Bates County, Missouri

Bates County
County
Bates County Courthouse in Butler
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
Missouri's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°16′N94°20′W / 38.26°N 94.34°W / 38.26; -94.34
Country	United States
State	Missouri
Founded	January 29, 1841 [1]
Named for	Frederick Bates
Seat	Butler
Largest city	Butler
Area
• Total	851 sq mi (2,200 km2)
• Land	837 sq mi (2,170 km2)
• Water	15 sq mi (40 km2)  1.7%
Population  (2020)
• Total	16,042
• Density	19/sq mi (7.3/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	4th
Website	www.batescounty.net

Bates County is a county located in the west central part of the U.S. state of Missouri, two counties south of the Missouri River and is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, the population was 16,042. ^[2] Its county seat is Butler. ^[3] The county was organized in 1841 and named after Frederick Bates, the second Governor of Missouri. ^[4]

This mostly rural county has an overwhelmingly ethnic European-American population, which has declined in number since the early 20th century as people have moved to cities.

History

The borderlands of Kansas and Missouri were battlegrounds for insurgents during the American Civil War, with raids going back and forth across the border. Bates County is noted as the site for the first combat engagement during the war of African-American soldiers serving with the Union and against Confederate forces, which occurred on October 28–29, 1862. The First Kansas Colored Division (part of the state militia) fought Confederate guerrillas at the Battle of Island Mound four miles north of present-day Rich Hill, Missouri, and the Union forces won.

The Kansas soldiers were badly outnumbered but stood their ground, fighting valiantly. The skirmish was covered by The New York Times , which noted the men's bravery at a time when many people questioned whether former slaves could make good soldiers. ^[5] Their heroic action preceded President Abraham Lincoln's announcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in January 1863 and establishment of the United States Colored Troops.

Following a massacre of men and boys and the burning of Lawrence, Kansas, by Confederate bushwhackers in the summer of 1863, the United States General Ewing ordered the evacuation of the civilian population from rural areas of Bates and nearby counties except for within a mile of certain Union-controlled cities, in order to cut off sources of support for Confederate insurgents. This was done under Order No. 11. The county had been a base of Confederate guerrillas. But, Ewing's order generated outrage and added to support of guerrillas in some areas.

This mostly rural county continued to support agriculture in the decades after the Civil War. Since the early 20th century, population has declined as people have moved to cities for work.

Legacy and honors

• A statue commemorating the Battle of Island Mound was installed on the north lawn of the county courthouse in Butler, seven miles from the skirmish site.
• The skirmish area has been preserved since 2012 as the Battle of Island Mound State Historic Site, and its historic prairie is being restored. ^[6]
• The Battle of Island Mound (2014) is a short documentary film made in cooperation with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources; it won two Emmy Awards in 2015 for historic documentary and cinematography. ^[7]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 851 square miles (2,200 km²), of which 837 square miles (2,170 km²) is land and 15 square miles (39 km²) (1.7%) is water. ^[8]

Adjacent counties

• Cass County (north)
• Henry County (northeast)
• St. Clair County (southeast)
• Vernon County (south)
• Linn County, Kansas (west)
• Miami County, Kansas (northwest)

Major highways

• Interstate 49
• U.S. Route 71
• Route 18
• Route 52

Transit

• Jefferson Lines

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1850	3,669		—
1860	7,215		96.6%
1870	15,960		121.2%
1880	25,381		59.0%
1890	32,223		27.0%
1900	30,141		−6.5%
1910	25,869		−14.2%
1920	23,933		−7.5%
1930	22,068		−7.8%
1940	19,531		−11.5%
1950	17,534		−10.2%
1960	15,905		−9.3%
1970	15,468		−2.7%
1980	15,873		2.6%
1990	15,025		−5.3%
2000	16,653		10.8%
2010	17,049		2.4%
2020	16,042		−5.9%
U.S. Decennial Census [9] 1790-1960 [10] 1900-1990 [11] 1990-2000 [12] 2010-2020 [2]

As of the census ^[13] of 2000, there were 16,653 people, 6,511 households, and 4,557 families residing in the county. The population density was 20 people per square mile (7.7 people/km²). There were 7,247 housing units at an average density of 8 units per square mile (3.1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.33% White, 0.61% Black or African American, 0.59% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.39% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. Approximately 1.07% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,511 households, out of which 32.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.80% were married couples living together, 7.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.00% were non-families. 26.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.50% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 26.00% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 17.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,731, and the median income for a family was $36,470. Males had a median income of $30,298 versus $19,772 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,477. About 11.50% of families and 14.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.30% of those under age 18 and 14.10% of those age 65 or over.

