Monroe County, Michigan

Monroe County was named for President James Monroe, who paid the Michigan Territory a visit in 1817. At this time Toledo was part of Monroe County, but later lost during what is known as the 1835 Toledo War, where Ohio and Michigan fought over a 500 square mile strip of land that included the mouth of the Maumee River. As an exchange, Michigan got the Upper Peninsula, which then was considered a wilderness.

Monroe County is Michigan's only county situated on Lake Erie. Boating and fishing are popular along coastal ports such as South Rockwood, Estral Beach, Monroe, and Luna Pier. The lakeshore region features a unique ecology found nowhere else in Michigan, with shallow marshes and inlets, rich in waterfowl wildlife- a favorite for birdwatchers and duckhunters.

Today the county is a rich agricultural area noted for soybeans, grains, corn, sugar beets, potatoes and alfalfa.

There are also many industries here, especially around Monroe, including auto-parts manufacturing, metal fabrication, cement, packaging and glass production. The Fermi Nuclear Power Plant plays a major role in supplying power to the area.

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