Monroe, Louisiana

Etymology

As governor of Louisiana, Esteban Rodríguez Miró had Fort Miro built in 1791. Fort Miro changed its name to Monroe to commemorate the first arrival of the steamboat James Monroe in the spring of 1820. The ship's arrival was the single event, in the minds of local residents, that transformed the outpost into a town.

Credit for the name is indirectly given to James Monroe of Virginia, the fifth President of the United States, for whom the ship was named. The steamboat is depicted in a mural at the main branch of the Ouachita Parish Public Library.

History

Early history–late 20th century

Monroe's origins date back to the Spanish colonial period.

Fort Miro changed its name to Monroe to commemorate the first arrival of the steamboat James Monroe in the spring of 1820 (see "Etymology" above).

In 1913, Joseph A. Biedenharn, the first bottler of Coca-Cola, moved to Monroe from Vicksburg, Mississippi. Biedenharn and his son Malcolm were among the founders of Delta Air Lines, originally Delta Dusters. That company was founded in Tallulah, Louisiana in Madison Parish. It was based on products and processes developed by the Agriculture Experimental Station to dust crops from airplanes in order to combat the devastating effects that the boll weevil had on cotton crops. Biedenharn's home and gardens have been preserved and are now operated as the Biedenharn Museum and Gardens and are open to the public.

Collett E. Woolman, the Ouachita Parish agent, was originally from Indiana. He pioneered crop dusting to eradicate the boll weevil, which destroyed cotton throughout the Mississippi Delta in the early 20th century. Woolman originated the first crop-dusting service in the world. The collapse of cotton production meant a widespread loss of farm jobs, which contributed to the early-20th-century Great Migration, when a total of 1.5 million African Americans left the rural South for jobs in northern and midwestern cities. They were also escaping the oppressive racial conditions and violence under Jim Crow and the disenfranchisement that excluded most blacks from the political system.

Howard D. Griffin (1911–1986) purchased a boat dealership in 1936 while a student at what became the University of Louisiana Monroe. By the 1960s, Griffin's company had become the world's largest outboard motor dealership, and he also sold motorcycles. From 1955 to 1985, Griffin and his wife, Birdie M. Griffin (1915–1985), operated their seasonal Land O' Toys store in Monroe.

Geography

Located in northeastern Louisiana, Monroe is the center of the Monroe metropolitan statistical area. It is the parish seat of Ouachita Parish, and northeastern Louisiana's economic and cultural hub. Monroe has an elevation of 72 ft above sea level. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 31.6 square miles (83.9 km), of which, 28.7 square miles (74.3 km) is land and 3.7 square miles (9.6 km) is water. The total area is 11.46% water.

Climate

Monroe has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa). Rainfall is abundant, with the normal annual precipitation averaging over 51 in. Monthly averages range from less than 3 in in August to more than 5 in in June. Severe thunderstorms with heavy rain, hail, damaging winds and tornadoes occur in the area during the spring and summer months.

The winter months are normally mild, with an average of 35 days of freezing or below-freezing temperatures per year, with ice and sleet storms possible. Summer months are hot and humid, with maximum temperatures exceeding 90 degrees an average of 91 days per year, with high to very high relative average humidity, sometimes exceeding the 90 percent level.{{Weather box | Jan record high F = 86 | Feb record high F = 89 | Mar record high F = 95 | Apr record high F = 97 | May record high F = 104 | Jun record high F = 108 | Jul record high F = 109 | Aug record high F = 108 | Sep record high F = 107 | Oct record high F = 101 | Nov record high F = 90 | Dec record high F = 89 | year record high F = 109 | Jan avg record high F = 75.6 | Feb avg record high F = 78.7 | Mar avg record high F = 84.2 | Apr avg record high F = 88.2 | May avg record high F = 92.7 | Jun avg record high F = 96.5 | Jul avg record high F = 99.5 | Aug avg record high F = 100.2 | Sep avg record high F = 97.2 | Oct avg record high F = 90.9 | Nov avg record high F = 82.8 | Dec avg record high F = 78.0 | year avg record high F = 101.3 | Jan avg record low F = 21.3 | Feb avg record low F = 26.0 | Mar avg record low F = 30.6 | Apr avg record low F = 38.8 | May avg record low F = 50.0 | Jun avg record low F = 61.6 | Jul avg record low F = 66.6 | Aug avg record low F = 64.9 | Sep avg record low F = 52.4 | Oct avg record low F = 37.8 | Nov avg record low F = 28.4 | Dec avg record low F = 24.4 | year avg record low F = 19.7 | Jan record low F = −1 | Feb record low F = −2 | Mar record low F = 18 | Apr record low F = 31 | May record low F = 39 | Jun record low F = 51 | Jul record low F = 55 | Aug record low F = 51 | Sep record low F = 35 | Oct record low F = 29 | Nov record low F = 19 | Dec record low F = 5 | year record low F = −2 | access-date = August 20, 2021}} | access-date = August 20, 2021}} | access-date = August 20, 2021}}

