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Madrid, Maine is located in the heart of Franklin County and actually named for the Spanish capital. The tiny town has a population well under 200 residents and sits on the lovely banks of the Sandy River near Salem. Madrid, Maine dates back to 1887 and was settled by Free Baptists, who opened seven schoolhouses for the town's children.
The state of Alabama has its own Madrid. This one is little bigger than Madrid, Maine. This town has a population of more than 300 and is located in Houston County which is a part of metropolitan Dothan. Just like Madrid Maine, this town is also named after the famous Spanish city of Madrid.
The early settlers of the year 1801, who settled in a small area of land adjacent to the Grasse river in New York state called it Madrid. The name kept alternating between Madrid and New Madrid until the city council finally ruled in favor of Madrid. Madrid's neighbours include Potsdam and Lisbon. The town had a big and flourishing grist mill which operated successfully for many years before its closure. Located in St. Lawrence County, Madrid is a lovely town that is a true reflection of its namesake.
New Madrid is a much bigger town. It was founded in 1783 by two French settlers who originally named it L'Anse a la Graisse. Now, New Madrid has a population of nearly 3,000 residents and is about 4.5 square miles in size. New Madrid is situated approximately 45 miles south of Cape Girardeau and 145 miles south of St. Louis. The earthquake of 1811 had almost completely destroyed New Madrid.
Also in the Midwestern United States is Madrid, Iowa. Considered a bedroom community of Des Moines, Madrid is a mere 25 miles northwest of Iowa's capital city. The town, formerly known as Swede Point, was founded in 1846 by Swedish settlers new to this country. In fact, Madrid is the oldest Swedish settlement that has been continuously inhabited west of the Mississippi River. The town was renamed in 1882 and incorporated in 1886, just in time to see prosperity as the railway traveled through the small hamlet.
You can get more information on these towns through their websites. Though few of these towns are small,they are abreast of the latest technological inovations and have a well established presence on the web.
It's a good idea to visit Madrid, USA before you can make it to the Spanish capital. It makes interesting study and you will find many other American towns named after European capitals.
