Editing Monroe County, Indiana

{{short description|County in Indiana, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
|county          = Monroe County
|state              = Indiana
|type               = [[County (United States)|County]]
|seal               = Monroe County, Indiana seal.png
|founded      = January 14, 1818
|seat wl           = Bloomington
|largest city      = Bloomington
|area_total_sq_mi   = 411.32
|area_land_sq_mi    = 394.51
|area_water_sq_mi   = 16.81
|area percentage    = 4.09%
|census yr          = 2020
|pop                = 139718
|pop_est_as_of      = 2023
|population_est     = 139342 {{loss}}
|density_sq_mi      = auto
|web                = www.co.monroe.in.us
| district          = 9th
| ex image          = Monroe County Courthouse in Bloomington from southwest.jpg
| ex image cap      = Monroe County courthouse in Bloomington, Indiana
| footnotes         = Indiana county number 53
| time zone         = Eastern
| named for = [[James Monroe]] }}
'''Monroe County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the U.S. state of [[Indiana]]. In 1910 the [[United States Census Bureau|US Census Bureau]] calculated the nation's [[mean center of U.S. population|mean population center]] to lie in Monroe County.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/cenpop/meanctr.pdf|title=Mean Center of Population for the United States: 1790 to 2000|access-date=September 17, 2011|publisher=US Census Bureau|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011103033717/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/cenpop/meanctr.pdf|archive-date=November 3, 2001}}</ref> The population was 139,718 at the [[2020 United States census]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Monroe_County,_Indiana?g=050XX00US18105|title=Monroe County, Indiana|access-date=June 2, 2023|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> The [[county seat]] is [[Bloomington, Indiana|Bloomington]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> Monroe County is part of the Bloomington, Indiana, [[Bloomington, Indiana metropolitan area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

==History==
Monroe County was formed in 1818 from portions of [[Orange County, Indiana|Orange County]]. It was named for [[James Monroe]],<ref>{{cite book|last=Gannett|first=Henry|title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ|year=1905|publisher=US Government Printing Office|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n211 212]}}</ref> fifth President of the United States, who was in that office from 1817 until 1825.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1820= 2679
|1830= 6577
|1840= 10143
|1850= 11286
|1860= 12847
|1870= 14168
|1880= 15875
|1890= 17673
|1900= 20873
|1910= 23426
|1920= 24519
|1930= 35974
|1940= 36534
|1950= 50080
|1960= 59225
|1970= 84849
|1980= 98785
|1990= 108978
|2000= 120563
|2010= 137974
|2020= 139718
|estyear=2023
|estimate=139342
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 2, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=US Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=US Decennial Census|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=July 10, 2014}}</ref><br>1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=July 10, 2014}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/in190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=July 10, 2014}}</ref><br>1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=July 10, 2014}}</ref> 2010<ref name=QF>{{cite web|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/18/18105.html|title=Monroe County QuickFacts|access-date=September 25, 2011|publisher=US Census Bureau|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723224806/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/18/18105.html|archive-date=July 23, 2011}}</ref>
}}

As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 139,718 people and 56,399 households with an average of 2.34 persons per household in the county. The population density was {{convert|354.1|PD/sqmi}}. As of July 1, 2021, there were 64,362 housing units of which 55.2% were owner-occupied. The racial makeup of the county was 86.0% white, 6.9% Asian, 3.9% black or African American, 0.3% American Indian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, and 2.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.8% of the population.<ref name=DP>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/monroecountyindiana/PST045221|title=QuickFacts Monroe County, Indiana|access-date=November 9, 2022|publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref>

According to the [[American Community Survey]], as of 2021, there were 56,714 households with the average household size of 2.18 persons. Out of those 27,340 households were families with the average family size of 2.87 persons, 22.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them. A total of 37.3% of all households were householders living alone.<ref name=ACS>{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Monroe%20County,%20Indiana&t=Families%20and%20Living%20Arrangements%3AMarital%20Status%20and%20Marital%20History%3ASame%20Sex%20Couples&tid=ACSST1Y2021.S1101|title=2021 American Community Survey|access-date=November 9, 2022|publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref>