Religion

According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2010), Bates County is regarded as being a part of the Bible Belt, with evangelical Protestantism being the most predominant religion. The most predominant denominations among residents in Bates County who adhere to a religion are Southern Baptists (34.21%), United Methodists (15.78%), and Christian Churches and Churches of Christ (14.48%).

2020 Census

Bates County Racial Composition ^[14]

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (NH)	14,799	92.3%
Black or African American (NH)	155	1%
Native American (NH)	92	0.6%
Asian (NH)	48	0.3%
Pacific Islander (NH)	9	0.06%
Other/Mixed (NH)	604	3.81%
Hispanic or Latino	335	2.1%

Education

Public schools

• Adrian R-III School District – Adrian
  • Adrian Elementary School (PK-05)
  • Adrian High School (06-12)
• Ballard R-II School District – Butler
  • Ballard Elementary School (PK-06)
  • Ballard High School (07-12)
• Butler R-V School District – Butler
  • Butler Elementary School (K-06)
  • Butler High School (07-12)
• Hume R-VIII School District – Hume
  • Hume Elementary School (PK-05)
  • Hume High School (06-12)
• Miami R-I School District – Amoret
  • Miami Elementary School (K-06)
  • Miami High School (07-12)
• Rich Hill R-IV School District – Rich Hill
  • Rich Hill Elementary School (K-05)
  • Rich Hill High School (06-12)

Private schools

• Zion Lutheran School – Rockville (02-09) – Lutheran

Public libraries

• Butler Public Library ^[15]
• Rich Hill Memorial Library ^[16]

Politics

Local

Politics are divided at the local level in Bates County. Republicans hold a majority of the elected positions in the county.

Bates County, Missouri
Elected countywide officials
Assessor	Carl Bettels	Republican
Circuit Clerk	Shelli White	Republican
County Clerk	Jami Page	Republican
Commissioner (Presiding)	Jim Wheatley	Republican
Commissioner (Northern District)	Ken Mooney	Republican
Commissioner (Southern District)	Trent Nelson	Republican
Coroner	Greg Mullinax	Republican
Prosecuting Attorney	Hugh C. Jenkins	Republican
Public Administrator	Brenda Doody	Democratic
Recorder	Danyelle Baker	Republican
Sheriff	Chad Anderson	Republican
Surveyor	W.C. “Bill” Lethcho	Democratic
Treasurer/Collector	Jimmy Platt	Democratic

State

Past Gubernatorial Elections Results

Year	Republican	Democratic	Third Parties
2020	76.70%6,410	21.08% 1,762	2.21% 185
2016	59.64%4,772	37.36% 2,989	3.00% 240
2012	45.46% 3,513	51.40%3,972	3.14% 243
2008	41.75% 3,431	55.43%4,555	2.82% 232
2004	53.22%4,479	45.09% 3,795	1.69% 142
2000	48.88% 3,783	49.02%3,794	2.10% 162
1996	34.70% 2,483	63.33%4,531	1.97% 141
1992	42.06% 3,204	57.94%4,414	0.00% 0

Bates County is split between three legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives, all of which are held by Republicans.

• District 56 — Michael Davis (R-Kansas City). Consists of unincorporated areas in the northwestern quadrant of the county south of Drexel.

Missouri House of Representatives — District 56 — Bates County (2020)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Michael Davis	244	71.98%	−28.02
	Democratic	Neal Barnes	95	28.02%	+28.02

Missouri House of Representatives — District 56 — Bates County (2018)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Jack Bondon	200	100.00%	+25.33

• District 57 — Rodger Reedy (R-Windsor). Consists of unincorporated areas in the northern part of the county south of Archie and Creighton.

