Lafayette County, Missouri

Lafayette County
County
Lafayette County Courthouse in Lexington
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
Missouri's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°04′N93°47′W / 39.06°N 93.78°W / 39.06; -93.78
Country	United States
State	Missouri
Founded	November 16, 1820
Named for	Marquis de La Fayette
Seat	Lexington
Largest city	Odessa
Area
• Total	639 sq mi (1,660 km2)
• Land	628 sq mi (1,630 km2)
• Water	11 sq mi (30 km2)  1.6%
Population  (2020)
• Total	32,984
• Density	52/sq mi (20/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	5th
Website	www.lafayettecountymo.com

Lafayette County is a county in the western portion of Missouri, part of the Kansas City metropolitan area. ^[1] As of the 2020 census, the population was 32,984. ^[2] Its county seat is Lexington. ^[3] The county was organized November 16, 1820, from Cooper County and originally named Lillard County for James Lillard of Tennessee, who served in the first state constitutional convention and first state legislature. ^[4] It was renamed Lafayette County on February 16, 1825, in honor of Revolutionary War hero the Marquis de La Fayette, who was then visiting the United States. ^[5]

History

Lafayette County was settled primarily from migrants from the Upper Southern states of Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia. They brought enslaved people and slaveholding traditions and started cultivating crops similar to those in Middle Tennessee and Kentucky: hemp and tobacco.

Peter Youree (1843-1914) was born here to merchant P. E. Youree and the former M. M. Zimmerman. As a young man, he enlisted in the Confederate forces from here, and gained the rank of captain during the American Civil War. Afterward, he settled in Shreveport, Louisiana, where he married, became a successful merchant and banker, and served on the Caddo Parish Police Jury.

As a result of the migration from the South, this part of Missouri, and neighboring counties, became known as Little Dixie. In 1860 enslaved people made up 25 percent or more of the county's population, and the county was strongly pro-Confederate during the American Civil War. ^[6]

But immigrants from Germany, as well as German Americans from St. Louis, began arriving shortly before the war, with many more to come afterwards. Many of the Germans were sympathetic to the Union and opposed slavery. They eventually made up a large part of the populations of Concordia, Emma, Wellington, Napoleon, Higginsville, Mayview, and Lexington.

After the war, there were racial tensions as whites worked to dominate the freedmen. Following Reconstruction, whites lynched two blacks in the decades around the turn of the century.

Sunday May 4, 1919, Lafayette County Sheriff Joseph C. Talbott was killed while transporting car thieves to jail.  Also killed were Deputy Sheriff John McDonald and Deputy Constable James Stapleton.  On May 29, 1919, Lafayette County held a special election to replace Sheriff Talbott.  Sheriff Talbott's wife, Minnie Mae Talbott, won the special election becoming the first woman elected to the office of Sheriff in the United States.  Minnie Mae Talbott was sworn into office on June 8, 1919.  Minnie Mae Talbott was elected by an all-male electorate.  Women would not gain the right to vote until August 1920, with ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

21st century

In November 2013, Leland Ray Kolkmeyer pleaded guilty, in federal court, of a fraud scheme in which he embezzled more than $1.5 million from Wellington-Napoleon Fire Protection District and Special Road District while serving as their treasurer. ^{[7] [8] [9]}

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 639 square miles (1,660 km²), of which 628 square miles (1,630 km²) is land and 11 square miles (28 km²) (1.6%) is water. ^[10]

Adjacent counties

• Ray County (northwest)
• Carroll County (northeast)
• Saline County (east)
• Johnson County (south)
• Jackson County (west)
• Pettis County (southeast)

Major highways

• Interstate 70
• U.S. Route 24
• U.S. Route 40
• U.S. Route 65
• Route 13
• Route 23
• Route 131
• Route 224

National protected area

• Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge (part)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1830	2,912		—
1840	6,815		134.0%
1850	13,690		100.9%
1860	20,098		46.8%
1870	22,623		12.6%
1880	25,710		13.6%
1890	30,184		17.4%
1900	31,679		5.0%
1910	30,154		−4.8%
1920	30,006		−0.5%
1930	29,259		−2.5%
1940	27,856		−4.8%
1950	25,272		−9.3%
1960	25,274		0.0%
1970	26,626		5.3%
1980	29,925		12.4%
1990	31,107		3.9%
2000	32,960		6.0%
2010	33,381		1.3%
2020	32,984		−1.2%
U.S. Decennial Census [11] 1790-1960 [12] 1900-1990 [13] 1990-2000 [14] 2010 [15]

