A quiet community University employees and retirees just outside of Monroe
The story of Swartz begins roughly 15 miles north in the town of Bastrop. A paper mill just outside of Bastrop "was the only thing keeping that city alive," says Realtor Harrison Lilly, team leader for THLT Realty, who grew up in Swartz. "Your affluent and working class from Bastrop moved to Swartz after all of the professional jobs moved out of Bastrop." Before then, Swartz was largely undeveloped. Today, Swartz forms Monroe's buffer between city activity and quieter semi-suburban, semi-rural areas to the north. The neighborhood's proximity to the University of Louisiana Monroe makes it popular with university employees, young families and residents who have stuck around for decades. Although it is among the farthest-out regions of Monroe, the slower pace of everyday life that distance creates is precisely the appeal of this developing suburban area.
Many residents of Swartz attend University of Louisiana Monroe.
Affordable ranchers are available throughout Swartz.
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New traditional subdivisions and established midcentury ranchers
Swartz is comprised of residential areas that jut off from major roads like LA-139, sometimes in a subdivision like Lincoln Hills and sometimes into an established residential street. Midcentury ranchers built during the 1970s are the predominant option in most residential areas. Typically, they sell for between $130,000 and $260,000, most often dictated by square footage. However, new construction is fairly common in Swartz, at least compared to many other parts of Monroe. A few newer subdivisions contain new traditional Colonial Revival designs built in the early 2000s. The caveat is that newer builds in Swartz fetch a higher price range that usually sits between $230,000 and $370,000.
Older ranch styles sit on large lots around Swartz.
New developments are making their way into the landscape in Swartz.
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Little League and indoor sports at the Swartz-Lakeshore Recreation Center
Near the center of town, recreational activities and community-building opportunities draw locals to the Swartz-Lakeshore Recreation Center. With ten baseball diamonds, the sport is incredibly popular for competitive Little League games and casual match-ups between friends. Plus, with tennis courts, a playground and a gymnasium, the center offers ample amenities for sports and leisure activities. Many locals also seek a bit of adventure on their outings, which makes the hectares of protected wilderness surrounding Swartz an asset. The Wham Boat Launch allows anglers with small craft to put into the creeks and bayous of Russell Sage Wildlife Management Area, popular for its seclusion. If seeking a more controlled outdoor adventure, the Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge is popular for kayak sightseeing and bird watching.
Swartz-Lakeshore Recreation Center has a full court indoor basketball.
Russell Sage Wildlife Management Area is subject to winter and spring flooding annually.
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Fully car-dependent, with short commutes to ULM
Given its distance from Monroe, Swartz is a car-dependent area. Monroe Transit's bus routes only extend as far as Desiard Plaza, roughly 5 miles from the center of Swartz. Traffic slowdowns are better on Swartz's major roads than on major routes in Monroe, although rush hour slowdowns are not uncommon along LA-139. However, proximity to ULM, in tandem with multiple routes onto campus, does lend University employees some options to avoid traffic.
Wash-N-Store Swartz is a self car wash and min storage facility along Highway LA-139 in Swartz.
Residents enjoy the quiet, rural surroundings of Swartz.
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New Orleans delicacies from Johnny's Pizza House
The few businesses that exist in Swartz are mostly along LA-139. The regional chain Johnny's Pizza House offers a location in Swartz, making it the only place around to try a muffaletta – a heaping sandwich of Italian meats, provolone and olive oil created by immigrants in 20th century New Orleans. Aside from that, residents travel toward Monroe for all other errands and activities. LA-139 takes drivers straight into Lakeshore, where they swing into Ray's PEGE for some no-frills diner food in a longstanding, cozy atmosphere. Chain restaurants like Domino's Pizza also dot the sides of LA-139. Locals shop at Brookshire's in Desiard Plaza or the Mac's Fresh Market, which is even closer to Swartz for groceries.
Johnny's Pizza House is a chain of restaurants worthy of its' reputation around Swartz.
Ray's Pege is a landmark sandwich shop featuring po'boys & homemade ice cream in Swartz.
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Movie nights and story times at the Louise Williams Branch Library
Even though residents are spread out across the sprawling landscape of Swartz, there are several places where they come together. The Swartz-Lakeshore Recreation Center is arguably the most important because it hosts frequent baseball games – a popular local pastime. But the center also hosts many other events and classes, including tennis lessons, martial arts, and photography classes. The Louise Williams Branch Library hosts frequent events for children, such as movie nights and story times, and enrichment programs for their parents and older siblings, such as computer classes and book clubs. Religious institutions – especially Baptist churches – are important to Swartz's community fabric, such as group retreats and day trips through the Swartz First Baptist Church.
Louise Williams Branch Library is one the larger public libraries in the Swartz area.
Swartz-Lakeshore Recreation Center is a great place for Swartz locals to run and play.
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Top-tier options in Ouachita Parish Schools
Students in Swartz attend highly-rated schools, most of which are in Swartz. "It was a top-tier school district when I was there," Lilly says. Students begin school at the lower campus of Swartz Elementary, which is rated A-minus and serves grades K through 2. For 3rd through 5th grade, students age up to the upper campus of Swartz Elementary, which has a Niche score of B. Seventh and eighth graders attend school at East Ouachita Middle School, which is rated B and is growing with renovations completed in 2017 and a new football stadium built in 2021. For grades 9 through 12, students finish their education at Ouachita Parish High, a B-minus-rated school roughly 3 miles south of Swartz.
Swartz Lower Elementary School has earned an A- grade on Niche.com.
Students are the highest priority at Ouachita Parish High School.
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Things to consider
Creeks, drainage trenches and bayous sneak through Swartz's landscape, most of which feed into Bayou Desiard. As a result, some residential spots are in special hazard areas, especially those along Caney Creek and its tributaries. Prospective buyers should consider purchasing flood insurance in these areas.
GreatSchools:
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On average, homes in Swartz, Monroe sell after 68 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Swartz, Monroe over the last 12 months is $199,950, consistent with the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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