The median income for a household in the county was $51,945 (in 2021 USD) and the per capita income was $30,609. Males had a median income of $52,263 versus $47,953 for females.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=selected%20economic%20characteristics&g=0500000US18105&tid=ACSDP1Y2021.DP03|title=2021 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS

|access-date=November 9, 2022|publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref>

About 10.6% of families and 22.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.7% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=poverty&g=0500000US18105&tid=ACSST1Y2021.S1702|title=POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS OF FAMILIES
|access-date=November 9, 2022|publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=poverty&g=0500000US18105&tid=ACSST1Y2021.S1701|title=POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS|access-date=November 9, 2022|publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of {{convert|411.32|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|394.51|sqmi}} (or 95.91%) is land and {{convert|16.81|sqmi}} (or 4.09%) is water.<ref name=DC>{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US18105|title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010|publisher=US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020.|access-date=July 10, 2015|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212200511/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US18105|archive-date=2020-02-12}}</ref> The county terrain is low rolling hills, covered with vegetation and largely devoted to agricultural use or urban development. The eastern part is carved with drainages and gullies, leading to Griffy Lake.<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Monroe+County,+IN/@39.1145906,-86.561508,32653m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x886c63dd542662c3:0x656ae130695c316c!8m2!3d39.1851445!4d-86.4996546 Monroe County IN (google maps, accessed 20 December 2019)]</ref> The county's highest point is McGuire Benchmark, just NW of Bloomington, at {{convert|994|ft|m|abbr=on}} ASL.<ref>[https://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=22991 Monroe County IN (peakbagger.com, accessed 20 December 2019)]</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col}}
* [[Morgan County, Indiana|Morgan]] (north)
* [[Brown County, Indiana|Brown]] (northeast)
* [[Jackson County, Indiana|Jackson]] (southeast)
* [[Lawrence County, Indiana|Lawrence]] (south)
* [[Greene County, Indiana|Greene]] (southwest)
* [[Owen County, Indiana|Owen]] (northwest)
{{div col end}}

===Bodies of water===
[[File:Griffy Lake - dam drain - DSCF4386.JPG|thumb|Griffy Lake, seen from its dam]]
Monroe County is divided between the basins of the East Fork and West Fork of Indiana's [[White River (Indiana)|White River]].<ref name=CW>[http://bloomington.in.gov/documents/viewDocument.php?document_id=3011#streams Water Basics: Stream] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120916035852/http://bloomington.in.gov/documents/viewDocument.php?document_id=3011|date=September 16, 2012}} (City of Bloomington)</ref> The northern part drains to the West Fork; the southern part of the county drains to the East Fork, primarily via the [[Salt Creek (White River)|Salt Creek]] and its tributaries, such as the [[Clear Creek (Salt Creek)|Clear Creek]] (known as the "Jordan River" on [[Indiana University Bloomington]] campus).

Several artificial reservoirs have been constructed by damming the county's creeks. The largest is [[Monroe Lake]], a large reservoir on Salt Creek in the southeastern part of the county. It is used both for recreational purposes and to supply the city with drinking water.<ref name=CW/> Until the late 1960s, the main source of water supply was the smaller [[Lake Lemon]] (constructed 1953), in the northeastern part of the county; it is now the backup water source and is mainly used for recreation.<ref>[http://www.lakelemon.org/ Lake Lemon Conservancy District (LLCD)]</ref>

The third largest is [[Griffy Lake]], on the northern slope of the county. Constructed in 1924 by damming Griffy Creek, it was Bloomington's main water source until 1954; it is now used primarily for recreation although it also serves as an emergency water source.<ref name=CW/><ref>[http://bloomington.in.gov/griffylake Griffy Lake Nature Preserve]</ref><ref>[http://othersideofindiana.wordpress.com/2011/12/18/abandoned-water-sanitation-station-water-pump-bloomington-in/ Abandoned Water Sanitation Station, Water Pump; Bloomington IN] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20121225224033/othersideofindiana.wordpress.com/2011/12/18/abandoned-water-sanitation-station-water-pump-bloomington-in/|date=December 25, 2012}}, "The Other Side of Indiana"</ref> In 2012–2013, the lake was drained, the dam repaired, and the lake was refilled.

