Monroe

Monroe is the largest city and county seat of Monroe County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Located on the western shores of Lake Erie approximately 14 miles (23 km) north of Toledo, Ohio and 25 miles (40 km) south of Detroit, the city is part of the DetroitAnn ArborFlint combined statistical area. Monroe area was the scene of several military conflicts during the War of 1812 against the United Kingdom and is known for the Battle of Frenchtown. Monroe is known as the childhood residence of George Armstrong Custer and other members of his family, including his brother Boston and wife Elizabeth Bacon. Several structures are named after Custer, including Custer Airport. Founded in 1928, the La-Z-Boy world headquarters are located in Monroe. In 1817, portions of the Frenchtown settlement along the River Raisin were platted and renamed Monroe after then-president James Monroe. When Michigan became a state in 1837, Monroe was incorporated as a city. The city is bordered on the south by Monroe Charter Township, but the two are administered autonomously. It is the first and so far the only national battlefield established for a War of1812 site. The area was settled by the historic Potawatomi hundreds of years before French explorers and colonists reached it in the late seventeenth century. Robert de LaSalle claimed the area for New France after his 1679 expedition on the Griffon. In 1784, after the American Revolutionary War, Francis Navarre of Canada was given a portion of land south of the RiverRaisin by the Potaw atomi.

History

Monroe is the primary city name, but also Frenchtown, Raisinville Twp, Raisinvl Twp are acceptable city names or spellings. The official name is City of Monroe. The area around the River Raisin was settled by the historic Potawatomi hundreds of years before French explorers and colonists reached it in the late seventeenth century. Because of its proximity to Detroit, the area was of strategic importance during the War of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain. On January 22, 1813, a force of 800 Native Americans and 597 British, under Henry Proctor, surprised the force of 1,000 Americans and captured Frenchtown. This event became known throughout the U.S. as the "River Raisin Massacre". This was also known as the Battle of Frenchtown (or the Second Battle of the river Raisin) Today, the site of the battle is preserved as the River. Raisin National Battlefield Park, authorized in 2009. It is the first and so far the only national battlefield established for a War of. 1812 site. It has a small visitor center. The site is being redeveloped in 2021 and the dual smokestacks are more than 25 km away from Monroe. The city of Monroe was named as the county seat of the newly created Monroe County. Monroe was re-incorporated as a city in 1837. It became associated with events in the West in the later 19th century, particularly the Indian Wars. Monroe is the childhood home of George Armstrong Custer (1839-1876), who had a military career in which he reached the rank of major general. His family moved here when he was young, and he lived in Monroe for much of his childhood.

Geography

Monroe sits at the lowest elevation in state of Michigan, which is the shores of Lake Erie at 571 feet (174 meters) The average elevation of the city of Monroe is 594 feet (182 meters) Monroe receives an average of 28.5 inches (72.4 cm) of snow a yearthe lowest average snowfall for any large city in the state. Sterling State Park is the only of Michigan's 103 state parks located on or near Lake Erie. The River Raisin and Sandy Creek travel through Monroe; they are non-navigable because of the several dams and other obstructions. Monroe lies in the humid continental climate zone. July is the warmest month with an average high temperature of 84 °F (29 °C), and January is the coldest month. Monroe does not normally have extremely hot or cold temperatures, as its climate is moderated by the lake. On average, the temperature only drops below 0 °f (18 °C) a couple of times during a winter season, and it is even rarer for the temperature to rise above 100 °C (38 °F) during the summer. The coldest recorded temperature was 21 °F on February 5, 1918, with another equal temperature recorded on one occasion many years earlier. The highest recorded temperature in Monroe was 106°F (41°C) on July 24, 1934. The Port of Monroe was the only Michigan port on Lake Erie, and Sterling is one of the only 103 Michigan state parks.

Demographics

As of the census of 2010, there were 20,733 people, 8,238 households, and 5,277 families residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 88.4% White, 6.2% African American, 0.4%. Native American, 1.7% Asian, and 3.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.1%. The median income for a household in theCity was $41,810, and the median income. for a family was $51,442. The per capita income for the city is $19,948. The city has a population of 26.9% under the age of 18, and 15.1% who are 65 or older. The average household size is 2.44 and the average family size is 3.05. The median age in the City is 36.3 years, with the average age of the population being 35.2 years. The population was 22,076 in the 2000 census, with a median age of 35 years, and a population density of 2,261.0 inhabitants per square mile (873.0/km²) The city is located on the Missouri River, which runs through the center of the town. It is the only city in the state to be on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ “Rough and Ready’s” “Rapid Response’’ (R-3) “Mississippi River Command” (M-4) and “M-5” commands.

Economy

According to the city's 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are: KPMG, KPMT, and Wachovia. The city's economy is largely based on the construction industry. The construction industry is one of the biggest contributors to the economy. The economy is also the largest source of employment for the city, according to the 2010 Comprehensive annual financial report. The top employers are KPMM, WPC, and KPMF. The largest employers are also KPMC, WBC and WBC. The most profitable employers are WBC, WCC and Waukesha County. The unemployment rate is 3.7%. The city has the highest rate of employment in the state of Wisconsin, at 7.7 percent. The highest unemployment rate in the county is at 3.8 percent, the highest in the province. The lowest rate is at 2.9 percent, with the lowest rate of unemployment at 1.4 percent. In 2010, the unemployment rate was 2.7 per cent, the lowest since 2007. The average wage is $28,000. The median household income is $30,000, the city has a high poverty rate of 1.8 per cent and the lowest unemployment rate at 1 per cent. The U.S. unemployment rate has been at 2 per cent for the past three years. The state's economy has been the largest in the country. The rate of growth is expected to be 3.4 per cent in the next three years, the report says.

