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EspañolMONROE, LOUISIANA
The city of 'Monroe' is the parish seat of Ouachita Parish, in the US state of Louisiana.
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It is the principal city of and is included in the Monroe, Louisiana Metropolitan Statistical Area (pop. 171,188), which is included in the Monroe-Bastrop, Louisiana Combined Statistical Area. Monroe's Combined Statistical Area is 202,209. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 52,027, making it the eighth largest city in Louisiana.
Monroe is the home of the University of Louisiana at Monroe (formerly known as Northeast Lousiana University). It also houses the headquarters of CenturyTel, the eighth-largest telecommunications provider in the nation. Monroe is situated on the Ouachita River and continues to serve as the population center and distribution outlet for the surrounding farming community. Monroe will soon play host to a motor speedway in the year 2008.
Monroe and the neighboring town of West Monroe (pop. 13,250), which sits just across the Ouachita River, are often referred to as the Twin Cities of northeast Louisiana.
Geography
Monroe is located at (32.510343, -92.094895) and has an elevation of .
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 83.9 km² (31.6 mi²). 74.3 km² (28.7 mi²) of it is land and 9.6 km² (3.7 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 11.46% water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there are 53,107 people, 19,421 households, and 12,157 families residing in the city. The population density is 714.9/km² (1,851.8/mi²). There are 21,278 housing units at an average density of 286.5/km² (741.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 36.78% White, 61.13% African American, 0.13% Native American, 1.05% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.25% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. 1.01% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 19,421 households, out of which 32.3% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.4% are married couples living together, 25.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 37.4% are non-families. 31.3% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.54 and the average family size is 3.26.
In the city the population is spread out with 29.7% under the age of 18, 15.0% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 17.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 29 years, much younger than Louisiana's median age of 34.0 years. For every 100 females there are 84.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 76.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $25,864, and the median income for a family is $33,263. Males have a median income of $31,840 versus $22,352 for females. The per capita income for the city is $15,933. 32.3% of the population and 26.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 45.3% of those under the age of 18 and 21.6% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Education
Primary and secondary schools
Monroe is part of the Monroe City School System that has 18 primary schools: 13 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 3 high schools. The high schools in the city system are Carroll High School, Neville High School, and Wossman High School. Monroe also has many private schools which include: River Oaks School, Ouachita Christian School, and St. Frederick's Catholic School. The Ouachita Parish School System, located in the suburbs outside the city limits, is not apart of the Monroe city system and is not included within the statistical range of Monroe's school district.
Colleges and Universities
The University of Louisiana at Monroe is located in the city, as well as Delta Community College. The Louisiana Technical College, Delta Ouachita Campus, is located a few miles west of West Monroe (the other of the Twin Cities)and provides high quality vocational/technical training and education for both post high school and adult students.
Transportation
Bus
In Monroe, there are many options for transportation by bus. The Greyhound Lines provide transportation to many cities across the nation. The city of Monroe also has the oldest municipally owned transit system in the nation. Created in 1906, the Monroe Transit System (mtsbus.org) is the public transportation provider of 13 extensive bus routes reaching all areas of the city. Service is provided from 6:00 AM until 9:30 PM Monday through Saturday. In November of 2007 the Monroe Transit System will welcome a trolley bus to its fleet, which will run in historic downtown Monroe.
Airports
Monroe Regional Airport serves the city. The airport has three main runways and is served by Delta, Northwest, American, and Continental Airlines.
Interstates and Highways
Monroe can be accessed from I-20, U.S. Highway 165, and U.S. Highway 80.
Railroads
Monroe has two main railroads Kansas City Southern Railway that runs from east to west and
Union Pacific that runs from North to South. There are also other railroads:
★ Delta Southern Railroad
★ Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi Railroad
Area Attractions
Monroe has many attractions which include:
Civic Center Complex
The Monroe Civic Center, which has multiple complexes. The main complex is the Civic center Arena. This arena provides 44,000 square feet of exhibit space along with 5,600 seats. The arena houses events such as banquets, circuses, and rodeos. The civic center also has a conference hall, convention center, equestrian pavilion, and the W.L. "Jack" Howard Theatre.
Museums
There are many museums in the Monroe area such as The Northeast Louisiana Children's Museum. The Biedenharn Museum and Gardens and the Masur Museum are also located in Monroe.
