Monroe County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 154,809. The largest city and county seat is Monroe. The county was established as the second county (after Wayne County) in the

Michigan Territory The Territory of Michigan was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from June 30, 1805, until January 26, 1837, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Michigan. Detroit w ...

in 1817 and was named for then-President James Monroe. Monroe County is coterminous with the Monroe, MI micropolitan statistical area.

History

Before the county's formation, the primary settlement was Frenchtown, which was settled in as early as 1784 along the banks of the River Raisin. The small plot of land was given to the early

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

settlers by the

Potawatomi The Potawatomi , also spelled Pottawatomi and Pottawatomie (among many variations), are a Native American people of the western Great Lakes region, upper Mississippi River and Great Plains. They traditionally speak the Potawatomi language, a m ...

Native Americans, and the area was claimed for New France. The settlement of Frenchtown and the slight northerly settlement of Sandy Creek drew in a total of about 100 inhabitants. During the War of 1812, the area was the site of the Battle of Frenchtown, which was the worst American defeat in the war and remains the deadliest conflict ever on Michigan soil. The site of the battle is now part of the River Raisin National Battlefield Park. Monroe County was formed from the southern portion of Wayne County in 1817. At the time, the

, which had not yet received statehood, consisted of only Wayne County since Detroit was the only area with a population over 1,000 people. When the area became more populated, the southern portion of Wayne County was broken off to form Monroe County with the settlement of Frenchtown was platted with the name "Monroe". The settlement also incorporated as a village in 1817 and became the county seat of Monroe County. The county and its county seat were named in honor of then- President James Monroe in anticipation for his upcoming visit to the area. Shortly after its formation, Monroe County's population was recorded at only 336 in the 1820 census. When the county was originally formed, it stretched for inland (twice its current size), but the western half was split off to form Lenawee County in 1826. Monroe County's most famous resident, George Armstrong Custer (1839–1876), moved to Monroe as a child and lived with his half-sister and brother-in-law. Although not born in Monroe, he attended school in Monroe and later moved away to attend the United States Military Academy. He returned to Monroe in 1864 during the Civil War to marry Elizabeth Bacon (1842–1933), whom he met while previously living in Monroe. Much of Custer's family resided in Monroe, included Elizabeth Bacon, Henry Armstrong Reed (1858–1876), and Boston Custer (1848–1876). Following their deaths in the Battle of the Little Bighorn, Henry and Boston were interred and memorialized in Monroe's historic Woodland Cemetery, as are many members of Bacon's family. Although dying in the same battle, George Custer was interred at West Point Cemetery, and Elizabeth Bacon was buried next to him when she died many decades later. In 1910, then- President William Howard Taft and the widowed Elizabeth Bacon unveiled an equestrian statue of Custer that now rests at the corner of Elm Street and Monroe Street in the heart of downtown Monroe.

Border disputes

When the city of

Toledo Toledo most commonly refers to: * Toledo, Spain, a city in Spain * Province of Toledo, Spain * Toledo, Ohio, a city in the United States Toledo may also refer to: Places Belize * Toledo District * Toledo Settlement Bolivia * Toledo, Orur ...

was incorporated in 1833, it was part of Monroe County instead of the state of Ohio. The small strip of land surrounding the

mouth In animal anatomy, the mouth, also known as the oral cavity, or in Latin cavum oris, is the opening through which many animals take in food and issue vocal sounds. It is also the cavity lying at the upper end of the alimentary canal, bounded on ...

of the

Maumee River The Maumee River (pronounced ) ( sjw, Hotaawathiipi; mia, Taawaawa siipiiwi) is a river running in the United States Midwest from northeastern Indiana into northwestern Ohio and Lake Erie. It is formed at the confluence of the St. Joseph and ...

was under the jurisdiction of the Michigan Territory, because the borders originally drawn up for the

Northwest Ordinance The Northwest Ordinance (formally An Ordinance for the Government of the Territory of the United States, North-West of the River Ohio and also known as the Ordinance of 1787), enacted July 13, 1787, was an organic act of the Congress of the Co ...

of 1787 set a territorial boundary as the southernmost edge of

Lake Michigan Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is the second-largest of the Great Lakes by volume () and the third-largest by surface area (), after Lake Superior and Lake Huron. To the east, its basin is conjoined with that o ...

