Madison National Forest was established as the Madison Forest Reserve by the United States General Land Office in Montana on August 16, 1902, with 736000acres. After the transfer of federal forests to the U.S. Forest Service in 1905, it became a National Forest on March 4, 1907. On December 16, 1931, Madison was divided between Beaverhead, Gallatin and Deerlodge National Forests and the name was discontinued.