Monroe, Wisconsin

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There are also two towns named Monroe in Wisconsin.
Monroe, Wisconsin
Coordinates: 42°35′56″N 89°38′28″W / 42.59889, -89.64111
Country United States
State Wisconsin
County Green
Area
 - Total 4.3 sq mi (11.2 km²)
 - Land 4.3 sq mi (11.2 km²)
 - Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²)
Elevation [1] 1,056 ft (322 m)
Population (2000)
 - Total 10,843
 - Density 2,498.5/sq mi (964.7/km²)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 - Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
FIPS code 55-53750[2]
GNIS feature ID 1569657[1]

Monroe, known as the Swiss Cheese capital of the USA, is a city in and the county seat of Green County, Wisconsin, United States. The population, mainly Swiss-Germanic, was 10,843 at the 2000 census. The city is located partially within the Town of Monroe. A portion is also within the Town of Clarno.

Monroe is home to the The Swiss Colony, Monroe Truck Equipment, the Monroe Clinic, the Minhas Craft Brewery, brewers of Mountain Creek Classic Lager, Rhinelander Original, Hi Test Malt Liquor, Rock Head Malt Liquor, Wisconsin Club, Huber Berghoff beer, and the Mitek’s factory (the makers of MTX audio). Monroe also is the home to the only current cheese factory in North America which makes Limburger cheese (Chalet Cheese Factory). Other attractions, dealing mainly with the city's history and culture, are the Green County Courthouse; the Historic Downtown Square; Turner Hall of Monroe, the only Turner (gymnast) Hall of Swiss origin left in the United States; the Ludlow Mansion; the Green County Welcome Center; the Honda Grand Prix Balloon Rally; and the Monroe Arts Center. Once every two years in September, Monroe celebrates its dairy heritage with a festival known as 'Cheese Days'.

Contents

[edit] Geography

Monroe is located at 42°35′56″N, 89°38′27″W (42.598913, -89.641019)[3]. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.3 square miles (11.2 km²).None of the area is covered with water.

[edit] Education

The Monroe School District is the largest school district in Green County, containing around 2,700 pupils, and having an open enrollment procedure. The school district maintains the Monroe High School, home of the Cheesemakers in the Badger Conference, the Monroe Middle School, Abraham Lincoln Accelerated Learning Academy, Parkside Elementary School, and Northside Elementary School. In addition to regular schools, the district also has an alternative high school and middle school, as well as a virtual school. Monroe also has St. Victor Catholic elementary school. The Monroe School District's headquarters are on the 3rd floor of the Monroe Public Library.

[edit] Recreation

Monroe is well known for its large parks throughout the area. The largest of them include Twining Park, where the city's Swiss bandshell is located, Recreation Park, home to the city swimming pool, and Honey Creek Park, the new location of a skate park. Numerous other parks abound. The city is the eastern starting point for the Tri-County "Cheese" Trail, a 47-mile multi-purpose recreational path, and the Badger State Trail, a new bicycle and pedestrian only trail for summers and ATV/snowmobile for winters (depending on the snow conditions). The first extends from Mineral Point, WI to Monroe, while the latter services the stateline to Madison, WI and connecting to the Badger State Trail, which is a continuation of the Jane Addams Trail in Illinois. Both are former railway corridors.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 10,843 people, 4,710 households, and 2,826 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,498.5 people per square mile (964.6/km²). There were 4,943 housing units at an average density of 1,139.0/sq mi (439.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.72% White, 0.35% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.54% from other races, and 0.73% from two or more races. 1.46% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,710 households out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.1% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.0% were non-families. 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 90.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,922, and the median income for a family was $47,361. Males had a median income of $32,050 versus $22,112 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,657. About 2.4% of families and 5.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.3% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Notable people

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  2. ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  3. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

[edit] External links

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Municipalities and communities of
Green County, Wisconsin
County seat: Monroe
Cities

Brodhead | Monroe
Towns
Villages