As of the census ^[16] of 2000, there were 32,960 people, 12,569 households, and 9,099 families residing in the county. The population density was 52 people per square mile (20 people/km²). There were 13,707 housing units at an average density of 22 units per square mile (8.5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.52% White, 2.27% Black or African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.51% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. Approximately 1.17% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 37.3% were of German, 17.5% American, 9.9% English and 9.7% Irish ancestry.

There were 12,569 households, out of which 33.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.30% were married couples living together, 9.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.60% were non-families. 24.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.20% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 15.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,235, and the median income for a family was $45,717. Males had a median income of $31,972 versus $22,684 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,493. About 6.90% of families and 8.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.90% of those under age 18 and 9.10% of those ages 65 or over.

2020 Census

Lafayette County Racial Composition ^[17]

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (NH)	29,256	88.7%
Black or African American (NH)	671	2%
Native American (NH)	138	0.42%
Asian (NH)	115	0.35%
Pacific Islander (NH)	12	0.04%
Other/Mixed (NH)	1,745	5.3%
Hispanic or Latino	1,047	3.2%

Education

Public schools

• Concordia R-II School District – Concordia
  • Concordia Elementary School (PK-06)
  • Concordia High School (07-12)
• Lafayette County C-1 School District – Higginsville
  • Grandview Elementary School (PK-05)
  • Lafayette County Middle School (06-08)
  • Lafayette County High School (09-12)
• Lexington R-V School District – Lexington
  • Leslie Bell Elementary School (PK-04)
  • Lexington Middle School (05-08)
  • Lexington High School (09-12)
• Odessa R-VII School District – Odessa
  • McQuerry Elementary School (K-02)
  • Odessa Upper Elementary School (03-05)
  • Odessa Middle School (06-08)
  • Odessa High School (09-12)
• Santa Fe R-X School District – Alma
  • Santa Fe Elementary School (K-06)
  • Santa Fe High School (07-12)
• Wellington-Napoleon R-IX School District Error in Webarchive template: Empty url. – Wellington
  • Wellington-Napoleon Elementary School (PK-06)
  • Wellington-Napoleon High School (07-12)

Private schools

• Trinity Lutheran School – Alma (K-09) – Lutheran
• Holy Cross Lutheran School – Emma (PK-08) – Lutheran
• Immanuel Lutheran School Error in Webarchive template: Empty url. – Higginsville (K-09) – Lutheran
• Victory Christian Fellowship School Error in Webarchive template: Empty url. – Waverly (K-12) – Nondenominational Christian
• St. Paul Lutheran High School – Concordia (09-12) – Lutheran
• St. Paul's Lutheran School – Concordia (K-8) – Lutheran

Public Libraries

• Robertson Memorial Library ^[18]
• Trails Regional Library ^[19]

Politics

Local

The Republican Party mostly controls politics at the local level in Lafayette County. Republicans hold all but three of the elected positions in the county.

Lafayette County, Missouri
Elected countywide officials
Assessor	Chip Langman	Democratic
Circuit Clerk	Deana Aversman	Republican
County Clerk	Linda Niendick	Republican
Collector	Lori Fiegenbaum	Democratic
Commissioner (Presiding)	Harold Hoflander	Republican
Commissioner (District 1)	Craig Williams	Republican
Commissioner (District 2)	Tracy Dyer	Republican
Coroner	David Pulliam	Republican
Prosecuting Attorney	Kristen Ellis Hilbrenner	Democratic
Public Administrator	Barb Copenhaver	Republican
Recorder	JoAnn Swartz	Republican
Sheriff	Kerrick Alumbaugh	Republican
Surveyor	Mark Nolte	Republican
Treasurer	Jennifer Jellum	Republican

State

Past Gubernatorial Elections Results

Year	Republican	Democratic	Third Parties
2020	71.8%12,238	26.1% 4,451	2.0% 244
2016	57.85%9,167	38.47% 6,097	3.68% 583
2012	47.91% 7,537	49.31%7,758	2.78% 438
2008	42.70% 7,022	55.09%9,060	2.21% 364
2004	52.97%8,541	45.59% 7,351	1.43% 231
2000	50.32%7,276	47.94% 6,932	1.74% 251
1996	34.00% 4,450	63.05%8,252	2.94% 385

Lafayette County is divided into two legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives, both of which are held by Republicans.

