Madrid, located in Perkins County, Nebraska, was first inhabited by homesteaders who came during the land grab of the 1860’s. The drovers who pushed their cattle up from Texas referred to Madrid as “Trail City and the post master as “Elliston” after himself. By 1886 all of the land around present day Madrid was homesteaded and the Chicago-Burlington-Quincy Railroad announced their intension to run a line from Holdrege, Nebraska to Cheyenne, Wyoming. The formal dedication of Madrid occurred in 1887.
The railroad was responsible for the expansion of the village infrastructure. New businesses sprung up tied to the coattail of the railroad. The 18,000 acre Holdrege Ranch north of town was typical of the area. Some the earliest families to establish businesses were: Blackmore, Ross, Osler, Dayton, Sturtevant and Doctor Bartholomew. Madrid became a progressive and independent community.
By 1887 the territory recognized as Perkins County began to establish local government. Leaders of communities carried on negotiations with Keith County commissioners to divide the present county off from Keith County,. Keith County commissioners consented and in January of 1888, county officials were seated and the establishment of the county seat became a contested issue. Grant was named the county seat after a fraudulent election which took three ballots, the last two run-offs between Grant and Madrid. Over 8000 votes were cast and the election officials designated that there were less than 1700 eligible voters. It was a bad winter, the judge could not rule in a timely manner and the results were upheld.
Loss of the county seat, coupled with a drought initially hurt Madrid. We lost businesses and population. We saw a short resurgence in population during the World War One era, but the improvements made in agriculture machinery, coupled with the depression of 1929 changed the landscape of Madrid for ever. The entire southwest Nebraska area continues to suffer from urban flight today.
One of the obvious changes that took place along the highline highway was the consolidation of school districts. With the decrease in population some communities lost their ability to support a school. Madrid and their archrival Elsie decided to consolidate in 1967. This was a contentious issue which split families, caused people to leave the area and others left the school system. The newly formed Wheatland School District enjoyed immediate success winning a state football championship, academic awards and the creation of many new educational and organizational opportunities. Wheatland enjoyed great success and in 2005 they began the process of consolidation with the Grant Public Schools to form Perkins County Public Schools. In early 2013 the Perkins County School District announced their intensions to close the middle school site in Madrid. This will leave Grant as the only community in the county with a school.
Madrid has progressed since the consolidation with the construction of an ethanol plant in 2006 and additions of an oil extraction and bio-diesel plants in the spring of 2013. The village has benefited greatly form the plant. Our valuation has increased 12 fold, when coupled with our electricity revenue the village has been able to make many major improvements within the community and at the same time lower our tax assessment to under 30 cents.
In the fall of 2013 the village completed a $20,000.00 park enhancement project, it is phase one of two. The business district added a new trailer business. In the spring of 2014 we will begin construction of a new sewer plant, to replace our 1950 WPS Imhoff System. In subsequent years Madrid plans to adapt to an environment where we no longer have a school to act as a hub for our community. Our ability to make this adaptation is essential to our future prosperity.