Vernon County, Missouri
Vernon County, Missouri | |
---|---|
Location in the state of Missouri | |
Missouri's location in the U.S. | |
Founded | February 27, 1855 |
Named for | Colonel Miles Vernon, state senator, and veteran of the Battle of New Orleans |
Seat | Nevada |
Largest city | Nevada |
Area | |
• Total | 837.04 sq mi (2,168 km2) |
• Land | 833.95 sq mi (2,160 km2) |
• Water | 3.09 sq mi (8 km2), 0.37% |
Population | |
• (2010) | 21,159 |
• Density | 24/sq mi (9/km²) |
Time zone | Central: UTC-6/-5 |
Vernon County is a county located in west central Missouri. As of the 2010 census, the population was 21,159.[1] Its county seat is Nevada.[2] The county was organized on February 27, 1855 and was named for Col. Miles Vernon (1786–1867), a state senator and veteran of the Battle of New Orleans.
History
Vernon County suffered considerable damage during the American Civil War. The courthouse was burned by Union Army soldiers on May 23, 1863, along with the entire town of Nevada. The present courthouse dates to 1908.[3] Vernon County was one of four Missouri counties that were completely depopulated by Union General Thomas Ewing's notorious General Order No. 11 (1863). Most of the inhabitants would not be allowed to return to their homes until after the Civil War ended in May 1865.
Geography
According to the 2000 U.S. Census, the county has a total area of 837.04 square miles (2,167.9 km2), of which 833.95 square miles (2,159.9 km2) (or 99.63%) is land and 3.09 square miles (8.0 km2) (or 0.37%) is water.[4]
Adjacent counties
- Bates County (north)
- St. Clair County (northeast)
- Cedar County (east)
- Barton County (south)
- Crawford County, Kansas (southwest)
- Bourbon County, Kansas (west)
- Linn County, Kansas (northwest)
Major highways
- Interstate 49
- U.S. Route 54
- U.S. Route 71
- Route 43
Demographics
Historical population | |||
---|---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± | |
1860 | 4,850 | ||
1870 | 11,247 | 131.9% | |
1880 | 19,369 | 72.2% | |
1890 | 31,505 | 62.7% | |
1900 | 31,619 | 0.4% | |
1910 | 28,827 | −8.8% | |
1920 | 26,069 | −9.6% | |
1930 | 25,031 | −4.0% | |
1940 | 25,586 | 2.2% | |
1950 | 22,685 | −11.3% | |
1960 | 20,540 | −9.5% | |
1970 | 19,065 | −7.2% | |
1980 | 19,806 | 3.9% | |
1990 | 19,041 | −3.9% | |
2000 | 20,454 | 7.4% | |
2010 | 21,159 | 3.4% | |
Est. 2012 | 20,748 | −1.9% | |
2012 Estimate[1] |
As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 20,454 people, 7,966 households, and 5,432 families residing in the county. The population density was 24 people per square mile (9/km²). There were 8,872 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.99% White, 0.61% Black or African American, 0.79% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. Approximately 0.84% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 7,966 households out of which 32.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.30% were married couples living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.80% were non-families. 28.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the county the population was spread out with 26.60% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 25.40% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 16.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 93.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,021, and the median income for a family was $37,714. Males had a median income of $28,182 versus $19,026 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,047. About 10.10% of families and 14.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.30% of those under age 18 and 13.30% of those age 65 or over.
Cities and towns
Education
Public Schools
- Bronaugh R-VII School District – Bronaugh
- Bronaugh Elementary School (PK-06)
- Bronaugh High School (07-12)
- Nevada R-V School District – Nevada
- Bryan Elementary School (PK-01)
- Benton Elementary School (02)
- Truman Elementary School (03-05)
- Nevada Middle School (06-08)
- Nevada High School (09-12)
- Northeast Vernon County R-I School District – Walker
- Northeast Vernon County Elementary School (PK-06)
- Northeast Vernon County High School (07-12)
- Sheldon R-VIII School District – Sheldon
- Sheldon Elementary School (PK-06)
- Sheldon High School (07-12)
Private Schools
- Nevada Seventh-Day Adventist Christian School – Nevada (02-07) – Seventh-day Adventist
- St. Mary Elementary School – Nevada (PK-05) – Roman Catholic
Post Secondary
- Cottey College – Nevada A private, two-year community college for women.