A smaller lake, [[Weimer Lake|Weimer (Wapehani)]] in the Clear Creek basin, was constructed for water supply purposes, but during most of its history was used purely for recreation - mainly fishing.<ref>[http://bloomington.in.gov/media/media/application/pdf/45.pdf City of Bloomington Environmental Resource Inventory (COBERI)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130609084843/http://bloomington.in.gov/media/media/application/pdf/45.pdf|date=June 9, 2013}}</ref> In 2017 authorities revealed plans to drain this lake permanently, as it was considered to be unsafe.<ref>[https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/news/local/city-plans-to-remove-most-of-dam-lake-in-wapehani/article_fed34892-6119-504e-9a53-2efe50c42868.html City plans to remove most of dam, lake in Wapehani bike park]</ref> This was carried out in the summer of 2018.

Limestone has been quarried in Monroe County since 1826.<ref name=lime/>
A number of abandoned [[Indiana Limestone|limestone quarries]] in the county are now cliff-surrounded lakes (as seen in the 1979 film ''[[Breaking Away]]''), stable without ongoing human intervention.

===National protected areas===
[[File:Leonard Springs Reservoir - seen from the dam - DSCF7386.JPG|thumb|The defunct Leonard Springs Reservoir, now inhabited by beavers.]]
* [[Hoosier National Forest]] (part)

===Natural wonders===
* [[Buckner Cave]]
* Leonard Springs Nature Park, where the water of [[Sinking Creek (Indiana)|Sinking Creek]] reappears in springs<ref>[http://bloomington.in.gov/locations/viewLocation.php?location_id=29 Leonard Springs Nature Park] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120917221737/https://bloomington.in.gov/locations/viewLocation.php?location_id=29|date=September 17, 2012}}</ref>

==Communities==
===Cities===
* [[Bloomington, Indiana|Bloomington]]

===Towns===
* [[Ellettsville, Indiana|Ellettsville]]
* [[Stinesville, Indiana|Stinesville]]

===Census-designated places===
* [[Harrodsburg, Indiana|Harrodsburg]]
* [[Smithville-Sanders, Indiana|Smithville-Sanders]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Arlington, Monroe County, Indiana|Arlington]]
* [[Broadview, Indiana|Broadview]]
* [[Buenavista, Indiana|Buenavista]]
* [[Cascade, Indiana|Cascade]]
* [[Chapel Hill, Indiana|Chapel Hill]]
* [[Clear Creek, Indiana|Clear Creek]]
* [[Dolan, Indiana|Dolan]]
* [[Eastern Heights, Monroe County, Indiana|Eastern Heights]]
* [[Elwren, Indiana|Elwren]]
* [[Fairfax, Indiana|Fairfax]]
* [[Fleener, Indiana|Fleener]]
* Forest Park Heights
* Garden Acres
* [[Handy, Monroe County, Indiana|Handy]]
* [[Highland Village, Indiana|Highland Village]]
* [[Hindustan, Indiana|Hindustan]]
* [[Hoosier Acres, Indiana|Hoosier Acres]]
* [[Kirby, Indiana|Kirby]]
* [[Kirksville, Indiana|Kirksville]]
* [[Knight Ridge, Indiana|Knight Ridge]]
* [[Lancaster Park, Indiana|Lancaster Park]]
* [[Leonard Springs, Indiana|Leonard Springs]]
* [[Marlin Hills, Indiana|Marlin Hills]]
* [[Modesto, Indiana|Modesto]]
* [[Mount Tabor, Indiana|Mount Tabor]]
* [[New Unionville, Indiana|New Unionville]]
* [[Ridgemede, Indiana|Ridgemede]]
* [[Sanders, Indiana|Sanders]]
* [[Smithville, Monroe County, Indiana|Smithville]]
* [[Stanford, Indiana|Stanford]]
* [[Sunny Slopes, Indiana|Sunny Slopes]]
* [[Unionville, Indiana|Unionville]]
* [[Van Buren Park, Indiana|Van Buren Park]]
* [[Victor, Indiana|Victor]]
* [[Wayport, Indiana|Wayport]]
* [[West Brook Downs, Indiana|West Brook Downs]]
* [[Woodbridge, Indiana|Woodbridge]]
* Woodville Hills
* [[Yellowstone, Indiana|Yellowstone]]
{{div col end}}

