Monroe, Louisiana
Encyclopedia
Monroe is a city in and the parish seat of Ouachita Parish
, Louisiana
, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 53,107, making it the eighth largest city in Louisiana. A July 1, 2007, United States Census Bureau
estimate placed the population at 51,208, but 51,636 in 2009. It is the principal city of the Monroe Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes the parishes of Ouachita and Union
. The two-parish area had a total population of 170,053 in 2000 and an estimated population of 172,275 as of July 1, 2007. The larger Monroe-Bastrop Combined Statistical Area
is composed of both the Monroe Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Bastrop Micropolitan Statistical Area
. The CSA had a population of 201,074 in 2000.
Monroe and the neighboring city of West Monroe
(pop. 13,250), which sits just across the Ouachita River
, are often referred to as the Twin Cities
of northeast Louisiana.
of Virginia, the fifth President of the United States
and, with Robert R. Livingston, one of the negotiators of the 1803 Louisiana Purchase
from France
, for whom the ship was named.
During the American Civil War
, Monroe and Opelousas
, the seat of St. Landry Parish in south Louisiana, had Confederate
training camps. They were established after the fall of New Orleans to the Union
in 1862. Conscripts were soon sent to both camps.
In 1862, Monroe and Delhi
in Richland Parish
became overcrowded with unwelcome refugees from rural areas to the east. They had fled the forces of Union General
U.S. Grant, who moved into northeastern Louisiana and spent the winter of 1862-1863 at Winter Quarters
south of Newellton
in Tensas Parish
. He was preparing for the siege of Vicksburg
, Mississippi
, not completed until July 4, 1863. Historian John D. Winters
reported "strong Union sympathy" in both Delhi and Monroe. As the refugees moved further west toward Minden
in Webster Parish
, many of the existing inhabitants, themselves very poor, refused to sell them food or shelter and treated them with contempt.
Union boats came up the Ouachita River to Monroe to trade coffee, liquor, dry goods, and money for cotton. "Confederate officers were accused by a citizen of encouraging the trade and of fraternizing with the enemy, eating their oysters, and drinking their liquor." As the war continued, deserters and stragglers about Monroe became "so plentiful that the Union Army sent a special detachment" from Alexandria
to apprehend them.
In 1913, Joseph A. Biedenharn, the first bottler of Coca-Cola
, moved to Monroe from Vicksburg
, Mississippi
. His home and gardens at 2006 Riverside Drive in Monroe now operates as a house museum. Until Biedenharn's breakthrough, Coca-Cola had been available only when individually mixed at the soda fountain
. Biedenharn was also one of the founders of Delta Air Lines
, originally Delta Air Service.
Collett E. Woolman
, the Ouachita Parish agent originally from Indiana
, pioneered crop dusting to eradicate the boll weevil
, which destroyed cotton
in the Mississippi River
delta
country in the early 20th century. Woolman originated the first crop-dusting service in the world. The collapse of cotton production contributed to the Great Migration
of the early 20th century, when hundreds of thousands of African Americans left the rural South for jobs in northern and midwestern cities.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 31.6 square miles (83.9 km²), of which, 28.7 square miles (74.3 km²) of it is land and 3.7 square miles (9.6 km²) of it is water. The total area is 11.46% water.
of 2000, there were 53,107 people, 19,421 households, and 12,157 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,851.8 people per square mile (714.9/km²). There were 21,278 housing units at an average density of 741.9 per square mile (286.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 61.13% African American, 36.78% White, 0.13% Native American, 1.05% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.25% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.01% of the population.
There were 19,421 households out of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.4% were married couples
living together, 25.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.4% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54, and the average family size was 3.26.
In the city, the population was 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 were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,864, and the median income for a family was $33,263. Males had a median income of $31,840 versus $22,352 for females. The per capita income
for the city is $15,933. About 26.3% of families and 32.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 45.3% of those under the age of 18 and 21.6% of those 65 and older.
during the second half of the 1920s. As it expanded, it moved. Monroe Regional Airport serves the city. The airport has three main runways and is served by American Airlines
, Continental Airlines
and Delta Air Lines
.
Greyhound Bus Lines provides transportation from Monroe to many cities across the nation. The city of Monroe has the oldest municipally owned transit system in the nation. Created in 1906 as a four-line street railroad, the Monroe Transit System (mtsbus.org) now provides 13 fixed bus routes covering most areas of the city, and 3 demand-response buses serving the disabled.
Monroe can be accessed from I-20, U.S. Highway 165, L.A. Highway 15, U.S. Highway 80,and I-420 (proposed).
Monroe has two main railroads: the Kansas City Southern Railway
runs from east to west, and the
Union Pacific that runs from North to South. Other railroads include:
has multiple facilities. The main complex is the Civic Center Arena. This arena provides 44000 square feet (4,087.7 m²) of exhibit space along with 5,600 seats. The arena may have larger capacities up to 7,200 seats. The arena houses events such as banquets, circuses, and rodeos. The civic center also has the B.D. Robinson conference hall, Monroe Convention Center, equestrian pavilion, and the W.L. "Jack" Howard Theatre.
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.
The Monroe area is home to several museums, including the Northeast Louisiana Children's Museum, The Biedenharn Museum and Gardens
, Aviation Military Museum, the Masur Museum of Arts, and the Northeast Louisiana Delta African-American Heritage Museum, one of the 26 site recently identified for the state's African American Heritage Trail
.
Monroe is home to the Louisiana Motor Speedway, located near Interstate 20
, and Twin City Dragway.
Monroe hosts Deltafest
.
of the Louisiana
Army National Guard
. This unit is part of the 225th Engineer
Brigade which is headquartered in Pineville, Louisiana
at Camp Beauregard
.
Standifer Ave SAC Town
lincoln ParkNorth and East Monroe Metro Area (north of U.S. Highway 80) The University of Louisiana at Monroe
and the headquarters for CenturyLink
can be found in this area. This list includes communities located outside Monroe City limits.
, formerly an afternoon daily owned and operated by the late father-son team of publishers, Robert Wilson Ewing, I
, and John D. Ewing
. When the Ewing's Monroe Morning World ceased publication, the sister publication, the News Star, became the city's morning-only newspaper.
Monroe is also served by two African-American weekly newspapers: The Monroe Free Press and the Monroe Dispatch. The Free Press was founded in 1969 by Roosevelt Wright, Jr.; its web presence began in 1996 and is located at http://monroefreepress.com. The Dispatch was founded in 1975 by Irma and Frank Detiege.
The Ouachita Citizen, based in West Monroe, is a weekly newspaper that provides all-local coverage of events in Ouachita Parish, including Monroe, West Monroe, Sterlington and Richwood. Locally owned, the newspaper has been in operation since 1924. The Ouachita Citizen can be found online at www.ouachitacitizen.com. It was purchased in 1996 by the late Sam Hanna, Sr.
, and his son, Sam Hanna, Jr., who remains the publisher.
