Editing Monroe, Michigan

{{Use American English|date=March 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = Monroe
| settlement_type          = [[City]]
| official_name            =
| image_skyline            = {{multiple image
| border                   = infobox
| total_width              = 280
| image_style              = border:none;
| caption_align            = center
| perrow                   = 1/2/2
| image1                   = Monroe from the River Raisin.jpg
| caption1                 = [[Old Village Historic District (Monroe, Michigan)|Downtown Monroe]] along the [[River Raisin]]
| image2                   = River Raisin National Battlefield Park.jpg
| caption2                 = [[River Raisin National Battlefield Park]]
| image3                   = Monroe County Courthouse (Monroe).jpg
| caption3                 = Monroe County Courthouse
| image4                   = General Custer statue Monroe Michigan.JPG
| caption4                 = [[George Armstrong Custer Equestrian Monument|Custer Equestrian Monument]]
| image5                   = StMaryChurchMonroe.jpg
| caption5                 = [[St. Mary's Church Complex Historic District (Monroe, Michigan)|St. Mary's Church Complex]]
}}
| pushpin_map              = Michigan#USA
| pushpin_label_position   = left<!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
| pushpin_label            = Monroe
| pushpin_map_caption      =
| pushpin_mapsize          =
| pushpin_relief           = yes
| image_seal               =
| image_flag               = Flag of Monroe, Michigan.svg
| image_map                = City of Monroe, MI location 2020.png
| mapsize                  = 250
| map_caption              = Location within [[Monroe County, Michigan|Monroe County]] and the state of Michigan
| image_map1               =
| mapsize1                 =
| map_caption1             =
| subdivision_type         = Country
| subdivision_name         = United States
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[Michigan]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Michigan|County]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Monroe County, Michigan|Monroe]]
| established_title        = Settled
| established_date         = 1785
| established_title2       = [[Plat]]ted
| established_date2        = 1817
| established_title3       = Incorporated
| established_date3        = 1837
<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes     = <ref>{{cite web|last=City of Monroe|url=https://www.monroemi.gov/cms/One.aspx?portalId=10126595&pageId=10351608|title=City Council|date=2020|access-date=April 9, 2020}}</ref>
| government_type          = [[Council–manager government|Council–manager]]
| leader_title             = Mayor
| leader_name              = Robert Clark
| leader_title1            = [[City manager|Manager]]
| leader_name1             = Vince Pastue
| leader_title2            = [[Municipal clerk|Clerk]]
| leader_name2             = Michelle LaVoy
| unit_pref                = Imperial
| area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2023">{{cite web |title=2023 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Michigan |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2023_Gazetteer/2023_gaz_place_26.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=October 30, 2023}}</ref>
| area_total_km2           = 26.46
| area_land_km2            = 23.43
| area_water_km2           = 3.03
| area_total_sq_mi         = 10.21
| area_land_sq_mi          = 9.05
| area_water_sq_mi         = 1.17
| elevation_ft             = 594
| elevation_m              = 182
<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes     = <ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=&g=1600000US2655020&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1| title=P1. Race – Monroe city, Michigan: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=October 31, 2023}}</ref>
| population_total         = 20462
| population_est           =
| pop_est_footnotes        =
| pop_est_as_of            =
| population_density_km2   = 873.34
| population_density_sq_mi = 2261.99
| population_urban         = 51240 (US: [[List of United States urban areas|490th]])
| population_metro         = 151560 (US: [[List of Metropolitan Statistical Areas|264th]])
| timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset               = -5
| coordinates              = {{coord|41|54|59|N|83|23|52|W|region:US-MI|display=inline,title}}
| timezone_DST             = EDT
| utc_offset_DST           = -4
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]s
| postal_code              = 48161, 48162
| area_code                = [[Area code 734|734]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 26-55020
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 0632572<ref name="GR3">{{cite web |author = United States Geological Survey |author-link = United States Geological Survey |url = http://geonames.usgs.gov |access-date = January 31, 2008 |title = US Board on Geographic Names |publisher = United States Geological Survey |date = October 25, 2007 }}</ref>
| website                  = {{URL|monroemi.gov}}
| footnotes                =
}}
'''Monroe''' is the largest city in [[Monroe County, Michigan]], United States, and its [[county seat]]. The population was 20,462 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url= https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/monroecitymichigan/POP010220|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 10, 2022}}</ref> The city is bordered on the south by [[Monroe Charter Township, Michigan|Monroe Charter Township]], but the two are administered autonomously. Monroe is the core city in the [[List of metropolitan statistical areas|Monroe metropolitan area]], which is coterminous with Monroe County and had a population of 154,809 in 2020.<ref>{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/monroecountymichigan/POP010220|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 15, 2021}}</ref> Located on the western shores of [[Lake Erie]] approximately {{convert|20|mi|km}} northeast of [[Toledo, Ohio]], and {{convert|40|mi|km}} southwest of [[Detroit]], the city is part of the [[Metro Detroit|Detroit–Ann Arbor–Flint]] combined statistical area.

