Editing Monroe, Connecticut

{{Short description|Town in Connecticut, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                   = Monroe, Connecticut
| native_name            = 
| native_name_lang       = 
| settlement_type        = [[New England town|Town]]
| image_skyline          = Monroe Gazebo.jpg 
| image_caption          = Gazebo in front of town hall
| image_seal             = File:MonroeCTseal.png
| nickname               = 
| motto                  = 
| image_map              = {{switcher|[[File:Fairfield County Connecticut incorporated and unincorporated areas Monroe highlighted.svg|230px|frameless|alt=Monroe's location within Fairfield County and Connecticut]]|&nbsp;[[Fairfield County, Connecticut|Fairfield County]] and Connecticut|[[File:Greater Bridgeport incorporated and unincorporated areas Monroe highlighted.svg|250px|frameless|alt=Monroe's location within the Greater Bridgeport Planning Region and the state of Connecticut]]|&nbsp;[[Greater Bridgeport Planning Region, Connecticut|Greater Bridgeport Planning Region]] and Connecticut|default=1}}
| image_map1             = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=280|frame-height=200|frame-coord=SWITCH:{{coord|qid=Q2446258}}###{{coord|qid=Q779}}###{{coord|41|20|10|N|73|13|33|W}}|zoom=SWITCH:10;6;3|type=SWITCH:shape-inverse;point;point|marker=city|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000|id2=SWITCH:Q2446258;Q779;Q30|type2=shape|fill2=#ffffff|fill-opacity2=SWITCH:0;0.1;0.1|stroke-width2=2|stroke-color2=#808080|stroke-opacity2=SWITCH:0;1;1|switch=Monroe;Connecticut;the United States}}
| coordinates            = {{Coord|41|20|10|N|73|13|33|W|region:US-CT_type:city(19,000)|display=inline,title}}
<!-- location -->
| subdivision_type        = Country
| subdivision_name        = United States
| subdivision_type1       = [[U.S. state]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[Connecticut]]
| subdivision_type2       = [[County (United States)|County]]
| subdivision_name2       = [[Fairfield County, Connecticut|Fairfield]]
| subdivision_type3       = [[Councils of governments in Connecticut|Region]]
| subdivision_name3       = [[Greater Bridgeport Planning Region, Connecticut|CT Metropolitan]]
| established_title      = Settled
| established_date         = 1671
| established_title2     = incorporated 
| established_date2      = 1823
| government_type        = [[Board of selectmen|Selectman-town council]]
| leader_title           = [[First Selectman]]
| leader_name            = Terrence P. Rooney<ref>{{cite web | title = First Selectman | publisher = Town of Monroe, Connecticut | url = https://www.monroect.gov/p/first-selectman | accessdate = January 19, 2024}}</ref>
| leader_title1          = Town Council
| leader_name1           ={{Collapsible list
| title         = Town Council members<ref>{{cite web | title = Town Council Members 2019-2021 | publisher = Town of Monroe, Connecticut | url = https://www.monroect.gov/p/town-council-members | accessdate = January 19, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last = Bittar | first = Bill | date = June 17, 2021 | title = Wales strives to improve people's quality of life, at work and in her hometown | url = https://themonroesun.com/wales-strives-to-improve-peoples-quality-of-life-at-work-and-in-her-hometown/ | work = The Monroe Sun}}</ref>
| frame_style   = border:none; padding: 0;
| list_style    = text-align:left;display:none;
| 1 = Jonathan Formichella, Chairman
| 2 = Enid Lipeles, Vice Chair
| 3 = Vincent Duva
| 4 = Cathy Kohut
| 5 = Jason Maur
| 6 = Sean O'Rourke
| 7 = Janice Persico
| 8 = Kevin Reid
| 9 = Dona-Lyn Wales
}}
| unit_pref              = Imperial
| area_total_km2         = 68.1
| area_total_sq_mi       = 26.3
| area_land_km2          = 67.7
| area_land_sq_mi        = 26.1
| area_water_km2         = 0.5
| area_water_sq_mi       = 0.2
| elevation_m            = 159
| elevation_ft           = 522
| population_total       = 18,825
| population_as_of       = 2020
| population_density_sq_mi = 721.3
| population_note        = 
| timezone               = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
| utc_offset             = −5
| timezone_DST           = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
| utc_offset_DST         = −4
| postal_code_type       = [[ZIP Code]]
| postal_code            = 06468
| area_code              = [[Area codes 203 and 475|203/475]]
| blank_name             = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info             = 09-48620
| blank1_name            = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info            = 0213463
| website                = {{URL|http://www.monroect.gov/}}
}}

