Monroe County | |
---|---|
The Monroe County Courthouse in Paris | |
![]() Location within the U.S. state of Missouri | |
![]() Missouri's location within the U.S. | |
Coordinates: 39°30′N92°00′W / 39.5°N 92°W | |
Country | ![]() |
State | ![]() |
Founded | January 6, 1831 |
Named for | James Monroe |
Seat | Paris |
Largest city | Monroe City |
Area | |
• Total | 670 sq mi (1,700 km2) |
• Land | 648 sq mi (1,680 km2) |
• Water | 23 sq mi (60 km2) 3.4% |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 8,666 |
• Density | 13/sq mi (5.0/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
Congressional district | 6th |
Website | www |
Monroe County is a county in northeast Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,666. [1] Its county seat is Paris. [2] It is the birthplace of Mark Twain.
The county was organized January 6, 1831 [3] and named for James Monroe, the fifth President of the United States. [4]
Monroe County was one of several along the Missouri River settled by migrants from the Upper South, especially Kentucky and Tennessee. They brought slaves and slaveholding traditions with them and quickly started cultivating crops similar to those in Middle Tennessee and Kentucky: hemp and tobacco. They also brought characteristic antebellum architecture and culture. The county was at the heart of what was called Little Dixie. [5]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 670 square miles (1,700 km2), of which 648 square miles (1,680 km2) is land and 23 square miles (60 km2) (3.4%) is water. [6]
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1840 | 9,505 | — | |
1850 | 10,541 | 10.9% | |
1860 | 14,785 | 40.3% | |
1870 | 17,149 | 16.0% | |
1880 | 19,071 | 11.2% | |
1890 | 20,790 | 9.0% | |
1900 | 19,716 | −5.2% | |
1910 | 18,304 | −7.2% | |
1920 | 16,414 | −10.3% | |
1930 | 13,466 | −18.0% | |
1940 | 13,195 | −2.0% | |
1950 | 11,314 | −14.3% | |
1960 | 10,688 | −5.5% | |
1970 | 9,542 | −10.7% | |
1980 | 9,716 | 1.8% | |
1990 | 9,104 | −6.3% | |
2000 | 9,311 | 2.3% | |
2010 | 8,840 | −5.1% | |
2020 | 8,666 | −2.0% | |
U.S. Decennial Census [7] 1790-1960 [8] 1900-1990 [9] 1990-2000 [10] 2010-2015 [11] |
As of the census [12] of 2010, there were 8,840 people, 3,656 households, and 2,566 families residing in the county. The population density was 14 inhabitants per square mile (5.4/km2). There were 4,565 housing units at an average density of 7 per square mile (2.7/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.66% White, 3.83% Black or African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.16% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. Approximately 0.56% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 24.7% were of German, 23.2% American, 14.2% English and 11.8% Irish ancestry.
There were 3,656 households, out of which 31.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.10% were married couples living together, 7.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.80% were non-families. 26.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.90% under the age of 18, 7.30% from 18 to 24, 25.00% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 17.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 96.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,871, and the median income for a family was $36,895. Males had a median income of $26,534 versus $20,440 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,695. About 8.30% of families and 11.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.00% of those under age 18 and 10.30% of those age 65 or over.
Race | Num. | Perc. |
---|---|---|
White (NH) | 7,902 | 91.2% |
Black or African American (NH) | 177 | 2.04% |
Native American (NH) | 32 | 0.36% |
Asian (NH) | 31 | 0.36% |
Pacific Islander (NH) | 1 | 0.01% |
Other/Mixed (NH) | 364 | 4.2% |
Hispanic or Latino | 159 | 1.83% |
This section needs additional citations for verification .(November 2020) |
The Democratic Party used to dominate politics at the local, state and federal levels in Monroe County. However, like the rest of the state, the county has swung heavily towards the Republican Party in recent years, with Republicans now controlling 10 of the 13 elected positions in the county.
The GOP began to make gains in the county in 2006 at the state and federal level, and has gained ground in almost every election since.
Monroe County voters have selected Republican candidates over Democrats in 13 consecutive U.S. House elections (1998 through 2022), the last nine U.S. Senate elections (2000 through 2022), six continuous presidential contests (2000 through 2020), four of five gubernatorial elections (2004 through 2020), five of six state Senate races, and the last four state auditor races (2010 through 2022). In 2014, for the first time in history,[ citation needed ] Republican Jim Hansen defeated a Democrat to represent the county in the state House of Representatives. In 2016, for the first time in history, Ron Staggs, a Republican, was elected to a county office when he defeated a Democratic opponent for western commissioner. In 2018 two Republicans were elected to county offices: Talley Kendrick, the first Republican to run unopposed in a general election won as prosecuting attorney, and Lori Decker won a contested election for recorder. In the 2020 general election, four Republicans were elected to county office. In 2022, Curt Wheeler beat a Democrat and an Independent, to become the county's first Republican presiding commissioner.
