Madison County, with an area of 324 square miles, was formed in 1792 from Culpeper and was named for James Madison, "Father of the American Constitution" and President of the United States; Governor Spotswood's exploring expedition passed here in 1716. Culpeper County, with an area of 384 square miles, was formed in 1748 from Orange and was named for Lord Culpeper, Governor of Virginia from 1680 to 1683; the Battle of Cedar Mountain was fought in this county in 1862.