Editing Monroe County

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'''Monroe County''' is a [[county]] in [[Southeast Michigan|southeastern]] [[Michigan]]. As of the [[United States 2000 Census|2000 census]], the population was 145,945 with the 2007 Census Bureau estimate placing the population at 153,608. The [[county seat]] is [[Monroe]]. According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], it forms a part of the [[Metro Detroit]] area; although, some communities in the southern portion of the county are more closely tied to [[Toledo, Ohio]].

==Economy==
Monroe county features diversified industry, including auto-parts manufacturing, cement, glass making, metal fabrication, and packaging.<ref>[http://www.infomi.com/county/monroe/ Info Michigan, Monroe County]</ref> There is also a large agricultural component to the economy and culture of the county. Furthermore, the [[Enrico Fermi Nuclear Generating Station|Fermi nuclear power plant]] is located east of Monroe and is owned by [[DTE Energy]].

==History==
Monroe County was originally named for President [[James Monroe]], in anticipation of his 1817 visit to the [[Michigan Territory]].<ref>[http://www.michigan.gov/hal/0,1607,7-160-15481_20826_20829-54126--,00.html#mackinac Michigan County Names]</ref> The boundaries of Monroe county, however, have changed since its inception. Most notably, [[Toledo, Ohio|Toledo]] was formerly part of Monroe County, but was ceded to Ohio as a consequences of the 1835 [[Toledo War]]. That was a dispute between Ohio and Michigan fought over a 500 square mile of land, which included the [[Maumee River]]'s mouth. In exchange, Michigan was given the [[Upper Peninsula]], then considered a wilderness.

The [[Battle of Frenchtown]], one of the bloodiest battles in [[War of 1812]] was fought in Monroe County. It was the largest conflict ever fought on Michigan soil. The [[River Raisin Battlefield]] is being considered for inclusion in the National Parks System.<ref>[http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080113/NEWS19/801130354/-1/NEWS Federal study examines River Raisin Battlefield]</ref> The City of Monroe is one of the most historic cities in Michigan, and has a well marked trail of the battlefield.<ref>[http://www.michigan.org/travel/city/index.asp?city=G3323 Michigan's official travel, county, economic development website]</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of 680&nbsp;[[square mile]]s (1,761&nbsp;[[km²]]), of which, 551&nbsp;square miles (1,427&nbsp;km²) of it is land and 129&nbsp;square miles (334&nbsp;km²) of it (18.96%) is water.

===Geographic features===
Monroe is Michigan's only county whose entire shorline is comprised of [[Lake Erie]], to the east. Fishing and boating are popular along coastal communities such as [[Estral Beach]], [[Luna Pier]], [[Monroe]], and [[South Rockwood]]. 

The [[River Raisin]] and [[Sandy Creek (Michigan)|Sandy Creek]] flow through the county. Wetlands, inlets and marshes abound along the lakeshore and near the mouth of the river. While the [[Sterling State Park]] is the only state park in the county, there are also numerous tracts of state-owned hunting land. The presence of waterfowl, shore birds and wildlife makes the area a favorite for birdwatchers duck hunters. The [[Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge]] also has land set aside in Monroe County.

Monroe county is rich in aleuvial soil, and its agricultural activities produce alfalfa, corn, grains, potatoes, soy beans, and sugar beets.

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Wayne County]]  (northeast)
*[[Washtenaw County]]  (northwest)
*[[Essex County, Ontario]], [[Canada]] (east)
*[[Lenawee County]]  (west)
*[[Lucas County, Ohio]]  (south)

== Government ==
{{seealso|Monroe County elections, 2008}}

The county government operates the [[County jail|jail]], maintains rural roads, operates the
major local courts, keeps files of deeds and mortgages, maintains [[vital records]], administers [[public health]] regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of welfare and other social services. The [[county commission|county board of commissioners]] controls the budget but has only limited authority to make laws or ordinances. In Michigan, most local government functions &mdash; police and fire, building and zoning, tax assessment, street maintenance, etc. &mdash; are the responsibility of individual cities and townships.

=== Monroe County elected officials ===
* [[Prosecutor|Prosecuting Attorney]]: William P. Nichols
* [[Sheriff]]: Tilman Crutchfield
* [[County Clerk]]/[[Register of Deeds]]: Sharon Lemasters
* [[Treasurer|County Treasurer]]: Kay Sisung
* [[Drain Commissioner]]: Daniel Stefanski
* [[Surveyor]]: Scott Warnke
* Nine Commissioners from nine districts.