The Monroe area was the scene of several military conflicts during the [[War of 1812]] against the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|United Kingdom]] and is known for the [[Battle of Frenchtown]]. In 1817, portions of the [[Frenchtown Charter Township, Michigan|Frenchtown]] settlement along the [[River Raisin]] were [[plat]]ted and renamed "Monroe" after then-president [[James Monroe]]. When Michigan became a state in 1837, Monroe was incorporated as a city.<ref name="Romig">{{cite book | last = Romig | first = Walter | year = 1986 | title = Michigan Place Names | publisher = [[Wayne State University Press]] | location = Detroit |page = 376 | isbn = 978-0-8143-1838-6}}</ref>

Monroe is known as the childhood residence of [[George Armstrong Custer]] and other members of his family, including his brother [[Boston Custer]] and wife [[Elizabeth Bacon Custer|Elizabeth Bacon]]. Several structures are named after Custer, including [[Custer Airport]]. Founded in 1928, the [[La-Z-Boy]] world headquarters are located in Monroe.

==History==
{{Multiple image
| align             = left
| direction         = vertical
| width             = 250
| footer            = Front Street looking east toward the [[Old Village Historic District (Monroe, Michigan)|Old Village]] around the year 1900 ''(top)'' and in 2010 ''(bottom)''
| image1            = West Monroe Front Street (circa 1900).png
| alt1              = Front Street 2010
| caption1          =
| image2            = MonroeFrontStreet.png
| alt2              = Front Street 1900
| caption2          =
}}

Long occupied by varying cultures of indigenous peoples, the area around the [[River Raisin]] was settled by the historic [[Potawatomi]] hundreds of years before French explorers and colonists reached it in the late seventeenth century. [[René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle|Robert de LaSalle]] claimed the area for [[New France]] after his 1679 expedition on the ''[[Le Griffon|Griffon]]''.

In 1784, after the [[American Revolutionary War]], Francis Navarre of Canada was given a portion of land south of the River Raisin by the Potawatomi. Colonists settled [[Frenchtown Charter Township, Michigan|Frenchtown]] shortly thereafter as the third European community in what in the early 19th century became the state of Michigan. Around the same time, the [[Sandy Creek (Michigan)|Sandy Creek Settlement]] was established just north of Frenchtown by French-Canadian Joseph Porlier Benec.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.monroeinfo.com/set1_source.html |title = Monroe, Michigan historical markers |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511195508/http://www.monroeinfo.com/set1_source.html |archive-date=May 11, 2008 }}</ref>

Because of its proximity to Detroit, the area was of strategic importance during the [[War of 1812]] between the United States and Great Britain, especially after [[Fort Detroit]] surrendered to the British in August 1812. American forces en route to retake Detroit camped in the area of the River Raisin in the winter of 1812–13. A force of 200 Native Americans and 63 Canadian militia were forced to retreat north away from the River Raisin by 600 Kentucky militiamen and 100 French, under the command of [[James Winchester (general)|James Winchester]], on January 18, 1813. This skirmish was later dubbed the "First Battle of the River Raisin".

On January 22, 1813, a force of 800 Native Americans and 597 British, under [[Henry Procter (British Army officer)|Henry Proctor]], surprised the force of 1,000 Americans and captured Frenchtown. Many of the American militia were inexperienced, ill-trained, and badly equipped. They suffered 397 killed and 547 captured. The British and their allies had only slight losses.

When the British departed with their captives to Detroit, they left those Americans too wounded to walk in the homes of Frenchtown inhabitants under the guard of a small British detachment and Native American allies, including Potawatomi. The morning after the battle, other Native Americans returned to Frenchtown. They plundered and burned homes, and killed and ritually scalped many of the remaining American captives, taking others as slaves. The official U.S. estimate of casualties in this aftermath include a dozen named individuals killed and up to 30 more who were likely killed. The British estimated six Americans were killed.

This event became known throughout the United States as the "River Raisin Massacre". It was also known as the [[Battle of Frenchtown]] (or the Second Battle of the River Raisin).<ref>{{cite web|author=National Park Service|url=http://www.nps.gov/rira/historyculture/index.htm|title=History & Culture|department=River Raisin National Battlefield Park |publisher= National Park Service}}</ref> Today, the site of the battle is preserved as the [[River Raisin National Battlefield Park]], authorized in 2009.<ref name = "MonroeNews">{{cite news | author = Monroe Evening News staff | title = Battlefield Bill Signing Celebrated | url = http://www.monroenews.com/article/20090331/NEWS01/703319972/-1/NEWS | work = [[Monroe Evening News]] |date = March 31, 2009 | access-date = April 3, 2009 }}</ref> It is the first and so far the only national battlefield established for a solely War of 1812 site. It has a small visitor center.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.riverraisinbattlefield.org/visitorscenter.htm |title=River Raisin Battlefield: Visitors Center |author=Friends of the River Raisin Battlefield |publisher=Friends of the River Raisin Battlefield|access-date=March 31, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101024124526/http://www.riverraisinbattlefield.org/visitorscenter.htm|archive-date=October 24, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:Custerstatue.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[George Armstrong Custer Equestrian Monument|George Armstrong Custer's statue]], unveiled in 1910, is located at the corner of Elm Avenue and [[M-125 (Michigan highway)|Monroe Street]].]]