Emergency alert stations:
Ouachita Parish, Louisiana
-National protected areas:* Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge* D'Arbonne National Wildlife Refuge -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 147,250 people, 55,216 households, and 38,319 families residing in the parish. The population density was 241 people per square mile...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 53,107, making it the eighth largest city in Louisiana. A July 1, 2007, United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
estimate placed the population at 51,208, but 51,636 in 2009. It is the principal city of the Monroe Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes the parishes of Ouachita and Union
Union Parish, Louisiana
Union Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Farmerville....
. The two-parish area had a total population of 170,053 in 2000 and an estimated population of 172,275 as of July 1, 2007. The larger Monroe-Bastrop Combined Statistical Area
Monroe-Bastrop combined statistical area
The Monroe-Bastrop Combined Statistical Area is made up of three parishes in northern Louisiana. The statistical area consists of the Monroe Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Bastrop Micropolitan Statistical Area...
is composed of both the Monroe Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Bastrop Micropolitan Statistical Area
Morehouse Parish, Louisiana
Morehouse Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Bastrop. In 2000, the parish population was 31,021....
. The CSA had a population of 201,074 in 2000.
Monroe and the neighboring city of West Monroe
West Monroe, Louisiana
West Monroe is a city in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 13,250 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Monroe Metropolitan Statistical Area....
(pop. 13,250), which sits just across the Ouachita River
Ouachita River
The Ouachita River is a river that runs south and east through the U.S. states of Arkansas and Louisiana, joining the Tensas River to form the Black River near Jonesville, Louisiana.-Course:...
, are often referred to as the Twin Cities
Twin cities
Twin cities are a special case of two cities or urban centres which are founded in close geographic proximity and then grow into each other over time...
of northeast Louisiana.
History
The settlement formerly known as Fort Miro adopted the name Monroe in honor of the steam powered paddle-wheeler James Monroe. The arrival of the ship had a profound effect on the settlers. It was the singular event that transformed the outpost into a town, in the minds of local residents. The ship is depicted in a mural at the main branch of the Monroe Library on North 18th Street. Therefore, credit is given to James MonroeJames Monroe
James Monroe was the fifth President of the United States . Monroe was the last president who was a Founding Father of the United States, and the last president from the Virginia dynasty and the Republican Generation...
of Virginia, the fifth President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
and, with Robert R. Livingston, one of the negotiators of the 1803 Louisiana Purchase
Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase was the acquisition by the United States of America of of France's claim to the territory of Louisiana in 1803. The U.S...
from France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, for whom the ship was named.
During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Monroe and Opelousas
Opelousas, Louisiana
Opelousas is a city in and the parish seat of St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies at the junction of Interstate 49 and U.S. Route 190. The population was 22,860 at the 2000 census. Although the 2006 population estimate was 23,222, a 2004 annexation should put the city's...
, the seat of St. Landry Parish in south Louisiana, had Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
training camps. They were established after the fall of New Orleans to the Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
in 1862. Conscripts were soon sent to both camps.
In 1862, Monroe and Delhi
Delhi, Louisiana
Delhi, originally called Deerfield, is a town in Richland Parish, Louisiana, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 3,066.-History:...
in Richland Parish
Richland Parish, Louisiana
Richland Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Rayville. As of 2010, the population was 20,725.-History:...
became overcrowded with unwelcome refugees from rural areas to the east. They had fled the forces of Union General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
U.S. Grant, who moved into northeastern Louisiana and spent the winter of 1862-1863 at Winter Quarters
Winter Quarters State Historic Site
Winter Quarters in Tensas Parish, Louisiana, United States, is a surviving example of an Antebellum cotton plantation. It is located south of Newellton on Lake St. Joseph, an ox-bow lake, or former bend in the Mississippi River. The main plantation home of the site began as a hunting lodge in 1805...
south of Newellton
Newellton, Louisiana
Newellton is a town in northern Tensas Parish in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Louisiana. The population is 1,227 in the 2010 census, a decline of 255 from 2000. Newellton is some 65 percent African American. It is just west of the Mississippi River on Lake St. Joseph, an ox-bow lake....
in Tensas Parish
Tensas Parish, Louisiana
Tensas Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The seat of the parish is St. Joseph. In 2010, the population of Tensas Parish was 5,252; it is the least-populous of all sixty-four parishes....
. He was preparing for the siege of Vicksburg
Vicksburg, Mississippi
Vicksburg is a city in Warren County, Mississippi, United States. It is the only city in Warren County. It is located northwest of New Orleans on the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers, and due west of Jackson, the state capital. In 1900, 14,834 people lived in Vicksburg; in 1910, 20,814; in 1920,...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, not completed until July 4, 1863. Historian John D. Winters
John D. Winters
John David Winters was a historian at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana, best known for his definitive and award-winning study, The Civil War in Louisiana, still in print, published in 1963 and released in paperback in 1991.-Background:Winters was born to John David Winters, Sr...
reported "strong Union sympathy" in both Delhi and Monroe. As the refugees moved further west toward Minden
Minden, Louisiana
Minden is a city in the American state of Louisiana. It serves as the parish seat of Webster Parish and is located twenty-eight miles east of Shreveport, the seat of Caddo Parish. The population, which has been stable since 1960, was 13,027 at the 2000 census...
in Webster Parish
Webster Parish, Louisiana
Webster Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The seat of the parish is Minden. In 2010, its population was 41,207....
, many of the existing inhabitants, themselves very poor, refused to sell them food or shelter and treated them with contempt.
Union boats came up the Ouachita River to Monroe to trade coffee, liquor, dry goods, and money for cotton. "Confederate officers were accused by a citizen of encouraging the trade and of fraternizing with the enemy, eating their oysters, and drinking their liquor." As the war continued, deserters and stragglers about Monroe became "so plentiful that the Union Army sent a special detachment" from Alexandria
Alexandria, Louisiana
Alexandria is a city in and the parish seat of Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies on the south bank of the Red River in almost the exact geographic center of the state. It is the principal city of the Alexandria metropolitan area which encompasses all of Rapides and Grant parishes....
to apprehend them.
In 1913, Joseph A. Biedenharn, the first bottler of Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
, moved to Monroe from Vicksburg
Vicksburg, Mississippi
Vicksburg is a city in Warren County, Mississippi, United States. It is the only city in Warren County. It is located northwest of New Orleans on the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers, and due west of Jackson, the state capital. In 1900, 14,834 people lived in Vicksburg; in 1910, 20,814; in 1920,...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
. His home and gardens at 2006 Riverside Drive in Monroe now operates as a house museum. Until Biedenharn's breakthrough, Coca-Cola had been available only when individually mixed at the soda fountain
Soda fountain
A soda fountain is a device that dispenses carbonated drinks. They can be found in restaurants, concession stands and other locations such as convenience stores...
. Biedenharn was also one of the founders of Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines, Inc. is a major airline based in the United States and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network serving all continents except Antarctica. Delta and its subsidiaries operate over 4,000 flights every day...