<small>(information as of January 2009)</small>

=== Monroe County Commission districts ===
[[Image:MonroeDistricts.gif|thumb|right|200px|County Commission districts of Monroe County]]

*District 1: Western Monroe County; includes [[Dundee]], [[Petersburg]]
*District 2: Central Monroe County; includes [[Maybee]], [[Ida Center]]
*District 3: [[South Rockwood]]&ndash;[[Carleton]]; includes [[Berlin Charter Township]], [[Ash Township]]
*District 4: [[Frenchtown Charter Township|Frenchtown]]
*District 5: [[Monroe]]-North
*District 6: Monroe-South
*District 7: [[South Monroe]]&ndash;[[Luna Pier]]; includes [[La Salle Township]], portions of [[Erie Township|Erie]] and [[Monroe Charter Township]].
*District 8: [[Temperance]]
*District 9: [[Lambertville]]

== Cities, villages, and townships ==
'''Cities'''
*[[Luna Pier]]
*[[Milan]] (partial)
*[[Monroe]]
*[[Petersburg]]

'''Villages'''
*[[Carleton]]
*[[Dundee]]
*[[Estral Beach]]
*[[Maybee]]
*[[South Rockwood]]

'''Unincorporated'''
*[[Azalia]]
*[[Cone]]
*[[Detroit Beach]], [[Census-designated place|CDP]]
*[[Lambertville]], [[Census-designated place|CDP]]
*[[Lulu]]
*[[Newport]] 
*[[South Monroe]], [[Census-designated place|CDP]]
*[[Stony Point]], [[Census-designated place|CDP]]
*[[Temperance]], [[Census-designated place|CDP]]
*[[West Monroe]], [[Census-designated place|CDP]]
*[[Woodland Beach]], [[Census-designated place|CDP]]

'''Charter Townships'''
*[[Berlin Charter Township]]
*[[Frenchtown Charter Township]]
*[[Monroe Charter Township]]

'''Civil Townships'''
*[[Ash Township]]
*[[Bedford Township (Monroe County)|Bedford Township]]
*[[Dundee Township]]
*[[Erie Township]]
*[[Exeter Township]]
*[[Ida Township]]
*[[La Salle Township]]
*[[London Township]]
*[[Milan Township]]
*[[Raisinville Township]]
*[[Summerfield Township (Monroe County)|Summerfield Township]]
*[[Whiteford Township]]

==Education==
*[[Airport High School]]
*[[Bedford High School]]
*[[Dundee High School]]
*[[Erie Mason High School]]
*[[Ida High School]]
*[[Jefferson High School]]
*[[Monroe High School]]
*[[Monroe County Community College]]
*[[Saint Mary Catholic Central]]
*[[Summerfield High School]]
*[[Whiteford High school]]

==Local landmarks==
*The [[Monroe County Social and Welfare Association]] is spearheading the development of the [[Phillip Murray]] &ndash; first president of the [[United Steelworkers of America]] and president of the [[Congress of Industrial Organizations]] &ndash; building into the [[Monroe County Labor History Museum]].<ref>[http://www.monroelaborhistorymuseum.org Monroe County Labor and History Museum]</ref>
*The County contains ten registered state historical markers.<ref>[http://www.michmarkers.com/Frameset.htm Michigan Historical Markers.]</ref>
** [[Exeter Township]] Hall
** [[George Armstrong Custer]]
** [[Lake Erie]]
** Michigan: Historic Crossroads
** Milan Village Hall & Fire Barn
** Monroe
** Peter Seitz Tavern & Stagecoach Inn
** St. John the Baptist Catholic Church
** Saint John's Evangelical Lutheran Church
** St. Patrick Church in [[Carleton]]

==Bibliography and further reading==
*[http://www.clarke.cmich.edu/localhistory/Monroe.htm Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University, Bibliography on Monroe County]
*Nicholas, J.R., G.L. Rowe, and J.R. Brannen. (1996). ''Hydrology, water quality, and effects of drought in Monroe County, Michigan'' [Water-Resources Investigations Report 94-4161]. Lansing, MI: U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey. 

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.co.monroe.mi.us/monroe/default.aspx Monroe County web site]
*[http://monroe.lib.mi.us/index.htm Monroe County Library System]
*[http://www.emerciv.com/ Emonroe.com Monroe County Calendar, Community Information & Ticketing]

{{Monroe County}}
[[Category:Counties]]
[[Category:Monroe County| ]]