• District 33 — Donna Pfautsch (R-Harrisonville). Consists of the community of Oak Grove.

Missouri House of Representatives — District 33 — Lafayette County (2016)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Donna Pfautsch	12,115	72.86%	−2.81
	Democratic	Chase Linder	5,127	29.74%	+19.03

Missouri House of Representatives — District 33 — Lafayette County (2014)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Donna Pfautsch	6,434	71.9%	+10.96
	Democratic	Syed Asif	1,458	16.3%	−27.18
	Libertarian	Matt Stephens	1,052	11.8%	+16.22

Missouri House of Representatives — District 33 — Lafayette County (2012)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Donna Pfautsch	10,193	63.7%
	Democratic	Ron Harvey	5,814	36.3%

• District 53 – Glen Kolkmeyer (R-Odessa). Consists of almost all of the county.

Missouri House of Representatives — District 53 — Lafayette County (2016)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Glen Kolkmeyer	13,719	100.00%	+38.93

Missouri House of Representatives — District 53 — Lafayette County (2014)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Glen Kolkmeyer	5,818	61.07%	+2.43
	Democratic	Henry Grubb	3,709	38.93%	−2.43

Missouri House of Representatives — District 53 — Lafayette County (2012)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Glen Kolkmeyer	9,095	58.64%
	Democratic	Holmes Osborne	6,416	41.36%

All of Lafayette County is a part of Missouri's 21st District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Denny Hoskins (R-Warrensburg).

Missouri Senate — District 21 — Lafayette County (2016)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Denny Hoskins	9,738	63.36%	+1.36
	Democratic	ElGene Ver Dught	4,864	31.65%	−2.80
	Libertarian	Bill Wayne	768	5.00%	−1.45

Missouri Senate — District 21 — Lafayette County (2012)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	David Pearce	9,547	62.00%
	Democratic	ElGene Ver Dught	5,305	34.45%
	Libertarian	Steven Hedrick	547	3.55%

Federal

U.S. Senate — Missouri — Lafayette County (2016)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Roy Blunt	8,812	55.55%	+12.89
	Democratic	Jason Kander	6,150	38.77%	−10.49
	Libertarian	Jonathan Dine	436	2.75%	−5.33
	Green	Johnathan McFarland	167	1.05%	+1.05
	Constitution	Fred Ryman	299	1.88%	+1.88

U.S. Senate — Missouri — Lafayette County (2012)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Todd Akin	6,663	42.66%
	Democratic	Claire McCaskill	7,695	49.26%
	Libertarian	Jonathan Dine	1,262	8.08%

All of Lafayette County is included in Missouri's 5th Congressional District, which is currently represented by Emanuel Cleaver (D-Kansas City) in the U.S. House of Representatives.

U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 5th Congressional District — Lafayette County (2016)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Emanuel Cleaver II	5,744	36.50%	+3.58
	Republican	Jacob Turk	9,505	60.39%	−3.58
	Libertarian	Roy Welborn	490	3.11%

U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 5th Congressional District — Lafayette County (2014)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Emanuel Cleaver II	3,153	32.92%	−6.74
	Republican	Jacob Turk	6,128	63.97%	+6.90
	Libertarian	Roy Welborn	298	3.11%	−0.16

U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri’s 5th Congressional District — Lafayette County (2012)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Emanuel Cleaver II	6,202	39.66%
	Republican	Jacob Turk	8,925	57.07%
	Libertarian	Randy Langkraehr	511	3.27%