, originally Delta Air Service.
Collett E. Woolman
Collett E. Woolman
Collett Everman Woolman was one of four founders of Delta Air Lines. The original owners/directors of Delta Air Service were C.H. McHenry, Travis Oliver, and M.S. Biedenharn....
, the Ouachita Parish agent originally from Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, pioneered crop dusting to eradicate the boll weevil
Boll weevil
The boll weevil is a beetle measuring an average length of six millimeters, which feeds on cotton buds and flowers. Thought to be native to Central America, it migrated into the United States from Mexico in the late 19th century and had infested all U.S. cotton-growing areas by the 1920s,...
, which destroyed cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
in the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
delta
River delta
A delta is a landform that is formed at the mouth of a river where that river flows into an ocean, sea, estuary, lake, reservoir, flat arid area, or another river. Deltas are formed from the deposition of the sediment carried by the river as the flow leaves the mouth of the river...
country in the early 20th century. Woolman originated the first crop-dusting service in the world. The collapse of cotton production contributed to the Great Migration
Great Migration (African American)
The Great Migration was the movement of 6 million blacks out of the Southern United States to the Northeast, Midwest, and West from 1910 to 1970. Some historians differentiate between a Great Migration , numbering about 1.6 million migrants, and a Second Great Migration , in which 5 million or more...
of the early 20th century, when hundreds of thousands of African Americans left the rural South for jobs in northern and midwestern cities.
Geography
Monroe is located at 32°30′37"N 92°05′42"W (32.510343, -92.094895) and has an elevation of 72 feet (21.9 m).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 31.6 square miles (83.9 km²), of which, 28.7 square miles (74.3 km²) of it is land and 3.7 square miles (9.6 km²) of it is water. The total area is 11.46% water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 53,107 people, 19,421 households, and 12,157 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,851.8 people per square mile (714.9/km²). There were 21,278 housing units at an average density of 741.9 per square mile (286.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 61.13% African American, 36.78% White, 0.13% Native American, 1.05% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.25% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.01% of the population.
There were 19,421 households out of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.4% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 25.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.4% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54, and the average family size was 3.26.
In the city, the population was 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 were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,864, and the median income for a family was $33,263. Males had a median income of $31,840 versus $22,352 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city is $15,933. About 26.3% of families and 32.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 45.3% of those under the age of 18 and 21.6% of those 65 and older.
Transportation
Monroe was the headquarters of Delta Air LinesDelta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines, Inc. is a major airline based in the United States and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network serving all continents except Antarctica. Delta and its subsidiaries operate over 4,000 flights every day...
during the second half of the 1920s. As it expanded, it moved. Monroe Regional Airport serves the city. The airport has three main runways and is served by American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
, Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines was a major American airline now merged with United Airlines. On May 3, 2010, Continental Airlines, Inc. and UAL, Inc. announced a merger via a stock swap, and on October 1, 2010, the merger closed and UAL changed its name to United Continental Holdings, Inc...
and Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines, Inc. is a major airline based in the United States and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network serving all continents except Antarctica. Delta and its subsidiaries operate over 4,000 flights every day...
.
Greyhound Bus Lines provides transportation from Monroe to many cities across the nation. The city of Monroe has the oldest municipally owned transit system in the nation. Created in 1906 as a four-line street railroad, the Monroe Transit System (mtsbus.org) now provides 13 fixed bus routes covering most areas of the city, and 3 demand-response buses serving the disabled.
Monroe can be accessed from I-20, U.S. Highway 165, L.A. Highway 15, U.S. Highway 80,and I-420 (proposed).
Monroe has two main railroads: the Kansas City Southern Railway
Kansas City Southern Railway
The Kansas City Southern Railway , owned by Kansas City Southern Industries, is the smallest and second-oldest Class I railroad company still in operation. KCS was founded in 1887 and is currently operating in a region consisting of ten central U.S. states...
runs from east to west, and the
Union Pacific that runs from North to South. Other railroads include:
- Delta Southern RailroadDelta Southern RailroadThe Delta Southern Railroad Company is a Class III short-line railroad headquartered in Tallulah, Louisiana.DSRR operates three disconnected lines, all of which interchange with Union Pacific:...
- Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi RailroadArkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi RailroadThe Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi Railroad is a short-line railroad in northern Louisiana and southern Arkansas. Opened in 1908, it has undergone several corporate reorganizations, but has remained independent of larger carriers. In 2004, paper producer Georgia-Pacific sold the company to...
Entertainment
The Monroe Civic CenterMonroe Civic Center
The Monroe Civic Center is a 7,600-seat multi-purpose arena, in Monroe, Louisiana. It was built in 1965.It was home to the Monroe Moccasins ice hockey team and Twin City Gators indoor football team....
has multiple facilities. The main complex is the Civic Center Arena. This arena provides 44000 square feet (4,087.7 m²) of exhibit space along with 5,600 seats. The arena may have larger capacities up to 7,200 seats. The arena houses events such as banquets, circuses, and rodeos. The civic center also has the B.D. Robinson conference hall, Monroe Convention Center, equestrian pavilion, and the W.L. "Jack" Howard Theatre.
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.
The Monroe area is home to several museums, including the Northeast Louisiana Children's Museum, The Biedenharn Museum and Gardens
Biedenharn Museum and Gardens
The Biedenharn Museum and Gardens is a botanical garden and museum located beside the Ouachita River at 2006 Riverside Drive, Monroe, Louisiana. It is open Monday-Saturday, and half days Sunday....
, Aviation Military Museum, the Masur Museum of Arts, and the Northeast Louisiana Delta African-American Heritage Museum, one of the 26 site recently identified for the state's African American Heritage Trail
Louisiana African American Heritage Trail
Louisiana African American Heritage Trail is a cultural heritage trail with 26 sites designated in 2008 by the state of Louisiana, from New Orleans along the Mississippi River to Baton Rouge and Shreveport, with sites in small towns and plantations also included. In New Orleans several sites are...
.
Monroe is home to the Louisiana Motor Speedway, located near Interstate 20
Interstate 20
Interstate 20 is a major east–west Interstate Highway in the Southern United States. I‑20 runs 1,535 miles from near Kent, Texas, at Interstate 10 to Florence, South Carolina, at Interstate 95...
, and Twin City Dragway.
Monroe hosts Deltafest
DeltaFest
DeltaFest is a two day music festival in Monroe, Louisiana. The festival is held annually at Chennault Park during the month of October.In 2007 performers included Charlie Daniels and Morris Day.In 2008 performers included Cowboy Mouth....
.
Golf
- Chennault Golf Course
- Frenchman's Bend Country Club
- The Links at Muny
- Bayou Desiard Country Club
Shopping
- Pecanland MallPecanland MallPecanland Mall is an enclosed shopping mall located in Monroe, Louisiana. The land on which the mall is located was formally a pecan farm, thus giving the mall its name....
has major anchor stores: BelkBelkBelk is a department store chain founded in 1888 in Monroe, North Carolina, today part of the Charlotte metropolitan area. After the founding of the first Belk store, the company grew in size and influence throughout the South via the chain in the USA, with its stores primarily located in the...