The Frenchtown community was renamed after the War of 1812 and incorporated as the village of Monroe in honor of President [[James Monroe]], who visited the [[Michigan Territory]] in 1817. In the same year, the city of Monroe was named as the [[county seat]] of the newly created [[Monroe County, Michigan|Monroe County]]. Monroe was re-incorporated as a city in 1837.<ref name="Romig"/>

Settled mostly by American migrants from New York and New England, Monroe later became associated with events in the West in the later 19th century, particularly the [[Indian Wars]]. It was the childhood home of [[George Armstrong Custer]] (1839–1876), who had a military career in which he reached the rank of [[Major general (United States)|major general]]. His family moved here when he was young, and he lived in Monroe for much of his childhood. Here he later met and in 1864 married [[Elizabeth Bacon Custer|Elizabeth Bacon]] (1842–1933), during the [[American Civil War|Civil War]]. In the later 19th century, he led troops in the Indian Wars and died at the [[Battle of the Little Bighorn]], in which his forces were killed by the [[Lakota people|Lakota]], who call it the Battle of the Greasy Grass.

In 1910, President [[William Howard Taft]] and the widow Elizabeth Bacon Custer unveiled an [[George Armstrong Custer Equestrian Monument|equestrian statue]] of Custer, which now stands at the corner of Elm Avenue and [[M-125 (Michigan highway)|Monroe Street]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 10, 2022 |title=Battle continues over Monroe statue of George Armstrong Custer |url=https://www.wxyz.com/news/national/two-americas/battle-continues-over-monroe-statue-of-george-armstrong-custer |access-date=October 12, 2022 |work=WXYZ}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last = Custer |first = Elizabeth B. |date = May 15, 1910 |url = https://www.nytimes.com/1910/05/15/archives/president-will-help-dedicate-the-custer-monument-nation-will-join.html |title = President Will Help Dedicate the Custer Monument: Nation Will Join with Michigan in Honors to the Great Indian Fighter Next Month |work = [[The New York Times]] |access-date = January 18, 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://monroe.lib.mi.us/books_movies_music/special_collections/custer_statue_moved.htm |title = Custer's Statue |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090926023239/http://monroe.lib.mi.us/books_movies_music/special_collections/custer_statue_moved.htm |archive-date = September 26, 2009 |website = George Armstrong Custer Collection |publisher = Monroe County Library System }}</ref> Custer is also honored in street names, various [[historic marker]]s, buildings, schools, and the regional [[Custer Airport]].<ref name=cstr>{{cite web |url = https://www.michigan.gov/documents/Ttf_19117_7.pdf |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051214212723/https://www.michigan.gov/documents/Ttf_19117_7.pdf |archive-date = December 14, 2005 |title = Monroe Custer (TTF) |publisher = State of Michigan }}</ref> City limit signs for Monroe describe the city as "the home of General Custer."

The [[La-Z-Boy]] furniture company, which became known for its reclining easy chairs, was founded in Monroe in 1927.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.la-z-boy.com/about/our_history.aspx|title=About La-Z-Boy|publisher= [[La-Z-Boy]] |access-date=March 31, 2018}}</ref> Their world headquarters are located in Monroe, south of the intersection of La-Z-Boy Boulevard and Stewart Road. This new facility is roughly a half mile east of the original location on [[U.S. Route 24 in Michigan|Telegraph Road]]; the old building was demolished in 2021, and the site is being redeveloped.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.constructionjournal.com/projects/details/c53d1af976a843189f589e74f5d3b866.html |work=Construction Journal |access-date=July 19, 2022|title=Former La-Z-Boy World Headquarters Building Demolition }}</ref>

In 1974, the [[Monroe Power Plant]] opened. It is the [[List of coal-fired power stations in the United States|third largest coal-fired plant]] in the United States, with a capacity of 3,280 megawatts.<ref>{{cite web |last = Chepkemoi |first = Joyce |date = August 1, 2017 |url = https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-largest-coal-power-stations-in-the-united-states.html |title = The Largest Coal Power Stations in the United States |website = WorldAtlas.com |access-date = January 18, 2018 }}</ref> At {{convert|805|ft|m}} tall, the dual [[Chimney|smokestacks]] are visible from more than {{convert|25|mi|km}} away and are among the tallest structures in the state.

In December 1989, a combination of [[zebra mussel]]s and ice clogged the sole intake pipe of the Monroe water treatment plant, forcing a two-day shutdown of the city's schools, industries, and businesses.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}

==Geography==
Monroe is in eastern Monroe County, with its city limits extending southeast{{convert|3|mi|0}} from the downtown to [[Lake Erie]]. The average elevation of the city is {{convert|594|ft|m|abbr=off}},<ref>http://michigan.hometownlocator.com/mi/monroe/monroe.cfm Elevation of Monroe, MI</ref> decreasing to {{convert|571|ft|m|abbr=off}}<ref>http://egsc.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/elvadist/elvadist.html#Highest {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015012701/http://egsc.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/elvadist/elvadist.html#Highest|date=October 15, 2011}} USGS Elevations and Distances in the United States</ref> at Lake Erie, which sits at the lowest elevation in Michigan. The Port of Monroe is the only Michigan port on Lake Erie,<ref>http://www.portofmonroe.com/ Port of Monroe</ref> and [[Sterling State Park]], partially within the city limits, is the only one of [[List of Michigan state parks|Michigan's 103 state parks]] located on or near Lake Erie.<ref>http://www.michigandnr.com/ParksandTrails/Details.aspx?id=497&type=SPRK Sterling State Park</ref>

