Madisonville was founded by Jean Baptiste Baham in 1800, before the United States acquired this area, as the town of Coquille or Cokie because of the abundance of shells in the area, at the site of the Native American village of Chiconcte. The town was renamed in honor of President James Madison circa 1811. Madisonville, a quaint town along the riverbank of the beautiful Tchefuncte River, still maintains its small town charm, along with many successful businesses and many well-known restaurants specializing in tasty seafood entrees. Annual festivals draw crowds of people to the area to experience the lingering traces of past generations who walked the same grounds and to experience the ambience of a town bustling with seafaring history.
