Morgan County, Missouri

Last updated

Morgan County, Missouri
County
Morgan County Courthouse.jpg
The Morgan County Courthouse in Versailles
Map of Missouri highlighting Morgan County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
Coordinates: 38°26′N92°53′W / 38.43°N 92.89°W / 38.43; -92.89
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Missouri.svg Missouri
FoundedJanuary 5, 1833
Named after Daniel Morgan
Seat Versailles
Largest cityVersailles
Area
 • Total
614 sq mi (1,590 km2)
 • Land598 sq mi (1,550 km2)
 • Water16 sq mi (41 km2)  2.7%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
21,006
 • Density35.1/sq mi (13.6/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 4th
Website www.morgancountymo.gov

Morgan County is a county located in the central portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 21,006. [1] Its county seat is Versailles. [2] The county was organized January 5, 1833, and named for General Daniel Morgan of the American Revolutionary War.

Contents

History

Morgan County was organized in 1833 upon separation from Cooper County. It is named in honor of Revolutionary War General Daniel Morgan. Versailles, with a name referring to the French royal estate near Paris, France, was designated as the county seat and platted in 1854.

Established in 1853 there, the Martin Hotel was visited in the post-Civil War period by both showman and circus entrepreneur P. T. Barnum and outlaw robber Jesse James. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1978, it now operates as a museum. In 1858 the Mulhollen Station was a mail stop here for the newly established Butterfield Overland Mail stagecoach line, which carried goods and mail for several years to San Francisco, California.

The Morgan County Courthouse in Versailles, which has also been listed on the NRHP, was designed with French-style details, such as a mansard roof, in keeping with the origin of the town's name. It burned in 1887. The majority of the records were rescued, and the courthouse was soon rebuilt and restored.

Coal mining was historically an important economic activity in Morgan County. [3]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 614 square miles (1,590 km2), of which 598 square miles (1,550 km2) is land and 16 square miles (41 km2) (2.7%) is water. [4]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Geographical features

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1840 4,407—
1850 4,6505.5%
1860 8,20276.4%
1870 8,4342.8%
1880 10,13220.1%
1890 12,31121.5%
1900 12,175−1.1%
1910 12,8635.7%
1920 12,015−6.6%
1930 10,968−8.7%
1940 11,1401.6%
1950 10,270−7.8%
1960 9,476−7.7%
1970 10,0686.2%
1980 13,80737.1%
1990 15,57412.8%
2000 19,30924.0%
2010 20,5656.5%
2020 21,0062.1%
U.S. Decennial Census [5]
1790-1960 [6] 1900-1990 [7]
1990-2000 [8] 2010 [9]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 21,006 and a median age of 46.4 years. 22.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 24.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 100.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 100.2 males. [10]

The racial makeup of the county was 92.8% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 0.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.8% from some other race, and 4.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.1% of the population. [11]

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas. [12]

There were 8,548 households in the county, of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 21.8% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. [10]

There were 15,110 housing units, of which 43.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 78.8% were owner-occupied and 21.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.0%. [10]

Morgan County, Missouri – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980 [13] Pop 1990 [14] Pop 2000 [15] Pop 2010 [16] Pop 2020 [17] % 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020
White alone (NH)13,57015,31418,69319,57319,29898.28%98.33%96.81%95.18%91.87%
Black or African American alone (NH)9494971231260.68%0.60%0.50%0.60%0.60%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)55681191131050.40%0.44%0.62%0.55%0.50%
Asian alone (NH)7252175610.05%0.16%0.11%0.36%0.29%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x [18] x [19] 328xx0.02%0.01%0.04%
Other race alone (NH)10414570.07%0.03%0.01%0.02%0.27%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x [20] x [21] 214310905xx1.11%1.51%4.31%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)71691613654460.51%0.44%0.83%1.77%2.12%
Total13,80715,57419,30920,56521,006 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

Education

Public schools

Private schools

Public libraries

Communities

Cities and towns

Townships

Unincorporated communities

Politics

Local

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

Morgan County, Missouri
Elected countywide officials
Assessor Colleen Richardson-Richey Republican
Circuit Clerk Lori Moon Republican
County Clerk Cathy Daniels Democratic
Collector Kathy Francis Democratic
Commissioner
(presiding)		 James Bryant Republican
Commissioner
(district 1)		 Rodney Schad Republican
Commissioner
(district 2)		 Wayne Kroeschen, Jr. Republican
Coroner Maynard B. Jones Democratic
Prosecuting Attorney Dustin Dunklee Democratic
Public Administrator Amanda Huffman Republican
Recorder Nancy Boles Republican
Sheriff Jim Petty Democratic
Surveyor Lonny Allen Republican
Treasurer Kimberly Gunn Ingersoll Republican

State

Past gubernatorial election results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2024 79.04%7,58818.74% 1,7992.22% 213
2020 78.00%7,37219.89% 1,8802.11% 199
2016 66.35%5,82030.66% 2,6892.99% 262
2012 51.59%4,57544.91% 3,9833.50% 310
2008 47.58% 4,33350.18%4,5702.24% 204
2004 60.18%5,27338.54% 3,3771.27% 112
2000 53.57%4,20743.60% 3,4242.83% 223
1996 45.08% 3,22051.99%3,7142.93% 209

All of Morgan County is in Missouri's 58th Representative District in the Missouri House of Representatives, represented by David Wood (R-Versailles).