'''Monroe''' is a [[New England town|town]] located in eastern [[Fairfield County, Connecticut]], United States. The population was 18,825 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0600000US0900148620|title=Census - Geography Profile: Monroe town, Fairfield County, Connecticut|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=December 17, 2021}}</ref> The town is part of the [[Greater Bridgeport Planning Region, Connecticut|Greater Bridgeport Planning Region]].

Monroe is largely considered a bedroom community of [[New York City]], [[New Haven]], [[Stamford, Connecticut|Stamford]] and [[Bridgeport, Connecticut|Bridgeport]].

Monroe contains the villages of [[Stepney, Connecticut|Stepney]], Stevenson and Monroe Center.

==History==

On May 15, 1656, the Court of the [[Colony of Connecticut]] in [[Hartford, Connecticut|Hartford]] affirmed that the town of Stratford included all of the territory {{convert|12|mi}} inland from [[Long Island Sound]], between the [[Housatonic River]] and the [[Fairfield, Connecticut|Fairfield]] town line, to include the southern portion of present-day Monroe. In 1662, Stratford selectmen Lt. [[Joseph Judson]], Captain [[Joseph Hawley (Captain)|Joseph Hawley]] and John Minor secured all the written deeds of transfer from the [[Golden Hill Paugussett Indian Nation]] for this vast territory that comprises the present-day towns of Trumbull, Shelton and Monroe. In 1671, Stratford purchased from the Paugusset Indians the territory which included the remainder of the northern portions of Monroe, Trumbull and Shelton, in what is known as "The White Hills Purchase", and officially annexed it to the Township of Stratford.

Monroe incorporated as a town in 1823. The community is named after [[James Monroe]], fifth President of the United States.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Connecticut Magazine: An Illustrated Monthly|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qoEyAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA333|year=1903|publisher=Connecticut Magazine Company|page=333}}</ref>

On August 18, 2024 the town suffered from a flash flood which poured over 10 inches of rain on the town, causing many roads in town to flood and wash out, leaving many stranded. This included the Route 34 bridge near the Lake Zoar drive in getting washed away completely, leaving the road closed for an extended period of time.

==Geography==

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|26.3|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|26.1|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|0.2|sqmi}}, or 0.76%, is water. The [[Pequonnock River]] begins in Monroe in Wolfe Park.  Monroe borders [[Lake Zoar]], a reservoir on the [[Housatonic River]] formed by the [[Stevenson Dam]].

===Neighborhoods===

Monroe is made up of several neighborhoods:
*[[East Village, Connecticut|East Village]]
*Midtown
*[[Monroe Center Historic District|Monroe Center]]
*North Central
*[[Stepney, Connecticut|Stepney]]
*Stevenson
*[[Upper Stepney]]
* Whitney Farms
*Zoar

==Demographics==

{{See also|List of Connecticut locations by per capita income}}

{{US Census population
|1850= 1442
|1860= 1382
|1870= 1226
|1880= 1157
|1890= 994
|1900= 1043
|1910= 1002
|1920= 1161
|1930= 1221
|1940= 1728
|1950= 2892
|1960= 6402
|1970= 12047
|1980= 14010
|1990= 16896
|2000= 19247
|2010= 19479
|2020= 18825
|estimate= 18764
|estyear= 2021
|estref=
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
|1830=1522|1840=1351}}

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 18,825 people living in the town. The racial makeup of the town was 
84.6% White, 2.4% African American,
6.2% Asian, and 4.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 6.8% of the population.   [https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/monroetownfairfieldcountyconnecticut/LND110210]

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 19,247 people, 6,481 households, and 5,346 families residing in the town.  The population density was {{convert|736.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 6,601 housing units at an average density of {{convert|252.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the town was 95.8% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.20% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.08% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 2.62% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.50% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.83% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] people of any race were 2.20% of the population.

