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What Madison looked like in the 1990s Through Fabulous Photos

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As early as the 1990s, Madison began experiencing steady economic growth and has undergone a minor recession than other parts of the state. A local third party, Progressive Dane, was founded in 1992. Among the policies supported by Progressive Dane have been an inclusionary zoning ordinance, which was later abandoned by the mayor and a majority of the council, and a city minimum wage. Several members of the party sit on the Madison City Council and Dane County Board of Supervisors, and it aligns itself with both the Democratic and Green parties.

High-tech companies are driving the boom in Madison, many of them fostered by UW–Madison in partnership with local businesses and entrepreneurs to transfer academic research into real-world applications, especially biotechnology. The area’s high level of education attracts many companies to Madison, taking advantage of its skilled workforce. Madison’s population over 25 has a bachelor’s degree in 48.2% of cases.

#1 Essen Haus, East Wilson Street, Madison, October 1997

Essen Haus, East Wilson Street, Madison, October 1997

5 Points

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#2 State Street, Madison, Sept 1995

State Street, Madison, Sept 1995

5 Points

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#3 View from Concourse Hotel, Madison, Sept 1991

View from Concourse Hotel, Madison, Sept 1991

4 Points

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#4 Badgerwear- State Street, Madison, Sept 1991

Badgerwear- State Street, Madison, Sept 1991

4 Points

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#5 State Street, Madison, April 1996

State Street, Madison, April 1996

4 Points

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#6 State Street, Madison, Sept 1995

State Street, Madison, Sept 1995

4 Points

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#7 King Street at Main, Madison, Sept 1999

King Street at Main, Madison, Sept 1999

4 Points

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#8 State Street, Madison, 1994

State Street, Madison, 1994

4 Points

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#9 State Street, Madison, Sept 1991

State Street, Madison, Sept 1991

3 Points

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#10 State Street at Fairchild, Madison, April 1996

State Street at Fairchild, Madison, April 1996

3 Points

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#11 Myles Teddywedgers–Cornish Pasty Pies–State Street, Madison, April 1996

Myles Teddywedgers--Cornish Pasty Pies--State Street, Madison, April 1996

3 Points

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#12 Memorial Union, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1997

Memorial Union, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1997

3 Points

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#13 Farmer’s Market on Capitol Square, Madison, September 1995

Farmer's Market on Capitol Square, Madison, September 1995

3 Points

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#14 State Street, Madison, Sept 1995

State Street, Madison, Sept 1995

3 Points

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#15 Game Day, UW-Madison, September 1995

Game Day, UW-Madison, September 1995

3 Points

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#16 Fairchild Street, looking towards State Street, Madison, June 1995

Fairchild Street, looking towards State Street, Madison, June 1995

3 Points

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#17 Fairchild Street from State Street, Madison, 1999

Fairchild Street from State Street, Madison, 1999

3 Points

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#18 State Street, Madison, Sept 1999

State Street, Madison, Sept 1999

3 Points

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#19 Madison, 1993

Madison, 1993

3 Points

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#20 Madison, 1993

Madison, 1993

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#21 Madison, 1993

Madison, 1993

3 Points

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#22 Madison, WI 1998

Madison, WI 1998

3 Points

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#23 Barrymore Theater, Madison, Wisconsin, April 1996

Barrymore Theater, Madison, Wisconsin, April 1996

2 Points

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#24 Barrymore Theater, Madison, April 1996

Barrymore Theater, Madison, April 1996

2 Points

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#25 Madison, April 1996

Madison, April 1996

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#26 Farmers Market on the Square, Madison, July 1998

Farmers Market on the Square, Madison, July 1998

2 Points

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#27 State Street, Madison, July 1998

State Street, Madison, July 1998

2 Points

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#28 View from Capitol Grounds, Madison, Sept 1995

View from Capitol Grounds, Madison, Sept 1995

2 Points

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#29 Looking up State Street, Madison, Sept 1995

Looking up State Street, Madison, Sept 1995

2 Points

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#30 State Street, Madison, June 1995

State Street, Madison, June 1995

2 Points

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#31 State Street, Madison, June 1995

State Street, Madison, June 1995

2 Points

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#32 State Street, Madison, June 1995

State Street, Madison, June 1995

2 Points

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#33 State Street, Madison, June 1995

State Street, Madison, June 1995

2 Points

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#34 Yahara Cove Boardwalk, Monona, Sept 1999