. When Ohio became the first in the

Northwest Territory The Northwest Territory, also known as the Old Northwest and formally known as the Territory Northwest of the River Ohio, was formed from unorganized western territory of the United States after the American Revolutionary War. Established in 1 ...

to gain statehood in 1803, the state's northern border claimed this important area, even though the boundaries of the Michigan Territory when it was formally organized in 1805 also included this area. From 1833 to 1836, Toledo belonged to Monroe County, which led to the very heated Toledo War border dispute between the Michigan Territory and the state of Ohio for the area known as the Toledo Strip. In late 1836, President Andrew Jackson, who disliked the Michigan Territory's "boy governor"

Stevens T. Mason Stevens Thomson Mason (October 27, 1811 – January 4, 1843) was an American politician who served as the first governor of Michigan from 1835 to 1840. Coming to political prominence at an early age, Mason was appointed his territory's ...

, intervened on behalf of Ohio and gave the Toledo Strip to Ohio in exchange for Michigan getting the Upper Peninsula, then considered a wasteland, when it became a state on January 26, 1837. While Toledo was part of Monroe County, it surpassed Monroe in terms of size and population. In 1915, Michigan Governor

Woodbridge N. Ferris Woodbridge Nathan Ferris (January 6, 1853March 23, 1928) was an American educator from New York, Illinois and Michigan who served as the 28th governor of Michigan and in the United States Senate as a Democrat. Early life in New York, Michigan a ...

and Ohio Governor

Frank B. Willis Frank Bartlett Willis (December 28, 1871March 30, 1928) was an American politician and lawyer. He was a Republican from Ohio. He served as the 47th governor of Ohio from 1915 to 1917, then served as a U.S. Senator from Ohio from 1921 until his d ...

called a ceremonial truce to the border conflict when new state line markers were erected. The new state line at the end of the Toledo War was established at approximately the 41°44' north latitude line just north of the mouth of the

. This gave the river and the city of Toledo to the state of Ohio, but it also created an unintended consequence for a specific area of Michigan. The state line also cut through the smaller

Ottawa River The Ottawa River (french: Rivière des Outaouais, Algonquin: ''Kichi-Sìbì/Kitchissippi'') is a river in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. It is named after the Algonquin word 'to trade', as it was the major trade route of Eastern ...

and inadvertently cut off a small section of Monroe County, creating an

exclave An enclave is a territory (or a small territory apart of a larger one) that is entirely surrounded by the territory of one other state or entity. Enclaves may also exist within territorial waters. ''Enclave'' is sometimes used improperly to deno ...

known as the " Lost Peninsula" (). The few Michigan residents that live on the small peninsula must travel south into Lucas County, Ohio on a 10-minute drive before going north to get back to the rest of Michigan. The Lost Peninsula is administered by Erie Township and most of the peninsula contains a

marina A marina (from Spanish , Portuguese and Italian : ''marina'', "coast" or "shore") is a dock or basin with moorings and supplies for yachts and small boats. A marina differs from a port in that a marina does not handle large passenger ships o ...

. Monroe County's boundary remained unchanged from 1837 to 1973, when a final unresolved dispute from the Toledo War was resolved, 136 years after the conflict. Ownership over the very small, uninhabited Turtle Island in a remote portion of Lake Erie was disputed for decades after the island's lighthouse was shut down. The island was long controlled by Michigan but still disputed by Ohio. On February 22, 1973, an agreement was met, and state lines were redrawn for the last time to cut exactly through the tiny island, which divided the island between Monroe County and Lucas County. Erie Township has jurisdiction over the Michigan half of Turtle Island, and the city of Toledo controls the other half. What to do with the island remains a contentious issue since neither side can come to any agreement. Today, the island has several abandoned structures, and the recent building of new structures was halted by a court order.