Sports

Monroe is the hometown of the Southern Michigan Timberwolves, a semi-professional football team that competes in the Great Lakes Football League. The Timberwolves have won their league championship four times, three in the Mid-Continental Football League (1996, 97 & 99) and the Minor League Football Alliance championship in 2016. The team has won the league championship in 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999. The Minnesota Vikings have won the championship in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. The Wolves have never been eliminated from the league. They have never lost in the league's first three games. The Vikings have only lost in their last four games, all in the second half of the season. They are currently ranked No. 1 in the Great Lakes Football League with a record of four wins and one loss. They also have the best record in the Minor League Football Alliance with three wins and two losses. They were the league champions in 2012 and 2013. They won the League Championship in 2014 and 2015. They also won the League championship in 2014 and 2015 and were runners-up in 2015 and suffered a losing loss in the 2014 season final and the 2015-16 season. The Timberwolves have won the league championship in each of the last three seasons. The last two years, they have also consecutively received the league's most valuable player award.

Education

Monroe is served by one public school district, Monroe Public Schools (MPS), which enrolls approximately 6,700 students. MPS operates five elementary schools, one middle school, one high school, and one alternative high school. At around 2,100 students, Monroe High School is one of the largest high schools in the state. Monroe is also served by the Monroe County Intermediate School District, which provides services to other schools. Students in Monroe may also attend one of two public charter schools. More than a dozen various parochial schools operate in and around Monroe. Parents may also homeschool their children. 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 moved to its current location in Detroit in 1927. The IHM also operated a boarding school, the Hall of the Divine Child, in Monroe from 1918 to 1980. Zion Lutheran School is a grade school (Pre-K-8) of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod in Monroe. Monroe County Community College, founded in 1964 just west of Monroe, is the only higher education facility in Monroe County. In 2012, the three largestParochial elementary schools (St. Michael the Archangel, St. Mary, and St. John the Baptist) merged to form Monroe Catholic Elementary Schools, serving infants through 8th grade. It has a full sports program that competes against the other public school districts.

Transportation

I-75 travels through Monroe and provides access to Toledo and Detroit. M-50 terminates in Monroe at US 24 and provides a direct route to Dundee, Jackson, and further. Dixie Highway ran through Monroe in as early as 1915. Custer Airport was built in 1946 and is located on the former M-130. There are no commercial or passenger flights departing from or arriving at Custer airport. There is one paved runway used by small personal airplanes. All air services in the area are primarily through the Metro Airport in Wayne County. Lake Erie Transit currently has a fleet of 31 buses and serves approximately 400,000 riders every year. 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. The Lake Erie interurban at Toledo exchanged freight and passengers from Detroit to Cleveland with the Lake Shore Electric at Toledo in the 1920s and 30s. The Detroit and Ohio had trackage rights with the PM and the Wabash upon which to operate its Detroit to Toledo passenger trains such as the Ambassador which after Toledo continued to Washington, D.C. and from there northward to Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York City. The city is home to the University of Michigan's Division of Business and Economics, which was founded in 1876. The University of Toledo's Division Of Business and Commerce was founded on the same site in 1881. The university's Division I of Business is based on the College of Information Technology.

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in Monroe, Monroe County, Michigan = 19.2. These Air Quality index is based on annual reports from the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The number of ozone alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of seven pollutants including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. The Water Quality Index is 28. A measure of the quality of an area’s water supply as rated by the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The EPA has a complex method of measuring the watershed quality, using 15 indicators such as pollutants, turbidity, sediments, and toxic discharges. The Superfund Sites Index is 77. Higher is better (100=best). Based upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts. The UV Index in Monroe = 3.6 and is a measure of an area's exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. This is most often a combination of sunny weather, altitude, and latitude. The UV Index has been defined by the WHO (www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) and is uniform worldwide.

Employed

The most recent city population of 20,462 individuals with a median age of 37 age the population dropped by -4.15% in Monroe, Monroe County, Michigan population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 2,261.99 residents per square mile of area (873.34/km²). There are average 2.41 people per household in the 8,429 households with an average household income of $42,612 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is 13.60% of the available work force and has dropped -7.57% over the most recent 12-month period and the projected change in job supply over the next decade based on migration patterns, economic growth, and other factors will increase by 11.26%. The number of physicians in Monroe per 100,000 population = 89.8.

Weather

The annual rainfall in Monroe = 32.3 inches and the annual snowfall = 37.7 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 125. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 183. 83 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 14.2 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 48, where higher values mean a more pleasant climate. The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. (Have you noticed nobody ever complains about the weather being 'cold and humid?) It's in the summertime that we notice the humidity the most, when it's hot and muggy. Our Comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.

Median Home Cost

The percentage of housing units in Monroe, Monroe County, Michigan which are owned by the occupant = 57.05%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 56 years with median home cost = $93,750 and home appreciation of -14.01%. This is the value of the years most recent home sales data. Its important to note that this is not the average (or arithmetic mean). The median home price is the middle value when you arrange all the sales prices of homes from lowest to highest. This is a better indicator than the average, because the median is not changed as much by a few unusually high or low values. The property tax rate of $10.44 shown here is the rate per $1,000 of home value. If for simplification for example the tax rate is $14.00 and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14.00 x ($250,000/1000), or $3500. This is the 'effective' tax rate.

Study

The local school district spends $5,114 per student. There are 21.8 students for each teacher in the school, 1347 students for each Librarian and 575 students for each Counselor. 6.32% of the area’s population over the age of 25 with an Associate Degree or other 2-year college degree, 10.39% with a master’s degree, Ph.D. or other advanced college degree and 6.53% with high school diplomas or high school equivalency degrees (GEDs).