Settlement of the township began around 1830, and it was incorporated on January 1, 1850.
Mills and
ironworks gave initial stimulus to the community of Madoc. Following the discovery of gold-bearing quartz in 1866, the community prospered as an industrial centre. In 1877, the community separated from the township and became an incorporated village municipality. Eldorado, north of
Madoc village, was the site of Ontario's first
gold rush on 18 August 1866 by Marcus Powell and William Berryman (or Nicholas Snider). They opened up a
limestone cave, 12 feet long, 6 feet wide and 6 feet high. The resultant mine was named the
Richardson Mine, after John Richardson, owner of the farm where it was located. People soon came from all over North America to this area. == Demographics ==