Monroe

Formed January 6, 1831 (33^rd county)

Monroe County (8,662), Paris (1,146), Monroe City (2,655)

A rock and masonry Renaissance Revival courthouse was constructed in 1912.  The facility is located on a square at Main, Marion, Market, and Monroe streets.  Missouri Highway 15 is Main Street in the town.  The courthouse has marble columns and a Liberty Bell replica on the grounds.  William W. Rose and David B. Peterson provided the building designs.  There was an 1867 facility earlier also in Paris, the only county seat.  The county was formed on January 6, 1831 from Ralls County as the 33^rd county.  Its namesake is United States President James Monroe.  The county seat is named for Paris, Kentucky. 

Monroe County government consists of a sheriff, an administrator, an attorney, a collector, a coroner, an assessor and a clerk (executive).  It has 3 Commissioners (legislative.)  One Circuit Court Judge serves Monroe, Marion, and Ralls counties and One County Court Judge and a court clerk serve Monroe County (judicial.)  Monroe County is in the northeast part of the state.  Saint Louis, Missouri is southeast and Kansas City, Missouri is west of the county.  The county center is 8.5 miles Northwest of Paris.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Shelby, Marion, Ralls, Audrain, Randolph, and Macon counties. 

The area of the county is 646 square miles.  It is 43 out of 115 in the state.  It ranks 91 out of 115 in population in the state.  It has a density of 13.4 persons per square mile making it 94 out of 115 in the state.  Monroe County has 45.3% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 24 enters the county from the northeast, Marion County, and exits to the west, Randolph County.  The county is a rectangle with the northwest corner cut out.  Paris is slightly south of center in the county.  Monroe City is located in the northeast corner of the county and extends into Marion and Ralls counties.  Paris is the county seat and Monroe City is the largest city.  Paris is 13.2% of the county population while Monroe City is 30.7% of the county population.

Monroe City