Monroe, Connecticut

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.

Monroe, Connecticut
Town
Town of Monroe
Gazebo in front of town hall
Gazebo in front of town hall
Official seal of Monroe, Connecticut
Seal
Monroe's location within Fairfield County and Connecticut
Coordinates: 41°20′10″N 73°13′33″W
Country United States
U.S. state Connecticut
CountyFairfield
RegionCT Metropolitan
Incorporated1823
Government
 • TypeSelectman-town council
 • First SelectmanKenneth M. Kellogg[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 zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP Code
06468
Area code(s)203/475
FIPS code09-48620
GNIS feature ID0213463
Websitewww.monroect.gov

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
See also: List of Connecticut locations by per capita income
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18301,522—
18401,351−11.2%
18501,4426.7%
18601,382−4.2%
18701,226−11.3%
18801,157−5.6%
1890994−14.1%
19001,0434.9%
19101,002−3.9%
19201,16115.9%
19301,2215.2%
19401,72841.5%
19502,89267.4%
19606,402121.4%
197012,04788.2%
198014,01016.3%
199016,89620.6%
200019,24713.9%
201019,4791.2%
202018,825−3.4%
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.

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% 5,838 49.90% 5,989 1.46% 175
2016 41.44% 4,520 54.29% 5,922 4.27% 466
2012 43.02% 4,446 55.70% 5,757 1.28% 132
2008 46.41% 5,133 52.58% 5,815 1.00% 111
2004 40.73% 4,349 58.02% 6,195 1.25% 133
2000 44.57% 4,352 50.79% 4,960 4.64% 453
1996 40.94% 3,544 45.84% 3,968 13.23% 1,145
1992 28.47% 2,745 47.78% 4,607 23.76% 2,291
1988 32.60% 2,599 66.67% 5,315 0.73% 58
1984 25.02% 1,771 74.65% 5,283 0.32% 23
1980 28.82% 1,815 59.34% 3,737 11.85% 746
1976 36.05% 2,025 63.20% 3,550 0.75% 42
1972 25.87% 1,329 71.92% 3,695 2.22% 114
1968 33.15% 1,527 57.47% 2,647 9.38% 432
1964 49.78% 1,960 50.22% 1,977 0.00% 0
1960 35.51% 1,116 64.49% 2,027 0.00% 0
1956 20.66% 389 79.34% 1,494 0.00% 0
Voter registration and party enrollment as of October 26, 2021[11]
Party Active voters Inactive voters Total voters Percentage
Republican 3,673 168 3,841 26.70%
Democratic 3,188 171 3,359 23.36%
Unaffiliated 6,627 311 6,938 48.24%
Minor parties 234 10 244 1.70%
Total 13,722 660 14,382 100%

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
  • The town of Monroe owns and operates the FM radio station WMNR.
  • The Monroe Courier was the weekly town newspaper until it was shut down in October 2018.
  • The two local online newspaper are the Monroe Patch and the Monroe Sun.[15]

Infrastructure

Roads

Parks and recreation

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

  • Webb Mountain Park, a municipal park with hiking trails and campsites
  • William E. Wolfe Park, a town park located on Cutlers Farm Road and on the northern end of Cross Hill Road. The park includes a public pool, four baseball fields, a football field, a basketball court, a playground, and a hiking trail that leads to Great Hollow Lake. The park includes a barbecue set up on the grass, and a nearby pavilion. Great Hollow Lake is located in the south-western area of the park.
  • The Housatonic Railway Trail is an approximately five-mile section of the scenic walking and biking Pequonnock River trail that runs from Great Hollow Lake in Wolfe Park through the Newtown Town line.[16]

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.[17] Also in 1923, the Monroe Volunteer Fire Department was established.[18]

Emergency medical services

Monroe is served by the Monroe Volunteer Emergency Medical Service, founded 1977.[19]

Police department

Officially organized in 1952, the Monroe Police Department operates out of Monroe Town Hall.[20]

Notable people

Images
  • Webb Mountain Park Discovery Zone, Classroom Court pond
    Webb Mountain Park Discovery Zone, Classroom Court pond
  • The East Village Barn Hill Schoolhouse of 1790
    The East Village Barn Hill Schoolhouse of 1790
  • Edith Wheeler Memorial Library
    Edith Wheeler Memorial Library
  • Fountain and pond at Wolfe Park
    Fountain and pond at Wolfe Park
  • Great Hollow Lake in Monroe
    Great Hollow Lake in Monroe

See also

References
  1. "First Selectman". Town of Monroe, Connecticut. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  2. "Town Council Members 2019-2021". Town of Monroe, Connecticut. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  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. 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.
  17. "History". stepneyfire.com. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
  18. "About Us - Monroe Volunteer Fire Department No. 1 Inc". www.monroefire.com. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
  19. Monroe Volunteer Emergency Medical Service.
  20. Monroe Police Department

Further reading
  • Reverend Samuel Orcutt, A History of Stratford and the City of Bridgeport Connecticut, Fairfield Historical Society, 1886
  • The New York Times feature about Monroe
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