According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|10.21|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|9.05|sqmi|sqkm|2}} are land and {{convert|1.17|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, or 11.44%, are water.<ref name ="CenPopGazetteer2023"/> The [[River Raisin]] travels through the city; it is [[Navigability|non-navigable]] because of several dams and other obstructions.

===Climate===
Monroe lies in the [[humid continental climate]] zone. Monroe receives an average of {{convert|28.5|in|cm}} of snow a year — the lowest average snowfall for any large city in the state. July is the warmest month with an average high temperature of {{convert|84|°F|°C|abbr=on}}, and January is the coldest month with an average low temperature of {{convert|16|°F|°C|abbr=on}}. Monroe does not normally have extremely hot or cold temperatures, as its climate is moderated by the lake. On average, the temperature only drops below {{convert|0|°F|°C|abbr=on}} a couple of times during a winter season, and it is even rarer for the temperature to rise above {{convert|100|°F|°C|abbr=on}} during the summer. The coldest recorded temperature was {{convert|-21|°F|°C|abbr=on}} on February 5, 1918. The highest recorded temperature was {{convert|106|°F|°C|abbr=on}} on July 24, 1934, with another equal temperature recorded on one occasion many years earlier.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://climate.geo.msu.edu/Stations/5558/NARRAT.txt |title=Archived copy |access-date=June 7, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100707144930/http://climate.geo.msu.edu/Stations/5558/NARRAT.txt |archive-date=July 7, 2010}} Climate of Monroe</ref>

{{Weather box
|location = Monroe, Michigan
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F = 70
|Feb record high F = 70
|Mar record high F = 83
|Apr record high F = 90
|May record high F = 95
|Jun record high F = 106
|Jul record high F = 106
|Aug record high F = 103
|Sep record high F = 103
|Oct record high F = 92
|Nov record high F = 81
|Dec record high F = 68
|year record high F= 106
|Jan high F = 31
|Feb high F = 33
|Mar high F = 43
|Apr high F = 57
|May high F = 69
|Jun high F = 80
|Jul high F = 84
|Aug high F = 82
|Sep high F = 75
|Oct high F = 62
|Nov high F = 48
|Dec high F = 36
|year high F=
|Jan low F = 16
|Feb low F = 18
|Mar low F = 27
|Apr low F = 38
|May low F = 49
|Jun low F = 59
|Jul low F = 64
|Aug low F = 62
|Sep low F = 55
|Oct low F = 43
|Nov low F = 33
|Dec low F = 22
|year low F=
|Jan record low F = −18
|Feb record low F = −21
|Mar record low F =  −2
|Apr record low F =  11
|May record low F =  26
|Jun record low F =  35
|Jul record low F =  35
|Aug record low F =  38
|Sep record low F =  27
|Oct record low F =  21
|Nov record low F =   1
|Dec record low F = −12
|year record low F= −21
|Jan precipitation inch = 1.6
|Feb precipitation inch = 1.7
|Mar precipitation inch = 2.6
|Apr precipitation inch = 3.0
|May precipitation inch = 3.1
|Jun precipitation inch = 3.5
|Jul precipitation inch = 3.1
|Aug precipitation inch = 3.2
|Sep precipitation inch = 3.0
|Oct precipitation inch = 2.3
|Nov precipitation inch = 2.8
|Dec precipitation inch = 2.8
|year precipitation inch=32.7
|Jan snow inch = 7.4
|Feb snow inch = 6.2
|Mar snow inch = 5.3
|Apr snow inch = 0.9
|May snow inch =   0
|Jun snow inch =   0
|Jul snow inch =   0
|Aug snow inch =   0
|Sep snow inch =   0
|Oct snow inch =   0
|Nov snow inch = 2.2
|Dec snow inch = 6.0
|source 1 =<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=855502&refer=|title=Average Weather for Monroe, MI: Temperature and Precipitation |access-date=May 28, 2009 |publisher=Weatherbase }}</ref>
|date=August 2010
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1840= 1703
|1850= 2813
|1860= 3892
|1870= 5086
|1880= 4930
|1890= 5258
|1900= 5043
|1910= 6893
|1920= 11573
|1930= 18110
|1940= 18478
|1950= 21467
|1960= 22968
|1970= 23894
|1980= 23531
|1990= 22625
|2000= 22076
|2010= 20733
|2020= 20462
|align-fn=center
|footnote=[https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html U.S. Decennial Census]<br>2018 Estimate<ref name="2018 Pop Estimate">{{cite web|title=Population Estimates|url=https://census.gov/data/tables/2018/demo/popest/total-cities-and-towns.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=June 8, 2018}}</ref>
}}
[[File:StMikesChurchMonroe.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Saint Michael the Archangel Church (Monroe, Michigan)|St. Michael the Archangel Church]]]]
===2010 census===
As of the census<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web |author = United States Census Bureau |title = U.S. Census website |url = https://www.census.gov |publisher = United States Census Bureau |access-date = November 25, 2012 }}</ref> of 2010, there were 20,733 people, 8,238 households, and 5,277 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|2261.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 9,158 housing units at an average density of {{convert|998.7|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 88.4% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 6.2% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.4% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.7% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 1.2% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 3.0% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 4.1% of the population.