Missouri House of Representatives — District 57 — Bates County (2020)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Rodger Reedy	438	100.00%	+29.83

Missouri House of Representatives — District 57 — Bates County (2018)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Rodger Reedy	254	70.17%	−1.80
	Democratic	Joan Shores	108	29.83%	+1.80

• District 126 — Patricia Pike (R-Adrian). Consists of most of the entire county.

Missouri House of Representatives — District 126 — Bates County (2020)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Patricia Pike	5,850	78.42%	+6.72
	Democratic	Jim Hogan	1,610	21.58%	−4.87

Missouri House of Representatives — District 126 — Bates County (2018)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Patricia Pike	4,332	71.70%	−28.30
	Democratic	Jim Hogan	1,598	26.45%	+26.45
	Constitution	Stephen Biles	112	1.85%	+1.85

All of Bates County is a part of Missouri's 31st Senatorial District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Rick Brattin (R-Harrisonville).

Missouri Senate — District 31 — Bates County (2020)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Rick Brattin	6.323	77.76%	+6.74
	Democratic	Raymond Kinney	1,808	22.24%	+22.24

Missouri Senate — District 31 — Bates County (2016)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Ed Emery	5,373	71.02%	+9.57
	Independent	Tim Wells	1,459	19.29%
	Libertarian	Lora Young	733	9.69%	+9.69

Federal

All of Bates County is included in Missouri's 4th Congressional District and as of 2022 was represented by Vicky Hartzler (R-Harrisonville) in the U.S. House of Representatives. Hartzler was elected to a sixth term in 2020 over Democratic challenger Lindsey Simmons.

U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 4th Congressional District — Bates County (2020)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Vicky Hartzler	'6,539	78.88%	+5.43
	Democratic	Lindsey Simmons	1,556	18.77%	−5.11
	Libertarian	Steven K. Koonse	195	2.35%	−0.32

U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri’s 4th Congressional District — Bates County (2018)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Vicky Hartzler	4,893	73.45%	−0.24
	Democratic	Renee Hoagenson	1,591	23.88%	+1.83
	Libertarian	Mark Bliss	178	2.67%	−1.59

Bates County, along with the rest of the state of Missouri, is represented in the U.S. Senate by Josh Hawley (R-Columbia) and Roy Blunt (R-Strafford).

U.S. Senate – Class I – Bates County (2018)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Josh Hawley	4,467	66.82%	+23.37
	Democratic	Claire McCaskill	1,906	28.51%	−19.76
	Independent	Craig O'Dear	183	2.74%
	Libertarian	Japheth Campbell	89	1.33%	−6.95
	Green	Jo Crain	40	0.60%	+0.60

Blunt was elected to a second term in 2016 over then-Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander.

U.S. Senate — Class III — Bates County (2016)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Roy Blunt	4,630	58.06%	+14.61
	Democratic	Jason Kander	2,866	35.94%	−12.33
	Libertarian	Jonathan Dine	259	3.25%	−5.02
	Green	Johnathan McFarland	126	1.58%	+1.58
	Constitution	Fred Ryman	94	1.18%	+1.18