United States presidential election results for Lafayette County, Missouri ^[20]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	12,720	73.75%	4,294	24.90%	234	1.36%
2020	12,273	71.79%	4,472	26.16%	351	2.05%
2016	10,988	68.78%	4,053	25.37%	934	5.85%
2012	9,803	61.79%	5,655	35.64%	408	2.57%
2008	9,442	56.88%	6,902	41.58%	256	1.54%
2004	9,656	59.67%	6,412	39.62%	114	0.70%
2000	7,849	54.06%	6,343	43.68%	328	2.26%
1996	5,489	41.57%	6,118	46.34%	1,596	12.09%
1992	4,651	34.54%	5,213	38.71%	3,603	26.75%
1988	6,825	54.54%	5,654	45.18%	35	0.28%
1984	8,581	63.90%	4,848	36.10%	0	0.00%
1980	7,271	53.99%	5,792	43.01%	405	3.01%
1976	6,823	51.28%	6,410	48.18%	72	0.54%
1972	9,187	69.34%	4,063	30.66%	0	0.00%
1968	6,840	53.42%	4,859	37.95%	1,105	8.63%
1964	5,493	42.60%	7,400	57.40%	0	0.00%
1960	8,011	59.05%	5,555	40.95%	0	0.00%
1956	8,133	57.22%	6,081	42.78%	0	0.00%
1952	8,805	59.26%	6,020	40.52%	32	0.22%
1948	6,634	52.48%	5,988	47.37%	20	0.16%
1944	7,951	58.63%	5,603	41.32%	7	0.05%
1940	8,802	55.91%	6,913	43.91%	29	0.18%
1936	7,535	50.70%	7,275	48.95%	51	0.34%
1932	5,670	41.65%	7,906	58.08%	37	0.27%
1928	7,687	56.28%	5,939	43.48%	32	0.23%
1924	6,517	50.43%	5,877	45.48%	529	4.09%
1920	7,471	54.40%	6,169	44.92%	94	0.68%
1916	4,049	49.09%	4,073	49.38%	126	1.53%
1912	2,367	31.73%	3,650	48.93%	1,442	19.33%
1908	3,771	48.57%	3,865	49.78%	128	1.65%
1904	3,531	48.82%	3,583	49.54%	119	1.65%
1900	3,311	43.40%	4,217	55.28%	101	1.32%
1896	3,375	42.72%	4,463	56.49%	63	0.80%
1892	2,833	40.33%	3,922	55.83%	270	3.84%
1888	2,819	41.27%	3,865	56.59%	146	2.14%

Communities

Cities and towns

• Alma
• Aullville
• Bates City
• Blackburn (part)
• Concordia
• Corder
• Dover
• Emma (part)
• Higginsville
• Lake Lafayette
• Lexington (county seat)
• Mayview
• Napoleon
• Oak Grove (part)
• Odessa
• Waverly
• Wellington

Unincorporated communities

• Chapel Hill
• Ernestville
• Greenton
• Hodge
• Myrick
• Page City
• Tabeau
• Waterloo

See also

• List of counties in Missouri
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Lafayette County, Missouri

References

1. "Population Data and Maps | MARC". Archived from the original on September 16, 2014. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
2. "Lafayette County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved June 13, 2023.
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
4. "Disappearing Missouri Names". The Kansas City Star. March 19, 1911. p. 15. Retrieved August 15, 2014– via Newspapers.com.
5. Eaton, David Wolfe (1916). How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named. The State Historical Society of Missouri. pp.  183.
6. T. J. Stiles, Jesse James: The Last Rebel of the Civil War, New York: Vintage Books, 2003, pp. 10-11
7. "Public servant steals $1.5 million from two tiny towns in Missouri"; The Kansas City Star; November 22, 2013
8. "Treasurer admits to embezzling over $1 million from small towns’ funds:; Fox4KC; November 22, 2013.
9. Treasurer for road district and fire district pleads guilty to embezzling $1.5 million; justice.gov; November 20, 2013.
10. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 13, 2014. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
11. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
12. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
13. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
14. "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 16, 2014.
15. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
16. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
17. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Lafayette County, Missouri".
18. Breeding, Marshall. "Robertson Memorial Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
19. Breeding, Marshall. "Trails Regional Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
20. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 25, 2018.

External links

• Lafayette County Website
• Digitized 1930 Plat Book of Lafayette County Archived August 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine from University of Missouri Division of Special Collections, Archives, and Rare Books

39°04′N93°47′W / 39.06°N 93.78°W / 39.06; -93.78