Overview of Monroe, WA

Duane Krogh11-2-09

BEDUC 554

Monroe and WA State

Monroe and General Area

Monroe WA

Monroe in General

• Population – 16,419 in 2009• 4,844 heads of households• Home of the Evergreen State Fairgrounds and the

Evergreen Speedway.• 68% of population married• Still a young population, median age is 32, compared to

U.S. median of 38• 55% male, 45% female, as compared to US of 49% male,

51% female.• Most businesses are small, service oriented, largest

employer is the Correctional Facility.

Monroe in General

• Housing – Median Home cost $ 290,000 – Seattle - $420,000

• Median Home Age – 11 years– Seattle – 49 years

• Has become a bedroom community, 50% of workers commute over 30 minutes.

• Unemployment rate of 10% (US at 8.5%) – Recent job growth of -2.8%. (US at -3.1%)

• Crime rate for violent crime – ½ of Seattle's, same as nation.• Property crime same as Seattle, twice that of nation.

Demographics

• Majority of ethnic background – White 84%.– Seattle at 69%

• Growing Hispanic population – 12% to 20%– Seattle at 6% to 12%– Data is not clear, as many chose “other” in census

data, and it is assumed they are mostly Hispanic.

History of Monroe• In 1893, became an important stop along the Great

Northern Railroad.• Post Office named after James Monroe, 5th President.

Community adopted the name of Monroe.• Early businesses were Sawmills and Berry Farms.• Incorporated in 1902 – 300 people, along the banks

of the Skokomish River and the railroad lines.• By 1910, the city grew with two new employers,

Carnation Milk Company, and the State Reformatory to over 2,000 people.

Monroe continues to grow

• Reformatory is still there, the milk plant is not

• From 1910 to 1980, little change in Monroe.• Then came the completion of:– SR 2 - Links Monroe to Everett– SR 522 – Links Monroe to Seattle

This old smoke tower along Hwy 2 and Main Street is what remains from the Pacific Coast Condensed Milk Company (Carnation)

MonroeA Changing City

Old Monroe – Old Downtown New Monroe – Along SR 2

The Growth of Monroe

• People – 17% growth in population since 1990 (compared to Seattle at 4%)

• Housing – 50% of the houses within 10 years

Houses in old down town. New housing as seen from the High School.

Services• One regional hospital with growing professional offices.– Growing professional buildings with regional offices for group

clinics.

• 1 or 2 major retails chains stores for most items.– Development of strip mall along Hwy 2– Gridlock is now an issue in this area.– Growth of Hispanic grocery stores and restaurants, especially

in the old downtown.

• One recreation center in town.– One Parks and Recreation Dept., but difficult to find facilities,

appear to be combined with an elementary school.

• City on the edge of major green, rural areas.

Monroe – Mixed MessagesThe High School for the City, built on the land from:

the state’s correction facility.

(photo on left taken from Main Street, photo on right taken from the High School parking lot.)

This landmark is typically not on any guide or overview of the city. It is located in the city limits, a few streets away from the old down town area.

Summary of Monroe

• Town with a long rural history, but large recent changes.

• State correction facility, largest employer.• No solid community economic base, basically a

commuter community.• One of the fastest growing areas in state.• New population mix, growing Hispanic.• Growing populations with few services available

for youth.

Questions about Monroe• Why is there such an increase in the Hispanic population of Monroe, as

compared to Seattle?• Since there are so few resources for youth, what do they do in their spare

time?• How much influence, or help, does the school provide for youth, outside

of school?• With the recent downturn in the economy, and since Monroe has little

economic base, how will this impact on Monroe, and how would this translate to an impact on the High School?

• What are the future plans of the City Government concerning youth services? With the economic downturn, are there resources available?

• What plans does the city have to meet the needs of their changing demographics?

Sources

Sperlings Best Places: www.bestplaces.net

Monroe Chamber of Commerce:www.monroewachamber.com

Google Earthwww.google.com

Photographs – Alyssa Johnsen-Krogh