Political culture

United States presidential election results for Bates County, Missouri ^[17]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	6,702	80.17%	1,563	18.70%	95	1.14%
2020	6,597	78.18%	1,672	19.82%	169	2.00%
2016	6,001	74.24%	1,618	20.02%	464	5.74%
2012	5,020	64.60%	2,557	32.90%	194	2.50%
2008	4,833	58.35%	3,271	39.49%	179	2.16%
2004	5,004	59.11%	3,398	40.14%	64	0.76%
2000	4,245	54.48%	3,386	43.45%	161	2.07%
1996	2,904	40.69%	3,224	45.17%	1,009	14.14%
1992	2,499	32.33%	2,993	38.72%	2,238	28.95%
1988	3,574	51.57%	3,332	48.08%	24	0.35%
1984	4,223	59.38%	2,889	40.62%	0	0.00%
1980	4,061	54.00%	3,297	43.84%	163	2.17%
1976	3,350	43.60%	4,288	55.80%	46	0.60%
1972	5,314	63.76%	3,020	36.24%	0	0.00%
1968	4,087	49.49%	3,370	40.81%	801	9.70%
1964	3,514	40.50%	5,162	59.50%	0	0.00%
1960	5,429	58.16%	3,906	41.84%	0	0.00%
1956	5,467	55.97%	4,300	44.03%	0	0.00%
1952	6,002	60.03%	3,995	39.95%	2	0.02%
1948	4,156	48.71%	4,371	51.22%	6	0.07%
1944	5,122	55.46%	4,096	44.35%	18	0.19%
1940	5,727	53.33%	4,978	46.36%	33	0.31%
1936	5,022	46.60%	5,681	52.71%	74	0.69%
1932	3,395	35.02%	6,220	64.16%	79	0.81%
1928	6,133	62.70%	3,594	36.74%	54	0.55%
1924	4,552	47.11%	4,722	48.87%	389	4.03%
1920	5,039	51.91%	4,433	45.66%	236	2.43%
1916	2,597	42.88%	3,255	53.75%	204	3.37%
1912	1,383	22.95%	3,057	50.72%	1,587	26.33%
1908	2,754	44.07%	3,248	51.98%	247	3.95%
1904	2,956	47.11%	2,967	47.28%	352	5.61%
1900	2,731	39.26%	3,591	51.62%	634	9.11%
1896	2,522	32.63%	5,073	65.64%	133	1.72%
1892	1,928	27.65%	3,007	43.12%	2,039	29.24%
1888	2,674	38.07%	3,556	50.63%	794	11.30%

At the presidential level, Bates County has become solidly Republican in recent years. Bates County strongly favored Donald Trump in both 2016 and 2020. Bill Clinton was the last Democratic presidential nominee to carry Bates County in 1996 with a plurality of the vote, and a Democrat hasn't won majority support from the county's voters in a presidential election since Jimmy Carter in 1976.

Like most rural areas throughout Missouri, voters in Bates County generally adhere to socially and culturally conservative principles which tend to influence their Republican leanings, at least on the state and national levels. Despite Bates County's longstanding tradition of supporting socially conservative platforms, voters in the county have a penchant for advancing populist causes. In 2018, Missourians voted on a proposition (Proposition A) concerning right to work, the outcome of which ultimately reversed the right to work legislation passed in the state the previous year. 75.43% of Bates County voters cast their ballots to overturn the law.

Missouri presidential preference primaries

2020

The 2020 presidential primaries for both the Democratic and Republican parties were held in Missouri on March 10. On the Democratic side, former Vice President Joe Biden (D-Delaware) both won statewide and carried Bates County by a wide margin. Biden went on to defeat President Donald Trump in the general election.

Missouri Democratic Presidential Primary – Bates County (2020)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Joe Biden	602	63.77
	Democratic	Bernie Sanders	273	28.92
	Democratic	Tulsi Gabbard	18	1.91
	Democratic	Others/Uncommitted	51	5.40

Incumbent President Donald Trump (R-Florida) faced a primary challenge from former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld, but won both Bates County and statewide by overwhelming margins.

Missouri Republican Presidential Primary – Bates County (2020)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Donald Trump	947	97.83
	Republican	Bill Weld	2	0.21
	Republican	Others/Uncommitted	19	1.96

2016

The 2016 presidential primaries for both the Republican and Democratic parties were held in Missouri on March 15. Businessman Donald Trump (R-New York) narrowly won the state overall and carried a plurality of the vote in Bates County. He went on to win the presidency.

Missouri Republican Presidential Primary – Bates County (2016)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Donald Trump	1,306	46.04
	Republican	Ted Cruz	1,080	38.07
	Republican	John Kasich	199	7.01
	Republican	Marco Rubio	143	5.04
	Republican	Others/Uncommitted	109	3.84

On the Democratic side, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D-New York) narrowly won statewide, but Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) won a majority of the vote in Bates County.

Missouri Democratic Presidential Primary – Bates County (2016)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Bernie Sanders	632	53.12
	Democratic	Hillary Clinton	518	43.53
	Democratic	Others/Uncommitted	40	3.36

2012

The 2012 Missouri Republican Presidential Primary's results were nonbinding on the state's national convention delegates. Voters in Bates County supported former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum (R-Pennsylvania), who finished first in the state at large, but eventually lost the nomination to former Governor Mitt Romney (R-Massachusetts). Delegates to the congressional district and state conventions were chosen at a county caucus, which selected a delegation favoring Santorum. Incumbent President Barack Obama easily won the Missouri Democratic Primary and renomination. He defeated Romney in the general election.

