History

The Madrid coal field was situated in the southern portion of Boone County and extended into northeastern Dallas County as well as northwest Polk County. Most of the mining however occurred along the Des Moines River in Boone and Dallas counties. Mining in the Madrid area before the 1880’s was on a small scale with usually no more than three men working at a mine. Greatest production occurred usually in the fall and winter seasons, but tonnage varied with different seasonal periods.