Economic history

Prior to the mid-20th century, Monroe County remained largely agrarian and was well known for its numerous paper mills — the first of which was founded in 1834. In 1916, August Meyer founded Brisk Blast, which was a bicycle pump manufacturer that was later expanded to produce automotive shocks in 1919 as the Monroe Auto Equipment Company. In 1977, the company merged with the international Tenneco company. Today, their world headquarters are located in Monroe Charter Township and continue to manufacture Monroe Shocks and Struts. In 1927, cousins Edward Knabusch and Edwin Shoemaker founded a small furniture making company in their garage. This would later evolve into the worldwide La-Z-Boy Incorporated, and their world headquarters are located on North Telegraph Road in Monroe. In 1957, the Enrico Fermi Nuclear Generating Station first opened in Frenchtown Charter Township near Lake Erie. Today, the plant is operated by Detroit Edison but is entirely owned by parent company DTE Energy. In 1974, the Monroe Power Plant, currently the fourth largest coal firing plant in North America, opened. At tall, the dual smokestacks are visible from over away and are among the tallest structures in the state. A third smokestack — shorter and wider than the other two — was constructed as the plant responds to meet environmental regulations. In 1929, Newton Steel opened a manufacturing plant on Lake Erie in Monroe, and this plant would later be purchased by

Alcoa Alcoa Corporation (an acronym for Aluminum Company of America) is a Pittsburgh-based industrial corporation. It is the world's eighth-largest producer of aluminum. Alcoa conducts operations in 10 countries. Alcoa is a major producer of primary ...

in 1942, Kelsey-Hayes in 1947, the Ford Motor Company in 1949 and subsequently under their Visteon division in 2000 and later as the Automotive Components Holdings in 2005. The plant, one of the most prominent manufacturing job in the county, produces various car parts for Ford. The plant itself is also well known for its high level of chemicals that once polluted Lake Erie and the River Raisin. Although threatened to close, the factory remains open with 1,200 employees. Today, the Port of Monroe remains heavily industrialized, and various other industries have moved to Monroe County in recent years. In 2001, Cabela's built a store in

Dundee Dundee (; sco, Dundee; gd, Dùn Dè or ) is Scotland's fourth-largest city and the 51st-most-populous built-up area in the United Kingdom. The mid-year population estimate for 2016 was , giving Dundee a population density of 2,478/km2 or ...

. As one of the largest stores of its kind, this location is a major tourist destination and has greatly improved the economy of Dundee. The

Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance Global Engine Alliance LLC, began as a joint venture of Chrysler, Mitsubishi Motors, and Hyundai Motor Company for developing a line of shared engines. In September 2009, Chrysler purchased Mitsubishi and Hyundai's shares, after 5 years of all ...

was also founded in Dundee in 2002.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (19%) is water. Monroe is Michigan's only county on Lake Erie. The River Raisin and Sandy Creek flow through the county. Sterling State Park is the county's only state park and the only of Michigan's 98 state parks located on Lake Erie. The Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge extends south into Monroe County and includes part of the North Maumee Bay Archeological District. Monroe County sits at the lowest elevation in state of Michigan, which is the shores of Lake Erie at .

Adjacent counties

* Wayne County (northeast) * Washtenaw County (northwest) * Essex County, Ontario, Canada (east) * Lenawee County (west) * Lucas County, Ohio (south)

Climate

Monroe County lies in the humid continental climate zone. The city of Monroe only receives an average of 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 , and January is the coldest month with an average low temperature of . The county does not normally have extremely hot or cold temperatures. On average, the temperature only drops below a couple of times during a winter season, and it is even rarer for the temperature to rise above during the summer. The coldest recorded temperature was on February 5, 1918. The highest recorded temperature was on July 24, 1934, with another equal temperature recorded on one occasion many years earlier. Severe weather events are very rare. Monroe County has experienced a total approximately 30 tornadoes since 1950. Infrequent waterspouts can also be seen out on Lake Erie. Many tornadoes have been a part of major outbreaks, and none have directly affected the heavily populated areas. Three separate F4 tornadoes killed 13 people during the

1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak On April 10–12, 1965, a devastating severe weather event affected the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. The tornado outbreak produced 55 confirmed tornadoes in one day and 16 hours. The worst part of the outbreak oc ...

on April 11, 1965. In the Super Outbreak of April 3–4, 1974, two tornadoes (one F2 and one F3) caused five deaths. The most tornadoes from a single storm came on August 29, 1979, when four tornadoes touched down in and near Monroe. However, the tornadoes were weak (three F1 and one F0), and there were no deaths. The most recent tornado to touchdown and cause significant damage in the county struck Dundee Township in a minor outbreak that caused several tornadoes around the southern portion of Michigan on the morning of June 6, 2010. Since Monroe is too far north and inland, no hurricanes have obviously struck Monroe County directly. However, some of the strongest hurricanes have affected the county in the form of a few irregular inches of increased rainfall, although by this point, they have no more power than a depression.

