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Monroe County, Illinois
 Monroe County is situated along the banks of the Mississippi River.
It’s considered part of the St. Louis metropolitan area because its
western edge is parallel to the Gateway Arch. In addition, a new highway
and the Jefferson Barracks Bridge connect Illinois and Missouri, making Monroe County an attractive option for those
seeking a mix of rural and bit-city living.
The county is named for James Monroe, the fifth president of the United
States. It was organized in 1816, and today has a population of 27,000.
There are six towns in Monroe County: Columbia, Fults, Hecker, Maeystown,
Renault, Valmeyer and Waterloo, the county seat.
The county is part of the Southwestern Illinois German Heritage Area and
is also a French Colonial Heritage Region. Area attractions include
golfing at Acorns Golf Links, Annbriar Golf Course and The Ridge Golf &
Country Club, as well as natural wonders such as Mammouth Cave.
The area also has several wineries and historic sites. The French were the
first to explore in the area about 1673, with the first permanent
settlements established about 20 years later. The English, Irish and
Germans later came to the region. In Waterloo, the
Peterstown House was built in the 1830s, and was once a stagecoach
stop along the 60-mile Kaskaskia Trail. The
Bellefontaine House was restored as the site of the earliest
settlement made by American colonists in Illinois.
Monroe County’s population is almost evenly distributed between the
incorporated areas and the prairie lands. The local economy is sustained
by agriculture and agribusiness, with corn, soybeans and wheat being the
principal products. Fruits, vegetables and nursery stock are grown locally
and sold at local stores and roadside stands during their harvest seasons.
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