Monroe

We are nearing the city of Monroe. Monroe is an agricultural center for the surrounding area. If you visited Pike Place Market in Seattle and saw fresh flowers for sale there, chances are those flowers were grown here in the Snohomish River valley. We will pass the Evergreen State Fairgrounds. For those of you who live in the Puget Sound area, you have probably been to the fair here in Monroe at least once in your lifetime. As we pass through town watch for a tall concrete smokestack. This smokestack is all the remains of the Carnation Evaporated Milk Company factory that burned down in the 1940s. Rumor has it that it was too expensive to tear down the smokestack so they put a coat of paint on it and it became an icon for the city.

In recent years Monroe has seen considerable growth as a bedroom community for Seattle. These days Seattle home prices are quite high and housing prices here in Monroe are more affordable. Unfortunately, those folks who live here and commute to Seattle add to Seattle’s very congested streets and highways. Monroe, situated in southern Snohomish County, boasts a rich history dating back to Native American settlements. White settlement began in 1860, with Henry McClurg establishing Park Place in 1864. The town's growth surged in the late 1880s due to the arrival of the Great Northern Railroad. Renamed Monroe in 1890, the town flourished with a condensed milk plant and a state reformatory. Rapid expansion ensued in the early 1900s, driven by fertile farmland, timber, and railroad access. Today, with nearly 20,000 residents, Monroe remains a vibrant community, known for its historic downtown, the Evergreen State Fair, and its strategic location as a gateway to the Cascade Mountains. The city embraces diversity and inclusivity, offering a blend of rural living and urban conveniences, along with a commitment to environmental stewardship and community engagement.

1. Events & Programs | Monroe, WA - Official website. (n.d.). https://monroewa.gov/266/Events-Programs
2. Monroe. (n.d.). About Monroe (Monroe Washington). Retrieved from https://www.monroewa.gov/662/About-Monroe