Notable natural disasters

March 2016 flood

In March 2016, rainfall amounts ranging between 15 and 20 inches fell area-wide over 3 days, more than any 3-day period ever previously recorded. In Ouachita Parish alone, there were 9,500 homes with flood damage, and 5,400 were completely flooded. More than 1,700 high-water rescues were performed.

2020 tornado

As part of the 2020 Easter tornado outbreak, on April 12, the community was struck by a low-end EF3 tornado. Damage was severe, but there were no deaths or injuries due to advance warnings.

Demographics

|align-fn=center 2020 Census

As of the 2020 census, there were 47,702 people, 17,327 households, and 9,811 families residing in the city. At the 2019 American Community Survey, there were 48,241 people and 17,327 households. In 2010, the population was 48,815, declining from the city's historic high of 57,597 at the 1980 U.S. census.

Of the 17,327 households in 2019, there were 7,409 owner-occupied housing units. An estimated 3,493 of owner-occupied housing units were married couples living together; 354 were male households with no female present, and 927 were female households with no male present. There was an average family size of 3.58; 27.4% of all households were married couples living together, 29.8% were male households with no female present, and 46.4% were female households with no male present.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,438 versus $51,073 nationwide. Families had an annual median income of $38,374, married-couple families $75,089, and non-family households $21,210. Approximately 36.8% of the population lived at or below the poverty line; 54.1% under 18 years, 32.2% aged 18 to 16, and 21.3% aged 65 and older lived at or below the poverty line in 2019.

In 2019, the racial and ethnic makeup of the city was 62.0% Black or African American, 32.7% non-Hispanic or Latin American white, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% Asian, 1.0% some other race, 0.9% two or more races, and 2.3% Hispanic and Latin American of any race. Among the Hispanic and Latin American population at the 2019 American Community Survey, the largest groups were Mexican Americans (1.2%) and Puerto Ricans (0.1%). Other Hispanic and Latin Americans made up 1.0% of the total population. Vietnamese and Chinese Americans were the largest Asian American groups in the city, followed by Asian Indians; the Vietnamese community in Monroe and the rest of Louisiana grew following the Vietnam War.

Religion

As part of the Bible Belt, Christianity is the largest religion in Monroe, the city's metropolitan area, and North Louisiana. In common with much of northern and Central Louisiana, Baptists makes up the largest Christian denomination by affiliation. As a predominantly-African-American city, the largest Baptist denominations are the National Baptist Convention, USA; the National Baptist Convention of America; and the Progressive National Baptist Convention. The Southern Baptist Convention also has churches throughout the Monroe area.

Methodism make up the second-largest Christian denomination by affiliation, primarily divided among the African Methodist Episcopal and Christian Methodist Episcopal churches. The Catholic Church is the third-largest, and the city's Catholic population is served by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Shreveport as of 2021. Pentecostalism is a growing tradition among the population, divided among Classical Pentecostals, and Oneness Pentecostals. The Church of God in Christ and United Pentecostal Church are the largest Pentecostal denominations in the city and metropolitan area; there are also some independent Oneness Pentecostal churches in the city.

Islam is Monroe's second-largest religion. Muslims are predominantly Sunni, though the Nation of Islam also maintains a presence in the area. Former mayor Jamie Mayo controversially awarded a key to the city to the head of the Nation of Islam Louis Farrakhan.

Judaism is Monroe's third-largest religion, with most being of the Reform denomination. Temple B'nai Israel, established in 1868, is Monroe's oldest synagogue.

Economy

Top employers

According to the city's 2019 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the largest employers in the city are:

Shopping

• Pecanland Mall has major anchor stores: Belk, Dillard's, and JC Penney. The largest mall in North Louisiana, it has a total of 83 retail stores.

Government

In the Louisiana State Legislature, Monroe is in the 33rd and 34th Senate districts, represented by Republican Stewart Cathey Jr. and Democrat Katrina Jackson, and the 14th, 16th, and 17th House districts, represented by Republican Michael Charles Echols, and Democrats Adrian Fisher and Patricia "Pat" Moore.

Monroe is located in Louisiana's 5th congressional district, represented by Julia Letlow in the United States House of Representatives.