There were 6,481 households, out of which 42.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 6.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.5% were non-families. Of all households, 14.9% were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.96 and the average family size was 3.31.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 29.1% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.5 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $85,000 and the median income for a family was $92,514. Males had a median income of $61,109 versus $41,572 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $34,161.  About 1.8% of families and 2.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 2.6% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.

==Arts and culture==

===Notable locations===

*[[Stepney Cemetery]], founded in 1794 and located near the [[Stepney, Connecticut|Stepney]] Green
*Monroe Green, a private park in [[Monroe Center Historic District|Monroe Center]] bordered by churches and municipal buildings.
* The [[Ed and Lorraine Warren|Warrens' Occult Museum]], a collection of occult artifacts<ref>{{cite web|title=The Warren's Occult Museum|url=http://www.warrens.net/Occult-Museum-Tours.html|website=The New England Society For Psychic Research|access-date=July 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161117092924/http://www.warrens.net/Occult-Museum-Tours.html|archive-date=November 17, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*Village Square Shopping Center, former venue for the Classic Nights Car Club.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Home|url=http://www.classicnights.com/|access-date=July 3, 2021|website=www.classicnights.com}}</ref>

===Locations on the National Register of Historic Places===

* [[Daniel Basset House]] – 1024 Monroe Turnpike (added September 23, 2002)
* [[Monroe Center Historic District]] – CT 110 and CT 111 (added September 19, 1977)
* [[Stevenson Dam Hydroelectric Plant]] – CT 34 (added October 29, 2000)
* [[Thomas Hawley House]] – 514 Purdy Hill Rd. (added May 11, 1980)

=== Places of worship ===

[[File:Momretirementparty (1 of 1).jpg|thumb|Humphrey Bogart's former home in Monroe now belongs to the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth.]]

The town of Monroe features eleven houses of worship representing numerous faiths.
* Beacon Hill Evangelical Free – [[Evangelical Free Church of America]]
* Good Shepherd Lutheran Church – [[Lutheran]]
* Faith World Outreach – [[non-denominational Christian]]
* Monroe Congregational Church – [[Congregationalist]]
* Our Lady of the Rosary Chapel – [[Roman Catholic]]
* Pilgrims Pathway Wesleyan Church – [[Wesleyans]]
* Saint Jude Church – [[Roman Catholic]]
* Saint Peter's Episcopal Church – [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopal]]
* Stepney Baptist Church – [[Baptist]]
* United Methodist Church of Monroe – [[United Methodist]]
* Islamic Community of Fairfield County – [[Islamic]]

