East Monroe
The State of East Monroe | |
|---|---|
 Flag | |
| Motto: "The Mountaineer State" | |
 Ibica with East Monroe Highlighted | |
| Capital | Charlotte |
| Official languages | English |
| Demonym(s) | East Monrone |
| Government | |
• Governor | John Edwards |
| Legislature | Congress |
| Senate | |
| House of Representatives | |
| Establishment | |
• Joined Ibica Confederation | April 23, 1549 |
• Federation | January 1, 1701 |
| Area | |
• Total | 283,646 km2 (109,516 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• 2019 estimate | 4,595,857 |
| GDP (PPP) | 2015 estimate |
• Total | $31,332 |
| GDP (nominal) | estimate |
• Total | $144,000,000,000 |
East Monroe is a state located in the southeastern region of Ibica. East Monroe is the smallest and 7th-most populous of the Ibican states. East Monroe is bordered to the north by Albion and Petra, to the east by Ochoa, to the southeast by Angola, to the south by the Bosporus Ocean, and to the west by West Monroe. Charlotte is both the state's capital and largest city. Greater Madison, with an estimated population of 580,166 in 2018, is the most populous metropolitan area in East Monroe. East Monroe is almost entirely within the Madison River Valley, and generally consists of lowland plains and low hills, bounded to the east by the Georgia Range.
Politics
As with all other states and the federal government, East Monroe's government is based on the separation of legislative, executive and judicial power. Executive authority in the state rests with the Governor, currently John Edwards. The lieutenant governor, currently Valentine Bartram, is elected on a separate ballot. Both the governor and lieutenant governor are elected to four-year terms of office.
Education
East Monroe has 1,064 state-funded kindergartens, elementary, junior- and senior high schools.
The state supports a network of public universities and colleges, the East Monroe State University System. The East Monroe State University, flagship campus of the East Monroe State University System in Madison was ranked #23 among public schools in the nation.
In the 1920s the state required all children to attend public schools. The school year was set at 131 days, although some areas were unable to meet that requirement.
Although unusual in the West, school corporal punishment is not uncommon in East Monroe, with 20,083 public school students paddled at least one time, according to government data for the 2011–2012 school year.
Economy
East Monroe's rank as one of the poorest states is related to its dependence on mining and resource extraction, late development of its frontier bottomlands in the Madison Delta, repeated natural disasters of flooding in the late 19th and early 20th century that required massive capital investment in levees, and ditching and draining the bottomlands, and slow development of railroads to link bottomland towns and river cities.
Entertainment and Tourism
The legislature's 1980 decision to legalize casino gambling along the Madison River and the Bosphorus Coast has led to increased revenues and economic gains for the state. Gambling towns in East Monroe have attracted increased tourism. In 2012, East Monroe had the second largest gambling revenue of any state, with $2.25 billion.
Transportation
Air
East Monroe has three airports with commercial passenger service, the busiest in Charlotte (Charlotte Garner International Airport) and others in Carsonville (Carsonville International Airport), and Madison (Madison Regional Airport)
Roads
East Monroe is served by four interstate highways:
and four main Ibica Routes:
as well as a system of State Highways.
Rail
Passenger
San Marcos, Charlotte, & Northern Railroad provides scheduled passenger service along the Ibica View Line. The line begins in Charlotte, and has a stop in Essex.
The Southern Ibica Railroad's Capital Express line stops in Carsonville.
Freight
All three of Ibica's Class I railroads serve the state.