Monroe, Michigan
From MonroeWiki
Note: This is just a dump from the main Wikipedia page about Monroe. It needs localizing
Monroe is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 22,076. It is the county seat of Monroe County. The city is adjacent to Monroe Charter Township, but is politically independent. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Monroe forms a part of the Detroit metropolitan area.
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[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.1 square miles (26.1 km²), of which, 9.0 square miles (23.4 km²) of it is land and 1.0 square miles (2.6 km²) of it (10.14%) is water.
[edit] History
* The City of Monroe and Monroe County were named for President James Monroe, who paid the Michigan Territory a visit in 1817. * Monroe is known for its ties to General George Armstrong Custer. He spent much of his boyhood living with his half-sister and his brother-in-law in Monroe, Michigan, where he attended school and is now honored by a statue in the center of town. He married Elizabeth Clift Bacon (1842–1933) on February 9, 1864. She was born in Monroe, Michigan, to Daniel Stanton Bacon and Eleanor Sophia Page. They had no children together. * The historic River Raisin runs through the city. The Battle of Frenchtown, one of the bloodiest battles in War of 1812 was fought near the mouth of the river. It was the largest conflict ever fought on Michigan soil and the River Raisin Battlefield is being considered for inclusion in the National Parks System[3]. * Downtown Monroe is home to the Monroe County Historical Museum.
[edit] Local Events and Attractions
* River Raisin Centre for the Arts offers entertainment.
* River Raisin Jazz Festival on the 2nd weekend in August, attracts over 40,000 music lovers per year.[4]
* There are eight museums in the area:
o Eby Log Cabin
o Martha Barker Country Store Museum
o Monroe County Historical Museum & The George A. Custer Exhibits
o Monroe County Labor History Museum
o Monroe County Vietnam Veterans Historical Museum
o Navarre-Anderson Trading Post
o River Raisin Battlefield Visitor Center
o Old Mill Museum
o The Sawyer Homestead
[edit] Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 22,076 people, 8,594 households, and 5,586 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,440.9 per square mile (942.9/km²). There were 9,107 housing units at an average density of 1,007.0/sq mi (389.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.87% White, 5.07% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.84% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.90% from other races, and 2.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.76% of the population.
There were 8,594 households out of which 33.6% had children under the age of 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 who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age 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 was $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. About 9.0% of families and 12.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.0% of those under age 18 and 16.1% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Famous Monroe Residents
* Ernest Ingersoll * Monroe is known for its ties to General George Armstrong Custer. Although born in Ohio, he attended school in Monroe on two separate occasions: at the age of ten he attended New Dublin primary school for two years and in 1853, at the age of fourteen, he attended the Stebbins Academy for two years. While attending Stebbins, he met his future wife Elizabeth Bacon. He returned to marry her in 1864. * Monroe is the birthplace of model Christie Brinkley. * Monroe is the birthplace of 1988 Miss America winner Kaye Lani Rae Rafko. * Monroe is the birthplace of ABC's Reality TV Star, Actor and Model Michael Wayne Foster of "The Bachelorette" [1] * Bronco McKart Former WBO Middleweight Champion * Gunner Ross Rock-n-Roll Drummer
[edit] Notable Businesses
* The furniture company La-Z-Boy's world headquarters is located in Monroe. * The auto parts manufacturer Monroe Auto Equipment, owned by Tenneco Inc., is located in Monroe. * Plastech engineering company is located in Monroe. * The Consolidated Paper Company, was headquartered in Monroe.
[edit] Clubs and Fraternal Organizations
* Free & Accepted Masons, Monroe Lodge 27 * U.S. Military Vets Motorcycle Club Custer Chapter * Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Monroe Post #1138
[edit] Miscellaneous Facts
* The Port of Monroe is the only port in Michigan that is on Lake Erie. * The Monroe Power Plant, which is a coal burning plant operated by Detroit Edison (as seen below), has four 750MW units; the second largest generating capacity of any coal plant in North America. * Monroe Fire Department union IAFF Local 326 is the oldest continuous IAFF local in the State of Michigan. * The Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary have their mother house in Monroe.
