Interesting facts

1. Monroe is officially trademarked as the "Swiss Cheese Capital of the U.S.A." 2. The city hosts "Green County Cheese Days" on the third weekend of September during even-numbered years, a festival that dates back to 1914. 3. The National Historic Cheesemaking Center is located in Monroe, celebrating the era when farmstead cheese factories dotted the local landscape. 4. Monroe is home to Minhas Craft Brewery, the second oldest continuously operating brewery in the United States, which survived Prohibition by making near-beer and soda. 5. The historic Green County Courthouse, situated in the center of Monroe's downtown square, is a stunning example of Romanesque Revival architecture built in 1891. 6. Baumgartner's Cheese Store and Tavern, opened in 1931, is Wisconsin's oldest cheese store and a beloved local institution. 7. Chalet Cheese Cooperative, located just outside of Monroe, is the only remaining cheese factory in the United States that still produces pungent Limburger cheese. 8. At local taverns, a Limburger cheese sandwich is traditionally served with raw red onion and strong mustard on rye bread, usually accompanied by a mint for afterward. 9. Turner Hall of Monroe, established in 1868, is one of the oldest continually running Swiss heritage halls in the nation. 10. Monroe sits near the edge of the "Driftless Area," a topographical region of the Midwest that escaped the flattening effects of the last glacial period. 11. The Cheese Country Trail, which starts in Monroe, provides 47 miles of multi-use trails traversing through the hills of Green, Lafayette, and Iowa counties. 12. The Badger State Trail passes through Monroe and features the 1,200-foot Stewart Tunnel nearby, which requires flashlights to navigate. 13. Agriculture, specifically dairy farming, remains the cornerstone of the local and county economy. 14. Monroe was originally known as "New Mexico" before being renamed in honor of the fifth U.S. President, James Monroe. 15. The city has a deep history of accordion music, polka, and yodeling, which can still be heard live at local heritage events. 16. Emmi Roth, an award-winning international cheese maker, has significant operations and roots in the Monroe area. 17. Twining Park in Monroe has a historic bandshell that frequently hosts free summer concerts for the community. 18. Monroe's downtown square features several distinct, well-preserved late 19th-century commercial buildings. 19. The local high school sports teams are known as the "Cheesemakers," a proud nod to the city's heritage. 20. During Cheese Days, the festival is renowned for serving thousands of deep-fried cheese curds, cooked in giant vats by local volunteers.