==Government==
Monroe is a stalwart Republican town at the presidential level with the longest streak of supporting the GOP in Fairfield County. No Democrat has won the town in over 60 years. [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] came the closest in his landslide victory in 1964, having lost the town by only 17 votes to [[Barry Goldwater|Barry M. Goldwater]]. It is the only municipality in Fairfield County (and one of only four statewide) that voted for Goldwater and subsequently voted for [[Donald Trump]] in all three of his elections.<ref>https://authoring.ct.gov//SOTS/Election-Services/Statement-Of-Vote-PDFs/General-Elections-Statement-of-Vote-1922</ref>
{{Hidden begin
|titlestyle = background:#ccccff;
|title      = Presidential elections results
}}
{| class="wikitable"  style="float:right; margin:1em; font-size:95%;"
|+ Monroe town vote<br/> by party in presidential elections<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://authoring.ct.gov//SOTS/Election-Services/Statement-Of-Vote-PDFs/General-Elections-Statement-of-Vote-1922|title = General Elections Statement of Vote 1922}}</ref>
|- style="background:lightgrey;"
! Year
! [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
! [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
! [[Third party (United States)|Third Parties]]
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2024 United States presidential election|2024]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|46.6% ''5,346''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''51.9%''' ''5,961''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.50% ''175''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2020 United States presidential election|2020]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|48.64% ''5,838''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''49.90%''' ''5,989''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.46% ''175''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2016 United States presidential election|2016]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|41.44% ''4,520''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''54.29%''' ''5,922''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|4.27% ''466''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2012 United States presidential election|2012]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|43.02% ''4,446''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''55.70%''' ''5,757''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.28% ''132''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2008 United States presidential election|2008]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|46.41% ''5,133''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''52.58%''' ''5,815''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.00% ''111''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2004 United States presidential election|2004]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|40.73% ''4,349''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''58.02%''' ''6,195''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.25% ''133''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2000 United States presidential election|2000]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|44.57% ''4,352''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''50.79%''' ''4,960''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|4.64% ''453''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1996 United States presidential election|1996]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|40.94% ''3,544''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''45.84%''' ''3,968''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|13.23% ''1,145''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1992 United States presidential election|1992]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|28.47% ''2,745''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''47.78%''' ''4,607''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|23.76% ''2,291''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1988 United States presidential election|1988]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|32.60% ''2,599''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''66.67%''' ''5,315''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.73% ''58''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1984 United States presidential election|1984]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|25.02% ''1,771''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''74.65%''' ''5,283''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.32% ''23''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1980 United States presidential election|1980]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|28.82% ''1,815''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''59.34%''' ''3,737''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|11.85% ''746''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1976 United States presidential election|1976]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|36.05% ''2,025''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''63.20%''' ''3,550''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.75% ''42''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1972 United States presidential election|1972]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|25.87% ''1,329''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''71.92%''' ''3,695''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|2.22% ''114''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1968 United States presidential election|1968]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|33.15% ''1,527''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''57.47%''' ''2,647''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|9.38% ''432''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1964 United States presidential election|1964]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|49.78% ''1,960''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''50.22%''' ''1,977''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1960 United States presidential election|1960]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|35.51% ''1,116''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''64.49%''' ''2,027''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1956 United States presidential election|1956]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|20.66% ''389''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''79.34%''' ''1,494''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|}
{{Hidden end}}
{| class=wikitable
! colspan = 6 | Voter registration and party enrollment as of October 26, 2021<ref>{{cite web |title=Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of October 26, 2021 |url=https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/SOTS/ElectionServices/Registration_and_Enrollment_Stats/October-26-2021-Registration-and-Party-Enrollment-Statistics.pdf |access-date=August 22, 2022 |publisher=Connecticut Secretary of State}}</ref>
|-
! colspan = 2 | Party
! Active voters
! Inactive voters
! Total voters
! Percentage
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 3,673
| style="text-align:center;"| 168
| style="text-align:center;"| 3,841
| style="text-align:center;"| 26.70%
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 3,188
| style="text-align:center;"| 171
| style="text-align:center;"|3,359
| style="text-align:center;"| 23.36%
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent Party (United States)}}
| [[Independent voter|Unaffiliated]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 6,627
| style="text-align:center;"| 311
| style="text-align:center;"| 6,938
| style="text-align:center;"| 48.24%
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent Party (United States)}}
| Minor parties
| style="text-align:center;"| 234
| style="text-align:center;"| 10
| style="text-align:center;"| 244
| style="text-align:center;"| 1.70%
|-
! colspan = 2 | Total
! style="text-align:center;"| 13,722
! style="text-align:center;"| 660
! style="text-align:center;"| 14,382
! style="text-align:center;"| 100%
|}

==Education==

[[Monroe Public Schools (Connecticut)|Monroe Public Schools]] oversees public education and includes approximately 4,000 students, in three elementary schools (Fawn Hollow, Monroe Elementary, and Stepney Elementary), two middle schools (Jockey Hollow and [[STEM]] Academy), and one high school ([[Masuk High School]]).

In 2011, STEM Academy was opened at Masuk High School as an additional middle school option for Monroe's 6th, 7th, and 8th graders.<ref name="STEM Academy">{{cite web|url=http://monroe.patch.com/articles/stem-academy-forum-draws-a-large-audience|title=STEM Academy Forum Draws a Large Audience Summary File (QT-PL), Monroe town, Connecticut|publisher=Monroe Patch 2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402221409/http://monroe.patch.com/articles/stem-academy-forum-draws-a-large-audience|archive-date=April 2, 2012|access-date=October 8, 2011}}</ref>

Chalk Hill Middle School housed Monroe's 5th and 6th graders from 1969 to 2011 (when it was closed due to shifting population and budget issues).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Monroe-superintendent-proposes-one-year-closure-875197.php|title = Monroe superintendent proposes one-year closure of Chalk Hill Middle School|date = December 11, 2010}}</ref> From 2012 to 2016, Chalk Hill was the home of [[Newtown Public Schools|Sandy Hook Elementary School]] in [[Newtown, Connecticut|Newtown]] following the [[Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting|December 14, 2012, shooting]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Monroe-What-to-do-about-Chalk-Hill-Middle-School-11107762.php|title = Monroe: What to do about Chalk Hill Middle School?|date = April 30, 2017}}</ref>

