West Monroe, Louisiana

, L ocated in Ouachita Parish, West Monroe is a small city in the hub of northeast Louisiana. Not to be confused with Monroe, the neighbouring community on the opposite side of the Ouachita River… the two are often referred to as Louisiana’s twin cities. Originally known as Cotton Port, the town of West Monroe was born in 1854 when a Virginian doctor, Christopher Dabbs, purchased the land. The arrival of a railroad and construction of a bridge over the river created a perfect environment for the community to thrive. In 1880 Railroad officials used the name West Monroe for a depot in the area, which became the official name of the city. West Monroe’s 12,800 residents enjoy an enviable quality of life. As Mayor Staci Albritton Mitchell shares, “We have a small-town feel, but we have a lot of amenities of a city much bigger than us. We have a large faith-based community. It is a beautiful place to live, work and raise kids.” There are multiple employment opportunities on both sides of the river that benefit all of AT A GLANCE WEST MONROE, LOUISIANA WHAT: A small, historic city; population 12,800 WHERE: Ouachita Parish, northeast LA WEBSITE: www.cityofwestmonroe.com SO MUCH TO LOVE