Tropical Storm Candy Tropical Storm Candy produced minor impact in the state of Texas during the 1968 Atlantic hurricane season. The third tropical cyclone of the annual season, it developed from a tropical disturbance in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico on June ...

(

1968 The year was highlighted by protests and other unrests that occurred worldwide. Events January–February * January 5 – "Prague Spring": Alexander Dubček is chosen as leader of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia. * Januar ...

) traveled unusually far inland and dropped of rain. Other storms, such as

Hurricane Hugo Hurricane Hugo was a powerful Cape Verde tropical cyclone that inflicted widespread damage across the northeastern Caribbean and the Southeastern United States in September 1989. Across its track, Hugo affected approximately 2 million peop ...

(

1989 File:1989 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The Cypress Street Viaduct, Cypress structure collapses as a result of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, killing motorists below; The proposal document for the World Wide Web is submitted; The Exxo ...

) and Hurricane Isabel (

2003 File:2003 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The crew of STS-107 perished when the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during reentry into Earth's atmosphere; SARS became an epidemic in China, and was a precursor to SARS-CoV-2; A des ...

) also dropped trace amounts of rain with over winds — long after they lost their hurricane status.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 145,945 people, 53,772 households, and 39,952 families residing in the county. The population density was 265 people per square mile (102/km²). There were 56,471 housing units at an average density of 102 per square mile (40/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.42% White, 1.90% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.62% from other races, and 1.31% from two or more races. 2.13% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 28.5% were of German, 8.9% American, 8.3% Polish, 8.2%

, 8.0% Irish, 7.5% English and 5.7% Italian ancestry, 96.4% spoke English and 1.5% Spanish as their first language. There were 53,772 households, out of which 36.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.00% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...

living together, 10.10% had a female household with no husband present, and 25.70% were non-families. 21.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.14. In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.40% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 29.80% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 11.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.20 males. The median income for a household in the county was $51,743, and the median income for a family was $59,659. Males had a median income of $46,715 versus $27,421 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,458. About 4.80% of families and 7.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.10% of those under age 18 and 8.30% of those age 65 or over. In the 2008 census report, the county's population was estimated at 152,949. The leading nationality was German at 34.9%, with Irish at 15.2% and French at 11.1%. Other national origins include 10.5% Polish and 8.9% English. The smallest population of any large nationality in the United States is Danish with only 45 people of Danish descent in the county. The highest ethnicity reported in the county in 2008 was white at 95.3%. Black people accounted for only 2.4%, while other ethnic groups include 0.7% Asian and 0.3% total for Native Americans and

Alaska Natives Alaska Natives (also known as Alaskan Natives, Native Alaskans, Indigenous Alaskans, Aboriginal Alaskans or First Alaskans) are the indigenous peoples of Alaska and include Iñupiat, Yupik, Aleut, Eyak, Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, and a numbe ...

Hispanic and Latino Americans Hispanic and Latino Americans ( es, Estadounidenses hispanos y latinos; pt, Estadunidenses hispânicos e latinos) are Americans of Spanish and/or Latin American ancestry. More broadly, these demographics include all Americans who identify as ...

accounted for 2.7%.

Education

Monroe County contains nine public school districts. There are approximately 23,000 students in public schools in Monroe County. Public school district boundaries are not conterminous with the county boundary or any municipality boundaries within the county. Monroe County is a "district of choice" county, and students have the option to attend any district in the county, even if they do not live within a particular district. Students near the county line, especially those in northern locations such as Milan,

Flat Rock Flat Rock may refer to: Australia *Flat Rock or Collins Rock, a low point in Woonona, New South Wales United States * Flat Rock, Alabama * Flat Rock, Georgia * Flat Rock (Columbus, Georgia), a residential neighborhood in Columbus, Georgia * F ...

