Hello Wisconsin!
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZFdKW43yGM
Laura Carlson ’12 is back with another addition of her Post-College City Guide. This time we are taking you to Madison, Wisconsin!
Photo Credit: http://www.madisonrealesateagents.com
Some Background Stats:
Population: 233,209
Population Growth Since 2000: 10.7
Cost-of-Living Index: 82.1 (100 national average)
Major Industries: Evolving from a government-based economy to a consumer services and high-tech base, with strong increases in health, biotech and advertising sectors.
Median Household Income: $49,575 (per capita $28,000)
Income Growth Since 2000: 13.1%
Sports Teams: Green Bay Packers, Miluakee Brewers, Miluakee Bucks, Admirals
Closing Time: 2am
Best Dish: Anything Cheesy
Why We Chose It:
A better question to ask would be why wouldn’t we? Madison boasts some impressive stats in terms of its thriving economy. In 2009 Madison was designated as the #1 city for Job Growth, the #3 most secure city in the U.S., and the #20 best place to start a small business. The unemployment rate has consistently stayed far below the national average, coming in at just 3.5% in 2009. Forbes has listed Madison as one of the top ten best cities several times within the past decade and has also ranked it #31 in the top 200 metro areas for “Best Places for Business and Careers.”
With a population of 233,209 it may not be the biggest city in the world, but as the 81st largest in the U.S., quality may trump quantity – especially given more hold PhD’s within Madison’s borders than anywhere else in the nation. Bucknell smarty’s will surely fit in with the 48.2% of the population that holds at least a bachelor degree, and take pride in moving to a place that is ranked second in the nation in education.
Why you’ll love it:
For a smaller city, there are several places to go and people to see, and given its proximity to the University of Wisconsin there is a booming young culture to take part in. The main downtown area links the University with State Capitol square and has plenty of cafes, restaurants and boutiques to explore. What makes the downtown area near State Street special is it’s only open to pedestrians, buses, delivery vehicles and bikes, so you don’t get the noise of horns and screeching tires. On the other side of the Capitol square you can check out a more up-scale scene with several five star restaurants and well known cafes.
Some notable events include Madison’s Rhythm and Booms, the largest fireworks display in the Midwest that is accompanied by a fly-over by several Wisconsin Air National Guard F-16’s. Madison is also home to several summer music festivals, including the Waterfront Festival, the Willy St. Fair, Forward Music Festival, Atwood Summerfest and several electronic music events. If you’d prefer a more classic cultural experience, make your way to the Overture Center for the Arts and check out The Madison Opera, the Madison Symphony Orchestra, the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra or the Madison Ballet.
For organic and locally grown food lovers, Madison is the place to go. Men’s Health Magazine ranked Madison as the #2 Healthiest US city for men with good reason, primarily due to the fact that the city is at the forefront of the locavore movement. Growers showcase their goods though restaurants, local farms, and farmers markets, including the largest producer-only farmer’s market in the country, Dane County Farmer’s Market. Guerilla chefs are blessed with some of the best ingredients to work with and their dishes are exemplar – especially if they contain some famed Wisconsin cheese.
As cheesy as it may seem, you can’t mention a Wisconsin city and fail to mention the booming dairy industry the state is best known for. With approximately 12,000 dairy farms and over 1.26 million cows that produce over 20,000 pounds of milk annually, it is no surprise that Madison is known for its cheese. Madison holds the annual World Champion Cheese Contest from Monona Terrace to crown the best of the best and locals can buy tickets to sample world class cheeses for just $25.
If a liquid diet is your fancy, Madison is also known as a haven for craft beers. Indulge in The Great Taste of the Midwest Craft Beer Festival on a nice sunny mid-August Saturday to sample brews from over brewpubs and microbreweries in the Midwest. If you can’t wait for august, check out one of three Great Dane Brew Pub spots around Madison and try one of their very own microbrews to wash down some tasty pub food.
Not to worry though, there are plenty of activities you can partake in to work off your new diet of produce, cheese and beer. Madison ranks #7 in Bicycling Magazine’s Top 50 Bike-Friendly cities with one of the most extensive bike trail systems in the nation. You can also take a sail on Lake Mendota or stroll through the 16-acre beautifully landscaped Olbrich Botanical Gardens. If you’re looking small indulgences, pay just a buck to get into the Topical Conservatory and explore more tropical indoor gardens.
Not ready to leave Bucknell? We didn’t think so.
Check out the Madison Bucknell Club
157 alumni are in the area. Check out B-Link if you want to talk to people willing to speak about career advice and job opportunities at such places as:
General Electric Healthcare ’83
Kohl’s Department Stores ’92
Epic Systems ’08
Or in industries such as:
Education ’74
Engineering ’79
Chemistry ’80
Psychology ’92
Related Posts: