Monroe County, Georgia


Monroe County is a county located in the central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 27,957. The county seat is Forsyth. The county was created on May 15, 1821. The county was named for James Monroe. Monroe County is included in the Macon, GA metropolitan statistical area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water. Located on the fall line, the county falls in between the Piedmont and the Atlantic coastal plain. The vast majority of Monroe County is located in the Upper Ocmulgee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin, with just a tiny southwestern corner of the county, west of a line between Yatesville and Culloden, located in the Upper Flint River sub-basin of the ACF River Basin.

Major highways

Cities

  • Culloden
  • Forsyth

    Census-designated places

  • Bolingbroke
  • Juliette
  • Smarr

    Unincorporated communities

  • Berner
  • Blount
  • Brent
  • High Falls
  • Russellville
  • Strouds

    Demographics

Race / EthnicityPop 2000Pop 2010% 2000% 2010
White alone 15,15019,10119,95469.63%72.29%71.37%
Black or African American alone 6,0156,2496,08427.65%23.65%21.76%
Native American or Alaska Native alone 6764340.31%0.24%0.12%
Asian alone 742092390.34%0.79%0.85%
Pacific Islander alone 6400.03%0.02%0.00%
Other race alone 614860.03%0.05%0.31%
Mixed race or Multiracial 1582488460.73%0.94%3.03%
Hispanic or Latino 2815357141.29%2.02%2.55%
Total21,75726,42427,957100.00%100.00%100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 27,957 people, 10,257 households, and 6,179 families residing in the county. The median age was 43.2 years, 21.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 100.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.7 males age 18 and over. 18.2% of residents lived in urban areas, while 81.8% lived in rural areas.
The racial makeup of the county was 72.0% White, 21.9% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.1% from some other race, and 4.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.6% of the population.
Of the 10,257 households, 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 25.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 22.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 11,085 housing units, of which 7.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 79.2% were owner-occupied and 20.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.5%.

Politics

As of the 2020s, Monroe County is a strongly Republican voting county, voting 73% for Donald Trump in 2024. For elections to the United States House of Representatives, Monroe County is part of Georgia's 8th congressional district, currently represented by Austin Scott. For elections to the Georgia State Senate, Monroe County is part of District 18. For elections to the Georgia House of Representatives, Monroe County is part of districts 118, 144 and 145.

Education

All parts of the county are in the Monroe County School District.