Monroe

Formed January 1, 1854 (48^th county)

Monroe County (46,270), Sparta (10,027)

The red stone Richardsonian Romanesque Revival courthouse was built in 1895.  It is located on a square at Court, Main, K, and Oak streets.  Wisconsin State Highway 21 is one block to the east of the courthouse.  Mifflin E. Bell is the architect.  The building was enlarged in 1965 and 1988.  The courthouse features columns and Lady Justice on the top.  A tower is on top and veteran memorials are on the grounds.  A Justice Center was added in 2016 and an Administration Building was built in 1995.  The county was founded on January 1, 1854 from La Crosse County as the 48^th county and Sparta has always been the county seat.  The county is named for United States President James Monroe.  He is also the namesake for the county seat of Green County.  Sparta was named for Sparta, Greece. 

Monroe County government consists of a sheriff and 24 Supervisors.  Two Circuit Court Judges and Four Municipal Court Judges serve Monroe County.  Monroe County is located in western Wisconsin.  Madison, Wisconsin is southeast and Minneapolis, Minnesota is northwest of the county.  The county center is 7.6 miles East of Sparta nearer Angelo.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Jackson, Juneau, Vernon, and La Crosse counties. 

The area of the county is 900.8 square miles.  It is 19 out of 72 in the state.  It ranks 31 out of 72 in population in the state.  It has a density of 51.4 persons per square mile making it 36 out of 72 in the state.  Monroe County has 50.7% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 90 comes into the county from the east, Juneau County, and goes to the west, La Crosse County.  Interstate Highway 94 is joined with Interstate Highway 90 from Juneau County, splits and continues northwest into Jackson County.  United States Highway 12 parallels Interstate Highway 94 from Juneau to Jackson counties.  Monroe County is a rectangle with an added nose on the northwest corner.  Sparta is located in the western quarter of the county.  Sparta is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 21.7% of the county population.

Wyeville