Arts and culture

During the last week of June, Monroe hosts the annual Miss Louisiana pageant.

Monroe is the home of the Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo, which collectively maintains over 500 animals. It also offers boat rides and a catwalk, in addition to other seasonal activities.

The Monroe area is home to several museums, including the Northeast Louisiana Children's Museum, the Biedenharn Museum and Gardens, the Chennault Aviation and Military Museum, the Masur Museum of Arts, and the Northeast Louisiana Delta African-American Heritage Museum. This is one of the 26 sites identified in the early 21st century as part of the state's African American Heritage Trail.

Parks and recreation

Monroe is home to the Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Admission is free.

Parks

The City of Monroe owns and operates 17 city parks.{{cast listing|*Jesse Williams Park

• Lamyville/Magnolia Park
• Charles Johnson Park
• Orange Street Park
• Mt. Nebo Playground Park
• Anita Lane Park
• Hawthorne Street Park
• Myrtle Street Park
• Jasmine Street/Civic Street Park
• Triangle/Stuart Park
• Lida Benton Playground
• Anna Grey Noe Park
• Henry Bry Park
• River Oaks Neighborhood Park
• Sherrouse Neighborhood Park
• Forsythe Point Recreation Area
• Forsythe Park}}

Golf

• Bayou Desiard Country Club
• Chennault Golf Course
• Frenchman's Bend Country Club
• The Links at Muny, Forsythe Park

Professional Sports

Monroe was home to the Monroe Moccasins minor league hockey team in the Western Professional Hockey League from 1997 to 2001. The team resumed play in 2024.

Media

The Gannett owned News Star is the primary daily newspaper serving Monroe and area.

Monroe is served by two African-American-owned weekly newspapers: the Monroe Free Press and the Monroe Dispatch. The Free Press was founded in 1969 by Roosevelt Wright, Jr., and The Dispatch was founded in 1975 by Irma and Frank Detiege. The Ouachita Citizen is a locally owned and operated weekly newspaper that was founded in 1924. It has all-local coverage of events in Ouachita Parish, including Monroe, West Monroe, Sterlington and Richwood.

Television

Monroe is the principal city of the Monroe media market for television. Both KNOE-TV and KTVE offer a full range of network and local daily news programming.

Radio

Monroe is served by local radio station KJLO, and KMVX, that also broad KMLB AM 540.

Emergency alert stations

• KMLB-KNOE 540 AM
• KMVX-KNOE 101.9 FM
• KNOE TV 8
• KTVE-TV 10
• KARD-TV 14

Education

Colleges and universities

• Louisiana Delta Community College
• McCann School of Business & Technology
• University of Louisiana Monroe

K-12 education

The city is within the Monroe City Schools school district, which uses the city boundaries as its boundary. The school district consists of three high schools, three junior high schools, and 18 elementary schools. The Monroe school district operates the following high schools:

• Carroll High School
• Neville High School
• Wossman High School

The Monroe district is separate from the larger Ouachita Parish School System, which does not include any part of the Monroe city limits. Ouachita Junior High School is physically in the Monroe city limits. Ouachita Parish High School has a Monroe postal address, though it is in an unincorporated area. The attendance boundaries of both schools do not include any part of the city limits.

Schools of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Shreveport:

• St. Frederick Catholic High School
• Jesus the Good Shepherd School - Began operations in 1960
• Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School

Other private schools in the area include:

• River Oaks School has a Monroe postal address though it is outside of the city limits

Infrastructure

National Guard

Monroe is home to the 528th Engineer Battalion of the Louisiana Army National Guard. This unit is part of the 225th Engineer Brigade which is headquartered in Pineville, Louisiana at Louisiana National Guard Training Center Pineville.

Transportation

Monroe was the founding city of Delta Air Lines in the 1920s. As the airline expanded, it moved to Atlanta. Monroe Regional Airport serves the city and northeast Louisiana. It has three main runways and is served by regional partners of American Airlines and Delta Air Lines.

Greyhound Bus Lines provides transportation from Monroe to many cities across the nation. Monroe has the oldest municipally owned transit system in the nation. Created in 1906 as a four-line street railroad, the Monroe Transit System now provides 13 fixed bus routes covering most areas of the city, and three demand-response buses serving the disabled.

Monroe can be accessed from Interstate 20, U.S. Highway 165, Louisiana Highway 15, U.S. Highway 80, and Interstate 420 (proposed).

Kansas City Southern, Union Pacific, BNSF, and Norfolk Southern serve freight traffic in the city.

Notable people

Main article: List of people from Monroe, Louisiana

References

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