Monroe, Georgia

History

Monroe was founded in 1818 as seat of the newly formed Walton County. It was incorporated as a town in 1821 and as a city in 1896. It is named after James Monroe.

Monroe was a major cotton producer in the state during the 1900s. The two main cotton mills in Monroe used to be the driving economic force in the region. Now the mills no longer produce for the cotton industry, but rather serve as economic engines for the region by housing antique markets, event space, and other unique retail.

In July 1946, the area was the site of the last mass lynching in the United States. A White mob attacked and killed two Black married couples who were driving through the area. The four people were pulled from their car and shot several times.

A Civil War memorial, in the form of a statue of a Confederate soldier, stands adjacent to the county courthouse in downtown Monroe.

Geography

Monroe is in the center of Walton County. U.S. Route 78 (Atlanta/Monroe Bypass) passes north of the city, leading west 5 mi to Loganville, and west 35 mi to downtown Atlanta, and east 25 miles to Athens. GA Bus. 10 runs through the city of Monroe. Georgia State Route 11 leads northwest from Monroe 15 miles to Winder, the Barrow County seat, and south 10 miles to Social Circle, and southwest 15 mi to eastern rural Newton County, east of Covington. State Route 138 leads south 18 mi to Conyers.

Monroe is located at (33.793295, -83.710790).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.5 sqmi, of which 10.4 sqmi is land and 0.1 sqmi (1.05%) is water.

Demographics

Economy

The east end of Monroe contains multiple industries:

• Hitachi automotive systems of America
• Tucker Door and Trim
• Arkansas-headquartered Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.'s southeast Walmart Distribution Center
• Leggett & Platt Corporation

Education

Walton County School District

The Walton County School District holds pre-school to grade twelve, and consists of nine elementary schools, three middle schools, and four high schools. The district has 675 full-time teachers and over 10,368 students.

Public schools

Elementary

• Atha Road Elementary School
• Bay Creek Elementary School
• Harmony Elementary School
• Monroe Elementary School
• Walker Park Elementary School
• Walnut Grove Elementary School
• Sharon Elementary School
• Loganville Elementary School
• Youth Elementary School

Middle

• Carver Middle School
• Loganville Middle School
• Youth Middle School

High

• Monroe Area High School
• Loganville High School
• Walnut Grove High School
• Social Circle High School

Private

• George Walton Academy
• Loganville Christian Academy
• Monroe Country Day School

Monroe Museum

Main article: Monroe Museum

The Monroe Museum is a history museum that details a timeline of Monroe, starting with the Native Americans that lived in the area, and ending with the present.

Notable people

• Javianne Oliver - 2020 Olympic Silver Medalist
• Alfred H. Colquitt - Governor of Georgia and senator who served as Confederate officer
• Frances Conroy - Golden Globe- and SAG Award-winning actress
• Besse Cooper - suffragist, teacher, and World's Oldest Living Person 2011-2012
• Henry Fambrough - baritone singer, The Spinners
• Marquis Floyd - NFL player
• Michael Gallup - Dallas Cowboys wide receiver
• Lonnie Hillyer - jazz trumpeter
• Tyler Hubbard - country music singer/songwriter, member of band Florida Georgia Line
• Henry Dickerson McDaniel - Governor of Georgia from 1883 to 1886
• Prince Hulon Preston, Jr. - member of US House of Representatives
• Patricia Roberts - Olympic silver medalist and Women's Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
• Stephon Tuitt - NFL player for Pittsburgh Steelers
• Clifford Walker - Governor of Georgia from 1923 to 1927
• Bruce Williamson (born 1954) - Politician. Member of Georgia House of Representatives.

References

References

1. "Mayor's Office". City of Monroe, GA.
2. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
3. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
4. (2007-10-25). "US Board on Geographic Names". [[United States Geological Survey]].
5. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
6. "Monroe city, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
7. Hellmann, Paul T.. (May 13, 2013). "Historical Gazetteer of the United States". Routledge.
8. "History".
9. Schwartz, Robbie. (2014-12-31). "Vintage Revival set to open at The Cotton Mills".
10. (11 February 2019). "Unsolved mass lynching grand jury testimony set for release thanks to N.J. lawyer who took on Trump Justice Department".
11. "Clemons: Like old flag, statue's days are numbered". Walton Tribune.
12. (30 June 2020). "Dueling petitions over Walton County's monuments hit social media".
13. "Civil War veterans gather in front of the Confederate Monument for this photograph". University of Georgia.
14. (2011-02-12). "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". [[United States Census Bureau]].
15. "2022 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
16. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov.
17. "Explore Census Data".
18. "Unisia of Georgia Corp - Monroe, GA - Manufacturing in Monroe, Georgia".
19. "Walton County: Change Is On The Way - Georgia Trend".
20. "Leggett & Platt, Incorporated".
21. (February 2018)
22. [http://www.school-stats.com/GA/WALTON/WALTON_COUNTY.html School Stats] {{Webarchive. link. (2014-07-03 , Retrieved June 26, 2010.)
23. "Visitors Center and Museum {{!}} Monroe Georgia".
24. Steve Almasy. (5 December 2012). "World's oldest person dies at age 116 - CNN".
25. "Bruce Williamson III's Biography". [[Vote Smart]].