===Former communities===
* Paynetown<ref>[https://lakemonroeoralhistory.wordpress.com/salt-creek-valley/ ''Salt Creek Valley - A New Place to Roost'' (Lake Monroe Oral History, accessed 11 August 2020)]</ref> at {{coord|39.0749|-86.4296|scale:10000|display=inline}}<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Monroe+County,+IN/@39.0926867,-86.4392735,12.25z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x886c63dd542662c3:0x656ae130695c316c!8m2!3d39.1851445!4d-86.4996546 ''Monroe County IN'' (Google Maps, accessed 11 August 2020)]</ref> - flooded by [[Lake Monroe (Indiana)|Lake Monroe]]

===Townships===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Bean Blossom Township, Monroe County, Indiana|Bean Blossom]]
* [[Benton Township, Monroe County, Indiana|Benton]]
* [[Bloomington Township, Monroe County, Indiana|Bloomington]]
* [[Clear Creek Township, Monroe County, Indiana|Clear Creek]]
* [[Indian Creek Township, Monroe County, Indiana|Indian Creek]]
* [[Perry Township, Monroe County, Indiana|Perry]]
* [[Polk Township, Monroe County, Indiana|Polk]]
* [[Richland Township, Monroe County, Indiana|Richland]]
* [[Salt Creek Township, Monroe County, Indiana|Salt Creek]]
* [[Van Buren Township, Monroe County, Indiana|Van Buren]]
* [[Washington Township, Monroe County, Indiana|Washington]]
{{div col end}}

==Climate and weather==
{{climate chart
|[[Bloomington, Indiana]]
|19|36|2.66
|23|42|2.71
|32|52|3.66
|41|64|4.29
|52|74|5.12
|61|82|4.07
|65|86|4.32
|62|84|3.99
|55|78|3.62
|44|67|3.14
|35|54|3.95
|24|41|3.38
|float=right
|units=imperial
|clear=both
|source=The Weather Channel<ref name=WX>{{cite web|url=http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIN0046|title=Monthly Averages for Bloomington IN|access-date=January 27, 2011|publisher=The Weather Channel}}</ref>}}
In recent years, average temperatures in Bloomington have ranged from a low of {{convert|19|°F}} in January to a high of {{convert|86|°F}} in July, although a record low of {{convert|-21|°F}} was recorded in January 1985 and a record high of {{convert|110|°F}} was recorded in July 1936. Average monthly precipitation ranged from {{convert|2.66|in}} in January to {{convert|5.12|in}} in May.<ref name=WX/>

==Government and politics==
{{see also|Government of Indiana}}
[[File:Monroe County Sheriffs Department - P1080464.JPG|thumb|right|Sheriff's office and jail]]
The county government is a constitutional body, and is granted specific powers by the [[Constitution of Indiana]], and by the [[Indiana Code]].

'''County Council:''' The fiscal body of the county government; controls spending and revenue collection in the county. There are four elected members representing districts and three members elected at-large. The council members serve staggered four-year terms. They are responsible for setting salaries, the annual budget, and special spending. The council also has authority to impose local taxes, in the form of an income and property tax that is subject to state level approval, excise taxes, and service taxes.<ref name = inc3623>{{cite web|author=Indiana Code|url=http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title36/ar2/ch3.html|title=Title 36, Article 2, Section 3|access-date=September 16, 2008|publisher=IN.gov|author-link=Indiana Code}}</ref><ref name=inc2102>{{cite web|author=Indiana Code|url=http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title3/ar10/ch2.pdf|title=Title 2, Article 10, Section 2|access-date=September 16, 2008|publisher=IN.gov|author-link=Indiana Code}}</ref>

'''Board of Commissioners:''' A three-member board serving as the executive and legislative body of the county. The commissioners are elected county-wide, in staggered four-year terms. The president of this board is the county's principal executive officer. The commissioners are charged with setting policy and managing the day-to-day functions of the county government.<ref name=inc3623/><ref name=inc2102/>

'''Court:''' The county maintains a unified circuit court with nine divisions and a court commissioner who handles civil cases. Judges must be members of the Indiana Bar Association; they are elected to six-year terms. Some court decisions can be appealed to the state level (appeals court, state supreme court).