Shopping
There are many places to shop in Monroe. A collection of shopping centers are listed below.
★ Pecanland Mall, home to major anchors Belk, Dillards, JC Penny and others. Includes many stores.
★ Garden District Shops
★ Desiard Plaza
★ Eastgate Shopping Center
★ Geneva's Plaza
★ Hideaway Village Shopping Center
★ Murray Plaza
★ Northgate Shopping Center
★ Pecanland Commons
★ Shopper's Plaza
★ Southside Shopping center
★ Sunshine Heights Shopping center
★ Super 1 Plaza
★ The Avenue
★ The Toggery
★ The Cotton Patch
★ The Women's Shop
★ Twin City
★ Twin City Plaza
★ Twin City Shopping Center
Skating
There are two skating venues in the Monroe area.
★ Monroe - Skatetown, Inc.
★ West Monroe - Skatetown
Zoo
Monroe features the Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo, which collectively maintains over 500 animals. The zoo also offers boat rides and a catwalk, in addition to other seasonal activities.
Economy
From 1926 to 1941, Monroe served as the home to Delta Air Lines until the company relocated to Atlanta, Georgia. Until 2004, Delta offered mainline jet service to Monroe, despite the city's small size. Monroe Regional Airport's logo is a "Delta" symbol and bears the statement "Birthplace of Delta Air Lines" at the entrance and on its website. Monroe is the site of the first Coca-Cola bottling plant. Monroe is a major distribution area for Brookshires Grocery.
Brookshire's.
Today, Monroe especially when coupled with her sister city, West Monroe, are collectively an economic powerhouse of Northeast Louisiana and are home to many manufacturing, healthcare, banking, and farm-related corporations and partners. Monroe hosts many corporate offices such as call centers and distribution centers for Chase Manhattan Bank as well as other corporate satellites and is the headquarters of Vantage Health Plan, a major supplier of health insurance in Louisiana, whose offices make up a large part of Monroe's downtown skyline. Ouachita Fertilizer, a branch of the Abdell Corporation, is also located in Monroe. Berry Plastics Group, formerly Tyco Plastics, has a production facility in Monroe. The loss of the Guide Corporation, a major headlight developer, coupled with the previous loss of State Farm Insurance placed a damper on Monroe's economy. However recently the old State Farm Insurance Building has become a calling center for Accent Marketing. Angus Chemical, a subsidary of Dow Chemical, located in nearby Sterlington,LA contributes to Monroe's underlying economy as well.
The Monroe metro boasts four major hospitals, St. Francis North (formerly North Monroe Medical Center), and St. Francis Medical Center, home of the Kitty Degree Breast Health Center, respectively; The Louisiana State University Medical Center- Monroe (formerly the E.A. Conway Hospital, which includes a Family Medicine residency program providing charity medical care to the eight parishes of Northeast Louisiana), and Glenwood Medical Center (West Monroe).
Monroe is also the headquarters for CenturyTel; and, the Northeast Louisiana War Veteran's Home is located adjacent to the campus.
Neighborhoods
'Downtown'
'Southern Monroe' (south of U.S. Highway 80) This area is heavily African-American and generally poorer than the north side of the city. This area contains the Pecanland Mall and the Louisiana Purchase Gardens & Zoo.
★ Lamyville
★ Renwick's Addition
★ Booker T
★ Oregon Trail
★ Bryant's Addition
★ Grayling Bend
★ Tanglewood
★ Charmingdale
'Northern Monroe' (north of U.S. Highway 80) This area is primarily white and is generally wealthier than Monroe's south side. The University of Louisiana at Monroe and the headquarters for CenturyTel can be found in this area.
★ Garden District
★ Marie Place Addition
★ Sholar's Addition
★ Pargoud Place
★ Plantation Park
★ Westwood
★ Forsythe Park
★ Brierfield
★ River Oaks
★ Town & Country
★ Northside Terrace
★ Cypress Point
★ Lakeshore
★ Bayou Oaks
★ Frenchman's Bend
'Eastern Monroe' (around HWY 594 in the outlying suburbs) This area is primarily white and is generally wealthier than Monroe's south side as well.