Missouri House of Representatives — District 58 — Morgan County (2016) [23]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican David Wood6,77379.35%−20.65
Democratic Travis Maupin1,76320.65%+20.65
Missouri House of Representatives — District 58 — Morgan County (2014)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican David Wood4,559100.00%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 58 — Morgan County (2012)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican David Wood7,047100.00%

All of Morgan County is a part of Missouri's 6th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Mike Kehoe (R-Jefferson City).

Missouri Senate — District 6 — Morgan County (2014)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Mike Kehoe4,21480.04%
Democratic Mollie Kristen Freebairn1,05119.96%

Federal

U.S. Senate — Missouri — Morgan County (2016) [23]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Roy Blunt5,41061.70%+13.06
Democratic Jason Kander2,91633.26%−10.54
Libertarian Jonathan Dine2212.52%−5.03
Green Johnathan McFarland1131.29%+1.29
Constitution Fred Ryman1081.23%+1.23
U.S. Senate — Missouri — Morgan County (2012)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Todd Akin4,19048.64%
Democratic Claire McCaskill3,77343.80%
Libertarian Jonathan Dine6507.55%
Write-In Write-ins10.01%

All of Morgan 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 — Morgan County (2016) [23]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Vicky Hartzler6,47075.34%−0.02
Democratic Gordon Christensen1,74820.35%+0.43
Libertarian Mark Bliss3704.31%−0.41
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 4th Congressional District — Morgan County (2014)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Vicky Hartzler3,96475.36%+8.90
Democratic Nate Irvin1,04819.92%−10.23
Libertarian Herschel L. Young2484.72%+1.99
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri’s 4th Congressional District — Morgan County (2012)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Vicky Hartzler5,66266.46%
Democratic Teresa Hensley2,56930.15%
Libertarian Thomas Holbrook2332.73%
Constitution Greg Cowan560.66%
United States presidential election results for Morgan County, Missouri [24]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
№ %№ %№ %
1888 1,26047.87%1,36251.75%100.38%
1892 1,08843.21%1,14345.39%28711.40%
1896 1,36645.46%1,62854.18%110.37%
1900 1,43449.84%1,39048.31%531.84%
1904 1,62455.60%1,26243.20%351.20%
1908 1,66355.30%1,31543.73%290.96%
1912 1,23945.47%1,16342.68%32311.85%
1916 1,57853.19%1,36846.11%210.71%
1920 2,91160.90%1,83438.37%350.73%
1924 2,48956.61%1,84241.89%661.50%
1928 3,01767.68%1,43232.12%90.20%
1932 2,00041.61%2,76857.58%390.81%
1936 2,99353.48%2,58546.19%180.32%
1940 3,16656.98%2,37642.76%140.25%
1944 2,89662.40%1,73537.38%100.22%
1948 2,36555.80%1,86243.94%110.26%
1952 3,39065.86%1,75034.00%70.14%
1956 3,16359.75%2,13140.25%00.00%
1960 3,23962.07%1,97937.93%00.00%
1964 2,74252.63%2,46847.37%00.00%
1968 2,90657.44%1,64932.60%5049.96%
1972 4,02170.47%1,68529.53%00.00%
1976 2,83150.60%2,73848.94%260.46%
1980 3,57757.86%2,46039.79%1452.35%
1984 4,39266.94%2,16933.06%00.00%
1988 3,95860.13%2,60439.56%200.30%
1992 2,81936.28%2,90637.40%2,04526.32%
1996 3,05942.89%3,00642.14%1,06814.97%
2000 4,46056.59%3,23541.05%1862.36%
2004 5,65764.50%3,05334.81%610.70%
2008 5,45159.58%3,56538.97%1331.45%
2012 5,73365.99%2,77331.92%1822.09%
2016 6,76076.64%1,76820.04%2933.32%
2020 7,44278.44%1,92420.28%1211.28%
2024 7,72579.35%1,91419.66%960.99%

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Morgan County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ Williams, Walter (1904). The State of Missouri. pp.  456.
  4. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  5. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  8. ↑ "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.
  9. ↑ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  10. 1 2 3 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  11. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  12. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  13. ↑ "1980 Census of Population - General Social and Economic Characteristics - Missouri- Table 16 - Persons by Spanish Origin, Race, and Sex: 1980" (PDF). United States Census Bureau . p. 20-25.
  14. ↑ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Missouri: Table 5 - Race and Hispanic Origin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau . p. 13-63.
  15. ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Morgan County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau .
  16. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Morgan County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau .
  17. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Morgan County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau .
  18. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  19. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  20. ↑ not an option in the 1980 Census
  21. ↑ not an option in the 1990 Census
  22. ↑ Breeding, Marshall. "Morgan County Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  23. 1 2 3 "County Results - State of Missouri - 2016 General Election - November 8, 2016 - Official Results". Missouri Secretary of State. December 12, 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  24. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 25, 2018.

Further reading

38°26′N92°53′W / 38.43°N 92.89°W / 38.43; -92.89

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.