'''County Officials:''' The county has several other elected offices, including [[sheriff]], [[coroner]], [[auditor]], treasurer, [[Recorder of deeds|recorder]], [[Surveying|surveyor]], assessor, and circuit [[court clerk]]. They are elected county-wide to four-year terms. Members elected to county government positions are required to declare party affiliations and to be residents of the county.<ref name=inc2102/>

Monroe County is part of [[Indiana's 9th congressional district]] and is represented in [[United States Congress|Congress]] [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[Trey Hollingsworth]].<ref>[http://nationalmap.gov/small_scale/printable/images/pdf/congdist/pagecgd113_in.pdf Congressional Districts (NationalAtlas.Gov, accessed 21 May 2015)]</ref> It is part of [[Indiana Senate]] districts 37, 40 and 44;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/3006.htm|title=Indiana Senate Districts|publisher=State of Indiana|access-date=July 14, 2011}}</ref> and [[Indiana House of Representatives]] districts 46, 60 and 61.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/3005.htm|title=Indiana House Districts|publisher=State of Indiana|access-date=July 14, 2011}}</ref>

===Courthouse===
The [[Monroe County Courthouse (Bloomington, Indiana)|Monroe County Courthouse]] is the seat of government for Monroe County and is the traditional center of Bloomington. The third courthouse to stand on the Downtown Square, the current courthouse was built in 1907 during a time of great prosperity. [[Wing & Mahurin]] designed the building.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bloomingpedia.org/wiki/Monroe_County_Courthouse|title=Monroe County Courthouse – Bloomingpedia|website=www.bloomingpedia.org|access-date=June 30, 2016}}</ref>

===Politics===
Monroe County traditionally leaned Republican. However, like many counties with large universities, it has trended strongly towards Democrats in recent years, voting for the Democratic nominee in 7 out of the last 8 presidential elections. In 2008, [[Barack Obama]] won the county by the largest margin for a Democrat running for president since 1912. President Obama also became the first Democrat since [[Franklin Pierce]] in 1852 to win the county with over 60% of the vote. Since 2008, the county has gone Democratic by large margins, and is now considered one of the few reliably Democratic counties in traditionally Republican Indiana. In recent years, only [[Marion County, Indiana|Marion County]] (Indianapolis) has been more Democratic. The county has not supported a Republican for president since 2000, when it narrowly supported [[George W. Bush]] over [[Al Gore]] by a 4.04% plurality.

{{PresHead|place=Monroe County, Indiana|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Atlas of US Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=May 18, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|21,004|37,213|1,385|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|22,071|39,861|1,219|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|20,592|34,216|3,646|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|22,481|33,436|1,306|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|21,118|41,450|819|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|22,834|26,965|668|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|19,147|17,523|3,550|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|16,744|18,531|4,334|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|16,661|19,712|7,214|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|20,756|15,855|427|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|21,772|14,719|335|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|18,233|13,316|5,345|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|18,938|16,609|148|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|19,953|15,241|402|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|13,752|10,789|2,539|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|10,309|11,918|145|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|14,513|7,535|136|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|13,223|7,732|60|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|12,072|7,745|108|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|9,579|7,375|578|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|8,993|6,809|323|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|10,311|8,117|71|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|8,842|9,220|48|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|7,759|8,478|260|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|8,883|4,317|59|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|6,247|4,689|376|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|5,633|4,751|116|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|3,033|2,796|200|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|1,388|2,396|1,727|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|3,051|2,780|95|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|3,042|2,286|123|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|2,788|2,397|107|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|2,510|2,422|68|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1892|Republican|2,017|1,937|442|Indiana}}
{{PresFoot|1888|Republican|2,054|1,815|119|Indiana}}

==Education==
[[Monroe County Public Library]] operates branches at Bloomington and Ellettsville.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mcpl.info/geninfo/hours-and-locations|title=Hours & Locations|publisher=Monroe County Public Library| access-date=March 10, 2018}}</ref>

Monroe County is home to [[Indiana University Bloomington]].