There were 8,238 households, of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.7% were married couples living together, 17.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.9% were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.05.

The median age in the city was 36.3 years. 26.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.9% were from 25 to 44; 25.4% were from 45 to 64; and 13.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.0% male and 53.0% female.

===2000 census===
In the census of 2000, there were 22,076 people, 8,594 households, and 5,586 families in the city. The population density was {{convert|2,440.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|adj=off}}. There were 9,107 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,007.0|/sqmi|/km2|adj=off}}. The racial makeup was 90.87% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 5.07% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.24% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.84% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.90% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.06% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.76% of the population.

There were 8,594 households, of which 33.6% had children under 18 living with them, 46.6% were married couples living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.0% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone 65 years or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size 3.10.

In the city, the population was 26.9% under 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who 65 or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $41,810, and the median income for a family $51,442. Males had a median income of $42,881 versus $25,816 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,948. 9.0% of families and 12.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.0% of those under 18 and 16.1% of those 65 or over.

==Economy==
===Top employers===
According to the city's 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,<ref>{{cite book |author = City of Monroe |url = http://www.egovlink.com/public_documents300/monroe/published_documents/City%20of%20Monroe/Reports%20and%20Studies/20100630%20City%20of%20Monroe%20Comprehensive%20Annual%20Financial%20Report.pdf |title = Comprehensive Annual Financial Report |publisher = City of Monroe |via = egovlink.com |access-date = March 31, 2018 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111006072641/http://www.egovlink.com/public_documents300/monroe/published_documents/City%20of%20Monroe/Reports%20and%20Studies/20100630%20City%20of%20Monroe%20Comprehensive%20Annual%20Financial%20Report.pdf |archive-date = October 6, 2011 |url-status = dead |df = mdy-all }}</ref> the top employers in the city are:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! #
! Employer
! # of Employees
|-
|1
|ProMedica Regional Hospital Monroe (formerly Mercy Memorial Hospital)
|1,600
|-
|2
|[[Monroe County, Michigan|County of Monroe]]
|1,062
|-
|3
|[[DTE Energy]]
|530
|-
|4
|[[La-Z-Boy]]
|522
|-
|5
|Gerdau Macsteel
|450
|-
|6
|[[Monroe Bank & Trust]]
|401
|-
|7
|[[Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary]]
|265
|-
|8
|City of Monroe
|205
|-
|9
|Monroe Publishing Company
|200
|-
|10
|[[Sysco|SYGMA Network]]
|162
|}

==Sports==
Monroe is the hometown of the Southern Michigan Timberwolves, a semi-professional football team that competes in the Great Lakes Football League. The Timberwolves have won their league championship four times, three in the Mid-Continental Football League (1996, 97 & 99) and the Minor League Football Alliance championship in 2016.<ref>Monroe Evening News December 9, 2016{{full citation needed|date=July 2018}}</ref>

==Education==
[[File:NormanTowers.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The [[Hall of the Divine Child]], now the Norman Towers senior citizens residence, was a boarding school in Monroe from 1918 to 1980.]]
The city of Monroe is served by one [[Public education|public school]] district, [[Monroe Public Schools (Michigan)|Monroe Public Schools]] (MPS), which enrolls approximately 6,700 students.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.greatschools.net/michigan/monroe/Monroe-Public-Schools/|title=Monroe Public Schools in Monroe, MI |publisher = GreatSchools|access-date=March 31, 2018}}</ref> MPS operates five elementary schools, one middle school, one high school, one [[alternative education|alternative]] high school, and two specialized education centers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.monroe.k12.mi.us/|title=Monroe Public Schools|publisher=Monroe Public Schools|access-date=March 31, 2018}}</ref> At around 2,100 students, Monroe High School is one of the largest high schools in the state. Monroe is also served by the [[Monroe County Intermediate School District]], which provides services to other schools in the form of [[special education]] services, support staff, [[substitute teacher]]s, and [[educational technology]] (such as computers and [[distance learning]]). Students in Monroe may also attend one of two public charter schools.

More than a dozen various parochial schools operate in and around Monroe. In 2012, the three largest parochial elementary schools (St. Michael the Archangel, St. Mary, and St. John the Baptist) merged to form Monroe Catholic Elementary Schools, serving infants through 8th grade. The St. Michael Campus serves infants through 1st grade, while St. John serves 2nd through 4th grade, and St. Mary functions as the Middle School for grades 5 through 8. The largest of the parochial schools is [[St. Mary Catholic Central High School]], which enrolls more than 400 students annually. It has a full sports program that competes against the other public school districts. Zion Lutheran School is a grade school (Pre-K-8) of the [[Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod]] in Monroe.<ref>{{cite web |title=Zion Lutheran School |url=http://www.zionmonroe.org/school2}}</ref> Parents may also [[Homeschooling in the United States|homeschool]] their children.

