, Phebia, and other sons and daughters traveled by flatboat down the Ohio River to be reunited at Columbia.
Seeing the obvious flooding at that location they decided to go up higher and settled in what was to become Madisonville. Joseph and his sons built the first house, a log cabin, in 1797 along an old Indian trail near what is now Whetsel and Monning Avenue.
By 1826 a Post Office was established in the village and the name was changed to Madisonville to avoid duplication with another Madison, Ohio.
Pictured is the second building used as a post office in Madisonville.
The major intersection of Madisonville is Madison Road and Whetsel Avenue which were originally known as Main Street and Central Avenue. Around this location were the first log homes that were replaced by community buildings such as grocery stores, a theater, blacksmith shop, and even a hotel.
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Today we have Metro Bus service but at one time we had trolley cars and two railroad stops - and even our own train derailment. They say you can still see damage on that building from the railcar impact.
We have to give a shout out to Station 49. One of the two oldest fire stations in the city of Cincinnati. We know the firefighters need and deserve a new house, but we are very proud of the history of this one and all who served there.
The Children’s Home of Cincinnati was founded in 1864 and served as orphanage for neglected and abandoned children throughout Greater Cincinnati. In 2022, The Children's Home and St. Aloysius Orphanage integrated into one charitable and life-changing organization – named Best Point Education & Behavioral Health.
We are proud of the work Best Point does for our city and community.
Built in the 1870s, the Metz House was home to one of Madisonville’s most widely recognized and revered residents: Dr. Charles Metz. Called “Mr. Madisonville,” he helped established the Madisonville Fire Department and the Madisonville Library and Scientific Society. He served as town councilman, the first Director of Health and was a member of the school board. He also was the community’s physician, delivering more than 5,000 babies and caring for residents through horse-and-buggy house calls. But, he was best known for his archaeological work that helped document the lives of the Ohio and Miami Valley American Indians.
