Marygrace Liparoto | RE/MAX Platinum

Monroe

Location
Monroe is at a crossroads of major transportation areas. Situated between Detroit and Toledo, Ohio on the shores of Lake Erie, the town is accessible by I-75, running north and south, and M-50, running east and west. U.S. 24, also known as Telegraph Rd., parallels I-75’s route through the community. Monroe also has the only Michigan port on Lake Erie and has major rail lines running north and south. It also has Lake Erie Transit, a public bus system. Monroe also operates Custer Airport, a small municipal airport that can accommodate everything from single-engine aircraft to corporate jets.

History
Monroe is one of Michigan’s oldest communities, having been home to French settlers as early as 1785, when it was known as French Town. The French staked claims to long ribbon farms stretching back from the banks of the River Raisin. The town ultimately was named after President James Monroe, but one of its claims to fames is that it was the boyhood home of Gen. George Armstrong Custer, who found fame during his Civil War exploits, but perhaps is best remembered for Custer’s Last Stand when he and his 7th Cavalry were attacked and killed by Indians at Little Big Horn.

Perhaps overshadowing Custer’s significance is that Monroe was the scene of the Battle of the River Raisin in 1813 and the subsequent River Raisin Massacre. The events, during which American troops were defeated by the British and Indians and then survivors slaughtered by Indians, is commemorated in the designation of the River Raisin National Battlefield Park.

Education
Monroe County offers a variety of public, charter and private schools for preschool through grade 12. It continues to be the only county among Michigan’s 83 that has a voter-approved tax to support technology in the schools. It also is home to one of the best Intermediate School Districts in Michigan and hosts Monroe County Community College, a satellite center for Siena Heights University and Eastern Michigan University.

The community is within easy commute of the University of Michigan, Wayne State University, Eastern Michigan University and the University of Toledo. With sixteen branches, the Monroe County Library System is one of the most extensive public library systems in Michigan.

2010 Demographics
City population: 21,533
Households: 8,599
Median household income: $41,810
Median housing value: $115,500
Housing owner-occupied: 58 percent
Households in poverty: 12.9 percent

Culture and Recreation
Monroe’s historic homes and hundreds of historic markers underscore the area’s deep roots in history. Much of that history is represented by the Monroe County Historical Museum and the River Raisin Battlefield Visitor’s Center. The River Raisin Jazz Festival each summer draws thousands to free performances in a friendly and family-oriented setting on the banks of the River Raisin in downtown Monroe. The annual Blues Festival, sponsored by the Monroe County Library System, also brings renowned blues artists to perform a series of free concerts marking Black History Month.

More than 50 miles of Lake Erie shoreline draw outdoor-lovers with the lure of hunting, fishing, boating, swimming and camping. The area also boasts the greatest number of golf courses per capita of any place in Michigan. The 1300-acre Sterling State Park, the only state park on Lake Erie, offers boating, swimming, hiking, canoeing, fishing and kayaking. The city operates the Monroe Multi-Sports Complex, which has a range of activities, including a year-round ice arena.

Official government Web site: http://www.ci.monroe.mi.us/