Monroe City offers quiet living near Mark Twain Lake
Monroe City is a small farming community about 20 miles outside of Hannibal. The childhood home of Mark Twain, the city has a variety of recreational amenities and a historic downtown area with shops and restaurants. Monroe City offers a slower pace of life, with country homes and community gatherings for holidays, but there's still action to be had nearby. “We are a gateway to Mark Twain Lake,” says Debbie Kendrick, managing broker at See Real Estate with over 35 years of experience. “Monroe City is a quiet, friendly town that has easy access to larger cities and medical care, and we are a lake community that offers lots of outdoor opportunities.”
Country homes on spacious lots around Monroe City
The city has a grid layout, and houses are plotted on rectangular, tree-lined street blocks. Residential areas farther out in the country mainly consist of farmland and cornfields. Houses near the city center, built from the 1900s to the present day, can go from $60,000 to about $250,000 and range from cottages and shotgun homes to ranch-style houses. Lot size generally spans from one-third acre to about 3 acres, with open lawns and backyard decks. Bigger houses in the city and country properties with 10 acres of land can reach from $380,000 to $420,000. “It’s a small town and a farming community, and many people make it their lifetime home, so inventory is very limited and turnover rate is very minimal," Kendrick says.
Parks, trails and lakes offer year-round outdoor recreation
The city has a public nine-hole golf course, and the Lions Club has sports fields and a swimming pool. St. Jude’s Square has a covered pavilion, and St. Jude’s Church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. North and South community parks have playgrounds, basketball courts and open fields. Outside of town, people can go fishing at South Lake and Route J. Reservoir, and boating is permitted at the reservoir. The Joanna Trail is a popular place for horseback riding and biking, and Mark Twain Lake, about 10 miles south of the area, offers opportunities for water recreation.
Public schools in Monroe City R-I School District
Monroe City R-I School District serves the community. Students may start out at Monroe City Elementary School, which has a B-minus grade from Niche. Monroe City Middle School earns a B, and Monroe City High School, offering dual-enrollment courses, gets a B-plus. Students may also apply to attend Hannibal Career & Technical Center for the last two years of high school, which offers programs in agriculture, building trades technology, business, architectural and engineering design, and criminal justice.
Shopping and dining along U.S. Route 24 and around downtown
Restaurants and businesses are concentrated along Route 24 and the downtown Main Street area. Monroe Family Restaurant offers daily breakfast and buffets, and Casa Tequila serves Mexican food and margaritas. BK's Place serves American classics, and Ground in Grace Café is a popular spot for coffee. Groceries and essentials are at Dollar General, Family Dollar and C&R Supermarket. For other goods, there's a Walmart in Hannibal.
Distance to Hannibal and nearby hospital
U.S. routes 24 and 36 intersect and pass through the community. Hannibal is about 20 miles east via Route 36, and Columbia Regional Airport is about 80 miles away, offering direct flights to Chicago and Dallas. The city has several health clinics, but the nearest hospital is Hannibal Regional Hospital in Hannibal.
Community celebrations and activities in Monroe City
The city has an annual fall festival, which has local food, arts and crafts, live performances, a pie-eating contest, a petting zoo and pumpkin painting. Other events include golf and cornhole tournaments, as well as a Christmas parade.
