[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5171]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           RECOGNITION OF MADISON COUNTY ON ITS BICENTENNIAL

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                          HON. MARY JO KILROY

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 25, 2010

  Ms. KILROY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 200th 
anniversary of Madison County. This central Ohio county has reached its 
bicentennial milestone, during which we reflect on the history of the 
region and pay tribute to the proud and industrious families who live 
and work in Madison County today.
  On February 16, 2010, Madison County residents celebrated two 
centuries of accomplishments, challenges, and growth. Established in 
1810, Madison County was named after America's fourth president, James 
Madison and encompasses 467 square miles in central Ohio. Whether they 
are members of close-knit communities such as Mount Sterling, Plain 
City, West Jefferson, London, Midway, and South Solon, or part of the 
larger agricultural heritage of the surrounding homesteads, roughly 
43,000 Ohioans call Madison County home. The county also offers a 
diverse workforce. From innovators that develop breakthroughs in 
research at Battelle Labs in West Jefferson, to the Amish farming 
tradition around Plain City, residents are both forward-thinking and 
grounded by their strong work ethic.
  Madison County has been one of America's agricultural leaders. To 
this day, 88% of the land in the county is utilized for farming, 
ranking fourth in soybean and corn production in the state of Ohio. 
Because of the critical position agriculture holds in Madison County 
agricultural industry, it annually hosts The Ohio State University's 
Farm Science Review, one of the largest farm exhibitions in the world.
  Madison County is home to Ohio's only natural plains, smaller 
versions of the Great Plains found in the West. They are dotted by 
family cemeteries of original settlers, often studied by genealogists 
across the state. Numerous attractions--such as the Madison Lake State 
Park, Lake Choctaw, the Red Brick Tavern, the Jonathan Alder Cabin, and 
Big Darby Creek State and National Scenic River--as well as many local 
parks and segments of the Prairie Grass Trail make Madison County a 
great place to live, work, and visit.
  For two hundred years, Madison residents have played a vital role in 
the growth of central Ohio and particularly to Ohio's 15th 
Congressional District. I am proud to represent the residents of 
Madison County and to honor them as they celebrate two hundred years of 
history and achievement.

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