★ Swartz
★ Lincoln Hills
Media
Monroe is served by a Gannett newspaper, the Monroe News-Star. The News-Star was formerly an afternoon daily owned by the late father-son team of publishers, Robert Ewing and John D. Ewing of Shreveport. When the Ewing's Monroe Morning World ceased publication, the sister publication, the News-Star, became the city's morning-only newspaper. The News-Star can be found on line at
★ KNOE 8 (CBS)
★ KTVE 10 (NBC)
★ KAQY 11 (ABC)
★ KARD 14 (FOX)
Famous residents
★ Harry W. Addison (Author)
★ Robert J. Barham (State Senator from Morehouse Parish)
★ Benoit Benjamin (NBA Center)
★ George C. Brian (Promoter of the arts, headed theater department at ULM)
★ Bubby Brister (Denver Broncos Quarterback)
★ Ken Case (KNOE Television news anchor, meteorologist, and ''Southern Angler'' fishing host)
★ James L. Dennis (United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit Judge)
★ Jimmy Dimos (former Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives, retired judge)
★ Hamid Drake (Jazz drummer and percussionist)
★ Grady A. Dugas (M.D. from Union Parish who invented a safer wheelchair locking system)
★ Eric Edwards (Arizona Cardinals Tight End)
★ Chuck Finley (St. Louis Cardinals Pitcher)
★ Carl Fontana (Jazz trombonist)
★ William S. Gannaway (Decorated World War II pilot, former Monroe City School Board member)
★ Teddy Garcia (Houston Oilers kicker)
★ Ralph Garr (Former MLB player)
★ Kevin Griffin (Better than Ezra Guitar/Vocals)
★ Andy Griggs (Country music singer)
★ Holly Heidenreich (Co-Founder of Make Litter Obsolete - Anti Litter Activist)
★ Stan Humphries (San Diego Chargers Quarterback)
★ Greg Jordan (Interior designer)
★ Clay Jordan (Contestant on ''Survivor Thailand'')
★ Kay Katz (Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives and Republican National Committeewoman from Louisiana)
★ Shawn King (Carolina Panthers Defensive End, 1st Round Draft Pick)
★ Robert Kostelka (Republican state senator and former judge)
★ Stephanie Masters (Co-Founder of Make Litter Obsolete - Anti Litter Activist)
★ Tim McGraw (Country music singer from Start, Louisiana)
★ Huey P. Newton (Black Panthers Founder)
★ Philip Nelson (Marketing Executive - 2005 Advanced Media Emmy Nominee)
★ Sarah Jane Nelson (Broadway Actress Swing!)
★ Johnny Robinson (LSU and Kansas City Chiefs star)
★ Rudy Niswanger (Kansas City Chiefs Center)
★ James Arthur Payne (Better than Ezra Backup vocals/Keyboard/Guitar/Harmonica)
★ Doug Pederson (Green Bay Packers Quarterback)
★ Parker Posey American film actress
★ Joseph Profit, Ph.D (Atlanta Falcons Running Back)
★ Shawn Reaves (Actor (''Tru Calling'', ''))
★ Bill Russell (basketball Star)
★ Margaret Sartor (Writer of critically acclaimed 2006 memoir Miss American Pie)
★ Sandra Thompson (Environmentalist and former director of the Atchafalaya Basin Project
★ Frank Ticheli (Internationally known composer, conductor, Professor of Music, University of Southern California)
★ Julie Giroux (award winning composer)
★ Odessa Turner (New York Giants Wide Receiver)
★ Mike Walsworth (Louisiana state representative from Ouachita Parish)
★ Susan Ward (Film and Soap Opera actress)
★ W.E. Whetstone (Businessman, civic leader, and member of the Louisiana State Board of Education)
★ Aeneas Williams (St. Louis Rams Safety) (owner of car dealerships in Monroe)
★ Pat Williams (Minnesota Vikings Defensive Tackle)
★ Brian Bateman (PGA Golfer, 2007 Buick Open Winner)
Places of interest
★ Biedenharn Museum and Gardens
References
1.
"Monroe, Louisiana (LA) Detailed Profile" (notes),
''City Data'', 2007, webpage:
C-Monroe.
2.
"Census 2000 Data for the State of Louisiana" (town list),
US Census Bureau, May 2003, webpage:
C2000-LA.
External links
★ City of Monroe
★ Masur Museum
★ Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo
★ Monroe Civic Center
★ Northeast Louisiana Children's Museum
★ University of Louisiana at Monroe
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