Monroe, Wisconsin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Monroe, Wisconsin
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Monroe Commercial District
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| Nickname(s):
Cheese Capital of the USA
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Location of Monroe in Green County, Wisconsin.
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Wisconsin |
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| County | Green | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Council-Manager Government | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 5.60 sq mi (14.51 km2) | |
| • Land | 5.60 sq mi (14.51 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) | |
| Elevation | 1,056 ft (322 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 10,661 | |
| • Density | 1,903.8/sq mi (735.1/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) | |
| ZIP Code |
53566
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| Area code(s) | 608 | |
| FIPS code | 55–53750 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 1569657 | |
| Website | www.cityofmonroe.org | |
Monroe is a city in Wisconsin, USA. It's the main city of Green County. In 2020, about 10,661 people lived there. Monroe is famous for its cheese. It's even called the "Cheese Capital of the USA"!
Contents
Geography and Location
Monroe is located in southern Wisconsin. The city covers about 5.6 square miles (14.5 square kilometers) of land. There are no large bodies of water within the city limits.
Population and People
Monroe has grown quite a bit over the years. In 1860, only 939 people lived here. By 2020, the population had grown to 10,661.
Most people in Monroe are White. However, the city is becoming more diverse. People from many different backgrounds call Monroe home.
Cheese Days Festival
Cheese Days is a huge festival in Monroe. It celebrates cheese and the dairy industry. This fun event happens every two years. It usually takes place in September.
The festival fills the historic downtown area. You can find carnival rides and lots of local food. There are also craft stands and live music. Traditional Swiss-Germanic music, like polkas, is very popular. The festival ends with a big parade on Sunday. Over 100,000 people visit Monroe for Cheese Days!
Parks and Outdoor Fun
Monroe has several parks for everyone to enjoy.
- Twining Park has a special Swiss bandshell.
- Recreation Park is home to the city's swimming pool.
- Honey Creek Park has a cool skate park.
The city is also a starting point for two long trails:
- The Cheese Country Trail is 47 miles long. You can use it for many activities.
- The Badger State Trail is for bikes and walking in summer. In winter, it's for ATVs and snowmobiles.
Both trails used to be railway lines. Monroe also has the Stateline Ice and Community Expo (S.L.I.C.E.). It's the only indoor ice rink in Green County.
Education
The School District of Monroe is the biggest in Green County. It serves around 2,700 students. The district has several schools:
- Monroe High School (home of the Cheesemakers!)
- Monroe Middle School
- Abraham Lincoln Accelerated Learning Academy
- Parkside Elementary School
- Northside Elementary School
There are also alternative schools and a virtual school. St. Victor Catholic elementary school teaches students from kindergarten to 5th grade. For older students, Blackhawk Technical College has a campus in Monroe.
Transportation
Monroe is connected by several state highways:
- WIS 11
- WIS 59
- WIS 69
- WIS 81
The Monroe Municipal Airport (KEFT) serves the city. It helps people travel by air. The Wisconsin and Southern Railroad also provides freight train service to Monroe.
Notable People from Monroe
Many interesting people have come from Monroe. Here are a few:
- Henry Adams, a state politician.
- Ken Behring, a former owner of the Seattle Seahawks football team.
- Evelene Brodstone, a very successful female executive in the 1920s.
- Edwin Copeland, a botanist and university founder.
- Joe Dodge, a jazz musician.
- Andre Jacque, a state politician.
- Janet Jennings, a nurse during the Spanish–American War.
- Nathan J. Lindsay, a major general in the U.S. Air Force.
- Joe Lobdell, a professional football player.
- Nathan Farragut Twining, a Chief of Staff for the United States Air Force.
- Merrill B. Twining, a general in the United States Marine Corps.
- Art Young, a famous cartoonist and writer.
