MADISON COUNTY, TX — You may know Madison County for it's title as mushroom capital of Texas, but that's not all this Central Texas county is known for!
In this GMT on Tour: Madison County, we visited Madisonville, Monterey Mushrooms Farm and Walker's Cafe. You can learn about the different cities, and their history in the videos above.
County and city fit for a president
President James Madison is known as the namesake for Madison County and Madisonville. The Madisonville Meteor, which is still in print today, started in 1895 when the population was around 700.
Since the 2010 census, the population was 13,664 people
Madison County had numerous early settlements. Today, only three have remained- Midway, North Zulch and Madisonville.
This county focused on agriculture, and rural crop production was what made this county. In the peak of crop production, Madison County was home to more than 2,300 farms.
Before and after the Civl War, the area was reported to have been wild and woody. It was referred to as the Free State of Madison.
Mushroom capital of Texas
Madison County is known as the mushroom county of Texas. A plant started by Ralston-Purina and bought by Monterey Mushrooms is still a major economic source for the area, employing more than 400 people.
The Monterey Mushrooms farm produces millions of pounds of mushrooms annually.
The team handles 4 million pounds of raw materials on average, and those compost-making skills is how many Texans and Americans have mushrooms on tables.
Each step after- growing, harvesting, packing and shipping, all rely on each other.
It takes a lot of teamwork, as this family-owned business is a big economic engine for Madison County, employing more than 600 people.
Walker's Cafe
One local hot spot in Madisonville is Walker's Cafe. The name hasn't changed for over a century, but the owners have. The now owners, and best friend duo, has loved serving the community for the past 11 years.
For 11 years, Angela Culbreth and Noelle Smith served people from near and far.
They may only have a decade under their belt, but this building is more than a century old.
The cafe is full of history, from 133-year-old rafters to a fifth generation ceiling and a soda fountain built in the 40s.
If you do stop by, be sure to try the omelet.
