Monroe

Monroe is a county seat in Michigan on the western shore of Lake Erie where the River Raisin flows through downtown before entering the lake. The town stretches inland from the lake shore and includes residential and industrial sections along the waterfront.

French-Canadian settlers arrived at the river in the 1780s and established a small community that became officially incorporated as a town in 1817. The location was the site of fighting in January 1813 between British and American forces during the War of 1812.

The downtown area carries the influence of French and Canadian settlers in some street names and old neighborhoods where timber-frame houses from the early nineteenth century remain. Visitors can walk today along the river shore where parks and walking paths follow the water.

The public park along the lake shore offers beach access, camping areas, and trails through shoreline woods that remain open year round. Those visiting the battlefield site will find pathways and panels explaining the ground.

A furniture maker began producing recliners here in 1927 and ran its operations from this location until 2019. The factory shaped the local economy for decades and employed many residents of the town.

Location: Monroe County

Inception: 1817

Elevation above the sea: 182 m

Shares border with: Frenchtown Charter Township

Website: http://ci.monroe.mi.us

GPS coordinates: 41.91639,-83.39778

Latest update: December 17, 2025 07:37