Monroe, Michigan Relocation Guide

Population: 23,000 Located in Monroe County

City of Monroe:
A rich heritage is preserved and honored in Monroe's historic battlefields, museums, and graceful architecture. 22.902 residents.

Monroe Township:
Ongoing development of marketing areas offers new opportunities for entrepreneurs. 19.6 square miles; 11,909 residents

Education:
Nine public school systems in the county provide accredited kindergarten through 12th grade programs with special classes in vocations, adult education and community school programs.

Complimenting the public school system are 14 parochial schools that enrolled an additional 2932
students.

Monroe County Community College is located at 1555 South Raisinville Road, Monroe, Michigan, 48161, (734) 242-7300. It is a two-year college offering the opportunity to earn the first two years of a bachelorís degree, two year occupational degrees, certificate programs in a number of career areas, or any variety of course work to improve yourself personally or professionally.

Monroe County Community College is a public, two-year institution supported by tax monies from Monroe County, educational funds from the state of Michigan, and student tuition. The Monroe County Community College District was formed on June 29, 1964, by the electors of Monroe County. On July 3, 1964, the district was given statutory authority under the provisions of Michigan Act 188 of the Public Acts of 1955 to function as a community college.

The 210-acre Main Campus is centrally located in Monroe County with easy access to Detroit and Toledo. Two extension centers offer a selection of courses: the Whitman Center in Bedford Township near the Michigan-Ohio border and the Jefferson Center serving northeast Monroe County.

History:
French missionaries came to this territory as early as 1634. The river which flows through the center of the present city of Monroe was named the River Aux Raisin because of the many grapes growing in the locality. A trading post and fort were established here in 1778. Francois Navarre was the first white settler in 1780. The first settlement was called Frenchtown, when about 100 French families came here from Detroit and Canada. The American flag was first raised in Michigan in Monroe in 1796. In 1817 Frenchtown was renamed Monroe by Governor Lewis Cass in honor of President James Monroe. St. Antoine's Church on the banks of the River Raisin was the second church in the state.

Monroe County is located at the west end of Lake Erie and has a population of approximately 138,000. Parts of the county are industrialized but much of it is also devoted to agriculture. The Port of Monroe is a part of the St. Lawrence Seaway and could lead to increased business and industrial expansion. A modern hospital is located within the county. There are many opportunities to attend the church of one's choice.

Cultural and recreational facilities are available in the county and in nearby areas. The county is within easy driving distance of Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Toledo. Other institutions of higher learning nearby include The University of Michigan (40 miles), Eastern Michigan University (35 miles), University of Toledo (20 miles), Wayne State University (35 miles), and the University of Detroit-Mercy (35 miles).

Labor:
Monroe County's labor force grew from 62,482 in 1980 to 69,225 in the first half of 1996.

The Michigan Employment Security Commission provides statistics, counseling, employee and other employer services to residents and businesses of the county. For current information about unemployment rates in the area contact:

Navarre Anderson Trading Post Complex:
The Trading Post complex is set up to represent a French pioneer homestead along the River Raisin. The main building, built in 1789 by Utreau Navarre, is the oldest wooden residence still standing in the state. It is the most complete example of French-Canadian "piece-sur-piece" construction in the Old Northwest. It has been restored to 1797. Other buildings include an 1810 cookhouse and a replica 1790’s French-Canadian style barn. Visitors may walk the grounds at any time.

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