Monroe County, Kentucky
Monroe County is located along the Tennessee border, where the hills roll like waves. Tompkinsville serves as the county seat and sits near the center of the county.
Agriculture takes center stage here. Tompkinsville is also home to the annual Watermelon Festival. It turns out they take their fruit pretty seriously.
And don’t miss the Monroe County Fair. It features everything from tractor pulls to fun runs. Just don’t challenge a local to a watermelon seed-spitting contest. They’ve been practicing all year.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| County Name | Monroe County |
| County Seat | Tompkinsville |
| Etymology | Named after James Monroe, the fifth President of the United States |
| Cities, Towns, and Communities | Tompkinsville, Fountain Run, Gamaliel, Mount Hermon |
| Interstates and Highways | KY-100, KY-63, KY-678 |
| FIPS Code | 21-171 |
| Total Area (Land and Water) | 332 sq mi (Land: 329 sq mi; Water: 3 sq mi) |
| Adjacent Counties (and Direction) | Barren County (Northwest), Metcalfe County (Northeast), Cumberland County (East), Clay County, Tennessee (Southeast), Macon County, Tennessee (Southwest), Allen County (West) |
| Time Zone | Central Time Zone (CT) |
| Population | Approximately 11,000 |
| State | Kentucky |
| Coordinates | 36.7019° N, 85.6914° W |
| Major Landmarks | Old Mulkey Meetinghouse State Historic Site, Monroe County Courthouse, Dale Hollow Lake |
