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–Not graded
History · Monroe

Monroe dates to 1800, and 70% of its homes were built before 1940

Below: 3 old photos and papers, maps from 1886 on, and the census since 1840.

1800founded
0on the National Register
70%homes built before 1940
3old photos & papers
Add an old photoShare a memory
From Monroe’s archive · credits on each photo
Quick answers

How Monroe began

When was Monroe founded?

1800

Monroe dates its founding to 1800 (Wikipedia’s history). The census first counted it in 1840.

First census: 260 in 18402020 census: 118226 years
Founding year: Wikipedia. First post office: 1828.The full story ↓

What stands out about Monroe’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenOnly 3 old photos are in the public archives. The rest are in attics and albums.On the map since 18866 editions of the USGS map, 1886 to 1997. Watch Monroe change.Old housesHalf of Monroe’s homes were built before 1938.Boom and bustPeaked at 305 in 1900; 118 people lived here in 2020.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Monroe’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Monroe’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Date a photo2 archive items have no date. Guess the decade.+2Retake an old viewMonroebridge3: stand where they stood+15Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
On the map

Monroe on the map, 1886 to 1997

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Monroe. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Monroe on the 1886 USGS mapMonroe on the 1890 USGS mapMonroe on the 1944 USGS mapMonroe on the 1960 USGS mapMonroe on the 1973 USGS mapMonroe on the 1997 USGS map1886Hawley sheet · 1:62,500

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Monroe.

The story

How Monroe came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Monroe.

Read it all →

Monroe was first settled in 1800 and was officially incorporated in 1822. The town was named for President James Monroe, who was in office at the time of incorporation. The town was mostly rural, with dairy farming taking up much of the town's economic activity. During the mid-19th century, the town did get some business from the building of the Hoosac Tunnel, just south of town in Florida. In 1885, however, a railroad line was built between neighboring Readsboro, Vermont, and Holyoke, Massachusetts to haul wood pulp to a paper factory. This, in turn, enticed the Ramage family to establish the James Ramage Paper Company in 1887. The company was the main industry well into the 20th century, before closing in 1984.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

Monroe, 1800 to 1905

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 19th century
  2. 1800
    FoundingMonroe is established
  3. 1828Post officeThe Monroe post office opens
  4. 1871In the archive1871 Atlas of Franklin County Massachusetts, by Louis E. Neumann, publisher F.W. Beers & …
  5. 1886On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  6. 1887Post officeThe Monroe Bridge post office opens
  7. 20th century
  8. 1900CensusPopulation peaks at 305
  9. 1905Post officeThe Monroe post office closes
By decade

Monroe, decade by decade

One decade in the archive so far: the 1870s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.

1870s1 item
1871 Atlas of Franklin County Massachusetts, by Louis E. Neumann, publisher F.W. Beers & Co., from the Digital Commonwe…18711871 Atlas of Franklin County Massachusetts, by Louis…Map
Date unknown2 to date
Monroebridge3Date?Monroebridge3Seal ofDate?Seal of
Today4 recent
Monroe Bridge, MA2009Monroe Bridge, MAMonroebridge42008Monroebridge4Monroebridge12008Monroebridge1Monroebirdge22008Monroebirdge2
Then & now

Stand where they stood

No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as an old one and they appear here side by side.

Monroebridge3
Retake this viewMonroebridge3

Find the spot, match the angle, and add your photo. It becomes the first then-and-now pair on Monroe’s page.

Retake this view · +15
People over time

Monroe, census by census

01002003001850190019502000Peak: 305

Peaked at 305 in 1900; 118 people lived here in 2020.

19 censuses, 1840–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Monroe’s Wikipedia page.

Places that used to be

Lost post offices, old corners and burying grounds

Monroe had its own post office from 1828 to 1905.

Monroe
1828–1905
Monroe Bridge
1887–today
18201920today
Hamlets and corners on the map
Monroe Bridge
1cemetery inside Monroe
West

US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

RoweIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townFlorida1 historic placenot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town

Questions about Monroe’s history

What year was Monroe founded?

In 1800, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. Monroe’s post office opened in 1828, and the census of 1840 counted 260 people here.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021). How TownRatings grades history →

From Wikimedia Commons (7), Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.