Madison, WI – Think Wisconsin Roads Are Crowded Now? In 1903, Nine Cars Were Considered ‘Numerous’

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It’s hard to imagine Madison streets without the constant hum of engines and the ebb and flow of traffic. But in 1903, the sight of just nine automobiles was enough to grab headlines. A Madison newspaper ran the headline “Automobiles Become Numerous,” declaring the presence of these nine vehicles a sign of the city’s growing embrace of a radical new technology.

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The nine cars were a mix of electric, gasoline, and steam-powered machines, representing the cutting-edge of early 20th-century transportation. Among them was an electric Waverly, owned by local resident Frank D. Winkley, and several gasoline-powered models from brands like Cadillac and Oldsmobile. At the time, these vehicles were capable of reaching speeds of up to 30 miles per hour, a feat that made them both a novelty and a marvel.

The roads themselves were ill-prepared for the arrival of cars, with most streets built for horse-drawn carriages. Yet, the presence of nine automobiles hinted at a major shift. By the end of the decade, the “horseless carriage” was becoming more common, and the groundwork for modern traffic was being laid.

Today, those nine cars seem laughably small compared to Madison’s more than 265,000 registered vehicles and Wisconsin’s 6.2 million as of 2024. But in 1903, they represented the future—a world where automobiles would dominate transportation and reshape cities forever.

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