Your Source for Monrovia History

Roughly seven miles southwest of Mooresville is the town of Monrovia, in Monroe Township, Morgan County, Indiana.  Founded in 1834 (ten years after Mooresville), Monrovia was incorporated in 1995 and has a current population of 1,641, as of the 2020 U.S. Census, according to the town's website.

Google Map Showing Monrovia & Mooresville, Indiana

(Click Images to Enlarge)

Monrovia has a long and proud history, and Mooresville Public Library's Indiana Room has some of this information, but if you're really interested in Monrovia history, you should speak with the expert:  Steve Reeder, a history & psychology teacher at Monrovia High School.  Steve knows the history of Monrovia, Monroe Township (and neighboring Gregg Township), and northern Morgan County like the proverbial back of his hand.  His general Morgan County historical knowledge is pretty awesome, too.  When I have a question about Monrovia and vicinity, I contact Steve.  So should you.

Steve Reeder

Monrovia High School

In 2021, Steve received the WISH-TV Channel 8 Golden Apple Award for outstanding teaching, particularly in preserving and promoting history (and, specifically, local history) for and to students and the overall community.

Steve works with students at Monrovia High School to create exemplary local history videos in his Monrovia Moments series, available to watch free on YouTube.  Everyone interested in Monrovia history should definitely subscribe to this channel.  You won't find better local history videos on the Internet.

Besides consulting Steve, those of you with local history questions should also visit the Monrovia History website, as well as the Monrovia Branch of Morgan County Public Library.  For Morgan County history in general, you should visit the Genealogy Department at Morgan County Public Library (main branch in Martinsville), as well as the Morgan County History Center & Museum (also in Martinsville).  Another terrific resource is the Morgan County History & Genealogy Association website.  Of course, Mooresville Public Library's Indiana Room also has many local history materials for the region (and for Indiana overall), so you should surely visit there, too.

Morgan County History Center & Museum

The  Morgan County History Center and Museum collects, preserves, studies, interprets, and exhibits significant materials relating to the history of Morgan County, Indiana, and it provides related educational services for the purpose of increasing and enriching public knowledge of the history of the county.  Morgan County, Indiana has a rich history. Sports legends, the Indiana flag, sanitariums, railroads, furniture factories, certain famous criminals, and fisheries are to name a few historical interests. There are many important artifacts and documents related to the county’s history that need to preserved and archived. Many of these items are in people’s basements and attics and are in danger of being lost as generations move on. 

The museum is located in the historic Blackstone House also known as the Disciple House, 127 South Main Street in Martinsville, Indiana (click here for a map).  The museum provides a positive image of the county and a destination for the public who visit the newly renovated town square. It will also provide opportunities for school and youth groups to visit and learn about their home community. In addition, it will be a resource for research for local historians and the public.

Please visit the Morgan County History Center & Museum website for operating hours and further details.

 (Description courtesy of the Morgan County History Center and Museum mission statement.)

 

 

Eiteljorg Museum Pass Now Available

The Eiteljorg Museum pass is now available to checkout at the library using your Evergreen Indiana card.  Our promo trailer explains.

Eiteljorg Museum Pass Promo Trailer, by Mooresville Public Library

The pass entitles up to four adults (and an unlimited number of youngsters age 17 or under) to:

• Free general admission
• Free parking

We have further details here.