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Monroe, NC

Frequently asked questions

Monroe, NC

Monroe is a city in and the county seat of Union County, North Carolina, United States. The population increased from 32,797 in 2010 to 34,551 in 2020. It is within the rapidly growing Charlotte metropolitan area. Monroe has a council-manager form of government.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 24.9 square miles (64 km²), of which 24.6 square miles (64 km²) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km²) (1.13%) is water.

Monroe was founded as a planned settlement. In 1843, the first Board of County Commissioners, appointed by the General Assembly, selected an area in the center of the county as the county seat, and Monroe was incorporated that year. It was named for James Monroe, the country's fifth president. It became a trading center for the agricultural areas of the Piedmont region, which cultivated tobacco.

Racial segregation established by a white-dominated state legislature after the end of the Reconstruction era, persisted for nearly a century into the 1960s. Following World War II, many local blacks and veterans, including Marine veteran Robert F. Williams, began to push to regain their constitutional rights after having served the United States and the cause of freedom during the war. This would come to be met with some resistance. During this time, the city had a population estimated at 12,000; the press reported an estimated 7,500 members of the Ku Klux Klan gathering in the town, many coming from South Carolina, being only 14 miles from the state border.

Williams was elected as president of the local chapter of the NAACP; the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People had been founded in the early 1900s. He began to work to integrate public facilities, starting with the library and the city's swimming pool, which both excluded blacks. He noted that not only did blacks pay taxes as citizens who supported operations of such facilities, but they had been built with federal funds during the Great Depression of the 1930s.

In 1958 Williams hired Conrad Lynn, a civil rights attorney from New York City, to aid in defending two African-American boys, aged nine and seven. They had been convicted of "molestation" and sentenced to a reformatory until age 21 for kissing a white girl their age on the cheek. This became known as the Kissing Case. The former First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, talked to the North Carolina governor to urge restraint, and the case became internationally embarrassing for the United States. After three months, the governor pardoned the boys.

Health and wellness are central to Monroe's community values. Atrium Health Union, a leading healthcare provider in the region, offers a range of medical services, ensuring residents have access to quality care. Explore the parks, facilities, and programs the Monroe Parks and Recreation Department offers. These spaces provide opportunities for outdoor activities such as walking, jogging, sports, and picnicking. Join local fitness centers and gyms to participate in exercise programs, fitness classes, and strength training. Some popular options include CrossFit MNC, Enterprise Fitness Center, and Anytime Fitness. Discover the walking and biking trails in and around Monroe, such as the Jesse Helms Red Trail Loop and Union County Heritage Trail. These trails offer opportunities for outdoor exercise and enjoyment of nature.

Top sites in Monroe, NC are Why Not An American Ark, Monroe Science Center, and U.S. National Whitewater Center.

Population: 40,054 (2024). ZIP codes: 28110-28112. Area codes: 704, 980. Elevation: 591 ft (180 m). Area: 31.54 sq mi (81.68 km²).

FAQs

What is the crime rate in Monroe, NC?

With a crime rate of 46 per one thousand residents, Monroe has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes - from the smallest towns to the very largest cities. One's chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime here is one in 22. Within North Carolina, more than 94% of the communities have a lower crime rate than Monroe.

What is Monroe, NC known for?

Monroe continues to grow its industrial base in the Monroe Corporate Center, strategically located adjacent to the Charlotte-Monroe Executive Airport and South Piedmont Community College. The Corporate Center is home to several international and local companies and has room for continued development. Monroe is known for its aerospace industry cluster. The recent growth of this business segment goes hand in hand with the growth at the airport. 

What is the ethnicity of Monroe, NC?

Monroe, NC is home to a population of 34.9k people, of which 86.9% are citizens. As of 2022, 16.7% of Monroe, NC residents were born outside of the country (5.81k people). In 2022, there were 1.92 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (15.4k people) in Monroe, NC than any other race or ethnicity. There were 8.01k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 3.88k White (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Sources

Wikipedia

City of Monroe

Atrium Health Union

Monroe Parks and Recreation Department 

CrossFit MNC

Enterprise Fitness Center 

Anytime Fitness 

Jesse Helms Red Trail Loop 

Union County Heritage Trail

Why Not An American Ark

Monroe Science Center

U.S. National Whitewater Center

Neighborhoodscout

Data USA

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