Monroe

Formed January 14, 1799 (13^th county)

Monroe County (12,375), Union (420), Peterstown (445)

The red brick Romanesque Revival courthouse was built in 1881.  The courthouse is on Main Street at North Street.  Main Street is United States Highway 219 in this part of the town.  Charles C. Kemble is the architect.  The building was enlarged in 1975 and restored in 2012.  It is again under renovation in 2024.  A gazebo sits on the grounds.  The county was established on January 14, 1799 from Greenbrier County as the 13^th county and Union has always been the county seat.  The county is named for United States President James Monroe.  Union was named for its rendezvous point for troops during the American Indian War. 

Monroe County government consists of a sheriff and 3 Commissioners.  One Circuit Court Judge serves Monroe and Summers counties and One Family Court Judge and Two Magistrate Court Judges serve Monroe and Greenbrier counties.  The county is on the southeast border with Virginia.  Charleston, West Virginia is northwest and Roanoke, Virginia is southeast of the county.  The county center is 3.8 miles Southwest of Union.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Greenbrier County and Virginia and Mercer and Summers counties.  The county resembles a fat laser pistol pointing southwest. 

The area of the county is 473 square miles.  It is 20 out of 55 in the state.  It ranks 41 out of 55 in population in the state.  It has a density of 26.2 persons per square mile making it 42 out of 55 in the state.  Monroe County has 7.9% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 219 enters the county from the northeast, Greenbrier County, and exits to the southwest, Virginia.  Union is located in the northern third of the county.  Peterstown is in the extreme southwest part of the county.  Union is the county seat and Peterstown is the largest city.  Union is 3.4% of the county population while Peterstown is 3.6% of the county population.