, Milan Township, and London Township, are assigned to districts in the neighboring counties of Wayne and Washtenaw. Located primarily in Monroe County, Airport Community Schools and Whiteford Agricultural Schools have boundaries that extend into neighboring counties, so a small number of out-of-county students attend schools in Monroe County. There are two charter schools in the county with a total of 750 students. There are also 15

parochial school A parochial school is a private primary or secondary school affiliated with a religious organization, and whose curriculum includes general religious education in addition to secular subjects, such as science, mathematics and language arts. The ...

s with approximately 2,200 students enrolled in the private sector. The county is also served by one

independent school district An independent school district (ISD) is a type of school district in some US states for primary and secondary education that operates as an entity independent and separate from any municipality or county, and only under the oversight of the resp ...

, the Monroe County Intermediate School District, which provides education services and staff support at all of the county's schools. Established in 1964 and first opened to students in 1967, Monroe County Community College is the only higher education institution in the county. Marygrove College, sponsored by the local Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM), was founded in Monroe in 1905 as a Catholic, liberal arts college. The college then moved to its current location in Detroit in 1927. The IHM also operated a

boarding school A boarding school is a school where pupils live within premises while being given formal instruction. The word "boarding" is used in the sense of "room and board", i.e. lodging and meals. As they have existed for many centuries, and now exten ...

, the

Hall of the Divine Child The Hall of the Divine Child was a boarding school in Monroe, Michigan serving kindergarten through eighth grades. It was built in 1918 and closed in 1980; the building turned into the "Norman Towers". It was entered onto the National Register of H ...

, in Monroe from 1918 to 1980. Students in the county may also be homeschooled.

K-12 education

Monroe County is served by 14 public school districts, with nine of them based in the county. The largest of these is Monroe Public Schools, which enrolls approximately 6,450 students in the city of Monroe and outlying area of the city limits. With around 2,100 students, Monroe High School is one of the largest high schools in the state. The Monroe County Intermediate School District is an

that provides services to both public and private schools in the county. Students in Monroe County can choose to enroll in any public school district in the county, granted the district has available space. If a student attends a school outside of their normal district, the school will usually not provide transportation for the student. The district boundary map is provided by the Michigan Department of Information Technology. All district's athletic teams are governed by the

Michigan High School Athletic Association The Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) is a service organization for high school sports in Michigan and is headquartered in East Lansing. It is a member of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). Unlike ma ...

. A small number of schools have been closed down or reused for different purposes, and some of the smaller districts consists of a single elementary school and a combined middle and high school.

Districts

School districts include: * Airport Community School District * Bedford Public Schools *

Blissfield Community Schools Blissfield Community Schools is a school district in Lenawee County, Michigan in the United States. It consists of a high school, middle school, and an elementary school. The District includes the village of Blissfield, and parts or all of Bl ...

Britton Deerfield School District The Britton Deerfield School District is located within Lenawee County, Michigan and part of Monroe County. It covers most of Deerfield, Macon, and Ridgeway townships in Lenawee County, and parts of Dundee, Milan, and Summerfield towns ...

Flat Rock Community Schools Flat Rock Community Schools is a school district jurisdiction located in the city of Flat Rock, in Wayne County, Michigan. Vision Statement Flat Rock Community Schools will provide the programs necessary to develop the appropriate degree o ...

Dundee Community Schools Dundee Community Schools is a public school district in Dundee, Michigan. The district includes all of the Village of Dundee; most of Dundee Township, parts of which are served by the Britton-Macon, Summerfield and Ida public school district ...

* Huron School District * Ida Public School District * Jefferson Schools *

Mason Consolidated Schools Mason Consolidated Schools (sometimes referred to as Erie-Mason) is a public school district in Erie Township, Michigan. The district includes all of Erie Township (including the city of Luna Pier) and a small portion of La Salle Township to t ...

Milan Area Schools Milan Area Schools is a school district headquartered in Milan, Michigan. The district is part of the Washtenaw Intermediate School District but most of its 89 square miles are located in neighbouring Monroe County Monroe County may refer to sev ...

