Pike County, Missouri

Last updated

Pike County
County
Pike County MO Courthouse 20141022 A.jpg
The Pike County Courthouse in Bowling Green
Map of Missouri highlighting Pike County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
Missouri in United States.svg
Missouri's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°20′N91°10′W / 39.34°N 91.17°W / 39.34; -91.17
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Missouri.svg  Missouri
FoundedDecember 14, 1818
Named for Zebulon M. Pike
Seat Bowling Green
Largest cityBowling Green
Area
 • Total
685 sq mi (1,770 km2)
 • Land670 sq mi (1,700 km2)
 • Water14 sq mi (40 km2)  2.1%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
17,587
 • Density26/sq mi (9.9/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 6th
Website www.pikecountymo.net

Pike County is a county on the eastern border of the U.S. state of Missouri, bounded by the Mississippi River. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,587. [1] Its county seat is Bowling Green. [2] Its namesake was a city in middle Kentucky, a region from where many early migrants came. The county was organized December 14, 1818, and named for explorer Zebulon Pike. The folksong "Sweet Betsy from Pike" is generally thought to be associated with Pike County, Missouri.[ citation needed ]

Contents

Pike County is said to be the home of Momo (The Missouri Monster). The first reported sightings in the 1970s were traced to various locations throughout the county.

History

The first settler other than native americans was William Spencer in 1799. Spencer came for a salt spring now known as Spencer Lick to start a salt manufacturing business. The salt was made to be shipped to St. Louis, a new but growing town at the time. Spencer abandoned his business when unfriendly native americans became a threat to his safety. He relocated the enterprise to Ralls County. [3]

The history of Pike County is complicated by the fact that at its establishment in 1818, it included today's boundaries plus all counties north of it, plus the counties bordering all of them on the west, in total over 6 or 7 times larger than its current size, and thus covering the northeast border area of today's State of Missouri. Pike county and the counties north of it were gradually reduced in size by the creation of Ralls and subsequent new counties including Marion, Lewis, Clark, Scotland, Knox, Shelby, and Monroe.[ citation needed ]

The county was first settled by migrants from the Upper South. Some, though not all, were sympathetic to the Confederate cause in later decades. After the end of the post-Civil-War Reconstruction era, some of the county's inhabitants enforced Jim Crow laws and racial segregation in the county to maintain what has been labeled by some as "white supremacy". This occurred despite the fact that key US/Unionist military operations to control "Confederate" upstarts were launched from Pike County and had bases there.[ citation needed ]

In a violent period near the turn of the 20th century, five African Americans were tragically lynched in Pike County between 1891 and 1914. [4] Among those were Curtis and Sam Young, who were both lynched for allegedly murdering the city marshall, Walter Meloan, on June 6, 1898, in Clarksville, [5] a small town on the Mississippi River. [6] Pike tied with Howard County, Missouri for the highest number of lynchings of African Americans in the state during this historical period. [7]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 685 square miles (1,770 km2), of which 670 square miles (1,700 km2) is land and 14 square miles (36 km2) (2.1%) is water. [8]

Adjacent counties

Transit

Railroads

Major highways

Former roadways

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1820 3,747—
1830 6,12963.6%
1840 10,64673.7%
1850 13,60927.8%
1860 18,41735.3%
1870 23,07625.3%
1880 26,71515.8%
1890 26,321−1.5%
1900 25,744−2.2%
1910 22,556−12.4%
1920 20,345−9.8%
1930 18,001−11.5%
1940 18,3271.8%
1950 16,844−8.1%
1960 16,706−0.8%
1970 16,9281.3%
1980 17,5683.8%
1990 15,969−9.1%
2000 18,35114.9%
2010 18,5160.9%
2020 17,587−5.0%
U.S. Decennial Census [9]
1790-1960 [10] 1900-1990 [11]
1990-2000 [12] 2010 [13]

As of the census [14] of 2010, there were 18,516 people, 6,451 households, and 4,476 families residing in the county. The population density was 27 people per square mile (10 people/km2). There were 7,493 housing units at an average density of 11 units per square mile (4.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 88.44% White, 9.17% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.92% from other races, and 1.04% from two or more races. Approximately 1.61% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 24.6% were of American, 24.5% German, 8.9% English and 8.5% Irish ancestry.

