Outdoor Advertising Billboards for Rent in Monroe County, Illinois

Monroe County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. Monroe County is part of the St. Louis Metro Area. As of 2000, the population was 27,619 (estimated at 31,876 in 2006). Its county seat is Waterloo, Illinois. Its largest city is Columbia, Illinois.

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1900	13,847		—
1910	13,508		−2.4%
1920	12,839		−5.0%
1930	12,369		−3.7%
1940	12,754		3.1%
1950	13,282		4.1%
1960	15,507		16.8%
1970	18,831		21.4%
1980	20,117		6.8%
1990	22,422		11.5%
2000	27,619		23.2%
Est. 2006	31,876		15.4%
IL Counties 1900-1990

As of the census of 2000, there were 27,619 people, 10,275 households, and 7,778 families residing in the county. The population density was 71 people per square mile (27/km²). There were 10,749 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile (11/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.77% White, 0.05% Black or African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.18% from other races, and 0.50% from two or more races. 0.74% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 57.1% were of German, 8.5% Irish, 7.4% American and 5.8% English ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 10,275 households out of which 37.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.30% were married couples living together, 7.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.30% were non-families. 21.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.40% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 30.60% from 25 to 44, 22.20% from 45 to 64, and 13.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 96.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $55,320, and the median income for a family was $62,397. Males had a median income of $41,243 versus $27,130 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,954. About 2.30% of families and 3.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.80% of those under age 18 and 7.30% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Highways

• Interstate 255 From Jefferson Barracks Bridge and Missouri east to Route 3 north of Columbia, then north toward Dupo

Provides access to the Interstate System, South Saint Louis County via the J.B. bridge as well as Downtown St. Louis and western St. Clair County

• Illinois Route 3 From Interstate 255 and Dupo south southeast through Columbia and Waterloo on turning west toward Red Bud

Main north-south corridor and the backbone of Monroe County, it is the only major north-south route in Illinois not upgraded to Interstate standard

• Illinois Route 156 From western terminus at Valmeyer east through Waterloo to Hecker and on toward New Athens

Also called the Valmeyer highway or Hecker highway, west and east of Waterloo, respectively, it runs from the bluffs of the Mississippi to the Kaskaskia

• Illinois Route 158 From western terminus south of Columbia at Route 3, east northeast toward Millstadt

The area's main link with central and eastern St. Clair County for those not near Hecker

• Illinois Route 159 From southern terminus in Red Bud at Route 3, north through Prairie du Long to Hecker and on toward Smithton

Significant eastern north-south corridor, provides alternate routes, and primary north-south link for Prairie Du Long and Hecker

County roads

• Bluff Road

runs along the bluffs from Palmer Rd. northwest of Columbia, through old Valmeyer and Chalfin Bridge, past Fults to Prairie du Rocher in Randolph County

• Maeystown Road

runs from Illinois Route 3 in Waterloo (as Lakeview Drive) through Wartburg and Maeystown to Bluff Rd. at Chalfin Bridge

• Kaskaskia Road

historic route from Kaskaskia to St. Louis, leaves Illinois Route 3 south of Waterloo, passes through Burksville and St. Joe, descends into the Bottoms outside Renault, crosses Bluff Rd. and railroad tracks to Stringtown Rd.

• Hanover Road

Runs from Route 3 west, past New Hanover down the Fountain Gap to Bluff Rd. at Miles Rd. and B Rd.. Marks approximate future border between Columbia nad Waterloo

• HH Road

Runs from Gilmore Lakes Rd., north of Floraville Rd., west across Route 3 in Waterloo (as Country Club Ln.) to Bluff Rd. east of Fountain

• KK Road

Runs from the Mississippi River levee opposite Crystal City, Missouri, west across Bluff Rd. up the bluffs at Monroe City, through Madonnaville, across Maeystown Rd., through Burksville and Burksville Station, across Route 3 to J Rd. south of Route 156

Public Transportation

There is a regular express bus, 502X Waterloo-Columbia, running from Waterloo, through Columbia, to the MetroLink station in East St. Louis.

Rivers

• Mississippi River

Bridges and ferries

Jefferson Barracks Bridge - crosses the Mississippi northwest of Columbia, carries Interstate 255

Access

none

• Kaskaskia River

Bridges and ferries

none

Access

none

The closest access to and bridges over the Kaskaskia are downriver at Baldwin in Randolph County and upriver at New Athens in St. Clair County. South of Monroe County, there is a ferry across the Mississippi in Randolph County, providing access to Ste. Genevieve, Missouri and Pere Marquette State Park, and a bridge at Chester.

Rail

While the railroad played a large part in the history and development of the county, the main line through the county, running along Illinois Route 3, has been abandoned and removed. However, Union Pacific tracks run though the Bottoms from the intermodal yard at Dupo in St. Clair County, running roughly parallel to Bluff Rd. which crosses them several times, through old Valmeyer and Fults on past Prairie du Rocher in Randolph County. The tracks are still in use, but carry only freight, and have no stops in Monroe County.

Aviation

There is a small airfield in the Bottoms west of Columbia called Sackman Field.