, Dillard'sDillard'sDillard's, Inc. is a department store chain in the United States, with 330 stores in 29 states. Headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, Dillard's locations are concentrated in Texas and Florida; with a major presence in other states including Arizona, Iowa, Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Missouri,...
, JC Penney, Sears, and Burlington Coat FactoryBurlington Coat FactoryBurlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation is a national department store retailer focusing on clothing and shoes, with over 450 stores in 45 states and Puerto Rico.. In 2006, it was acquired by Bain Capital, LLC in a take-private transaction...
. The largest mall in North LouisianaNorth LouisianaNorth Louisiana is a region in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The region has two metropolitan areas: Shreveport-Bossier City and Monroe-West Monroe....
, it has 100 other specialty stores. The mall also has a Cinemark 10-Movie Complex, Food Court and a Center Court. In mid-town Monroe, The Shoppes on Tower shopping center, Twin City Plaza, Twin City Shopping Center and Eastgate Shopping Center provide a range of stores and amenities.
National Guard
Monroe is home to the 528th Engineer BattalionBattalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
of the Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
Army National Guard
Army National Guard
Established under Title 10 and Title 32 of the U.S. Code, the Army National Guard is part of the National Guard and is divided up into subordinate units stationed in each of the 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia operating under their respective governors...
. This unit is part of the 225th Engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
Brigade which is headquartered in Pineville, Louisiana
Pineville, Louisiana
Pineville is a city in Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is adjacent to the city of Alexandria, and is part of that city's Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 13,829 at the 2000 census....
at Camp Beauregard
Camp Beauregard
For the American Civil War site, see Camp Beauregard Memorial in Water Valley.Camp Beauregard is a U.S. Army installation located northeast of Pineville, Louisiana, primarily in Rapides Parish, but also extending northward into Grant Parish. It is currently operated by the Louisiana National Guard...
.
Neighborhoods
Southern Monroe (south of U.S. Highway 80) This area contains the Pecanland Mall and the Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo.- Burg Jones Lane
- Parkview
- Robinson Place
- Richwood
- Pine Bayou#1
- Pine Bayou#2
- Lamyville
- Renwick's Addition
- Oregon Trail
- West Parkview
- Oak Manor
- Bryant's Addition
- Grayling Bend
- Tanglewood
- Charmingdale
- New Town
- Atkinson Quarters
- King Oaks
- Hollywood Heights
Standifer Ave SAC Town
lincoln ParkNorth and East Monroe Metro Area (north of U.S. Highway 80) The University of Louisiana at Monroe
University of Louisiana at Monroe
The University of Louisiana at Monroe is a coeducational public university in Monroe, Louisiana and part of the University of Louisiana System.-History:...
and the headquarters for CenturyLink
CenturyLink
CenturyLink, Inc. is a United States telecommunications firm, headquartered in Monroe, Louisiana. The company, founded as Central Telephone & Electronics Corporation in 1968, later changed its name to Century Telephone Enterprises, Inc. in 1971, and then was called CenturyTel, Inc. from 1999 to 2010...
can be found in this area. This list includes communities located outside Monroe City limits.
- Betin Heights
- Oakmont
- Westminister
- Garden District
- Marie Place Addition
- Sholar's Addition
- Pargoud Place
- Plantation Park
- Point Place
- Westwood
- Forsythe Park
- Brierfield
- River Oaks
- Town & Country
- Northside Terrace
- Cypress Point
- Lakeshore
- Bayou Oaks
- Parkview Heights Subdivision
- North Pointe Plantation
- Booker T
- Treasure Island
- Northgate Estates
- Village North
- Pecan Bayou
- Swartz
Post-secondary education
- University of Louisiana at MonroeUniversity of Louisiana at MonroeThe University of Louisiana at Monroe is a coeducational public university in Monroe, Louisiana and part of the University of Louisiana System.-History:...
- Louisiana Delta Community College
Elementary
The City of Monroe has its own department of education that is set off from the larger Ouachita Parish School System. It is known as the Monroe City School System. The department consists of three high schools, three junior high schools, and 18 elementary schools.- Lexington Elementary
- Berg Jones Elementary
- Carver Elementary
- Clara Hall Elementary
- J.S. Clark Magnet School
- Cypress Point Elementary
- Jack Hayes Elemnentary
- Jefferson Upper Elementary
- Lincoln Elementary
- Minnie Ruffin Elementary
- Madison James Foster Elementary
- Barkdull Faulk Elementary
- New Vision Learning Academy
- Sallie Humble Elementary
- Swayze Elementary
- Robinson Elementary
- Swartz Upper Elementary
- Swartz Lower Elementary
- Lakeshore Elementary
Junior high
- Robert E. Lee Junior High (Lee)
- Carroll Junior High
- Martin Luther King Junior High (MLK)
- Ouachita Parish Junior High School (OJHS)
- Richwood Junior High School (RJHS)
High school
- Neville High School
- Carroll High School
- Wossman High School
- Ouachita Parish High School
- Richwood High School
- River Oaks School
- St. Frederick High School
Media
Monroe is served by a Gannett newspaper, the Monroe News StarMonroe News Star
The News-Star is the principal newspaper of Monroe and northeastern Louisiana. Its circulation area ranges over some dozen parishes from Ruston, the seat of Lincoln Parish, on the west, to Tallulah in Madison Parish on the east, to the Arkansas state line on the north, and to Ferriday in Concordia...
, formerly an afternoon daily owned and operated by the late father-son team of publishers, Robert Wilson Ewing, I
Robert Ewing (newspaper publisher)
Robert Wilson Ewing, I, also known as Colonel Ewing , was a prominent newspaper journalist, editor, and publisher and political figure, primarily in Louisiana, in the last two decades of the 19th century and the first third of the 20th century.Ewing was born in Mobile, Alabama, to James Lindsay...
, and John D. Ewing
John D. Ewing
John Dunbrack Ewing, Sr. , was a Louisiana journalist who served as editor and publisher of both the Shreveport Times and the Monroe News-Star-World from 1931 until his death. He was also affiliated with radio station KWKH in Shreveport, the seat of Caddo Parish in northwestern Louisiana...
. When the Ewing's Monroe Morning World ceased publication, the sister publication, the News Star, became the city's morning-only newspaper.
Monroe is also served by two African-American weekly newspapers: The Monroe Free Press and the Monroe Dispatch. The Free Press was founded in 1969 by Roosevelt Wright, Jr.; its web presence began in 1996 and is located at http://monroefreepress.com. The Dispatch was founded in 1975 by Irma and Frank Detiege.
