Monroe

Formed December 17, 1843 (30^th county)

Monroe County (7,574), Albia (3,719)

The stone of the 1902 Renaissance Revival building stand out in this small town.  It is in a square surrounded by Benton, Main, Washington, and Clinton streets.  Main Street is Iowa State Highway 5.  O. O. Smith is the courthouse architect.  The structure has a working clock tower and the grounds feature veteran memorials and a gazebo.  Monroe County was created on December 17, 1843 from Wapello County as the 30^th county.  Princeton had the first county seat with Albia assuming the role in 1859.  It is named for President James Monroe.  The county seat was presumably named for a settler. 

Monroe County government consists of a sheriff, a recorder, an attorney, a treasurer, and an assessor (executive).  It has 3 Supervisors (legislative.)  Fifteen District Court Judges and Thirteen Magistrates serve Monroe, Appanoose, Davis, Des Moines, Henry, Jefferson, Keokuk, Lee, Louisa, Mahaska, Poweshiek, Van Buren, Wapello, and Washington counties (judicial.) The county is southeast of Des Moines, Iowa in southern Iowa.  Cedar Rapids, Iowa is northeast of the county.  The county center is 5.2 miles Northwest of Albia nearer Levilla.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Mahaska, Wapello, Davis, Appanoose, Wayne, Lucas, and Marion counties. 

The county has an area of 433 square miles.  It is 84 of 99 in the state.  It ranks 87 out of 99 in population in the state.  It has a density of 17.5 persons per square mile making it 79 out of 99 in the state.  Monroe County has 56.8% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 34 crosses the county east to west from Wapello County to Lucas County.  The county is a rectangle.  Albia is in the eastern third of the county.  Albia is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 49.1% of the county population.  The county seat is pronounced AL-BEE-A.

Eddyville