Monroe, Georgia

Monroe is a city in Walton County, Georgia, United States, serving as the county seat. It is located both one hour east of Atlanta via US 78 and GA 138 to I-20 and east of Hartsfield–Jackson International Airport and is one of the exurban cities in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The population was 13,234 at the 2010 U.S. census and 13,673 at the 2019 estimate.

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.

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.

Geography

Monroe is in the center of Walton County. U.S. Route 78 (Atlanta/Monroe Bypass) passes north of the city, leading west 5 miles (8.0 km) to Loganville, and west 35 miles (51 km) 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 miles (24 km) to eastern rural Newton County, east of Covington. State Route 138 leads south 18 miles (29 km) to Conyers.

Monroe is located at (33.793295, -83.710790).

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

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 14,928 people, 4,709 households, and 3,223 families residing in the city.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 13,234 people living in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 51.8% White, 42.2% Black, 0.1% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.2% from some other race and 1.6% from two or more races. 3.4% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2000 census

The 2000 United States Census determined the following:
* residential population: 11,407,
* population density: ,
* housing units: 4,637 housing units at an average density of , and
* households: 4,287, of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18, 39.2% were married couplesliving together, 25.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were individuals living alone, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.07.

The distribution by age was as follows: 28.7% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.8 males. For every 100 women 18 and over, there were 80.1 men.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,500, and the median income for a family was $31,568. Males had a median income of $30,717 versus $23,028 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,636 (2008). About 19.8% of families and 22.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.2% of those under age 18 and 17.1% of those age 65 or over.

The racial makeup of the city was 54.69% White, 42.24% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.26% from other races, and 1.20% from two or more races. 2.52% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

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.

Schools

Public

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

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 - suffragette, 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
* Jake Garcia - NASCAR driver
* 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

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Cities in Georgia (U.S. state)
County seats in Georgia (U.S. state)
Cities in Walton County, Georgia