The Ouachita Citizen, based in West Monroe, is a weekly newspaper that provides all-local coverage of events in Ouachita Parish, including Monroe, West Monroe, Sterlington and Richwood. Locally owned, the newspaper has been in operation since 1924. The Ouachita Citizen can be found online at www.ouachitacitizen.com. It was purchased in 1996 by the late Sam Hanna, Sr.
Sam Hanna
Samuel Andrew Hanna, Sr., known as Sam Hanna , was a Louisiana journalist who owned and published three newspapers: The Concordia Sentinel in Ferriday, the Franklin Sun in Winnsboro, and The Ouachita Citizen in West Monroe.-Early years and education:Hanna was born in Winnsboro, the seat of Franklin...
, and his son, Sam Hanna, Jr., who remains the publisher.
Television
- KNOEKNOE-TVKNOE-TV, Channel 8, is the CBS affiliate television station for Monroe, Louisiana. The station is owned by Hoak Media Corporation, which also controls ABC affiliate KAQY, Channel 11 through a local marketing agreement.-History:KNOE-TV went on the air in 1953...
8 (CBS) & 8.2 (CW) - KTVEKTVEKTVE, Channel 10, is the NBC affiliate television station for the El Dorado, Arkansas–Monroe, Louisiana DMA. The station is licensed to El Dorado, but its main studio is located in West Monroe, Louisiana. KTVE is owned by Mission Broadcasting, and operated by Nexstar Broadcasting...
10 (NBC) - KAQYKAQYKAQY ABC11, is the ABC affiliate for the El Dorado, Arkansas/Monroe, Louisiana market, licensed in Columbia, Louisiana. Operates a digital signal on VHF channel 11. KAQY's transmitter is located in Columbia, and its studios are in Monroe.-History:...
11 (ABC) - KLTM 13 (PBS)
- KARDKARDKARD-TV, Channel 14, is the Fox affiliate for the El Dorado, Arkansas/Monroe, Louisiana market area. KARD's transmitter is located in Columbia, Louisiana. The station is licensed to West Monroe, Louisiana...
14 (FOX) - KMCT 39 (TBN)
- KEJBKEJBKEJB was a television station in El Dorado, Arkansas, broadcasting locally on channel 43 as an affiliate of MyNetworkTV. Founded in 2003, the station was owned by KM Communications...
43 (My Network TV)
FM
- KBMQ 88.7 Contemporary Christian
- KEDM 90.3 National Public Radio/University of Louisiana at Monroe HD radio
- KMYY 92.3 Country
- [KBYO 92.7] Hit Music "Fun Radio"
- KJMG 97.3 Urban Adult Contemporary
- KNBB 97.7 Sports
- KZRZ 98.3 Soft Rock
- KRVV 100.1 Urban Contemporary
- KHLL 100.9 Christian
- KNOE 101.9 Hot AC
- KQLQ 103.1 Mainstream Top 40
- KJLO 104.1 Country
- KLIP 105.3 Classic Hits
- KXRR 106 New Rock
AM
Emergency alert stations:
Sports
- Ben SheetsBen SheetsBen M. Sheets is an American baseball starting pitcher who is currently a free agent. He is a four-time All-Star, but has been hampered with injury problems throughout his career.-Prep and college:...
(Current (MLB) Oakland Athletics pitcher, played at NLU, now ULM) - Brian BatemanBrian BatemanBrian Bateman is an American professional golfer, who currently plays on the PGA Tour.Bateman was born in Monroe, Louisiana. He played collegiately at Louisiana State University where he graduated in 1996 with a degree in marketing...
(PGA Golfer, 2007 Buick Open Winner) - Benoit BenjaminBenoit BenjaminLenard Benoit Benjamin is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 1st round of the 1985 NBA Draft. A 7'0" center from Creighton University, Benjamin played for nine NBA teams in 15 seasons from 1985-2000...
(Former NBANational Basketball AssociationThe National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
Center for the Cleveland CavaliersCleveland CavaliersThe Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
) - Bubby BristerBubby BristerWalter Andrew "Bubby" Brister, III is a former American football quarterback in the NFL for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets, Denver Broncos, and Minnesota Vikings...
(Former Denver BroncosDenver BroncosThe Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
Quarterback) - Billy Joe DupreeBilly Joe DupreeBilly Joe DuPree is a former professional American football tight end in the National Football League who played his entire career for the Dallas Cowboys.-Early years:DuPree was born and reared in Monroe, Louisiana...
(Former Tight End for the Dallas Cowboys) - Lenny FantLenny FantLeonard O'Neil Fant, known as Lenny Fant , was from 1957–1979 the men's basketball coach of the University of Louisiana at Monroe Indians . During his tenure, Fant compiled a ULM record of 326–221. His 326-game record was topped in 1999 by one of his understudies, ULM Coach Mickael E...
, ULM basketball coach, 1957–1979, first ULM coach to win three hundred games - Ralph GarrRalph GarrRalph Allen Garr is a former Major League Baseball player who played outfield for the Atlanta Braves, Chicago White Sox and California Angels. He batted left-handed and threw right...
(Former MLB player) - Gerrod HendersonGerrod HendersonGerrod Dewayne Henderson is an American professional basketball player.He played for Panionios, Hemofarm, Crvena zvezda, Anwil Włocławek and Azovmash Mariupol.-References:...
(American basketball player for the Anwil Włocławek 2007-09) - Stan HumphriesStan HumphriesWilliam Stanley "Stan" Humphries is a former professional American football quarterback. He played for the Washington Redskins and San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He played college football at Northeast Louisiana...
(Former San Diego ChargersSan Diego ChargersThe San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
Quarterback) - Cardia JacksonCardia JacksonCardia Jackson is an American football linebacker for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League.-College career:...
, ULM Warhawk linebacker and NFL prospect - Bradie JamesBradie JamesBradie Gene James is an American football linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League.-High school career :...
(LSU and Dallas Cowboys Linebacker) - Shawn KingShawn King (football)Shawn King is a former National Football League defensive end who played for the Carolina Panthers and Indianapolis Colts. He is best remembered for his numerous suspensions due to violating the NFL's drug policy.-NFL career:...
(Former ULM/LSU and Carolina PanthersCarolina PanthersThe Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
Defensive End) - Paul MillsapPaul MillsapPaul Millsap is an American professional basketball player currently with the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association. As a 6'8", 250 lbs. power forward from Louisiana Tech University, Millsap was selected by the Jazz in the second round of the 2006 NBA Draft. His game was initially...
(Power forward for Louisiana Tech University and the Utah Jazz) - Rudy NiswangerRudy NiswangerRudolph Nelson "Rudy" Niswanger is an American football center in the National Football League who is currently is a free agent. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2006...
(LSU and Kansas City ChiefsKansas City ChiefsThe Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
Center) - Joe ProfitJoe ProfitJoe Profit is a former American football running back with the Atlanta Falcons in the National Football League . He spent three seasons on the Atlanta Falcons before moving to the New Orleans Saints. He was drafted in the first round with the seventh overall pick in the 1971 NFL Draft...
