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Monroe County, Georgia facts for kids

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Not to be confused with Monroe, Georgia.
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Monroe County
U.S. county
Monroe County courthouse in Forsyth
Monroe County courthouse in Forsyth
Map of Georgia highlighting Monroe County
Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
Map of the United States highlighting Georgia
Georgia's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Georgia
Founded 1821; 204 years ago (1821)
Named for James Monroe
Seat Forsyth
Largest city Forsyth
Area
 • Total 398 sq mi (1,030 km2)
 • Land 396 sq mi (1,030 km2)
 • Water 2.2 sq mi (6 km2)  0.5%%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 27,957
 • Estimate 
(2023)
 30,625 Increase
 • Density 70.24/sq mi (27.12/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 8th

Monroe County is a county in the central part of Georgia. It was created on May 15, 1821. The county is named after James Monroe, who was a U.S. President.

The main town and county seat is Forsyth. In 2020, about 27,957 people lived in Monroe County. It is part of the larger Macon metropolitan area.

Geography of Monroe County

Monroe County covers about 398 square miles. Most of this area is land, with a small part being water. The county is located in the Piedmont region of Georgia. This region is known for its rolling hills.

Most of Monroe County is in the Ocmulgee River basin. This means that rivers and streams in the county flow into the Ocmulgee River. A small part of the county in the southwest is in the Flint River basin.

Main Roads in Monroe County

Many important roads pass through Monroe County. These roads help people travel across the county and to other parts of Georgia.

  • I-75.svg Interstate 75
  • I-475.svg Interstate 475
  • US 23.svg U.S. Route 23
  • US 41.svg U.S. Route 41
  • US 341.svg U.S. Route 341
  • Georgia 7.svg State Route 7
  • Georgia 18.svg State Route 18
  • Georgia 19.svg State Route 19
  • Georgia 42.svg State Route 42
  • Georgia 74.svg State Route 74
  • Georgia 83.svg State Route 83
  • Georgia 87.svg State Route 87
  • Georgia 401.svg State Route 401 (This is another name for I-75)
  • Georgia 408.svg State Route 408 (This is another name for I-475)

Neighboring Counties

Monroe County shares borders with several other counties in Georgia. These are:

Towns and Communities

Monroe County has several towns and smaller communities where people live.

Cities

Census-Designated Places

These are areas that are like towns but are not officially incorporated as cities.

Other Communities

These are smaller, unincorporated communities within the county.

  • Berner
  • Blount
  • Brent
  • High Falls
  • Russellville
  • Strouds

Population Over Time

The number of people living in Monroe County has changed a lot over the years. Here's a look at the population at different times:

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1830 16,202 —
1840 16,275 0.5%
1850 16,985 4.4%
1860 15,953 −6.1%
1870 17,213 7.9%
1880 18,808 9.3%
1890 19,137 1.7%
1900 20,682 8.1%
1910 20,450 −1.1%
1920 20,138 −1.5%
1930 11,606 −42.4%
1940 10,749 −7.4%
1950 10,523 −2.1%
1960 10,495 −0.3%
1970 10,991 4.7%
1980 14,610 32.9%
1990 17,113 17.1%
2000 21,757 27.1%
2010 26,424 21.5%
2020 27,957 5.8%
2023 (est.) 30,625 15.9%
U.S. Decennial Census

The population grew steadily until the 1920s, then dropped for a few decades. Since the 1960s, the population has been growing again. In 2020, there were 27,957 people living in the county. By 2023, the population was estimated to be over 30,000 people.

Who Lives in Monroe County?

The people of Monroe County come from many different backgrounds. The U.S. Census helps us understand the mix of people living here.

Monroe County, Georgia – Population by Race and Ethnicity
Group Pop 2000 Pop 2010 Pop 2020 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White (not Hispanic) 15,150 19,101 19,954 69.63% 72.29% 71.37%
Black or African American (not Hispanic) 6,015 6,249 6,084 27.65% 23.65% 21.76%
Native American (not Hispanic) 67 64 34 0.31% 0.24% 0.12%
Asian (not Hispanic) 74 209 239 0.34% 0.79% 0.85%
Other races (not Hispanic) 6 14 86 0.03% 0.05% 0.31%
Mixed race (not Hispanic) 158 248 846 0.73% 0.94% 3.03%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 281 535 714 1.29% 2.02% 2.55%
Total 21,757 26,424 27,957 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

In 2020, most people in Monroe County were White (not Hispanic), followed by Black or African American (not Hispanic). There are also smaller groups of Asian, Native American, and people of mixed races. The number of Hispanic or Latino residents has also been growing.

Education in Monroe County

All schools in Monroe County are part of the Monroe County School District. This district manages public schools for all students in the county.

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