* Monroe Public Schools * Summerfield School District * Whiteford Agricultural School District

Schools

: : : : : : :

Politics

Monroe County is a swing county in presidential elections. It has voted for the winning candidate for president in 13 of the last 16 presidential elections, the only exceptions being in 1968, 2000, and 2020. In 2016, Donald Trump received over 58% of the vote, the largest percentage since

Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan ( ; February 6, 1911June 5, 2004) was an American politician, actor, and union leader who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He also served as the 33rd governor of California from 1967 ...

in 1984. In 2020, Trump outdid his 2016 total by winning 60.3% of the vote, possibly marking an end for Monroe's swing county status.

Landmarks and attractions

* Custer Airport * Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge * Detroit River Light *

Dundee Historic District The Dundee Historic Village is a Historic district (United States), historic district located in Dundee, Michigan, Dundee, Michigan. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 20, 1990. This area is commonly ...

*Eby Log Cabin * East Elm-North Macomb Street Historic District *

Edward Loranger House The Edward Loranger House is a private residence located at 7211 South Stoney Creek Road in Frenchtown Charter Township in Monroe County, Michigan. It was listed as a Michigan Historic Site on October 2, 1980 and added to the National Registe ...

* Enrico Fermi Nuclear Generating Station * George Armstrong Custer Equestrian Monument *

Governor Robert McClelland House The Governor Robert McClelland House is a private residence located at 47 East Elm Avenue in the city of Monroe in Monroe County, Michigan. It was listed as a Michigan Historic Site on March 3, 1971, and it was the first property in the coun ...

, now the Norman Towers residence hall * Jefferson Avenue-Huron River Bridge * La-Z-Boy world headquarters *Martha Barker Country Store Museum *Monroe County Fair ( Stock Arena) *Monroe County Historical Museum *Monroe County Labor History Museum *Monroe County Vietnam Veterans Historical Museum *Monroe Multi-Sports Complex * Monroe Power Plant * Navarre-Anderson Trading Post * North Maumee Bay Archeological District * Old Mill Museum * Old Village Historic District * Pointe Mouillee State Game Area *River Raisin Battlefield Visitor Center * River Raisin National Battlefield Park *River Raisin Centre for the Arts * Rudolph Nims House *

St. Mary's Church Complex Historic District The St. Mary's Church Complex Historic District is a historic district located at the junction of Elm Avenue and North Monroe Street ( M-125) in the city of Monroe, Michigan. It was listed as a Michigan Historic Site and added to the Nationa ...

* St. Michael the Archangel Church * Sawyer House * Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary *Southern Michigan Timberwolves are based in Monroe. * Sterling State Park * The Mall of Monroe (formerly known as Frenchtown Square Mall) * Weis Manufacturing Company * Woodland Cemetery

Transportation

Portions of Monroe County are 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. 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, its provides transportation to and from two shopping malls in Toledo, Ohio. * travels through the eastern portion of the county and provides access to

to the south and Detroit to the north. I-75 provides an uninterrupted route as far south as

South Florida South Florida is the southernmost region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is one of Florida's three most commonly referred to directional regions; the other two are Central Florida and North Florida. South Florida is the southernmost part of th ...

and as far north as the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge. * has its southern terminus just north of Monroe in the northeast portion of the county. Splitting off from I-75, I-275 is a western bypass around Detroit but does not actually merge back with I-75. I-275 serves as a main route to the Metro Airport. * runs along the western portion of the county, passing right through

and proceeding north through

Ann Arbor Anne, alternatively spelled Ann, is a form of the Latin female given name Anna (name), Anna. This in turn is a representation of the Hebrew Hannah (given name), Hannah, which means 'favour' or 'grace'. Related names include Annie (given name), ...