(Former Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans SaintsNew Orleans SaintsThe New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
Running Back) - Johnny Robinson (Former LSU and Kansas City ChiefsKansas City ChiefsThe Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
safety) - Bill Russell (Former NBANational Basketball AssociationThe National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
center for the Boston CelticsBoston CelticsThe Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
) - Sammy WhiteSammy White (American football)Sammy White is a former American football wide receiver in the NFL.After attending Grambling State University, White played all ten seasons of his professional career as a wide receiver with the Minnesota Vikings, winning the Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year and UPI NFL-NFC Rookie of...
(GSU and Former Offensive Rookie of Year Receiver Minnesota Viking) - Andrew WhitworthAndrew WhitworthAndrew Whitworth is an American football offensive lineman for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League. He was drafted in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at Louisiana State University.-Early years:Whitworth was rated by CNNSI.com as the sixth-best...
(LSU and Cincinnati BengalsCincinnati BengalsThe Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
Offensive tackle) - Jonathan WilhiteJonathan WilhiteJonathan Wilhite is an American football cornerback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft...
(Auburn and New England PatriotsNew England PatriotsThe New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
Cornerback) - Aeneas WilliamsAeneas WilliamsAeneas Demetrius Williams is a former American football cornerback and free safety, who played with the Arizona Cardinals and the St. Louis Rams. Williams attended Fortier High School, where he played football on a team with three future NFL players. Although he was admitted to Dartmouth College,...
(Former St. Louis RamsSt. Louis RamsThe St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
Free Safety) - Pat Williams (Minnesota VikingsMinnesota VikingsThe Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
Defensive Tackle) - Larry WrightLarry Wright (basketball)Larry Glenn Wright is a former American professional basketball player and former Grambling State University men's basketball team head coach, his alma mater...
(GSU and Former NBANational Basketball AssociationThe National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
guard for the Washington Bullets)
Musicians
- Hamid DrakeHamid DrakeHamid Drake is an American jazz drummer and percussionist. He lives in Chicago, IL but spends much of his time traveling around the world for concerts and studio dates....
-- Jazz drummer and percussionist - Carl FontanaCarl FontanaCarl Charles Fontana was an American jazz trombonist. Because Fontana rarely recorded under his own name and toured only occasionally after 1958, he is significantly less famous among mainstream jazz fans, although well-known amongst trombonists.-Birth to 1958:Born in Monroe, Louisiana, Fontana...
-- Jazz trombonist - Kevin GriffinKevin GriffinKevin Griffin is an American guitarist, vocalist, producer, and songwriter.Griffin formed the alternative rock band Better Than Ezra in 1988. The band had great success in the 1990s with hits such as "Good", "In the Blood", and "Desperately Wanting", and has continued in the 2000s with hits such...
-- Lead Singer of Better Than EzraBetter Than EzraBetter Than Ezra is an American alternative rock trio based in New Orleans, Louisiana.-Formation and early success:Better Than Ezra was formed in 1988 by its four original members - vocalist and guitarist Kevin Griffin; Joel Rundell, the lead guitarist; bassist Tom Drummond; and drummer, Cary... - Andy GriggsAndy GriggsAndrew Tyler "Andy" Griggs is an American country music artist. He has released three albums for RCA Records Nashville and a fourth for Montage Music Group...
-- Country music singer - Frank Ticheli -- Internationally known composer, conductor, Professor of Music, University of Southern California
- Leon "Pee Wee" WhittakerLeon "Pee Wee" WhittakerLeon "Pee Wee" Whittaker was an African American musician from the Mississippi River delta country of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas who was particularly known as a trombonist of jazz, blues, and rock music. From 1919 until his death, Whittaker performed with minstrel shows, carnival bands,...
-- African American trombonist who played with the Rabbit's Foot Minstrels from Monroe between 1935 and 1950 - Rickey MinorRickey MinorRickey Minor is a music director, composer and music producer, now best known as musical director and bandleader for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno after Kevin Eubanks left. Minor was born in Monroe, Louisiana to parents Cole and Goldie Minor and was raised in South Central Los Angeles, CA...
-- African American music director, composer, music producer, and music director and bandleader for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Politicians
- Jamie MayoJamie MayoJames Earl Mayo, known as Jamie Mayo , is the current mayor of Monroe, the seat of Ouachita Parish in north Louisiana, United States. He is an African-American Democrat who endorsed Barack Obama of Illinois in the 2008 U.S. presidential election.Mayo was elected to the Monroe City Council from...
, DemocraticDemocratic Party (United States)The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
mayorMayorIn many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Monroe since 2001 - Edwards BarhamEdwards BarhamErle Edwards Barham is an American farmer and conservationist in Oak Ridge, a village in Morehouse Parish in north Louisiana, best known for having been the first Republican elected—by a 29-vote margin—to the Louisiana State Senate since the era of Reconstruction. Barham represented the...
, former member of the Louisiana State SenateLouisiana State LegislatureThe Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
from Morehouse Parish - Robert J. BarhamRobert J. BarhamRobert Jocelyn Barham is a large-scale farmer from Morehouse Parish who has been appointed by Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal as the secretary of the state's Department of Wildlife and Fisheries...
, Director of the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission; former Louisiana state senator from Morehouse Parish - William R. Boles, Sr.Billy BolesWilliam Russell Boles, Sr., known as Billy Boles , was a Monroe attorney and banker who, at twenty-four, served a single term in the Louisiana State Senate. He represented his native Richland as well as neighboring Franklin and Catahoula parishes in northeastern Louisiana from 1952 to 1956, during...
, attorney and former Democratic member of the Louisiana State Senate - Marcus R. ClarkMarcus R. ClarkMarcus R. Clark is a Republican member of the Louisiana Supreme Court from West Monroe, Louisiana, United States, who won his current position in a special election held on October 17, 2009, to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Republican Justice Chet D. Traylor of Monroe, formerly of...
(born 1956), associate justice of the Louisiana Supreme CourtLouisiana Supreme CourtThe Supreme Court of Louisiana is the highest court and court of last resort in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The modern Supreme Court, composed of seven justices, meets in the French Quarter of New Orleans....
; former district court judge - James L. DennisJames L. DennisJames L. Dennis is a United States federal judge currently serving on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. His chambers are in New Orleans, Louisiana....
(born 1936), JudgeJudgeA judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Fifth CircuitThe United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* Eastern District of Louisiana* Middle District of Louisiana... - Jimmy DimosJimmy DimosJimmy N. Dimos is a retired state Fourth Judicial District Court judge based in Monroe in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States. Dimos is also a former Democratic member of the Louisiana House of Representatives, having served from 1976 to 1999...
, former SpeakerSpeaker (politics)The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
of the Louisiana House of RepresentativesLouisiana State LegislatureThe Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
and retired judgeJudgeA judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open... - John C. EnsmingerJohn C. EnsmingerJohn Clifford Ensminger, Sr. , is a State Farm Insurance agent in Monroe, Louisiana, who served for two decades in both houses of the Louisiana State Legislature. Ensminger was elected in 1972 as a conservative Democrat to the Louisiana House of Representatives from Ouachita Parish, now District...
