Monroe, Connecticut

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Monroe, Connecticut
Town
Town of Monroe
Monroe Gazebo.jpg
Gazebo in front of town hall
MonroeCTseal.jpg
Seal
Fairfield County Connecticut incorporated and unincorporated areas Monroe highlighted.svg
Monroe, Connecticut
Monroe, Connecticut
Monroe, Connecticut
Coordinates: 41°20′10″N73°13′33″W / 41.33611°N 73.22583°W / 41.33611; -73.22583
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States
U.S. state Flag of Connecticut.svg  Connecticut
County Fairfield
Region CT Metropolitan
Incorporated1823
Government
 • Type Selectman-town council
 •  First Selectman Terrence P. Rooney [1]
 • Town Council
Town Council members [2] [3]
Area
 • Total26.3 sq mi (68.1 km2)
 • Land26.1 sq mi (67.7 km2)
 • Water0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2)
Elevation
522 ft (159 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total18,825
 • Density721.3/sq mi (278.5/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP Code
06468
Area code(s) 203/475
FIPS code 09-48620
GNIS feature ID0213463
Website www.monroect.gov

Monroe is a town located in eastern Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 18,825 at the 2020 census. [4] The town is part of the Greater Bridgeport Planning Region.

Contents

Monroe is largely considered a bedroom community of New York City, New Haven, and Bridgeport.

History

On May 15, 1656, the Court of the Colony of Connecticut in Hartford affirmed that the town of Stratford included all of the territory 12 miles (19 km) inland from Long Island Sound, between the Housatonic River and the Fairfield town line, to include the southern portion of present-day Monroe. In 1662, Stratford selectmen Lt. Joseph Judson, Captain Joseph Hawley and John Minor secured all the written deeds of transfer from the Golden Hill Paugussett Indian Nation for this vast territory that comprises the present-day towns of Trumbull, Shelton and Monroe. In 1671, Stratford purchased from the Paugusset Indians the territory which included the remainder of the northern portions of Monroe, Trumbull and Shelton, in what is known as "The White Hills Purchase", and officially annexed it to the Township of Stratford.

Monroe incorporated as a town in 1823. The community is named after James Monroe, fifth President of the United States. [5]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 26.3 square miles (68 km2), of which 26.1 square miles (68 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2), or 0.76%, is water. The Pequonnock River begins in Monroe in Wolfe Park. Monroe borders Lake Zoar, a reservoir on the Housatonic River formed by the Stevenson Dam.

Neighborhoods

Monroe is made up of several neighborhoods:

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1830 1,522—
1840 1,351−11.2%
1850 1,4426.7%
1860 1,382−4.2%
1870 1,226−11.3%
1880 1,157−5.6%
1890 994−14.1%
1900 1,0434.9%
1910 1,002−3.9%
1920 1,16115.9%
1930 1,2215.2%
1940 1,72841.5%
1950 2,89267.4%
1960 6,402121.4%
1970 12,04788.2%
1980 14,01016.3%
1990 16,89620.6%
2000 19,24713.9%
2010 19,4791.2%
2020 18,825−3.4%
2021 (est.)18,764−0.3%
U.S. Decennial Census [6]

As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 18,825 people living in the town. The racial makeup of the town was 84.6% White, 2.4% African American, 6.2% Asian, and 4.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 6.8% of the population.

As of the census [7] of 2000, there were 19,247 people, 6,481 households, and 5,346 families residing in the town. The population density was 736.5 inhabitants per square mile (284.4/km2). There were 6,601 housing units at an average density of 252.6 per square mile (97.5/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 95.8% White, 0.20% African American, 0.08% Native American, 2.62% Asian, 0.50% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.20% of the population.

There were 6,481 households, out of which 42.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.0% were married couples living together, 6.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.5% were non-families. Of all households, 14.9% were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96 and the average family size was 3.31.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 29.1% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $85,000 and the median income for a family was $92,514. Males had a median income of $61,109 versus $41,572 for females. The per capita income for the town was $34,161. About 1.8% of families and 2.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.6% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

Notable locations

Locations on the National Register of Historic Places

Places of worship

Humphrey Bogart's former home in Monroe now belongs to the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth. Momretirementparty (1 of 1).jpg
Humphrey Bogart's former home in Monroe now belongs to the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth.

The town of Monroe features eleven houses of worship representing numerous faiths.

Government

Monroe is a stalwart Republican town at the presidential level with the longest streak of supporting the GOP in Fairfield County. No Democrat has won the town in over 60 years. Lyndon B. Johnson came the closest in his landslide victory in 1964, having lost the town by only 17 votes to Barry M. Goldwater.

