[3] The area dates back to 1817 when the first roads were drawn out on a piece of land given by local landowner Joseph Loranger for the establishment of the village for the newly organized Monroe County.

The grid plan, drawn up by Henry Disbrow, was modeled after the system used in New York City, with streets named after numbers.

[4] While much of the growing population began spreading throughout Monroe County, the majority lived within the Old Village where the center of government and industry resided.

[9] Today, the statue is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the George Armstrong Custer Equestrian Monument.

The row buildings along Monroe Street consist of small businesses on the ground level and apartments and offices on the second and third floors.

[2] The outer areas of the Old Village include the city hall, post office, county courthouse and jail, various small businesses, Monroe Middle School, a food-packaging plant, and larger houses.