(born 1934), Monroe businessman, state representative (1972–1991) and state senator (1991–1992) from Ouachita Parish - William C. FeazelWilliam C. FeazelWilliam Crosson Feazel was a short-term United States Senator from Louisiana. Born near Farmerville, the seat of Union Parish, he attended the public schools and engaged as an independent oil and natural gas producer....
(1895–1965), interim U.S. Senator in 1948; member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1932–1936; father-in-law of Shady R. Wall - Lee FletcherLee FletcherDewey Lee Fletcher, Jr. , was an American political consultant and a talk radio host and blogger in Monroe, who was defeated by 974 votes in a 2002 race for the United States House of Representatives from the Fifth Congressional District in northeast Louisiana...
(1966–2009), Republican political consultant - H. Lawrence GibbsH. Lawrence GibbsHenry Lawrence Gibbs, Jr., known as H. Lawrence Gibbs , was a Democratic member of both houses of the Louisiana State Legislature, having served in Ouachita Parish from 1956 to 1980...
(1919–1993), member of both houses of the Louisiana Legislature - John S. Hunt, IIIJohn S. Hunt, IIIJohn Smoker Hunt, III , was a nephew of Louisiana Governors Huey Pierce Long, Jr., and Earl Kemp Long who served on the elected Louisiana Public Service Commission from May 1964, to December 31, 1972. He was unseated in the September 30, 1972, Democratic runoff by Francis Edward Kennon, Jr...
(1928–2001), Monroe attorney and former member of the Louisiana Public Service CommissionLouisiana Public Service CommissionLouisiana Public Service Commission is an independent regulatory agency which manages public utilities and motor carriers in Louisiana. The commission has five elected members chosen in single-member districts for staggered six-year terms... - Neal Lane "Lanny" Johnson (born 1940), former Ouachita Parish school superintendent and member of the Louisiana House from 1976-1980 from FranklinFranklin Parish, Louisiana-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 21,263 people, 7,754 households, and 5,706 families residing in the parish. The population density was 34 people per square mile . There were 8,623 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile...
and TensasTensas Parish, LouisianaTensas Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The seat of the parish is St. Joseph. In 2010, the population of Tensas Parish was 5,252; it is the least-populous of all sixty-four parishes....
parishes; first All-American in basketball at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, then NLSC - Kay KatzKay KatzKay Kellogg Katz is a departing Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives, having represented from 2000 to 2012 District 16 in Ouachita Parish in northeastern Louisiana....
, member of the Louisiana House of Representatives and former RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
National Committeewoman from Louisiana - Robert KostelkaRobert KostelkaRobert William Kostelka, usually known as Bob Kostelka , is a former district attorney, district judge, and circuit judge, and, currently, a Republican member of the Louisiana State Senate from Monroe, who has represented Ouachita, Lincoln, and Jackson parishes in District 35 since 2004...
, Republican state senator and former judge - Scott LeehyScott LeehyBernard Scott Leehy is a judge of the Louisiana Fourth Judicial District Court bench in Ouachita and Morehouse parishes. He was sworn into office on December 27, 2006. Leehy had been the Monroe City Court judge since 1997. A Republican, he defeated the Democrat Jay Mitchell in the September 30,...
, Republican judge of the Fourth Judicial District - Sam LittleSam LittleSamuel Perry Little is a retired farmer from Bastrop, the seat of Morehouse Parish, Louisiana, who is a Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from District 14 in northeastern portion of his state.-Background:...
, Republican state representative from Morehouse Parish and portions of Ouachita, West Carroll, and East Carroll parishes - James A. NoeJames A. NoeJames Albert Noe, Sr. of Monroe served for three and a half months as the 43rd Governor of Louisiana after the death of Oscar K. Allen on January 28, 1936....
, Governor of Louisiana, founder of WNOE & KNOE radio & TV stations - Lawson SwearingenLawson SwearingenLawson Lewis Swearingen, Jr. , is a former Democratic member of the Louisiana State Senate, having represented District 34 from 1980 to 1991, and a former president of the University of Louisiana at Monroe, whose tenure extended from 1991 to 2001.-Early life:Swearingen was born in San Antonio,...
, former Louisiana state senator and president of ULM - Chet D. TraylorChet D. TraylorChet D. Traylor is a retired associate justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court from Monroe, Louisiana, who was defeated in the Republican primary election on August 28, 2010, for the U.S. Senate seat held since 2005 by the incumbent David Vitter of New Orleans...
, Associate justice of the Louisiana Supreme CourtLouisiana Supreme CourtThe Supreme Court of Louisiana is the highest court and court of last resort in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The modern Supreme Court, composed of seven justices, meets in the French Quarter of New Orleans....
, 1997–2009; Republican primary candidate for U.S. Senate, 2010 - Shady R. WallShady WallShady Robert Wall was a banker and philanthropist from West Monroe, Louisiana, who served nonconsecutively as a Democratic member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1948–1956 and 1968-1984. Wall is remembered for his colorful dress, speeding in his Rolls Royce, flamboyant personality,...
(1922–1985), state representative from 1948–1956 and 1968–1984 - Mike WalsworthMike WalsworthMichael Arthur "Mike" Walsworth is a Republican member of the Louisiana State Senate, elected in the October 20, 2007 jungle primary. Prior to this he represented District 15 in the Louisiana House of Representatives until he was unable to seek reelection due to term limits...
, Louisiana state senator from Ouachita and Morehouse parishes - W.E. Whetstone, former member of the Louisiana State Board of Education
- Aubrey W. YoungAubrey W. YoungAubrey Walsworth Young was a public official in the U.S. state of Louisiana, who between 1965 and 1999 established multiple drug and alcohol treatment programs through the Department of Health and Hospitals. A political activist, Young organized his contacts from Alcoholics Anonymous to support...
(1922–2010), Drug and alcohol abuse coordinator within the Department of Health and Hospitals, 1965–1999; aide-de-campAide-de-campAn aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to Governor John McKeithen
Businesspeople
- Edmund Graves BrownEdmund Graves BrownEdmund Graves Brown, Jr. was an American newspaper executive and a prominent member of the Ewing newspaper family of Louisiana. In 1952, after the deaths of two Ewing brothers, John D. Ewing and Wilson Ewing, Brown joined the management of the then family-owned Monroe News Star in Monroe, the seat...