. US 23 is a limited-access freeway with interchanges rather than intersections. * 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 24 also connects to I-275 just north of Monroe. * was the designated name for the portion of Dixie Highway north of Cincinnati, including the portion running through Monroe. Like Dixie Highway, US 25 was largely replaced, and the existing highway was truncated at Cincinnati. * only runs a short distance through the southwestern corner of the county, where it connects Toledo to US 127 in Michigan. In Monroe County, it is known as St. Anthony Road, and the US 223 designation continues on a 90° bend south with US 23. * has its eastern terminus is in Monroe at US 24 and provides a direct route from Monroe to

and further into the state. In Monroe, M-50 is known locally as South Custer Road. In Dundee, it is referred to as East Monroe Street and, after the River Raisin, Tecumseh Road. * travels directly through downtown Monroe before merging into US 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. * was a state highway existing from 1930 to 1955 and ran along the north banks of the River Raisin. M-130 had its eastern terminus at US 24 and ran for just over . In 1955, control of the highway was transferred back to the county and is now called North Custer Road. * was a state highway existing from 1935 to 1977. It ran through the southern portion of the county, connecting US 23 to the now-decommissioned US 25. Today, the road is called Samaria Road, with the eastern portion called Lakeside Road. * Dixie Highway marker

Dixie Highway ran through Monroe County in as early as 1915. Originally one of the few ways to reach places like Florida, 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. * Airport Sign

Custer Airport was built in 1946 and is located just west of downtown Monroe. It is a general aviation airport, with no commercial or passenger service. The airport has one paved runway primarily used by small private aircraft. There is also a small aviation school on the site.Custer Airport details
* Airport Sign

Toledo Suburban Airport, not to be confused with the much larger Toledo Express Airport, is located in the southwest portion of the county near Lambertville. Like the Custer Airport, this is a general aviation facility with one paved runway and no scheduled flights. It serves as a fueling station, a test center, and a flight instruction center.

Communities

Cities

(partial) * Luna Pier * Milan (partial) * Monroe (county seat) *

Petersburg Petersburg, or Petersburgh, may refer to: Places Australia *Petersburg, former name of Peterborough, South Australia Canada * Petersburg, Ontario Russia *Saint Petersburg, sometimes referred to as Petersburg United States *Peterborg, U.S. Virg ...

Villages

* Carleton *

* Estral Beach * Maybee *

South Rockwood South Rockwood is a village in Monroe County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,587 at the 2020 census. The village is located within Berlin Charter Township. History South Rockwood was founded in 1863 by John Strong, who name ...

Charter townships

* Berlin Charter Township * Frenchtown Charter Township * Monroe Charter Township

Civil townships

* Ash Township * Bedford Township * Dundee Township * Erie Township * Exeter Township * Ida Township * La Salle Township * London Township * Milan Township * Raisinville Township * Summerfield Township * Whiteford Township

Census-designated places

* Detroit Beach * Ida * Lambertville * South Monroe * Stony Point * Temperance *

West Monroe West Monroe is a city in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is situated on the Ouachita River, across from the neighboring city of Monroe. The two cities are often referred to as the Twin Cities of northeast Louisiana. Its populati ...

* Woodland Beach

Other unincorporated communities

* Avalon Beach * Azalia * Bolles Harbor * Cone * Diann * Erie * Evergreen Acres *

Exeter Exeter () is a city in Devon, South West England. It is situated on the River Exe, approximately northeast of Plymouth and southwest of Bristol. In Roman Britain, Exeter was established as the base of Legio II Augusta under the personal comm ...

* Golfcrest * Grand View * Grape * Hillcrest Orchard * Ida Center * La Salle * Liberty Corners * London * Lost Peninsula * Lulu *

Newport Newport most commonly refers to: *Newport, Wales *Newport, Rhode Island, US Newport or New Port may also refer to: Places Asia *Newport City, Metro Manila, a Philippine district in Pasay Europe Ireland *Newport, County Mayo, a town on the ...

* North Shores * Oakville * Oldport *

Ottawa Ottawa (, ; Canadian French: ) is the capital city of Canada. It is located at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River in the southern portion of the province of Ontario. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the core ...

* Ottawa Lake * Patterson Gardens * Petersburg Junction * Pointe aux Peaux * Rea * Saint Anthony * Samaria * Scofield * Steiner *

Stony Creek Stony Creek may refer to the following waterways or communities: Waterways Australia * Stony Creek, a tributary of the Allyn River, in the Hunter region of New South Wales * Stony Creek, a tributary of the Brogo River, in the South Coast region o ...

