Madras ( ) is a city in
Jefferson County,
Oregon, United States. Originally called "The Basin" after the circular valley the city is located in, it is unclear as to whether Madras was named in 1903 for the cotton fabric called "
Madras" that originated in the Madras area in
India, or from the city of Chennai, then known as "Madras". The population was 6,046 at the
2010 census. It is the
county seat of Jefferson County.