In the 2008 general election, notwithstanding the secretary of state's race, for the first time in history, Monroe Countians gave a plurality to every Republican candidate for federal and state offices, on the ballot, that had a Democratic opponent. Four years later, in the 2012 election, Republican candidates won six of eight state-wide state and federal races, and one was lost by five votes out of more than 4,000 cast. In November 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022 every Republican for federal and state office, on the county ballot, defeated their Democratic opponent.
In the April 2016 presidential primary, Republicans outvoted Democrats more than 3-to-1, 1,600 votes in the GOP primary compared to 495 in the Democratic, and more Republican votes than Democratic were cast in the 2020 presidential primary. In 2016's August primary, Republicans out voted Democrats 895 to 698; in the 2018 August primary, Republicans out voted Democrats 1,621 votes to 851. In both the 2020 presidential primary and the August primary Republicans outvoted Democrats two-to-one.
Monroe County, Missouri | |||
---|---|---|---|
Elected countywide officials | |||
Assessor | Melinda James | Republican | |
Circuit Clerk | Heather D. Wheeler | Republican | |
County Clerk | Beth Whelan | Republican | |
Collector | Chrissy Graupman | Republican | |
Commissioner (Presiding) | Curt Wheeler | Republican | |
Commissioner (District 1) | Mike Whelan | Democratic | |
Commissioner (District 2) | Marilyn Morgan O'Bannon | Republican | |
Coroner | James K. Reinhard | Democratic | |
Prosecuting Attorney | Nicole Volkert | Republican | |
Public Administrator | Jessica Chase | Republican | |
Recorder | Lori Decker | Republican | |
Sheriff | Joe Collston | Republican | |
Treasurer | Shelia Jurgesmyer | Democratic |
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third Parties |
---|---|---|---|
2020 | 78.23%3,472 | 20.28% 900 | 1.49% 66 |
2016 | 64.44%2,659 | 33.13% 1,367 | 2.42% 100 |
2012 | 48.55% 1,948 | 48.68%1,953 | 2.77% 111 |
2008 | 56.97%2,459 | 41.94% 1,810 | 1.09% 47 |
2004 | 60.00%2,576 | 38.90% 1,670 | 1.10% 47 |
2000 | 44.08% 1,801 | 54.19%2,214 | 1.73% 71 |
1996 | 27.51% 1,053 | 70.72%2,707 | 1.78% 68 |
Monroe County is divided into two representative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives, both represented by Republicans.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Lindell F. Shumake | 782 | 74.33% | +5.35 | |
Democratic | O. C. Latta | 270 | 25.67% | -5.35 | |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Lindell F. Shumake | 367 | 68.98% | +27.93 | |
Democratic | C. Leroy Deichman | 165 | 31.02% | -27.93 | |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Lindell F. Shumake | 429 | 41.05% | ||
Democratic | Tom Shively | 616 | 58.95% | ||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Jim Hansen | 2,598 | 100.00% | +27.01 | |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Jim Hansen | 1,208 | 72.99% | +36.82 | |
Democratic | Lowell Jackson | 447 | 27.01% | -36.82 | |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Jim Hansen | 1,080 | 36.17% | ||
Democratic | Paul Quinn | 1,906 | 63.83% | ||
Monroe County is a part of Missouri's 10th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Jeanie Riddle (R-Fulton).