[[Marygrove College]], sponsored by the local [[Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary]] (IHM), was founded in Monroe in 1905 as a [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]], [[liberal arts]] college. The college moved to Detroit in 1927. The IHM also operated a boarding school, the [[Hall of the Divine Child]], in Monroe from 1918 to 1980. [[Monroe County Community College]] was founded in 1964 just west of Monroe. It is the only higher education facility in Monroe County.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.monroeccc.edu/|title=Welcome to Monroe County Community College, Monroe Michigan|website=monroeccc.edu|access-date=March 31, 2018}}</ref>

==Media==
''[[The Monroe News]]'' is the daily newspaper in Monroe, reporting on all of Monroe County. The newspaper was founded in 1825 and for many years known as The Monroe Evening News. It was purchased by GateHouse Media in fall 2015, prior to which time The Monroe News had about 20 years of employee ownership.

[[Nielsen Corporation|Nielsen]] puts Monroe in the Detroit [[Media Market|DMA]] but stations from Toledo also cover Monroe County and consider it as a part of their coverage area of northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan. ''Only in Monroe'' is a monthly public-access television program covering news on the Monroe area. It is hosted by [[Kaye Lani Rae Rafko]] and [[Michelle Bowman]]. Comedian and nationally known talk show host [[Stephen Colbert]] was a guest host of the show on July 1, 2015.<ref>{{cite web |last = Colbert |first = Stephen |author-link = Stephen Colbert |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVPlMM_aSn4 | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/rVPlMM_aSn4| archive-date=December 11, 2021 | url-status=live|title=Only In Monroe: July 2015 |date=July 1, 2015 |website = [[The Late Show with Stephen Colbert]] |access-date=July 3, 2015 |via = YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Colbert interviewed musician [[Eminem]]. "Only in Monroe" and other public access programming can be found on Monroe Public Access Cable Television.

[[WERW (FM)|Rewind 94.3 WERW]] is the low-power educational FM frequency in Monroe, the station at one time belonged to Monroe Public Schools and is currently run by Monroe Public Access Cable Television. Monroe County Radio is an Internet radio station founded in fall 2012, the studio is in Monroe with news and sports coverage focusing on Monroe County. [[WMIM|Nash Icon WMIM 98.3]] is the Cumulus radio station in the area, the studio is in downtown Monroe. The current music format is country. Prior to Cumulus owning the station, it was locally owned. Radio stations from Detroit and Toledo are also receivable.

==Transportation==
===Highway and bus===
The city of Monroe is served by the Lake Erie Transit public transportation bus system. Established in 1975, Lake Erie Transit currently has a fleet of 31 buses and serves approximately 400,000 riders every year. In 2008, the system logged 764,000 miles.<ref>{{cite web |author = Michigan Department of Transportation |title = Lake Erie Transit |url = http://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,1607,7-151-9625_21607-164483--,00.html |publisher = Michigan Department of Transportation |access-date = July 9, 2018 }}</ref> The system operates buses on eight fixed routes in and around the city of Monroe. It also serves several neighboring townships outside of its normal routes should a passenger call ahead for a ride. From [[Bedford Township, Monroe County, Michigan|Bedford Township]], its provides transportation to and from two shopping malls in [[Toledo, Ohio]].
* {{jct|state=MI|I|75}} travels through Monroe and provides access to [[Toledo, Ohio|Toledo]] and Detroit. There are five interchanges in and near Monroe: LaPlaisance Road (exit 11), Front Street (exit 13), Elm Street (exit 14), North Dixie Highway (exit 15), and Nadeau Road (exit 18).
* {{jct|state=MI|I|275}} has its southern terminus {{convert|7|mi|0}} north of Monroe. Splitting off from I-75, I-275 is a western bypass around Detroit. Aside from I-75, the highway can be accessed from Monroe by US&nbsp;24 (Telegraph Road) via exit 2.
* {{jct|state=MI|M|50}} terminates in Monroe at US&nbsp;24 and provides a direct route to [[Dundee, Michigan|Dundee]], [[Jackson, Michigan|Jackson]], and further. In Monroe, M-50 is known locally as South Custer Road. Its former terminus used to be I-75 at exit 15.
* {{jct|state=MI|US|24}} travels through Monroe and provides access to Toledo and western portions of Detroit. The road is known locally as North Telegraph and South Telegraph — divided at the [[River Raisin]]. US&nbsp;24 also connects to I-275 just north of Monroe.
* {{jct|state=MI|M|125}} travels directly through the downtown area before merging into US&nbsp;24 north of Monroe. South of downtown after Jones Avenue, it is called South Dixie Highway. In the downtown area, it is South Monroe Street. North of the River Raisin, it is North Monroe Street.
* {{jct|state=MI|M 1948|130}} was a state highway existing from 1930 until 1955 and ran along the northern banks of the River Raisin. M-130 had its eastern terminus at US&nbsp;24 and ran for just over {{convert|9|mi|km|spell=in}}. In 1955, control of the highway was transferred back to the county. Today, it is called North Custer Road.
* [[File:Dixie Highway marker.svg|20px|alt=|link=]] The [[Dixie Highway]] ran through Monroe in as early as 1915. It was originally one of the few ways to reach places like Florida, but the highway was largely replaced by I-75 beginning in the 1960s. Today, the namesake of the highway is used for two non-connecting highways (one being M-125), although the same route and remnants of the original highway are long gone.
* {{jct|state=MI|US 1948 |25}} was the designated name for the portion of the Dixie Highway north of [[Cincinnati]], including the portion running through Monroe. Like the Dixie Highway, US&nbsp;25 was largely replaced, and the existing highway was truncated at Cincinnati.
* [[File:Airport Sign.svg|20px|alt=|link=]] [[Custer Airport]] was built in 1946 and is located on the former M-130. It is a very small and seldom used airport. There are no commercial or passenger flights departing from or arriving at Custer Airport. There is one paved runway used by small personal airplanes. There is also a small aviation school on the site. All air services in the area are primarily through the [[Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport|Metro Airport]] in [[Wayne County, Michigan|Wayne County]].<ref name=cstr/>