2008

In 2008, the Missouri Republican Presidential Primary was closely contested, with Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) prevailing and eventually winning the nomination.

Missouri Republican Presidential Primary – Bates County (2008)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	John McCain	594	37.71
	Republican	Mike Huckabee	503	31.94
	Republican	Mitt Romney	368	23.37
	Republican	Ron Paul	71	4.51
	Republican	Others/Uncommitted	39	2.48

Then-Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York) received more votes than any candidate from either party in Bates County during the 2008 presidential primary. Despite initial reports that Clinton had won Missouri, Barack Obama (D-Illinois), also a Senator at the time, narrowly defeated her statewide and later became that year's Democratic nominee, going on to win the presidency.

Missouri Democratic Presidential Primary – Bates County (2008)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Hillary Clinton	1,427	63.51
	Democratic	Barack Obama	676	30.08
	Democratic	Others/Uncommitted	144	6.41

Communities

Cities

• Adrian
• Amoret
• Amsterdam
• Butler (county seat)
• Drexel
• Rich Hill
• Rockville
• Hume

Villages

• Foster
• Merwin
• Passaic

Unincorporated communities

• Altona
• Ballard
• Burdett
• Crescent Hill
• Hudson
• Johnstown
• Mayesburg
• New Home
• Nyhart
• Papinville
• Pleasant Gap
• Prairie City
• Sprague
• Spruce
• Virginia
• Worland

Townships

Bates County is divided into 24 townships:

• Charlotte
• Deepwater
• Deer Creek
• East Boone
• Elkhart
• Grand River
• Homer
• Howard
• Hudson
• Lone Oak
• Mingo
• Mound
• Mount Pleasant
• New Home
• Osage
• Pleasant Gap
• Prairie
• Rockville
• Shawnee
• Spruce
• Summit
• Walnut
• West Boone
• West Point

Notable people

• Robert Heinlein, science fiction author who was born and lived in Butler, mentioned the town and county in his short story "Requiem" and the novel To Sail Beyond the Sunset
• Howard Maple, professional athlete in American football and baseball ^[18]
• Charles O'Rear, photographer and author best known for his photo Bliss , the default wallpaper of Windows XP
• Stan Wall, former Major League Baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers
• Warren Welliver, Missouri Supreme Court Justice (1979–1989)

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Bates County, Missouri

References

1. "Bates County History". Bates County. Archived from the original on December 21, 2017. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
2. "2020 Population and Housing State Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
4. Eaton, David Wolfe (1916). How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named. The State Historical Society of Missouri. pp.  208.
5. "AFFAIRS IN THE WEST.; A Negro Regiment in Action—The Battle of Island Mounds—Desperate Bravery of the Negros—Defeat of the Guerrillas--An Attempted Fraud", The New York Times, November 19, 1862, accessed February 22, 2016
6. "Battle of Island Mound State Historic Site". Missouri State Parks. Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved July 15, 2013.
7. " 'The Battle of Island Mound' wins two Emmy Awards from NATAS Mid-American Chapter", October 7, 2015, Press Release, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, accessed February 29, 2016
8. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
9. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
11. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
12. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
14. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Bates County, Missouri".
15. Breeding, Marshall. "Butler Public Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
16. Breeding, Marshall. "Rich Hill Memorial Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
17. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
18. "Howard Maple Baseball Stats | Baseball Almanac".

External links

• Bates County website
• Digitized 1930 Plat Book of Bates County Archived August 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine from University of Missouri Division of Special Collections, Archives, and Rare Books
• "Battle of Island Mound State Historic Site", Missouri State Parks
• " 'The Battle of Island Mound' wins two Emmy Awards from NATAS Mid-American Chapter", October 7, 2015, Press Release, Missouri Department of Natural Resources

38°16′N94°20′W / 38.26°N 94.34°W / 38.26; -94.34