Monroe is a city in and the county seat of Green County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 10,661 at the 2020 census. The city is bordered by the town of Monroe to the north and the town of Clarno to the south. Monroe is a part of the Madison metropolitan area. It is nicknamed the "Cheese Capital of the USA".

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.6 sqmi, all of it land.

Demographics

As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $36,922, and the median income for a family was $47,361. Males had a median income of $32,050 versus $22,112 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,657. About 2.4% of families and 5.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.3% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, the population was 10,661. The population density was 1,903.8 PD/sqmi. There were 5,126 housing units at an average density of 915.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 89.2% White, 0.7% Black or African American, 0.7% Asian, 0.4% Native American, 4.1% from other races, and 4.9% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 7.6% Hispanic or Latino of any race. According to the American Community Survey estimates for 2016-2020, the median income for a household in the city was $51,996, and the median income for a family was $69,493. Male full-time workers had a median income of $48,772 versus $36,334 for female workers. The per capita income for the city was $31,308. About 8.0% of families and 10.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.9% of those under age 18 and 15.9% of those age 65 or over. Of the population age 25 and over, 90.6% were high school graduates or higher and 17.4% had a bachelor's degree or higher.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 10,827 people, 4,810 households, and 2,781 families residing in the city. The population density was 2241.6 PD/sqmi. There were 5,101 housing units at an average density of 1056.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 94.8% White, 0.6% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 2.6% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.9% of the population. There were 4,810 households, of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.8% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.2% were non-families. 36.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.87. The median age in the city was 41.1 years. 22.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24% were from 25 to 44; 26.8% were from 45 to 64; and 18.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.9% male and 52.1% female.

Cheese Days

Cheese Days is a biennial celebration of cheese and the dairy industry, taking place in Monroe, Wisconsin. Established in 1914, the weekend-long event typically occurs on the third weekend in September of even-numbered years in the historic downtown area known as “the Square”. The festivities include carnival rides, a variety of local food, restaurant, craft, and club stands, live, traditional Swiss-Germanic music (including polkas and waltzes), and a culmination of it all into a two-hour parade on Sunday afternoon. Over one hundred thousand people come for the festivities throughout the three-day event. Cheese Days was not held in 1918, 1942, 1944 and 2020.

Parks and recreation

Monroe's parks include Twining Park, where the city's Swiss bandshell is located; Recreation Park, home to the city swimming pool; and Honey Creek Park, the site of a skate park. The city is the eastern starting point for the Cheese Country Trail, a 47-mile multi-purpose recreational path, and the Badger State Trail, a bicycle and pedestrian-only trail in summer and an ATV/snowmobile trail in winter. The "Cheese Trail" extends from Mineral Point to Monroe, while the Badger State Trail runs from the state line to Madison and connects to the Jane Addams Trail in Illinois. Both are former railway corridors. Monroe is also home to Stateline Ice and Community Expo (S.L.I.C.E.), the only indoor ice rink in Green County. Badger State Trail Runs from Madison through Fitchburg past the Ice Age National Scenic Trail Montrose segment, Belleville, New Glarus, and crosses the Sugar River State Trail before reaching Monroe, and then continues to meet with the Jane Addams Trail at the Illinois border which continues to Freeport, Illinois. The Cheese Country Trail passes through Monroe.

Education

The School District of Monroe is the largest school district in Green County, serving around 2,700 pupils, and having an open enrollment procedure. The school district maintains Monroe High School, home of the Cheesemakers in the Rock Valley Conference, Monroe Middle School, Abraham Lincoln Accelerated Learning Academy, Parkside Elementary School, and Northside Elementary School. The district also has an alternative high school and middle school, as well as a virtual school. St. Victor Catholic elementary school offers grades K (four years old) through 5. Monroe has a campus of Blackhawk Technical College, the community's sole institution of post-secondary education.

Transportation

Monroe Municipal Airport (KEFT) serves the city and surrounding communities. Wisconsin and Southern Railroad serves the city with freight service. A branch line from Janesville ends at Badger State Ethanol.

Notable people