==Media==

*The town of Monroe owns and operates the FM radio station [[WMNR]].
*The [[Hersam Acorn Newspapers|''Monroe Courier'']] was the weekly town newspaper until it was shut down in October 2018.
*The two local online newspaper are the Monroe Patch and the Monroe Sun.<ref>[https://themonroesun.com/ Monroe Sun]</ref>

==Infrastructure==

===Roads===

* [[Connecticut Route 25]], Main Street, runs across Monroe from Upper Stepney to the [[Trumbull, Connecticut|Trumbull]] town line. The highway starts in [[Brookfield, Connecticut|Brookfield]]/[[Danbury, Connecticut|Danbury]] and runs to [[Bridgeport, Connecticut|Bridgeport]]. From Brookfield through Monroe, it is a 2-lane road, and just over the Monroe-Trumbull border within Trumbull, it becomes a 6-lane freeway which connects to [[Interstate 95]].
* [[Connecticut Route 34]] runs through the northern (Stevenson) section of Monroe. The route begins in [[Newtown, Connecticut|Newtown]] and ends in [[New Haven, Connecticut|New Haven]], where it connects with [[I-91]] and [[I-95]].
**[[Stevenson Dam]], which holds back [[Lake Zoar]], and is the bridge for [[Connecticut Route 34|CT Route 34]] across the [[Housatonic River]]
* [[Connecticut Route 59]] begins at its intersection with Route 25 in Monroe and travels south through [[Easton, Connecticut|Easton]] and [[Fairfield, Connecticut|Fairfield]], where it ends in [[Bridgeport, Connecticut|Bridgeport]].
* [[Connecticut Route 110]] begins in Monroe at its intersection with Route 111, then travels through [[Shelton, Connecticut|Shelton]] before ending in [[Stratford, Connecticut|Stratford]].
*[[Connecticut Route 111]], Monroe Turnpike, begins at its intersection with Route 34 in Monroe and runs south to Trumbull, where it terminates just north of Bridgeport at the [[Merritt Parkway]].

===Bus===

The [[Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority]] provides bus service for Monroe.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://gogbt.com/routes-schedules-maps|title=GBT - Schedules & Maps {{!}} Horarios y mapas|website=gogbt.com|access-date=May 8, 2017}}</ref>

===Train===

Two train stations are located near Monroe:
* [[Bridgeport station (Connecticut)|Bridgeport]], 10.7 miles away.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=am/am2Station/Station_Page&code=BRP|title=Bridgeport Metro North, CT Train Station (BRP) {{!}} Amtrak|website=www.amtrak.com|access-date=May 8, 2017}}</ref>
* [[Derby–Shelton station|Derby–Shelton]], 6.4 miles away.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://as0.mta.info/mnr/stations/station_detail.cfm?key=290|title=MNR Stations|website=as0.mta.info|access-date=May 8, 2017}}</ref>
Both stations are served by [[Metro-North Railroad]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://as0.mta.info/mnr/stations/station_detail.cfm?key=246|title=MNR Stations|website=as0.mta.info|access-date=May 8, 2017}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> Bridgeport station is served by the [[New Haven Line]], [[Amtrak|Amtrak's]] [[Northeast Corridor]] and the [[Vermonter (train)|Vermonter]].<ref name=":0" /> Derby–Shelton station is served only by the [[Waterbury Branch]]. Both stations are easily accessible by bus routes or driving. The [[New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad|New Haven Railroad]] used to serve the town.<ref>http://www.nashuacitystation.org/station/connecticut/fairfield/monroe/stepney/ Stepney Station - Monroe, CT</ref>

=== Parks and recreation ===

The Monroe Parks and Recreation Department manages Monroe's parks.