Yahara Cove Boardwalk, Monona, Sept 1999

2 Points

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#35 Schooners Bar & Grill, Madison, Sept 1999

Schooners Bar & Grill, Madison, Sept 1999

2 Points

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#36 Climbing Down from the Crane, Madison, Sept 1999

Climbing Down from the Crane, Madison, Sept 1999

2 Points

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#37 Overlooking Lake Monona from Monona Terrace, Madison, Sept 1999

Overlooking Lake Monona from Monona Terrace, Madison, Sept 1999

2 Points

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#38 Wisconsin State Capitol from Monona Terrace, Madison, Sept 1999

Wisconsin State Capitol from Monona Terrace, Madison, Sept 1999

2 Points

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#39 Looking down King Street to State Capitol, Madison, 1998

Looking down King Street to State Capitol, Madison, 1998

2 Points

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#40 Madison, WI Spring 1998

Madison, WI Spring 1998

2 Points

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#41 Essen Haus Bar in Madison, WI Spring 1998

Essen Haus Bar in Madison, WI Spring 1998

2 Points

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#42 Fairchild at State Street, Madison, April 1996

Fairchild at State Street, Madison, April 1996

1 Point

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#43 Madison, 1997.

Madison, 1997.

1 Point

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#44 Looking up State Street from Capitol, Madison, September 1997

Looking up State Street from Capitol, Madison, September 1997

1 Point

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#45 Madison, 1990s

Madison, 1990s

1 Point

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#46 State Street, Madison, Sept 1999

State Street, Madison, Sept 1999

1 Point

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#47 State Street at Gotham, Madison, Sept 1999

State Street at Gotham, Madison, Sept 1999

1 Point

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#48 State & Gorham, Madison’s Happiest Corner, 1999

State & Gorham, Madison's Happiest Corner, 1999

1 Point

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#49 State Street, Madison, 1999

State Street, Madison, 1999

1 Point

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#50 State Capitol from Monona Terrace, Madison, September 1999

State Capitol from Monona Terrace, Madison, September 1999

1 Point

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#51 Madison from Monona Terrace, 1999

Madison from Monona Terrace, 1999

1 Point

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#52 Monona Terrace Convention Center, Madison, Sept 1999

Monona Terrace Convention Center, Madison, Sept 1999

1 Point

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#53 Farmer’s Market, Capitol Square, Madison, September 1995

Farmer's Market, Capitol Square, Madison, September 1995

1 Point

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#54 East Wilson Street, Madison, October 1997

East Wilson Street, Madison, October 1997

0 Points

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#55 East Wilson Street, Madison, October 1997

East Wilson Street, Madison, October 1997

0 Points

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#56 Looking up State Street from Capitol, Madison, September 1997

Looking up State Street from Capitol, Madison, September 1997

0 Points

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#57 State Street, Madison, Sept 1995

State Street, Madison, Sept 1995

0 Points

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Written by Aung Budhh

Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

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Cora Jade says:

May 24, 2024 at 15:38 Copy Link of a Comment

Madison was fun and unique in the 1970s.

By the 1990s it was just a beige chain store trash pit.

Haven’t been back since 2005 and never want to go there ever again. Too sad.

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- Cole Murphy says:
  
  May 24, 2024 at 15:39 Copy Link of a Comment
  
  I went to Madison for the first time less than a month ago. It surprised me in many ways, all for the better. It’s very developed, lots of family restaurants, and tons of unique and cool places. I would assume it’s very different from almost 20 years ago, you should go again maybe it will surprise you for the better 🙂
  
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- Marquis Magician says:
  
  May 24, 2024 at 15:40 Copy Link of a Comment
  
  Who better to give strong opinions about a place than someone who hasn’t visited in almost 20 years?
  
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Harlow Indy says:

May 24, 2024 at 15:39 Copy Link of a Comment

I was hoping to see a photo of Cellar Subs. Man, I miss that place.

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Sofia García says:

May 24, 2024 at 15:39 Copy Link of a Comment

Everyone is interacting with one another and looking where they’re going!

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Liam Brooks says:

May 24, 2024 at 15:39 Copy Link of a Comment

I remember visiting Madison quite often as a kid in the nineties and wanted to live down there in the worst way, even crying when it was time to go back home. I also had my heart set on attending the UW down there. It ended up being cost prohibitive. Today I still make occasional trips down to visit family, but that’s as far as I ever got towards that old dream.

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