Located in the center of the county, it borders the following townships: Part of the city of Mount Vernon, the county seat of Knox County, is located in southwestern Monroe Township.
[4] It is named for James Monroe, fifth President of the United States.
[6] By the 1830s, Monroe Township had a number of productive mills built along Schenck Creek.
[7] The township is governed by a three-member board of trustees, who are elected in November of odd-numbered years to a four-year term beginning on the following January 1.
There is also an elected township fiscal officer,[8] who serves a four-year term beginning on April 1 of the year after the election, which is held in November of the year before the presidential election.