Presidential elections results
Monroe town vote
by party in presidential elections [10]
Year Democratic Republican Third Parties
2020 48.64% 5,83849.90%5,9891.46% 175
2016 41.44% 4,52054.29%5,9224.27% 466
2012 43.02% 4,44655.70%5,7571.28% 132
2008 46.41% 5,13352.58%5,8151.00% 111
2004 40.73% 4,34958.02%6,1951.25% 133
2000 44.57% 4,35250.79%4,9604.64% 453
1996 40.94% 3,54445.84%3,96813.23% 1,145
1992 28.47% 2,74547.78%4,60723.76% 2,291
1988 32.60% 2,59966.67%5,3150.73% 58
1984 25.02% 1,77174.65%5,2830.32% 23
1980 28.82% 1,81559.34%3,73711.85% 746
1976 36.05% 2,02563.20%3,5500.75% 42
1972 25.87% 1,32971.92%3,6952.22% 114
1968 33.15% 1,52757.47%2,6479.38% 432
1964 49.78% 1,96050.22%1,9770.00% 0
1960 35.51% 1,11664.49%2,0270.00% 0
1956 20.66% 38979.34%1,4940.00% 0
Voter registration and party enrollment as of October 26, 2021 [11]
PartyActive votersInactive votersTotal votersPercentage
Republican 3,6731683,84126.70%
Democratic 3,1881713,35923.36%
Unaffiliated 6,6273116,93848.24%
Minor parties234102441.70%
Total13,72266014,382100%

Education

Monroe Public Schools oversees public education and includes approximately 4,000 students, in three elementary schools (Fawn Hollow, Monroe Elementary, and Stepney Elementary), two middle schools (Jockey Hollow and STEM Academy), and one high school (Masuk High School).

In 2011, STEM Academy was opened at Masuk High School as an additional middle school option for Monroe's 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. [12]

Chalk Hill Middle School housed Monroe's 5th and 6th graders from 1969 to 2011 (when it was closed due to shifting population and budget issues). [13] From 2012 to 2016, Chalk Hill was the home of Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown following the December 14, 2012 shooting. [14]

Media

Infrastructure

Roads

Bus

The Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority provides bus service for Monroe. [16]

Train

Two train stations are located near Monroe:

Both stations are served by Metro-North Railroad. [19] [18] Bridgeport station is served by the New Haven Line, Amtrak's Northeast Corridor and the Vermonter. [17] Derby–Shelton station is served only by the Waterbury Branch. Both stations are easily accessible by bus routes or driving. The New Haven Railroad used to serve the town. [20]

Parks and recreation

The Monroe Parks and Recreation Department manages Monroe's parks.

Emergency services

Fire department

Monroe is protected by three independent and all-volunteer fire departments operating out of six fire stations.

In 1916, 45 men and women formed the first volunteer fire company in Monroe, the Stepney Volunteer Fire Company. In 1923 the Stepney Company built its own firehouse, which housed their first fire truck. It is the only Ladder Company in the Town of Monroe. [22] Also in 1923, the Monroe Volunteer Fire Department was established. [23]

Emergency medical services

Monroe is served by the Monroe Volunteer Emergency Medical Service, founded 1977. [24]

Police department

Officially organized in 1952, the Monroe Police Department operates out of Monroe Town Hall. [25]

Notable people

Images

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stevenson Dam Bridge</span> Bridge in Monroe and Oxford

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pomperaug Trail</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stepney, Connecticut</span> Census-designated place in Connecticut, United States

Stepney, also referred to as Stepney Village and Upper Stepney, is a district of the town of Monroe, Connecticut, and on the Connecticut State Register of Historic Places. Consisting of approximately 8 square miles (21 km2), Stepney extends from the Trumbull town line, along Route 25, to the Newtown town line. It was listed as a census-designated place prior to the 2020 census.

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References

  1. ↑ "First Selectman". Town of Monroe, Connecticut. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  2. ↑ "Town Council Members 2019-2021". Town of Monroe, Connecticut. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  3. ↑ Bittar, Bill (June 17, 2021). "Wales strives to improve people's quality of life, at work and in her hometown". The Monroe Sun.
  4. ↑ "Census - Geography Profile: Monroe town, Fairfield County, Connecticut". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  5. ↑ The Connecticut Magazine: An Illustrated Monthly. Connecticut Magazine Company. 1903. p. 333.
  6. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  7. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  8. ↑ "The Warren's Occult Museum". The New England Society For Psychic Research. Archived from the original on November 17, 2016. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Home". www.classicnights.com. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
  10. ↑ "General Elections Statement of Vote 1922".
  11. ↑ "Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of October 26, 2021" (PDF). Connecticut Secretary of State. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  12. ↑ "STEM Academy Forum Draws a Large Audience Summary File (QT-PL), Monroe town, Connecticut". Monroe Patch 2. Archived from the original on April 2, 2012. Retrieved October 8, 2011.
  13. ↑ "Monroe superintendent proposes one-year closure of Chalk Hill Middle School". December 11, 2010.
  14. ↑ "Monroe: What to do about Chalk Hill Middle School?". April 30, 2017.
  15. ↑ Monroe Sun
  16. ↑ "GBT - Schedules & Maps | Horarios y mapas". gogbt.com. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  17. 1 2 "Bridgeport Metro North, CT Train Station (BRP) | Amtrak". www.amtrak.com. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  18. 1 2 "MNR Stations". as0.mta.info. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  19. ↑ "MNR Stations". as0.mta.info. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  20. ↑ http://www.nashuacitystation.org/station/connecticut/fairfield/monroe/stepney/ Stepney Station - Monroe, CT
  21. ↑ Babina, John (November 28, 2006). "Monroe Rails into Trails" (PDF). Monroe Parks and Recreation Department. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 19, 2020. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  22. ↑ "History". stepneyfire.com. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
  23. ↑ "About Us - Monroe Volunteer Fire Department No. 1 Inc". www.monroefire.com. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
  24. ↑ Monroe Volunteer Emergency Medical Service.
  25. ↑ Monroe Police Department

Further reading

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