* Strasburg * Vienna * Vienna Junction * Whiteford Center * Yargerville

Notable people

* Betty Whiting (1925–1967),

All-American Girls Professional Baseball League The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) was a professional women's baseball league founded by Philip K. Wrigley which existed from 1943 to 1954. The AAGPBL is the forerunner of women's professional league sports in the Uni ...

player * Boston Custer (1848–1876), younger brother of George Custer, lived in Monroe * Bronco McKart (b. 1971), former World Boxing Organization champion * Carl Ford (b. 1980), American football player *

Charles Blue Jacket Charles Blue Jacket (1817 – October 29, 1897) was a Shawnee chief in Kansas, as well as a Methodist minister. He was the grandson of the Shawnee Chief Blue Jacket by his son George Blue Jacket. Charles' mother is unknown, but is believed to hav ...

(1817–1897), Shawnee chief who lived in northern Monroe County * Christie Brinkley (b. 1954), model who was born in Monroe * Elizabeth Bacon Custer (1842–1933), wife of General Custer, was born in Monroe * Elizabeth Caroline Crosby (1888-1983), noted neuroanatomist, was born and lived in Petersburg *Elizabeth McWebb (1904–2004), author of the ''Little Brown Bear'' book series *

Elroy M. Avery Elroy McKendree Avery, Ph.D., LL.D.

(1844–1935), politician, author, and historian who was born in Erie Township * Eric Wilson (b. 1978), Canadian football player for the Montreal Alouettes * Ernest Ingersoll (1852–1946), environmentalist and naturalist * George Armstrong Custer (1839–1876), Major General who lived much of his early life in Monroe * George Spalding (1836–1915), former teacher and politician * Harry L. Corl (1914–1942), Navy Cross recipient who lived in Lambertville * Henry Armstrong Reed (1858–1876), nephew of George Custer, lived in Monroe *

Isaac P. Christiancy Isaac Peckham Christiancy (March 12, 1812September 8, 1890) was chief justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, Michigan State Supreme Court and U.S. Senator from the state of Michigan. Christiancy was born near Johnstown (town), New York, Johnstown ...

(1812–1890), former Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court *

J. Sterling Morton Julius Sterling Morton (April 22, 1832 – April 27, 1902) was a Nebraska newspaper editor and politician who served as President Grover Cleveland's United States Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary of Agriculture. He was a prominent Bourbon Dem ...

(1832–1902), prominent conservationist who lived in Monroe from 1834 to 1854 *

Kaye Lani Rae Rafko Kaye Lani Rae Rafko Wilson (born August 26, 1963) is the winner of the 1988 Miss America Pageant. She is from Monroe, Michigan, where a street is now named for her. Biography On September 19, 1987, Rafko was named as the Miss America 1988, after ...

(b. 1963), native from Monroe who was the

1988 File:1988 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The oil platform Piper Alpha explodes and collapses in the North Sea, killing 165 workers; The USS Vincennes (CG-49) mistakenly shoots down Iran Air Flight 655; Australia celebrates its Australian ...

Miss America Miss America is an annual competition that is open to women from the United States between the ages of 17 and 25. Originating in 1921 as a "bathing beauty revue", the contest is now judged on competitors' talent performances and interviews. As ...

winner * Mary Harris Jones (1837–1930), union organizer who moved to Monroe from Ireland * Megan Moulton-Levy (b. 1985), collegiate tennis player born in Monroe * Oswald J. Gaynier (1915–1942), Navy Cross recipient who was born in Monroe * Rico Hoye (b. 1974), professional boxer * Robert McCelland (1807–1880), prominent Michigan politician * Vern Sneider (1916–1981), American novelist who lived in Monroe *

Vic Braden Victor Kenneth Braden Jr. (August 2, 1929 – October 6, 2014) was an American tennis player, instructor and television broadcaster for the sport. He earned a PhD in psychology and was married twice. He had 2 children, 1 grandchild and 3 st ...

(b. 1929), former tennis champion and coach

References

External links

official Monroe County website
— ''online photographs collection''. *
Official Website of the Monroe County MI Historical Society
{{Authority control Michigan counties Metro Detroit 1817 establishments in Michigan Territory Populated places established in 1817