Factors in How Madison's Physical Layout Came to be

• Mother Nature – It may have been more than 14,000 years ago but the glacier played an important part in how Madison looks today. As it bulldozed it's way through the area it changed the terrain. Where it dug the deepest we have our lakes. Where it left the highest hills we built our most important buildings, the State Capitol & Bascom Hall
  
• James Doty – In 1836 Doty had a plat map made spanning from the Yahara river on the east side up to where the University is now on the west. That portion of Madison today is very true to the original plat. The placement of the Capitol Building, Layout of the streets and their names, are very much intact.
• Industry Vs. Residential
• Immigration
• Laws