Pop Quiz: What town has the distinction of being both the smallest and westernmost town in Franklin, County. OK, so you guessed it from the title — it's Monroe.

Bordered by Readsboro, Vermont, on the north; Rowe on the east; and Florida on the south and west, Monroe comprises just 10.85 square miles and is home to just 121 residents. Named for President James Monroe, it's an isolated hilltown with rugged uplands and an overall terrain that was fairly discouraging to early settlers. During the 1700s, the area was home to a small native population and occasionally used by hunters or lumberman from nearby Rowe, Charlemont or Heath. As towns around it were expanding due to increasing European immigration, limited resources for farming or water power production slowed Monroe's development. Though the first permanent settlement appears to have been in 1800 and the town was incorporated in 1822, by 1830 Monroe had only 265 people, the smallest population in the Connecticut River Valley.

As late as 1879, the town had no formal churches, organized villages or businesses. This changed, however, in 1887, with the establishment of the James Rampage Paper Company and the construction of the narrow-gauge Hoosac Tunnel & Wilmington Railroad. The Mill's Rampage family built a store, post office and houses for workers and themselves. Both the tunnel and paper company brought increased population to Monroe, especially Austrians, which led to it being referred to as "the Switzerland of America."

Monroe is also known as Monroe Bridge and there's a story behind that. After the completion of the Hoosac Tunnel, crewmen were told to leave the town's mailbags at the Monroe bridge, which spanned the Deerfield River, connecting Monroe with Rowe. When the post office was established in 1888, it became known as the Monroe Bridge Post Office. Monroe Bridge now refers to the center of town.

Today, Monroe lies between the Yankee Atomic plant an Bear Swamp Hydroelectric. Ultimately, the drop in the fortunes of the paper mills depressed industrial activity in town and the residents turned to dairy farming. Over the past few decades, the town has also promoted its recreational potential. The beautifully wild 4,321-acre Monroe State Forest offers opportunities for wilderness camping, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, cross country skiing and walking. Spruce Hill offers one of the most magnificent views in the State. From the parking area at River Road, the Dunbar Brook Trail follows a pristine brook as it tumbles over huge moss-covered boulders forming waterfalls, rapids and pools.

Much of the area encompassing the Monroe State Forest was cleared for agriculture in the 1800s, but while trees and undergrowth have reclaimed these fields and pastures, the cellar holes and stone walls remain, testaments to the rugged individuals who eked out a living from the rocky soil.

Monroe also has access to the Deerfield River, offering a stretch of Class IV whitewater popular with many kayakers.

We encountered Monroe one beautiful October day when the urge struck us to abandon our computers and hit the road. We approached from Route 2 in Florida via Tilda Hill Road, a winding, heavily forested country lane that spans almost the entire width of town. At first, we missed the turn into Monroe Bridge and ended up at the Vermont border. But we finally spotted Kingsley Hill Road and found our way to the tiny center of town.

There we were greeted by a large mutt who had proudly positioned himself smack dab in the intersection, directly in front of Town Hall. Though we didn't see a living soul in town, the dog was obviously guarding the townspeople and their property. By his unwavering dedication to duty, we figured he was the "town dog." Maybe he was even on the town payroll.

When we got out of the car to take a few pictures, the town dog barked his warning, but soon grabbed a ball by the side of the road, inviting us to play. My guess is that there isn't much action in Monroe Bridge and this was his chance. But alas, we had places to go and decided to move on. When we left, he was still standing in the middle of the road, no doubt awaiting the next visitor.

If you're out for a Sunday drive or a walk in the woods, Monroe is an ideal destination. And who knows? You may even meet the town dog.

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