The Monroe County Herald’s history reaches back to 1859, when local newspapers began documenting life in the young communities of Monroe County. For more than 165 years, those newspapers have recorded the people, decisions and events that shaped this part of western Wisconsin.
The present-day Herald carries forward the traditions of two longstanding publications: the Sparta Herald and the Monroe County Democrat. Generations of local journalists used their pages to cover municipal and county government, schools, agriculture, businesses, sports, community celebrations and the everyday lives of Monroe County residents.
In 2015, Greg and Sue Evans purchased the Sparta Herald and Monroe County Democrat. The two newspapers were combined in mid-2016 to create the Monroe County Herald, bringing their histories together in a publication serving Sparta, Tomah and communities throughout Monroe County.
In 2026, the Herald began another chapter when it became part of Finger Publishing, a Wisconsin newspaper company committed to community journalism.
Although the tools used to report and distribute the news have changed dramatically since 1859, the Herald’s purpose remains much the same: to provide accurate, useful and independent local information; hold public institutions accountable; celebrate the people and accomplishments of our communities; and preserve Monroe County’s story as it unfolds.
The Monroe County Herald is more than a record of the past. It is a continuing conversation among the people who live, work and raise their families here. Through our print editions and digital coverage, we remain committed to telling Monroe County’s stories and giving its communities a trusted place to see themselves reflected.
We are proud of the history entrusted to us—and equally proud to carry that work into the future.