* [[Webb Mountain Park]], a municipal park with hiking trails and campsites
*[[William E. Wolfe Park]], a town park located on Cutlers Farm Road and on the northern end of Cross Hill Road. The park includes a public pool, four [[baseball]] fields, a [[American football|football]] field, a [[basketball]] court, a playground, and a hiking trail that leads to [[Great Hollow Lake]]. The park includes a barbecue set up on the grass, and a nearby pavilion. [[Great Hollow Lake]] is located in the south-western area of the park.
*The Housatonic Railway Trail is an approximately five-mile section of the scenic walking and biking [[Pequonnock River]] trail that runs from [[Great Hollow Lake]] in Wolfe Park through the [[Newtown, Connecticut|Newtown]] Town line.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Babina|first=John|date=November 28, 2006|title=Monroe Rails into Trails|url=http://monroerec.org/forms/5047_rails_trails_map.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919153029/https://monroerec.org/forms/5047_rails_trails_map.pdf|archive-date=September 19, 2020|access-date=June 3, 2021|website=Monroe Parks and Recreation Department}}</ref>

===Emergency services===

====Fire department====

Monroe is protected by three independent and all-volunteer fire departments operating out of six fire stations.

In 1916, 45 men and women formed the first volunteer fire company in Monroe, the Stepney Volunteer Fire Company. In 1923 the Stepney Company built its own firehouse, which housed their first fire truck. It is the only Ladder Company in the Town of Monroe.<ref>{{Cite web|title=History|url=http://stepneyfire.com/history/|access-date=July 3, 2021|website=stepneyfire.com}}</ref> Also in 1923, the Monroe Volunteer Fire Department was established.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About Us - Monroe Volunteer Fire Department No. 1 Inc|url=https://www.monroefire.com/AboutUs.aspx|access-date=July 3, 2021|website=www.monroefire.com}}</ref>

====Emergency medical services====

Monroe is served by the Monroe Volunteer Emergency Medical Service, founded 1977.<ref>[http://www.monroevems.org/ Monroe Volunteer Emergency Medical Service].</ref>

====Police department====

Officially organized in 1952, the Monroe Police Department operates out of Monroe Town Hall.<ref>[http://www.monroectpolice.com/ Monroe Police Department]</ref>

==Notable people==
<!---♦♦♦ Only add a person to this list if they already have their OWN article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦--->
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order by LAST NAME ♦♦♦--->
* [[Mike Gminski]], former Duke basketball standout and NBA player
* [[Stephen Kellogg]], musician
* [[Mary O'Hara (author)|Mary O'Hara]], author of ''My Friend Flicka'' and other books; lived on an estate called Tyrawley on Bagburn Hill Road for nearly 20 years
* [[Ed and Lorraine Warren]], paranormal investigators and authors
* [[Ed Wojna]], former Major League pitcher

== Images ==

<gallery>
File:Monroe, CT II.JPG|Webb Mountain Park Discovery Zone, Classroom Court pond
File:Monroe Connecticut one-room schoolhouse.JPG|The East Village Barn Hill Schoolhouse of 1790
File:Edith Wheeler Memorial Library.JPG|Edith Wheeler Memorial Library
File:Wolfe Park Fountain.jpg|Fountain and pond at Wolfe Park
File:Great Hollow Lake fisherman Monroe Connecticut.jpg|[[Great Hollow Lake]] in Monroe
</gallery>

== See also ==

* {{Portal-inline|Connecticut}}

Shackelford, Lauren Mascarenhas, Caroll Alvarado, Robert. “Connecticut Flooding: State of Emergency Declared after 2 Killed and ‘Hundreds’ Evacuated during Flash Flooding.” CNN, 19 Aug. 2024,

{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==

* Reverend Samuel Orcutt, ''A History of Stratford and the City of Bridgeport Connecticut'', Fairfield Historical Society, 1886
* ''[https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/03/realestate/living-in-monroe-conn-a-friend-in-need-and-deed.html The New York Times]'' feature about Monroe

==External links==

{{Commons category}}
{{wikivoyage|Monroe (Connecticut)|Monroe, Connecticut}}
* [http://www.monroect.gov/ Town of Monroe official website]

{{Greater Bridgeport Planning Region, Connecticut}}
{{Fairfield County, Connecticut}}
{{Connecticut}}
{{New York metropolitan area}}

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[[Category:Monroe, Connecticut| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Towns in Fairfield County, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Towns in the New York metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Towns in Greater Bridgeport Planning Region, Connecticut]]