Politics
Local
The Democratic Party predominantly controls politics at the local level in Vernon County. Democrats hold all but three of the elected positions in the county.
Vernon County, Missouri | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Elected countywide officials | ||||
Assessor | Cherie K. Roberts | Democratic | ||
Circuit Clerk | Vickie Erwin | Democratic | ||
County Clerk | Tammi S. Beach | Democratic | ||
Collector | Phil Couch | Democratic | ||
Commissioner (Presiding) |
Bonnie M. McCord | Democratic | ||
Commissioner (District 1) |
Neal F. Gerster | Democratic | ||
Commissioner (District 2) |
Kennon R. Shaw | Republican | ||
Coroner | David L. Ferry | Democratic | ||
Prosecuting Attorney | Lynn M. Ewing III | Democratic | ||
Public Administrator | Tammy Bond | Democratic | ||
Recorder | Doug Shupe | Republican | ||
Sheriff | Ron Peckman | Democratic | ||
Surveyor | Jerry Wood | Republican | ||
Treasurer | Phil Couch | Democratic | ||
State
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third Parties |
---|---|---|---|
2008 | 46.54% 4,095 | 51.05% 4,491 | 2.41% 212 |
2004 | 66.76% 5,989 | 31.97% 2,868 | 1.27% 114 |
2000 | 52.49% 4,370 | 45.20% 3,763 | 2.30% 192 |
1996 | 39.90% 3,039 | 57.27% 4,362 | 2.84% 216 |
All of Vernon County is a part of Missouri’s 125th District in the Missouri House of Representatives and is represented by Barney Joe Fisher (R-Richards).
Missouri House of Representatives – District 125 - Vernon County (2010) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Republican | Barney Joe Fisher | 5,852 | 100.00 | ||
All of Vernon County is a part of Missouri’s 31st District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by David Pearce (R-Warrensburg).
Missouri Senate - District 31 - Cedar County (2010) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Republican | David Pearce | 4,693 | 55.06 | ||
Democratic | Chris Benjamin | 3,831 | 44.94 | ||
Federal
All of Vernon County is included in Missouri’s 4th Congressional District and is currently represented by Vicky Hartzler (R-Harrisonville) in the U.S. House of Representatives.
U.S. House of Representatives – Missouri’s 4th Congressional District - Vernon County (2010) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Republican | Vicky Hartzler | 3,491 | 52.89 | ||
Democratic | Ike Skelton* | 2,887 | 43.74 | ||
Libertarian | Jason Michael Braun | 135 | 2.05 | ||
Constitution | Greg Cowan | 88 | 1.33 | ||
Political Culture
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third Parties |
---|---|---|---|
2008 | 60.08% 5,334 | 38.08% 3,381 | 1.84% 163 |
2004 | 63.75% 5,732 | 35.65% 3,206 | 0.60% 54 |
2000 | 59.29% 4,985 | 37.54% 3,156 | 3.18% 267 |
1996 | 40.70% 3,123 | 43.82 3,363 | 15.48% 1,188 |
Missouri Presidential Preference Primary (2008)
- Former U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-New York) received more votes, a total of 1,434, than any candidate from either party in Vernon County during the 2008 presidential primary.
Vernon County, Missouri | ||
---|---|---|
2008 Republican primary in Missouri | ||
John McCain | 705 (32.64%) | |
Mike Huckabee | 920 (42.59%) | |
Mitt Romney | 408 (18.89%) | |
Ron Paul | 74 (3.43%) |
Vernon County, Missouri | ||
---|---|---|
2008 Democratic primary in Missouri | ||
Hillary Rodham Clinton | 1,434 (61.55%) | |
Barack Obama | 732 (31.42%) | |
John Edwards (withdrawn) | 124 (5.32%) | |
Notable residents
The Texas political figure Orville Bullington was born in Indian Springs in Vernon County before his family moved to Parker County, Texas.
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
- ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
- ↑ http://www.vernoncountymo.org/Directory/About/History.htm
- ↑ "Census 2010 Gazetteer Files". Retrieved July 2, 2013.
- ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
- ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
External links
- Digitized 1930 Plat Book of Vernon County from University of Missouri Division of Special Collections, Archives, and Rare Books
Linn County, Kansas | Bates County | St. Clair County | ||
Bourbon County, Kansas | Cedar County | |||
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Crawford County, Kansas | Barton County |
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Coordinates: 37°51′N 94°20′W / 37.85°N 94.34°W