Monroe
County, Illinois
 Monroe
County is situated along the
banks of the Mississippi River. It’s
considered part of the St. Louis
metropolitan area because its western edge
is parallel to the Gateway Arch. In
addition, a new highway and the Jefferson
Barracks Bridge connect Illinois and
Missouri, making Monroe County an attractive
option for those seeking a mix of rural and
bit-city living.
The county is named for James Monroe, the
fifth president of the United States. It was
organized in 1816, and today has a
population of 27,000. There are six towns in
Monroe County: Columbia, Fults, Hecker,
Maeystown, Renault, Valmeyer and Waterloo,
the county seat.
The county is part of the Southwestern
Illinois German Heritage Area and is also a
French Colonial Heritage Region. Area
attractions include golfing at Acorns Golf
Links, Annbriar Golf Course and The Ridge
Golf & Country Club, as well as natural
wonders such as Mammouth Cave.
The area also has several wineries and
historic sites. The French were the first to
explore in the area about 1673, with the
first permanent settlements established
about 20 years later. The English, Irish and
Germans later came to the region. In
Waterloo, the Peterstown
House was built in the 1830s, and
was once a stagecoach stop along the 60-mile
Kaskaskia Trail. The Bellefontaine
House was restored as the site of
the earliest settlement made by American
colonists in Illinois.
Monroe County’s population is almost
evenly distributed between the incorporated
areas and the prairie lands. The local
economy is sustained by agriculture and
agribusiness, with corn, soybeans and wheat
being the principal products. Fruits,
vegetables and nursery stock are grown
locally and sold at local stores and
roadside stands during their harvest
seasons.
<< Back
to Community Page
|