===Railroads===
Present-day freight hauling railroads operating through and around Monroe are the Norfolk Southern, CSX, and the Canadian National. Historic railroads operating until the 1950s to 1960s were the Pere Marquette, Ann Arbor, Wabash, Grand Trunk Western, and the Detroit, Toledo, and Ironton. The Baltimore and Ohio had trackage rights with the PM and the Wabash upon which to operate its Detroit to Toledo passenger trains such as the Ambassador which after Toledo continued to Washington, D.C., and from there northward to Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York City.<ref>Railroad schedules of the 1950s with their included maps</ref>

===Interurbans===
From 1900 to the 1930s, the electric Detroit United Railway (eventually becoming the Eastern Michigan Ry) operated hourly interurban passenger service between Detroit and Toledo through Monroe. The DU/EM provided valuable and frequent passenger transportation plus carryed freight at a time of unpaved and unreliable roads. The gradual business lost as Michigan and Ohio and their towns paved highways in the 1920s and resulting growing truck and automobile use, plus the 1930–32 dramatic loss of business caused by the economic impact of the Great Depression shut the interurban down in 1932. The Eastern Michigan had carried considerable freight and passengers from Detroit to Cleveland exchanged with the Lake Shore Electric interurban at Toledo. Similarly, it had carried freight and passengers from Detroit to Dayton, Columbus, and Cincinnati exchanged with the Cincinnati and Lake Erie interurban at Toledo.<ref>The Cincinnati and Lake Erie Railroad, p76-77, p108. Keenan, Jack; Golden West Books, San Marino, CA. 1974. {{ISBN|0-87095-055-X}}.</ref>