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Jeanie Riddle | 1,599 | 71.55% | ||
Democratic | Ed Schieffer | 620 | 28.45% | ||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Roy Blunt | 2,584 | 62.89% | +15.00 | |
Democratic | Jason Kander | 1,330 | 32.39% | -14.77 | |
Libertarian | Jonathan Dine | 105 | 2.55% | -2.40 | |
Green | Johnathan McFarland | 48 | 1.69% | +1.69 | |
Constitution | Fred Ryman | 42 | 1.02% | +1.02 | |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Todd Akin | 1,917 | 47.89% | ||
Democratic | Claire McCaskill | 1,888 | 47.16% | ||
Libertarian | Jonathan Dine | 198 | 4.95% | ||
Monroe County is included in Missouri's 6th congressional district and is currently represented by Sam Graves (R-Tarkio) in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Sam Graves | 2,955 | 74.15% | +0.82 | |
Democratic | David M. Blackwell | 899 | 22.56% | -1.81 | |
Libertarian | Russ Lee Monchil | 94 | 2.36% | +0.06 | |
Green | Mike Diel | 37 | 0.93% | +0.93 | |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Sam Graves | 1,592 | 73.33% | +10.41 | |
Democratic | Bill Hedge | 529 | 24.37% | -10.38 | |
Libertarian | Russ Lee Monchil | 50 | 2.30% | +0.02 | |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Sam Graves | 2,410 | 62.92% | ||
Democratic | Kyle Yarber | 1,331 | 34.75% | ||
Libertarian | Russ Lee Monchil | 89 | 2.32% | ||
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 3,477 | 77.56% | 936 | 20.88% | 70 | 1.56% |
2016 | 3,159 | 76.01% | 853 | 20.52% | 144 | 3.46% |
2012 | 2,564 | 63.20% | 1,398 | 34.46% | 95 | 2.34% |
2008 | 2,533 | 58.72% | 1,703 | 39.48% | 78 | 1.81% |
2004 | 2,632 | 61.11% | 1,647 | 38.24% | 28 | 0.65% |
2000 | 2,175 | 53.13% | 1,860 | 45.43% | 59 | 1.44% |
1996 | 1,333 | 34.80% | 1,938 | 50.59% | 560 | 14.62% |
1992 | 1,153 | 27.54% | 2,060 | 49.20% | 974 | 23.26% |
1988 | 1,542 | 38.42% | 2,461 | 61.31% | 11 | 0.27% |
1984 | 2,163 | 52.06% | 1,992 | 47.94% | 0 | 0.00% |
1980 | 2,026 | 44.48% | 2,445 | 53.68% | 84 | 1.84% |
1976 | 1,585 | 34.09% | 3,039 | 65.35% | 26 | 0.56% |
1972 | 2,141 | 48.22% | 2,299 | 51.78% | 0 | 0.00% |
1968 | 1,349 | 29.07% | 2,776 | 59.81% | 516 | 11.12% |
1964 | 928 | 18.45% | 4,103 | 81.55% | 0 | 0.00% |
1960 | 1,519 | 27.47% | 4,011 | 72.53% | 0 | 0.00% |
1956 | 1,331 | 23.18% | 4,412 | 76.82% | 0 | 0.00% |
1952 | 1,488 | 23.77% | 4,760 | 76.05% | 11 | 0.18% |
1948 | 809 | 14.49% | 4,769 | 85.39% | 7 | 0.13% |
1944 | 1,098 | 17.98% | 5,000 | 81.89% | 8 | 0.13% |
1940 | 1,200 | 16.60% | 6,018 | 83.23% | 13 | 0.18% |
1936 | 939 | 12.79% | 6,376 | 86.87% | 25 | 0.34% |
1932 | 714 | 10.25% | 6,210 | 89.12% | 44 | 0.63% |
1928 | 1,378 | 21.69% | 4,957 | 78.01% | 19 | 0.30% |
1924 | 1,141 | 16.51% | 5,597 | 81.00% | 172 | 2.49% |
1920 | 1,406 | 18.42% | 6,136 | 80.37% | 93 | 1.22% |
1916 | 742 | 16.20% | 3,738 | 81.60% | 101 | 2.20% |
1912 | 583 | 13.04% | 3,586 | 80.22% | 301 | 6.73% |
1908 | 871 | 18.61% | 3,772 | 80.58% | 38 | 0.81% |
1904 | 790 | 18.17% | 3,487 | 80.18% | 72 | 1.66% |
1900 | 795 | 16.30% | 4,016 | 82.35% | 66 | 1.35% |
1896 | 892 | 16.85% | 4,379 | 82.72% | 23 | 0.43% |
1892 | 787 | 16.57% | 3,863 | 81.33% | 100 | 2.11% |
1888 | 983 | 20.09% | 3,873 | 79.15% | 37 | 0.76% |
During the 19th century and most of the 20th century Democrats controlled Monroe County. The county was one of only two jurisdictions in Missouri to be carried by Democrat George McGovern in the 1972 presidential election against incumbent Republican President Richard Nixon, the other being the city of St. Louis. Monroe County was first carried by a Republican in 1976 by John Danforth in the U.S. Senate race. In 1984, Ronald Reagan became the first Republican candidate for president to win the county. Since 2000, the county has voted Republican in federal and state elections, and now Republicans control two-thirds of elected county positions. The last Democratic candidate to crack 40% of the county's vote was Al Gore in 2000. Barack Obama received just under 40% of the vote in 2008 and around 34% in 2012. Donald Trump became the first Republican to carry over 70% of the county's vote, which he did in both 2016 and 2020.
In the April 2016 presidential primary, Republicans out voted Democrats more than 3-to-1, 1,600 votes in the GOP primary compared to 495 in the Democrat. In 2016's August primary, Republicans outvoted Democrats 895 to 698.
