Monroe (Connecticut)
Monroe is a town of 20,000 people (2017) in Fairfield County. Monroe is largely considered a bedroom community of New York City, New Haven, and Bridgeport.
Understand
The community is named after James Monroe, fifth President of the United States.
Get in
By car
- Connecticut Route 25, Main Street, starts in Brookfield/Danbury and runs to Bridgeport. From Brookfield through Monroe, it is a 2-lane road, and just over the Monroe-Trumbull border within Trumbull, it becomes a 6-lane freeway which connects to Interstate 95.
- Connecticut Route 34 begins in Newtown and ends in New Haven, where it connects with I-91 and I-95.
- Connecticut Route 59 begins at its intersection with Route 25 in Monroe and travels south through Easton and Fairfield, where it ends in Bridgeport.
- Connecticut Route 110 begins in Monroe at its intersection with Route 111, then travels through Shelton before ending in Stratford.
- Connecticut Route 111, Monroe Turnpike, begins at its intersection with Route 34 in Monroe and runs south to Trumbull, where it terminates just north of Bridgeport at the Merritt Parkway.
By train
- Bridgeport Train Station, 525 Water St, Bridgeport (approx. 12 miles south), ☏ +18008727245. Serviced by Amtrack and Metro-North
By bus
Monroe is serviced only by Route 19X of the Greater Bridgeport Transit System.
By plane
Monroe is approximately 70 miles from two airports.
- Bradley International Airport, Schoephoester Rd, Windsor Locks (via I-84 E), ☏ +18602922000.
- John F. Kennedy International Airport, Queens, NY (via I-95 S), ☏ +1 718-244-4444.
By bicycle
- Pequonnock River Trail, 525 Water Street, Bridgeport, ☏ +1 203-366-5405, info@pequonnockrivertrail.org. A 16-mile multi-use, linear trail that runs from Bridgeport through Trumbull and Monroe along the Pequonnock River Valley
Get around
Monroe Senior Center, 235 Cutlers Farm Road, ☏ +1 203-452-2815, fax: +1 203-452-2965. Services Monroe, Trumbull, Shelton, Stratford and Bridgeport as well as the VA Hospital in West Haven by appointment. $20 annually.
See
Locations owned by the Monroe Historical Society
- East Village Methodist Meeting House, 433 Barn Hill Road, ☏ +1 203-261-1383, society@monroecthistory.org. The oldest Methodist church building in Connecticut
- Barn Hill, East Village Schoolhouse, 311 Wheeler Road, ☏ +1 203-261-1383, society@monroecthistory.org. c.1790, it is the oldest of Monroe’s 7 former one-room schoolhouses.
- The Eliot Beardslee (Beardsley) Homestead, 31 Great Ring Road, ☏ +1 203-261-1383, society@monroecthistory.org. c. 1780, a classic example of an 18th century New England saltbox colonial.
Locations on the National Register of Historic Places
- Daniel Basset House, 1024 Monroe Turnpike.
- Monroe Center Historic District, CT 110 and CT 111.
- Stevenson Dam Hydroelectric Plant, CT 34.
- Thomas Hawley House, 514 Purdy Hill Rd.
Do
- 1 Webb Mountain Park, Old Fish House Road, ☏ +1 203-452-2806, parksandrec@monroect.org. A 135-acre municipal park that offers hiking trails, rock climbing, nature study, and campsites. Camping: $15 per site for one to five people ($25 for non residents) and $20 per site for six to ten people ($35 for non residents).
- 2 Webb Mountain Discovery Zone, 71 Webb Circle, ☏ +1 203 556-9737, info@webbdiscoveryzone.org. 6AM-8PM. A 170-acre park and outdoor learning center with programs for ages 3-5.
- 2 Webb Mountain Discovery Zone, 71 Webb Circle, ☏ +1 203 556-9737, info@webbdiscoveryzone.org. 6AM-8PM. A 170-acre park and outdoor learning center with programs for ages 3-5.
- Whitney Farms Golf Course & Catering, 175 Shelton Rd, ☏ +1 203-268-0707, contact@whitneyfarmgc.com. M-F 7:30AM-5PM, Sa Su 7AM-5PM. $40-80 for 18 holes.
- William E. Wolfe Park. Office hours: M-Th 8:30AM-4:30PM, F 8:30AM-1:30PM. This town park includes a public pool, four baseball fields, a football field, a basketball court, a playground, and a hiking trail that leads to Great Hollow Lake. The park includes a barbecue set up on the grass, and a nearby pavilion. Great Hollow Lake is located in the south-western area of the park.
- Housatonic Railway Trail. An approximately five-mile section of the scenic walking and biking Pequonnock River trail that runs from Great Hollow Lake in Wolfe Park through the Newtown Town line.
Events
- Memorial Day Parade up CT 111, annually
- Monroe Congregational Church’s Strawberry Festival, annually in mid-late June
- Monroe Farmers' Market, Fridays 3–6PM from mid-June through late October
- Monroe Volunteer Fire Department's Carnival, annually in early July
- St. Jude's Italian Festival, annually in late August
Buy
- Benedict's Home & Garden
- Maria & Peter Warren Antiques
- Mustard Seed Thrift Shoppe
- Pondview Farm
Eat
- Bill's Drive-In, 431 Monroe Turnpike, ☏ +1 203-268-8808. 7AM-8PM. A 1940s-era diner and classic car show venue
- Jennie's Pizzeria, 380 Monroe Turnpike, ☏ +1 203-452-2435. Tu-Th Sa 11AM-9PM, F 11AM-9:30PM, Su noon-8PM. Fairfield County's oldest pizzeria
- Lake Zoar Drive-In, 14 Roosevelt Drive Rural, ☏ +1 203-268-8137. M-W 6:30AM-7:30PM, Th-Sa 7:30AM-8:30PM, Su 8:30AM-7:30PM.
- Mr. Mac's Canteen, 838 Main St C, ☏ +1 203-4599595. A family-owned and -operated restaurant and food truck serving chili dogs.
Drink
- Prime 111, 43 Monroe Tpke, ☏ +1 203-220-6615.
Connect
- Edith Wheeler Memorial Library, 733 Monroe Turnpike, ☏ +1 203-452-2850, reference@ewml.org. A public library with a business center, makerspace, and events for all ages.
Cope
Clinics
- DOCS Urgent Care, 427 Main St, ☏ +14752427532. M-F 8AM-6PM.
- Hartford HealthCare Urgent Care, 401 Monroe Turnpike, ☏ +1 203-268-2501.
- Immediate Medical Care Monroe, 388 Main St, ☏ +12034590191. Sa Su 9AM-2PM, M-F 9AM-7PM.
Veterinarians
- Monroe Animal Hospital, 270 Main St, ☏ +12032610544. M-F 8a-5p, Sa 9a-12p.
- Monroe Town and Country Veterinary Hospital, 607 Main St, ☏ +12032688681. M-F 8a-6p, Sa 8a-12p.