West Monroe is the second largest city in
Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States. As of the
2020 United States census, its population was 13,103. It is situated on the
Ouachita River
The Ouachita River ( ) is a river that runs south and east through the United States, U.S. U.S. state, states of Arkansas and Louisiana, joining the Tensas River to form the Black River (Louisiana), Black River near Jonesville, Louisiana. It i ...
, across from the neighboring city of
Monroe. The two cities are often referred to as the
Twin Cities of northeast Louisiana.
History
Originally laid out in 1837 as Byron by John Campbell at the foot of the ferry landing to Monroe, the town floundered and Campbell went bankrupt. The area was bought by Christopher Dabbs, a doctor from
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...
who submitted the plans for Cotton Port in 1854; it was officially recognized in 1859.
It too languished until the arrival of the
Vicksburg, Shreveport and Pacific Railway and the construction of the bridge over the Ouachita River. Cotton Port boomed as a river port and rail depot.
Geography
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...
, the city has a total area of 8.0 square miles (20.6 km), of which 7.7 square miles (20.0 km) is land and 0.2 square mile (0.6 km) (3.14%) is water.
West Monroe is a separate municipality from
Monroe.
Demographics
As of the
2020 United States census, there were 13,103 people, 5,616 households, and 2,636 families residing in the city.
West Monroe is part of the
Monroe Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Government
The current mayor is Staci Albritton Mitchell, who has served since 2018.
A 2013 "Community Impressions" report complimented the green spaces, including the
Kiroli and Restoration parks, and Antique Alley as important assets to the West Monroe community.
According to long-term Mayor
Dave Norris, the study confirms "the value of many of the projects we've focused on to enhance quality of life."
The report identifies situations in need of improvement, many of which have already been addressed, including insufficient or inaccurate signage to area attractions, brown water and the need to renovate certain wells, limited shopping opportunities for clothing, traffic problems on Thomas Road, and the failure to promote the popular phenomenon created from the West Monroe-based
A&E reality
Reality is the sum or aggregate of everything in existence; everything that is not imagination, imaginary. Different Culture, cultures and Academic discipline, academic disciplines conceptualize it in various ways.
Philosophical questions abo ...
television series
A television show, TV program (), or simply a TV show, is the general reference to any content produced for viewing on a television set that is broadcast via over-the-air, satellite, and cable, or distributed digitally on streaming plat ...
, ''
Duck Dynasty''.
[ The consultants declared West Monroe and the general area west of the Ouachita River overall as "a clean, vibrant, growing friendly area ... itha small town atmosphere and yet ... many of the amenities and features of a argercity."][
]
National Guard
1022nd Engineer Company (Vertical) of the 527th Engineer Battalion of the 225th Engineer Brigade is located in West Monroe.
Education
Ouachita Parish School System is the area school district.
Media
Radio
West Monroe is the second most populous city of the Monroe media market for radio.
Television
West Monroe is part of the Monroe media market
A media market, broadcast market, media region, designated market area (DMA), television market area, or simply market is a region where the population can receive the same (or similar) television station, television and radio broadcasting, ra ...
for television.
Notable people
* Donnie Copeland, Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives, 2015 to 2017astronaut
An astronaut (from the Ancient Greek (), meaning 'star', and (), meaning 'sailor') is a person trained, equipped, and deployed by a List of human spaceflight programs, human spaceflight program to serve as a commander or crew member of a spa ...
; space shuttle pilot
* Dixon Hearne, author
* Alton Hardy Howard, co-founder of Howard Brothers Discount Stores
* Bradie James, NFL linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. T ...
* Rickey Minor, music director, composer and music producer
* William Norris III (1936-2016), city, district, and circuit court judge
* Webb Pierce, Country Music Hall of Fame member
* Cassidy Riley, professional wrestler for WWE
* Phil Robertson, Duck Dynasty star and founder of Duck Commander
* Kay Robertson, Duck Dynasty star
* Sadie Robertson, Duck Dynasty star
* Si Robertson, Duck Dynasty star
* Willie Robertson, Duck Dynasty star
* Jase Robertson, Duck Dynasty star
* Korie Robertson, Duck Dynasty star
* Bill Russell, professional basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...
player
* Andrew Whitworth, NFL offensive tackle
References
External links
City of West Monroe
Monroe-West Monroe Convention & Visitors Bureau
West Monroe history
{{Authority control
*
Cities in Louisiana
Cities in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana
Cities in North Louisiana
Louisiana populated places on the Ouachita River