==Notable people==
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Rance Allen]] (1948-2020), bishop, songwriter, gospel singer
* [[Alfred E. Bates]], U.S. Army major general<ref name="Suter">{{cite book |last=Suter |first=J. L. |date=1908 |title=American Biographical Directories District of Columbia: Concise Biographies of Its Prominent and Representative Contemporary Citizens |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vjRMAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA27 |location=Washington, DC |publisher=Potomac Press |page=27 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref>
* [[Frankie Biggz]] (b. Francisco Andres Lucio, 1973), record producer, singer-songwriter, musician, and DJ
* [[Vic Braden]] (1929–2014), tennis champion and coach
* [[Christie Brinkley]] (b. 1954), model; born in Monroe
* [[Robert K. Brown]] (b. 1932), combat correspondent, investigative journalist, and founder, editor, publisher of [[Soldier of Fortune (magazine)|''Soldier of Fortune'' magazine]]
* [[Horace Thompson Carpenter]] (1857–1947), artist and art critic, historian
* [[Jabez Chickering]], Massachusetts lawyer who fled to Monroe after stealing $35,000 in 1814.
* [[Isaac P. Christiancy]] (1812–1890), Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court
* [[Ken W. Clawson]] (1936–1999), deputy director of communications for President [[Richard Nixon]] during the Watergate scandal
* [[Audie Cole]] (b. 1989), football player for the [[Minnesota Vikings]]
* [[Joe Bellino (politician)|Joe Bellino]] (b. 1958), businessman, member of the [[Michigan Senate]]
* [[Oliver H. P. Cowdery]] (1806–1850), important figure in founding of the [[Latter Day Saint movement]]
* [[Boston Custer]] (1848–1876), younger brother of General George Custer, killed at the [[Battle of Little Big Horn]]
* [[Elizabeth Bacon Custer]] (1842–1933), wife of General Custer; born in Monroe
* [[George Armstrong Custer]] (1839–1876), iconic 19th century soldier; lived much of his early life in Monroe
* [[Eric Daman]] (b. 1970), fashion designer
* [[Robert S. Duncanson]] (1821–1872), first professional African-American artist
* [[Elisha Peyre Ferry]] (1825–1895), first governor of the state of Washington
* [[Carl Ford (American football)|Carl Ford]] (b. 1980), football player
* [[Don Gonyea]] (b. 1956), White House correspondent for [[National Public Radio]]
* [[Valerie Harper]] (1939–2019), actress, star of sitcoms ''[[The Mary Tyler Moore Show]]'', ''[[Rhoda (TV series)|Rhoda]]'' and ''[[Valerie (TV series)|Valerie]]''; grew up in Monroe
* [[John James Hattstaedt]], musician, founder and president of the [[American Conservatory of Music]] in Chicago (1886–1991), was born and grew up in Monroe
* [[Ernest Ingersoll]] (1852–1946), environmentalist and writer
* [[Mary Harris "Mother" Jones]] (1837–1930), union organizer; lived in Monroe
* [[Ken Kelley (journalist)|Ken Kelley]] (1949–2008), journalist, editor, and publisher
* [[Ernst G. W. Keyl]] (1804–1872), Lutheran clergyman; died in Monroe<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lutheranhistory.org/collections/fa/M-0010.htm|title=Guide to the Ernst Gerhard Wilhelm Keyl Collection|author=[[Concordia Historical Institute]] |publisher = Department of Archives and History of The Lutheran Church & Missouri Synod |access-date=July 31, 2012}}</ref>
* [[Tonya Kinzinger]], actress; born in Monroe
* [[Karen Koch]] (b. 1951), world's first professional female ice hockey player
* [[Charles Lanman]] (1819–1895), author, artist and US government official
* [[Robert McClelland (American politician)|Robert McClelland]] (1807–1880), prominent Michigan politician
* [[Bronco McKart]] (b. 1971), prizefighter, World Boxing Organization champion
* [[J. Sterling Morton]] (1832–1902), prominent conservationist; lived in Monroe from 1834 to 1854
* [[Fannie Ellsworth Newberry]] (1848–1942), writer of girls' stories; born in Monroe
* [[Kaye Lani Rae Rafko]] (b. 1963), [[Miss America 1988]]
* [[Henry Armstrong Reed]] (1858–1876), nephew of George Custer, killed at Little Big Horn
* [[James A. Roy]], 16th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
* [[Paul W. Smith]], WJR radio personality
* [[Vern Sneider]] (1916–1981), novelist who wrote ''[[The Teahouse of the August Moon (novel)|Teahouse of the August Moon]]''
* [[George Spalding]], U.S. congressman
* [[Matt Urban]] (1919–1995), most decorated combat soldier of World War II
* [[Frankie E. Harris Wassom]] (1850–1933), educator and poet
* [[Todd Williams (runner)|Todd Williams]] (b. 1969), two-time U.S. Olympian at 10,000m (1992, 1996)
* [[Eric Wilson (Canadian football)|Eric Wilson]] (b. 1978), football player
* [[Warner Wing]] (1805–1876), Michigan jurist and legislator
{{Div col end}}

==Sister cities==
Monroe, Michigan has only one official [[Twin towns and sister cities|sister city]]:
* {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Hōfu, Yamaguchi|Hofu]], Japan, since 1993<ref>{{cite web |author = City of Monroe |year = 2007 |url=http://www.ci.monroe.mi.us/Hofu_Mayor_Visit.cfm |title= Sister City Hofu Japan |access-date=March 12, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100128224700/http://www.ci.monroe.mi.us/Hofu_Mayor_Visit.cfm |archive-date=January 28, 2010 |publisher = City of Monroe }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.monroemi.gov/cms/one.aspx?portalId=10126595&pageId=12300548|title=Sister City – City of Monroe|website=monroemi.gov|access-date=December 22, 2018}}</ref>

==See also==
* {{Portal-inline|Michigan}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikivoyage|Monroe (Michigan)}}
* {{Official|www.monroemi.gov}}
* [http://www.monroenews.com/ ''The Monroe News'']
* {{Cite Americana|wstitle=Monroe (Michigan)|display=Monroe, Michigan|year=1920 |short=x}}
* {{Cite Collier's|wstitle=Monroe (Michigan)|display=Monroe, Michigan|year=1921 |short=x}}

{{Geographic location
| Centre    = Monroe
| North     = [[Frenchtown Charter Township, Michigan|Frenchtown Township]]
| Northeast =
| East      = ''[[Lake Erie]]''
| Southeast = ''[[Lake Erie]]''<br>{{flagicon|OH}} [[Ottawa County, Ohio]]
| South     = [[Monroe Charter Township, Michigan|Monroe Township]]
| Southwest = [[South Monroe, Michigan|South Monroe]] – [[West Monroe, Michigan|West Monroe]]
| West      = [[Raisinville Township, Michigan|Raisinville Township]]
| Northwest =
}}

{{Monroe, Michigan}}
{{Monroe County, Michigan}}
{{Michigan county seats}}
{{Metro Detroit}}
{{James Monroe}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Monroe, Michigan| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Monroe County, Michigan]]
[[Category:County seats in Michigan]]
[[Category:Michigan populated places on Lake Erie]]
[[Category:Metro Detroit]]
[[Category:Michigan in the War of 1812]]
[[Category:1817 establishments in Michigan Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1817]]