Why you'd want to live in Monroe

Monroe is located along the Ouachita River and is the parish seat for Ouachita Parish. It's the primary distribution base for the region's farmers. According to National Geographic, the Ouachita River is one of the most beautiful rivers in the entire world. The region is known as "Sportsman's Paradise," and is the location of the first Coca Cola bottling plant. History Before the Louisiana Purchase was completed, the Monroe area was a prominent trading center. In 1780 the French arrived and created a settlement named Prairie de Canots. Jean Baptiste Filhoil was selected by the Spanish Crown to be in charge of the region and in 1790 Filhoil constructed a prominent fort. Soon, agriculture was thriving and was a primary industry. In 1915 natural gas was discovered in Ouachita Parish and it became a significant factor for the economy. During the 1920's the paper industry was flourishing.