Wright County is a county located in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 18,188. Its county seat is Hartville. The county was officially organized on January 29, 1841, and is named after Silas Wright, a former Congressman, U.S. Senator and Governor of New York.
Marion County is a county located in the northeastern portion of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 28,525. Its county seat is Palmyra. Unique from most third-class counties in the state, Marion has two county courthouses, the second located in Hannibal. The county was organized on December 23, 1826 and named for General Francis Marion, the "Swamp Fox," who was from South Carolina and served in the American Revolutionary War. The area was known as the "Two Rivers Country" before organization.
Livingston County is a county located in the northwestern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,557. Its county seat is Chillicothe. The county was organized January 6, 1837, and named for U.S. Secretary of State Edward Livingston.
Iron County is a county located in the Lead Belt region in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 9,537. The largest city and county seat is Ironton. Iron County was officially organized on February 17, 1857, and was named after the abundance of iron ore found within its borders.
Howell County is in southern Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 39,750. The largest city and county seat is West Plains. The county was officially organized on March 2, 1851, and is named after Josiah Howell, a pioneer settler in the Howell Valley.
Harrison County is a county located in the northwest portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,157. It's county seat is Bethany. The county was organized February 14, 1845, and named for U.S. Representative Albert G. Harrison of Missouri.
Grundy County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 9,808. Its county seat is Trenton. The county was organized January 2, 1841, from part of Livingston County, Missouri and named after U.S. Attorney General Felix Grundy.
Greene County is located in the southwest part of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, its population was 298,915. making it the fourth most-populous county in Missouri.
Gentry County is a county located in the northwestern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,162. Its county seat is Albany. The county was organized February 14, 1841 and named for Colonel Richard Gentry of Boone County, who fell in the Seminole War in 1837.
Dunklin County is located in the Bootheel of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 28,283. The largest city and county seat is Kennett. The county was officially organized on February 14, 1845, and is named in honor of Daniel Dunklin, a Governor of Missouri who died the year before the county was organized.
Daviess County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,430. Its county seat is Gallatin. The county was organized December 29, 1836, from Ray County and named for Major Joseph Hamilton Daveiss, a soldier from Kentucky who was killed in 1811 at the Battle of Tippecanoe.
Crawford County is a county located in the east-central portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. At the 2020 Census, the population was 23,056. Its county seat is Steelville. The county was organized in 1829 and is named after U.S. Senator William H. Crawford of Georgia.
Carroll County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 8,495. Its county seat is Carrollton. The county was organized on January 2, 1833, from part of Ray County and named for Charles Carroll of Carrollton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence.
Camden County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 42,745. Its county seat is Camdenton. The county was organized on January 29, 1841, as Kinderhook County and renamed Camden County in 1843 after Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden, Lord Chancellor of the United Kingdom and leader of the British Whig Party. Camden County is also the primary setting of the Netflix show Ozark.
Butler County is a county located in the southeast Ozark Foothills Region in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 Census, the county's population was 42,130. The largest city and county seat is Poplar Bluff. The county was officially organized from Wayne County on February 27, 1849, and is named after former U.S. Representative William O. Butler (D-Kentucky), who was also an unsuccessful candidate for Vice President of the United States. The first meeting in the Butler County Courthouse was held on June 18, 1849.
Boone County is located in the U.S. state of Missouri. Centrally located in Mid-Missouri, its county seat is Columbia, Missouri's fourth-largest city and location of the University of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 183,610, making it the state's eighth-most populous county. The county was organized November 16, 1820, and named for the then recently deceased Daniel Boone, whose kin largely populated the Boonslick area, having arrived in the 1810s on the Boone's Lick Road. Boone County comprises the Columbia Metropolitan Area. The towns of Ashland and Centralia are the second and third most populous towns in the county.
Benton County is a county located in the west central part of the U.S. state of Missouri. The population was 19,394 as of the 2020 Census. Its county seat is Warsaw. The county was organized January 3, 1835, and named for U.S. Senator Thomas Hart Benton of Missouri.
Barton County is a county located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,637. Its county seat is Lamar. The county was organized in 1855 and named after U.S. Senator David Barton from Missouri.
Barry County is a county located in the southwest portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 34,534. Its county seat is Cassville. The county was organized in 1835 and named after William Taylor Barry, a U.S. Postmaster General from Kentucky. The town of Barry, also named after the postmaster-general, was located just north of Kansas City, not in Barry County.
Andrew County is a county located in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 18,135. Its county seat is Savannah. The county was organized January 29, 1841, and named for Andrew Jackson Davis, a lawyer and prominent citizen of St. Louis.