==Transportation==

=== Major highways ===
* {{Jct|state=IN|I|69}}
* [[Image:indiana 37.svg|20px]] [[Indiana State Road 37]]
* [[Image:indiana 45.svg|20px]] [[Indiana State Road 45]]
* [[Image:indiana 46.svg|20px]] [[Indiana State Road 46]]
* [[Image:indiana 48.svg|20px]] [[Indiana State Road 48]]
* [[Image:indiana 446.svg|20px]] [[Indiana State Road 446]]

For many years Monroe County was one of the most populous counties in the USA which did not contain any US highways or Interstate highways. However, in December 2015 the I-69 extension was completed into the county and this distinction disappeared. The highway was further extended north into Morgan County in 2018.

===Railways===
[[File:Monroe County - Victor Pike - abandoned railway - trestle - P1120786.JPG|thumb|A trestle on an abandoned railway line (the former Monon Railway mainline) in Perry Township]]
Although Monroe County has a rich railway history, currently its only railway is the [[Indiana Rail Road]], whose mainline crosses the county from the north-east to the south-west, with branches to a few industrial facilities.<ref>[http://www.inrd.com/images/system_maps/pdf/inrd_map.pdf Indiana Railroad map]</ref><ref>[https://www.in.gov/indot/files/MAIN-RR-11_V1.pdf State of Indiana 2012 railway system map] (The branch to Elletsville, labeled "CSX", is presently abandoned.)</ref><ref>[https://www.in.gov/indot/files/Local%20Trax%20Rail%20Density.pdf Rail Density)]</ref> There is no passenger service.

Between 1854 and 2004, an important north–south line connecting the Ohio River with Lake Michigan crossed Monroe County as well, serving Stinesville, Elletsville, Bloomington, Smithville, and Harrodsburg. It was operated by the [[Monon Railroad]] throughout much of the 20th century, and later by [[CSX]]. The last passenger service operating on this line was [[Amtrak]]'s  ''[[Floridian (train, 1971–1979)|Floridian]]'' Chicago-Miami service, during 1972–1979. With the termination of this service in 1979, Monroe County lost passenger railway service. CSX continued to use this line for freight for another quarter of a century, but in 2004, it stopped using this line. Large parts of it have since been converted to trails.
<ref name=lime>[https://mcpl.info/sites/default/files/Timeline.pdf Limestone Industry TIMELINE]</ref><ref>[https://www.in.gov/ifa/brownfields/files/Bloomington_B-Line_Trail_Success_Story.pdf Site Highlight: B-Line Trail in Bloomington]</ref>

===Air transport===
* [[Monroe County Airport (Indiana)|Monroe County Airport]], southwest of Bloomington. Scheduled passenger service to this airport was terminated ca. 1997, and since then the airport has been used by [[general aviation]] only.

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Monroe County, Indiana]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

== Further reading ==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book|title=History of Lawrence and Monroe Counties, Indiana: Their People, Industries, and Institutions|year=1914|publisher=B.F. Bowen|ref={{harvid|Bowen|1914}}}} ({{Internet Archive|id=historyoflawrenc00indi|name=History of Lawrence and Monroe Counties, Indiana}})
{{refend}}

==External links==
*[http://www.co.monroe.in.us/ Monroe County Government]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Monroe County, Indiana
|North     = [[Morgan County, Indiana|Morgan County]]
|East      = [[Brown County, Indiana|Brown County]]
|Southeast = [[Jackson County, Indiana|Jackson County]]
|South     = [[Lawrence County, Indiana|Lawrence County]]
|Southwest = [[Greene County, Indiana|Greene County]]
|Northwest = [[Owen County, Indiana|Owen County]]
}}

{{Monroe County, Indiana}}
{{Indiana}}

{{coord|39.16|-86.52|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-IN_source:UScensus1990}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Monroe County, Indiana| ]]
[[Category:Indiana counties]]
[[Category:1818 establishments in Indiana]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1818]]
[[Category:Bloomington metropolitan area, Indiana]]