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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