Monroe County, Michigan

Monroe

The Monroe County seat, on the River Raisin and the western shore of Lake Erie, about 22 miles north of downtown Toledo along I-75.

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20,462Population

8,410Households

60.8%Homeownership Rate

38.1 yrsMedian Age

Overview

Living in Monroe

Monroe is the largest city in Monroe County and its county seat, set where the River Raisin meets Lake Erie. French settlers founded Frenchtown here in the 1780s. In January 1813 the area saw the Battle of Frenchtown during the War of 1812, and the site is now River Raisin National Battlefield Park. The settlement was platted and renamed in 1817 for President James Monroe, and Monroe incorporated as a city in 1837. George Armstrong Custer spent much of his youth here, and his equestrian statue, unveiled in 1910, stands at Elm Avenue and Monroe Street. La-Z-Boy, founded in Monroe in 1927, keeps its world headquarters in the city. William C. Sterling State Park, partly within city limits, is the only Michigan state park on Lake Erie.

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Stats: 2020 Census (Demographic and Housing Characteristics), Monroe city. Photo: WeaponizingArchitecture / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

At a Glance

CountyMonroe (county seat)

Incorporated1837 (city)

Distance to Toledo~22 miles

ZIP Codes48161, 48162

Land Area9.05 sq mi

What Makes It Special

Why Buyers Choose Monroe

War of 1812 History

River Raisin National Battlefield Park preserves the site of the 1813 Battle of Frenchtown and has a visitor center on North Dixie Highway.

Lake Erie Shoreline

Sterling State Park has a mile of sandy beach, a campground, a boat launch and trails, and the River Raisin Heritage Trail connects it to downtown.

Custer's Hometown

George Armstrong Custer grew up in Monroe, and his 1910 equestrian statue stands at Elm Avenue and Monroe Street.

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Parks & Recreation

Monroe Parks

William C. Sterling State Park

2800 State Park Rd, Monroe

1 mile of sandy Lake Erie shoreline
Modern campground and cottages
Boat launch and fishing
Hiking and biking trails
500+ acres of marsh and lake plain prairie

River Raisin National Battlefield Park

333 N Dixie Hwy, Monroe

Visitor center and exhibits
War of 1812 battlefield grounds
Walking trails
No entrance fee

Father Cairns Park

802 W Eighth St, Monroe

Splash pad (Memorial Day to Labor Day)
Playscape
Three tennis courts and eight pickleball courts
Sand volleyball court
Walking path and rentable pavilions

River Raisin Heritage Trail

Downtown Monroe to Sterling State Park

Non-motorized trail
Links downtown, the battlefield park and Sterling State Park
Walking and biking

Monroe Public Schools

Monroe Schools

Public

Cantrick Elementary School1008 Riverview Ave, Monroe, MI 48162
Custer Elementary School5003 W Albain Rd, Monroe, MI 48161
Hollywood Elementary School1135 Riverview Ave, Monroe, MI 48162
Manor Elementary School1731 W Lorain St, Monroe, MI 48162
Raisinville Elementary School2300 N Raisinville Rd, Monroe, MI 48162
Waterloo Elementary School1933 S Custer Rd, Monroe, MI 48161
Monroe Middle School503 Washington St, Monroe, MI 48161
Monroe High School901 Herr Rd, Monroe, MI 48161
Orchard Center High School1750 Oak St, Monroe, MI 48161

Private & Parochial

St. Mary Catholic Central High School108 W Elm Ave, Monroe, MI 48162
Monroe Catholic Elementary Schools – St. Michael Campus510 W Front St, Monroe, MI 48161
Monroe Catholic Elementary Schools – St. Mary Campus151 N Monroe St, Monroe, MI 48162
Zion Lutheran School186 Cole Rd, Monroe, MI 48162

School assignment is based on home address, and district boundaries do not always follow township or ZIP Code lines. Contact Monroe Public Schools directly to confirm which schools serve a specific property.

Frequently Asked

Monroe FAQ

What is Monroe, Michigan known for?

Monroe is known for River Raisin National Battlefield Park, which preserves the 1813 Battle of Frenchtown, for its ties to George Armstrong Custer, and as the world headquarters of La-Z-Boy. It is also the county seat of Monroe County.

How far is Monroe from downtown Toledo?

Monroe is about 22 miles by road from downtown Toledo, Ohio, mostly by I-75. Detroit is about 40 miles to the northeast.

What school district serves Monroe?

The city is served by Monroe Public Schools, which operates six elementary schools, Monroe Middle School, Monroe High School and Orchard Center High School. Several parochial schools, including St. Mary Catholic Central, are also in the city.

When was Monroe founded?

French settlers established Frenchtown along the River Raisin in the 1780s. It was renamed Monroe for President James Monroe in 1817, the same year it became the county seat, and it incorporated as a city in 1837.

Is there a beach near Monroe?

Yes. William C. Sterling State Park, at 2800 State Park Road, has about a mile of sandy Lake Erie shoreline, along with a campground, a boat launch, fishing and trails. It is the only Michigan state park on Lake Erie.

What is the population of Monroe?

The city of Monroe had 20,462 residents and 8,410 households in the 2020 Census.

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