1679History
Robert de LaSalle claimed the area for New France after his 1679 expedition on the Griffon.
1784Military
In 1784, after the American Revolutionary War, Francis Navarre of Canada was given a portion of land south of the River Raisin by the Potawatomi.
1812Military
The Monroe area was the scene of several military conflicts during the War of 1812 against the United Kingdom and is known for the Battle of Frenchtown.
1813History
A force of 200 Native Americans and 63 Canadian militia were forced to retreat north away from the River Raisin by 600 Kentucky militiamen and 100 French, under the command of J...
1817Infrastructure
In 1817, portions of the Frenchtown settlement along the River Raisin were platted and renamed "Monroe" after then-president James Monroe.
1825Government
The newspaper was founded in 1825 and for many years known as The Monroe Evening News.
1837Government
When Michigan became a state in 1837, Monroe was incorporated as a city.
1839Military
It was the childhood home of George Armstrong Custer (1839–1876), who had a military career in which he reached the rank of major general.
1864Military
Here he later met and in 1864 married Elizabeth Bacon (1842–1933), during the Civil War.
1900Government
=== Interurbans ===
From 1900 to the 1930s, the electric Detroit United Railway (eventually becoming the Eastern Michigan Ry) operated hourly interurban passenger service betwee...
1905Government
Marygrove College, sponsored by the local Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM), was founded in Monroe in 1905 as a Catholic, liberal arts college.
1910Military
In 1910, President William Howard Taft and the widow Elizabeth Bacon Custer unveiled an equestrian statue of Custer, which now stands at the corner of Elm Avenue and Monroe Street.
1915Infrastructure
The Dixie Highway ran through Monroe in as early as 1915.
1918History
The coldest recorded temperature was −21 °F (−29 °C) on February 5, 1918.
1927Government
City limit signs for Monroe describe the city as "the home of General Custer."
The La-Z-Boy furniture company, which became known for its reclining easy chairs, was founded in M...
1928Government
Founded in 1928, the La-Z-Boy world headquarters are located in Monroe.
1930Infrastructure
M-130 was a state highway existing from 1930 until 1955 and ran along the northern banks of the River Raisin.
1934History
The highest recorded temperature was 106 °F (41 °C) on July 24, 1934, with another equal temperature recorded on one occasion many years earlier.
1946Architecture
Custer Airport was built in 1946 and is located on the former M-130.
1955Infrastructure
In 1955, control of the highway was transferred back to the county.
1964Government
Monroe County Community College was founded in 1964 just west of Monroe.
1974Architecture
In 1974, the Monroe Power Plant opened.
1975Government
Established in 1975, Lake Erie Transit currently has a fleet of 31 buses and serves approximately 400,000 riders every year.
1989Education
In December 1989, a combination of zebra mussels and ice clogged the sole intake pipe of the Monroe water treatment plant, forcing a two-day shutdown of the city's schools, indu...
1996Sports
The Timberwolves have won their league championship four times, three in the Mid-Continental Football League (1996, 97 & 99) and the Minor League Football Alliance championship ...
2000History
=== 2000 census ===
In the census of 2000, there were 22,076 people, 8,594 households, and 5,586 families in the city.
2008History
In 2008, the system logged 764,000 miles.
2009Military
Today, the site of the battle is preserved as the River Raisin National Battlefield Park, authorized in 2009.
2010History
== Demographics ==
=== 2010 census ===
As of the census of 2010, there were 20,733 people, 8,238 households, and 5,277 families residing in the city.
2012Education
In 2012, the three largest parochial elementary schools (St.
2015History
It was purchased by GateHouse Media in fall 2015, prior to which time The Monroe News had about 20 years of employee ownership.
2020History
Monroe is the core city in the Monroe metropolitan area, which is coterminous with Monroe County and had a population of 154,809 in 2020.
2021Architecture
This new facility is roughly a half mile east of the original location on Telegraph Road; the old building was demolished in 2021, and the site is being redeveloped.