The First Settlement neighborhood was the home of Madison's first residential settlement in 1837.  As the nineteenth century progressed, more modest frame houses were built in the area, with finer brick residences sprinkled throughout .  The neighborhood remained fairly stable until after World War II when development in the downtown began to encroach on the area.  In the late 1970's, though, pioneer downtowners began to move back into the area and restore the simple homes of a bygone era.  In the late 1980's, it becane a district of Capitol Neighborhoods, Inc.  Neighbors created a First Settlement Master Plan in 1995 and in 2002 residents succeded in having the area designated as Madison's fifth historic district.

(From the Capitol Neighborhoods)