Monroe is one of the largest cities in the steadily growing Union County, with plenty of amenities balanced by a small-town atmosphere. The city’s motto is even “Where Heartland Meets High Tech.” Monroe has been the county seat since the town was established in 1844. Over 37,000 people live here, according to the 2023 U.S. Census, though expanding housing and friendly home prices compared to nearby Charlotte will likely soon lead to a higher population count. “People like the affordability aspect,” says Bradley Lucore, communication supervisor for the City of Monroe. “We’re about 45 minutes from Charlotte, and you pay astronomical prices for subdivisions around Charlotte. You come here, and we still have affordable prices. All of our city-owned streets are free, except for one, and people love the free downtown parking. It’s got a small-town feel, but we have the resources of a big city.”
The National Register of Historic Places recognizes the downtown area as the “Monroe Downtown Historic District” due to its late Victorian and Classical Revival storefronts, many of which date to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The housing market is also a mix of old and new, with historic homes closer to downtown and modern subdivisions still growing on the city’s outskirts.
Monroe has a blend of locally owned and national businesses to work for, but Charlotte is also 25 miles east via Highway 74. Union County built the Monroe Bypass, which opened in 2018, so Monroe residents could reach Uptown Charlotte and its financial employers more quickly.
Manufacturing is a big part of the local economy and job market in Monroe.
Travel is easy from Monroe to Charlotte using US-74 & the Monroe Expressway.
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New homes and a growing population
What was once a farming community has transformed into a bustling center, and new waves of homebuilding have accompanied this growth. “We’re booming here,” Lucore. “There are quite a few residential developments that have been approved, and a few are starting to put houses up for sale. I think with all this growth and all these homes on the market, we’re going to go past the 40,000 mark on the next census.”
Monroe has a roughly $413,000 median price, than the national median. Most move-in ready homes start in the $200,000s, like the ranch-style properties and bungalows, while historic homes built before 1920 make up the higher end of the price range, in the mid $500,000s or higher. Multiple neighborhoods, like Braemar Village, are still under development, and the New Traditional Craftsmans in these growing neighborhoods often have at least three bedrooms and sell in the $375,000 to $425,000 range.
The weather stays steady throughout Monroe. Summers get hot and humid, but winters are usually mild with little to no snowfall. Hurricanes that hit the East Coast often downgrade to tropical storms by the time they reach Monroe, which has led to flooded roads in the past.
Monroe is a rapidly growing area just southeast of Charlotte.
New home developments are sprouting all around Monroe.
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Manufacturing jobs and a revitalization plan
Monroe has long been a regional hub in Union County, originating as a tobacco trading center during the 19th century. Times have changed, and the leading industry has shifted to manufacturing. ‘We’ve got a lot of manufacturing here, and it’s high-tech manufacturing,” says Lucore. “We have the largest cluster of aerospace manufacturing in the southeast region. ATI makes parts for planes, and there are a couple of other companies, too.” There’s also a Tyson Foods processing plant right off U.S. Route 74.
The downtown scene continues to grow, with new businesses opening and a revitalization plan to attract even more businesses. The city offers incentives to encourage business owners to be interested in the area, including grants.
ATI is another large group that has chosen Monroe as their regional campus location.
Monroe is surrounded by numerous large manufacturing and distribution centers.
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Shopping along U.S. Route 74 and downtown
Residents from nearby Indian Trail, Wingate and Marshville often travel the short distance to Monroe for shopping and dining. Monroe Crossing Mall is nearby, but areas like the Poplin Place Shopping Center are often much busier. Most of the locally owned restaurants, breweries, shops and small businesses are downtown, while chain stores line Route 74.
High Octane Coffee on Lancaster Avenue specializes in Colombian coffee, breakfast sandwiches and waffle-bar options. East Frank Superette & Kitchen serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and it gets busy during themed events like Latin Dance Night. Downtown Monroe became a social district in 2021, allowing patrons to leave licensed businesses with alcohol and consume it openly within the district's boundaries. This led to the city’s first St. Patrick’s Day bar crawl in 2022, and now bar crawls happen year-round.
Monroe offers locals plenty of shopping and dining options just minutes from Charlotte.
Downtown Monroe has a wonderful downtown for shopping and dining.
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Union County Schools and a nearby community college
The Union County Public Schools district serves all of Monroe, and it’s one of the major draws to the area. Schools in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District are known to be large and packed full of students, but Union County schools have smaller class sizes and consistently high ratings. The district earns an A from Niche, and A-plus-rated Central Academy of Technology & Arts is one of the most popular high schools.
South Piedmont Community College’s campus is off Old Charlotte Highway, close to the Charlotte-Monroe Executive Airport. The private Wingate University is 8 miles south of downtown Monroe. Both institutions create jobs for Monroe, and students can commute to classes. SPCC gets a B-minus, and Wingate receives a C.
Union County Public Schools serves students of Monroe and the surrounding areas.
Central Academy of Technology and Arts offers great academics and extracurriculars.
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Highways, airports and houses of worship
Route 74 cuts through the center of Monroe, leading 27 miles to Charlotte, though most commuters pay a toll to use the much quicker Monroe Bypass to avoid morning and evening traffic on 74. U.S. Route 601 branches off Route 74 and flows south into Pageland, South Carolina. The city makes up for not having public buses with an on-demand service called “U Can Go!” Passengers book a ride 48 hours in advance and pay $2 for trips within Union County. Most downtown parking is free, making it easy to park and walk to a restaurant or store. The Charlotte-Monroe Executive Airport handles private flights, but anyone who needs to fly out of state or internationally drives roughly 40 miles to the Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Atrium Health Union offers emergency, in-patient and out-patient services at the hospital’s campus, also off Route 74 in the city's eastern half.
Around 77% of North Carolina residents identify as Christians, according to the Pew Research Center. Many attend Baptist churches, and Monroe follows a similar trend, as most of the churches in town are in the Baptist denomination.
Gathering for the Warbirds Over Monroe Air Show
Downtown Monroe features three compact parks, and The Monroe Aquatics and Fitness Center offers monthly memberships to access the indoor pool and gym equipment. The 9-hole Monroe Country Club golf course was designed in 1936 by Donald Ross, a notable golf course architect. The club has public and member tee-time options. The Monroe Science Center recently opened downtown, creating an entertaining learning space with over 30 exhibits. The Dowd Center Theatre hosts movie screenings and plays. Across the street, the Presson Gallery, which opened in 2023, curates displays from local and international artists.
The Parks and Recreation Department puts on events throughout the year, the most popular being the annual Car Cruise-In and Music on Main. Residents of the more rural areas in Wingate and Marshville also visit the downtown area for Fourth of July fireworks and Halloween trick-or-treating. The Charlotte-Monroe Executive Airport helps organize the annual Veteran’s Day weekend Warbirds Over Monroe Air Show, during which planes fly overhead while vendors and nonprofit groups interact with attendants.
The Warbirds Over Monroe is a great event for the whole family.
Military pilots answer any questions about their aircraft at the Warbirds Over Monroe.
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MPD serves the city
Monroe is served by the Monroe Police Department and the Union County Sheriff’s Office. In 2023, there were 1,121 reported violent crimes and 1,327 nonviolent crimes. Compared to 2022 reports, violent crimes increased by more than 15% while nonviolent crimes declined by over 5%. Police officers work to improve their relationship with residents through community watch programs and the Police Athletic League.
Written By
Rylee Doyle
Photography Contributed By
Justin Stapp
Video By
Joshua Kassabian
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Reach out to
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