Madison Isthmus
Encyclopedia
The Madison Isthmus is an isthmus
in Madison, Wisconsin
between Lake Mendota
and Lake Monona
. It is located between Madison's Northeast side to the east and the University of Wisconsin campus to the west. The south portion of the isthmus is home to the Wisconsin State Capitol
, State Street
, and Madison's main business and financial districts. The street grid within the isthmus is laid out in a southwest-to-northeast pattern. Madison, Wisconsin is one of only two major U.S. cities built on an isthmus, the other being Seattle, Washington
.
Isthmus
An isthmus is a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas usually with waterforms on either side.Canals are often built through isthmuses where they may be particularly advantageous to create a shortcut for marine transportation...
in Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
between Lake Mendota
Lake Mendota
Lake Mendota is the northernmost and largest of the four lakes near Madison, Wisconsin. The lake borders Madison on the north, east and south, Middleton on the west, Shorewood Hills on the southwest, Maple Bluff on the northeast, and Westport on the northwest....
and Lake Monona
Lake Monona
Lake Monona is a freshwater drainage lake in Dane County, Wisconsin surrounded on three sides by the city of Madison, Wisconsin and on the south side by the city of Monona, Wisconsin. It is the second-largest of a chain of four lakes along the Yahara River in the area and forms the south shore of...
. It is located between Madison's Northeast side to the east and the University of Wisconsin campus to the west. The south portion of the isthmus is home to the Wisconsin State Capitol
Wisconsin State Capitol
The Wisconsin State Capitol, in Madison, Wisconsin, houses both chambers of the Wisconsin legislature along with the Wisconsin Supreme Court and the Office of the Governor. Completed during 1917, the building is the fifth to serve as the Wisconsin capitol since the first territorial legislature...
, State Street
State Street (Madison)
State Street is a pedestrian mall located in downtown Madison, Wisconsin, United States, near the Wisconsin State Capitol. The road proper extends from the west corner of land comprising the Capitol westward to Lake Street, adjoining the campus of the University of Wisconsin - Madison at Library...
, and Madison's main business and financial districts. The street grid within the isthmus is laid out in a southwest-to-northeast pattern. Madison, Wisconsin is one of only two major U.S. cities built on an isthmus, the other being Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
.