Monroe County, West Virginia | |
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Location in the U.S. state of West Virginia |
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West Virginia's location in the U.S. |
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Founded | January 14, 1799 |
Named for | James Monroe |
Seat | Union |
Largest town | Peterstown |
Area | |
• Total | 474 sq mi (1,228 km2) |
• Land | 473 sq mi (1,225 km2) |
• Water | 0.9 sq mi (2 km2), 0.2% |
Population (est.) | |
• (2015) | 13,506 |
• Density | 29/sq mi (11/km²) |
Congressional district | 3rd |
Time zone | Eastern: UTC-5/-4 |
Website | www |
Monroe County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 13,502. Its county seat is Union. Monroe County was created from Greenbrier County in 1799 and named for James Monroe who eventually became the fifth President of the United States.
Monroe County was the home of Andrew Summers Rowan of Spanish–American War fame, who is immortalized in Elbert Hubbard's classic A Message to Garcia. The county was also the site of the 1928 discovery of the 34.48 carat (6.896 g) Jones Diamond by Grover C. Jones and his son, William "Punch" Jones.
Monroe County celebrates its own holiday, Farmers' Day, and is known for its close community.
Monroe County was formed on January 14, 1799 from portions of Greenbrier County. It was named after James Monroe, a Virginia statesman and senator, and the future fifth President of the United States.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 474 square miles (1,230 km2), of which 473 square miles (1,230 km2) is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km2) (0.2%) is water.
Tributaries of the James River, part of the Chesapeake Bay
Tributaries of the New River