Monroe, Georgia

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.[8]

Monroe was the premier cotton producer in the state of Georgia 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 showcasing premiere 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.[9]

Monroe is in western 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, Georgia, and southwest 15 miles (24 km) to eastern rural Newton County, Georgia, east of Covington, Georgia. Georgia State Route 138 leads south 18 miles (29 km) to Conyers.

Monroe is located at 33°47′36″N 83°42′39″W (33.793295, -83.710790).[10]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.5 square miles (27 km²), of which 10.4 square miles (27 km²) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km²) (1.05%) is water.

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.

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 11,407 people, 4,287 households, 2,983 families living in the city. The population density was 1,101.3 people per square mile (425.1/km²). There were 4,637 housing units at an average density of 447.7 per square mile (172.8/km²). There were 4,287 households, out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.2% were married couples living together, 25.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals, 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.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 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 is 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.

• 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,[14] 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
• Caleb Longenecker - Podcaster and internet personality[15]
• Martha Wilson Lumpkin - daughter of Georgia governor and US Senator Wilson Lumpkin, and for whom Atlanta was originally named "Marthasville"[16]
• 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
• Isabel Hanson Tipton - physicist[17]
• Stephon Tuitt - NFL player for Pittsburgh Steelers
• Clifford Walker - Governor of Georgia from 1923 to 1927

The east end of the City of Monroe on Unisa Drive contains multiple industries.

• Hitachi automotive systems of America
• Tucker Door and Trim[18]
• Arkansas-headquartered Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.'s southeast Walmart Distribution Center[19]
• Leggett & Platt Corporation[20]