(1921–2008), executive of the Monroe News StarMonroe News StarThe News-Star is the principal newspaper of Monroe and northeastern Louisiana. Its circulation area ranges over some dozen parishes from Ruston, the seat of Lincoln Parish, on the west, to Tallulah in Madison Parish on the east, to the Arkansas state line on the north, and to Ferriday in Concordia...
from 1952–1977; member of the EwingJohn D. EwingJohn Dunbrack Ewing, Sr. , was a Louisiana journalist who served as editor and publisher of both the Shreveport Times and the Monroe News-Star-World from 1931 until his death. He was also affiliated with radio station KWKH in Shreveport, the seat of Caddo Parish in northwestern Louisiana...
newspaperNewspaperA newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
family - Grady A. DugasGrady A. DugasGrady A. Dugas, M.D. , was a Louisiana physician who invented the "Safer Automatic Wheelchair Wheel Locks", a patented device designed for those who sometimes forget to lock their wheelchairs...
(1923–2007), inventor of the "Safer Automatic Wheelchair Wheel Locks" - Robert Ewing, IIIRobert Ewing, IIIRobert Wilson Ewing III , was a sports and underwater photographer for the Monroe News Star in Monroe, Louisiana. According to his obituary, Ewing performed free-lance work for National Geographic and the naturalist Jacques Cousteau...
(1935–2007), Monroe newspaper executive and photographer - Lloyd E. LenardLloyd E. LenardLloyd Edgar Lenard was an American businessman from Shreveport, and a former Caddo Parish commissioner, author, United States Navy officer, civic leader, and a pioneer in the establishment of the two-party system in his native Louisiana.-Family, education, military:Lenard was born to James Lenard...
, author, originally advertising manager of KNOE Radio, later in the insuranceInsuranceIn law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the...
business in Shreveport, former Caddo Parish commissioner - Philip Nelson, Technical Emmy nominee for NewTekNewTekNewTek, Inc. is a San Antonio, Texas-based hardware and software company that produces live and post-production video tools and visual imaging software for personal computers...
TriCaster, San Antonio Business Journal 40 under 40 - Sol RosenbergSol Rosenberg (Louisiana businessman)Sol Rosenberg was a Jewish survivor of the German Nazi death and concentration camps who became an industrialist and philanthropist in Monroe, northeastern Louisiana....
(1926–2009), steel industrialist; philanthropist; Holocaust survivor - Collett E. WoolmanCollett E. WoolmanCollett Everman Woolman was one of four founders of Delta Air Lines. The original owners/directors of Delta Air Service were C.H. McHenry, Travis Oliver, and M.S. Biedenharn....
, one of the original directors of Delta Air Service. The founders were Collett Woolman, C.H. McHenry, Travis Oliver, and M.S. Biedenharn. - Ryan Harvey, Thriving Entrepeneur and 2010 Delta Style Top 30 Under 30.
Actors/entertainment
- Clay Jordan, contestant on Survivor Thailand
- Mantan MorelandMantan MorelandMantan Moreland was an American actor and comedian most popular in the 1930s and 1940s.-Career:Born in Monroe, Louisiana, Moreland began acting by the time he was an adolescent, reportedly running away to join the circus...
, former actor and comic of the 1930s and 1940s - Ed NelsonEd NelsonEdwin Stafford Nelson is an American actor.Nelson has appeared in numerous television shows, more than fifty motion pictures, and hundreds of stage productions. Until 2005, he was teaching acting and screenwriting in his native New Orleans at two local universities there...
, former Peyton PlacePeyton Place (TV series)Peyton Place is an American prime-time soap opera which aired on ABC in half-hour episodes from September 15, 1964 to June 2, 1969.Based upon the 1956 novel of the same name by Grace Metalious, the series was preceded by a 1957 film adaptation. A total of 514 episodes were broadcast, in...
co-star and New Orleans native retired to SterlingtonSterlington, LouisianaSterlington is a town in northern Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,276 at the 2000 census.Actor Ed Nelson, a co-star of ABC's Peyton Place during the 1960s, retired to Sterlington from his native New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.-Geography:Sterlington is...
after Hurricane KatrinaHurricane KatrinaHurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall... - Parker PoseyParker PoseyParker Christian Posey is an American actress. She became known during the 1990s after a series of roles in several well-received independent films. As a result, she has often been referred to as the "Queen of the Indies"....
, American film actress - Susan WardSusan WardSusan Ward is an American actress and model.-Early life and career:Ward was born in Monroe, Louisiana. She attended a private, Christian elementary school , in Monroe, LA. She briefly attended Northeast Louisiana University...
, American film and soap opera actress - Valerie Mason, September 2008 Playboy Playmate
Activists
- Huey P. NewtonHuey P. NewtonHuey Percy Newton was an American political and urban activist who, along with Bobby Seale, co-founded the Black Panther Party for Self Defense.-Early life:...
, Black Panthers founder - Clayton Broyles, NORML regional director
Writers
- Harry W. AddisonHarry W. AddisonHarry Wayne Addison was a Southern author and humorist whose works painted vivid portraits of his experiences growing up as a poor boy in Depression-era rural Louisiana...
, writer and humorist - Henry E. ChambersHenry E. ChambersHenry Edward Chambers, Sr. , was an educator and historian from New Orleans, Louisiana, known principally for his 1925 work, History of Louisiana: State and People, a principal source for much on the 19th and early 20th centuries.-Background:Chambers was born to Captain Joseph Chambers and the...
, Louisiana historian, resided in Monroe, 1894-1896. - Speed LamkinSpeed LamkinHillyer Speed Lamkin is an American novelist and playwright. He is best known for his first novel Tiger in the Garden and was called "the poor man's Truman Capote" by the composer Ned Rorem. He was a recipient of a 1950 O...
, novelist and playwright - William Y. ThompsonWilliam Y. ThompsonWilliam Young Thompson is a retired historian who was affiliated for most of his academic career, from 1955 through 1988, with Louisiana Tech University at Ruston in Lincoln Parish, Louisiana...
, retired historian from Louisiana Tech UniversityLouisiana Tech UniversityLouisiana Tech University, often referred to as Louisiana Tech, LA Tech, or Tech, is a coeducational public research university located in Ruston, Louisiana. Louisiana Tech is designated as a Tier 1 school in the national universities category by the 2012 U.S. News & World Report college rankings...
Others
- Moon GriffonMoon GriffonBlane M. Griffon, known as Moon Griffon is a conservative radio talk show host who broadcasts statewide through station KMLB FM in Monroe, the seat of Ouachita Parish in northeastern Louisiana. He has sometimes been called the "Rush Limbaugh of Louisiana" though his program reflects his distinct...
, statewide radio talk showTalk showA talk show or chat show is a television program or radio program where one person discuss various topics put forth by a talk show host....
host - George T. WalkerGeorge T. WalkerGeorge Thomas Walker, Sr. , was from 1958 to 1976 the president of the University of Louisiana at Monroe, known first as Northeast Louisiana State College and then as Northeast Louisiana State University, located in Monroe in northeastern Louisiana.-Background:Walker was born in the Wyatt Community...
, president of the University of Louisiana at MonroeUniversity of Louisiana at MonroeThe University of Louisiana at Monroe is a coeducational public university in Monroe, Louisiana and part of the University of Louisiana System.-History:...
, 1958 to 1976