There were 6,451 households, out of which 31.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.70% were married couples living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.60% were non-families. 26.70% 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 3.01.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.40% under the age of 18, 9.10% from 18 to 24, 29.80% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 15.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 119.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 123.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,373, and the median income for a family was $39,059. Males had a median income of $28,528 versus $19,426 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,462. 15.50% of the population and 11.90% of families were below the poverty line. 20.20% of those under the age of 18 and 15.20% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

2020 Census

Pike County Racial Composition [15]
RaceNum.Perc.
White (NH)15,38387.47%
Black or African American (NH)9425.36%
Native American (NH)400.23%
Asian (NH)230.13%
Pacific Islander (NH)70.04%
Other/Mixed (NH)7584.31%
Hispanic or Latino 4342.47%

Education

Public schools

Private schools

Public libraries

Communities

Cities

Villages

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated places

Politics

Local

The Republican Party predominantly controls politics at the county level in Pike County, with Republicans holding many of the elected positions, with exceptions as stated below. Note that, per the tables below, Republican Pike County voters prevailed in Missouri gubernatorial elections of 2016 and 2004, and came close to a tie for dominance in 2012, followed by a clear overtaking of county politics in 2016, in contrast with a tradition of nominal Democratic party affiliations of county-level officials.

Pike County, Missouri
Elected countywide officials
Assessor Trace R. Foster Republican
Circuit Clerk Jerri Harrelson Democratic
County Clerk Laura Stumbaugh Republican
Collector Tara Eskew Democratic
Commissioner
(Presiding)		 Bill Allen Republican
Commissioner
(District 1)		 Tom Wallace Republican
Commissioner
(District 2)		 Brock Bailey Republican
Coroner Colton Marti Republican
Prosecuting Attorney Alex G. Ellison Republican
Public Administrator Debbie Tepen Republican
Recorder Kim Martin Luebrecht Republican
Sheriff Stephen Korte Republican
Treasurer Patti Crane Democratic

State

Past Gubernatorial Elections Results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2016 59.45%4,38937.31% 2,7553.24% 239
2012 47.66% 3,48250.03%3,6552.31% 169
2008 49.09% 3,85049.19%3,8581.73% 135
2004 55.32%4,41643.02% 3,4341.65% 132
2000 46.74% 3,42750.70%3,7172.56% 188
1996 30.30% 2,02767.65%4,5252.05% 137

Pike County is a part of Missouri's 40th District in the Missouri House of Representatives and is represented by Chad Perkins (R-Bowling Green).

Missouri House of Representatives — District 40 — Pike County (2016)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Jim Hansen6,301100.00%+24.00
Missouri House of Representatives — District 40 — Pike County (2014)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Jim Hansen3,09176.00%+18.88
Democratic Lowell Jackson97624.00%−18.88
Missouri House of Representatives — District 40 — Pike County (2012)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Jim Hansen4,12157.12%
Democratic Paul Quinn3,09442.88%

Pike County is a part of Missouri's 18th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Brian Munzlinger (R-Williamstown).

Missouri Senate — District 18 — Pike County (2014)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Brian Munzlinger3,287100.00%

Federal

U.S. Senate — Missouri — Pike County (2016)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Roy Blunt4,08455.55%+9.21
Democratic Jason Kander2,87239.06%−8.21
Libertarian Jonathan Dine1922.61%−3.78
Green Johnathan McFarland841.14%+1.14
Constitution Fred Ryman1201.63%+1.63
U.S. Senate — Missouri — Pike County (2012)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Todd Akin3,38146.34%
Democratic Claire McCaskill3,44947.27%
Libertarian Jonathan Dine4666.39%

Pike 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.

U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 6th Congressional District — Pike County (2016)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Sam Graves4,90768.33%+0.08
Democratic David M. Blackwell2,05128.56%+0.08
Libertarian Russ Lee Monchil1431.99%−1.28
Green Mike Diel801.11%+1.11
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri’s 6th Congressional District — Pike County (2014)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Sam Graves2,69668.25%+8.22
Democratic Bill Hedge1,12528.48%−8.83
Libertarian Russ Lee Monchil1293.27%+0.61
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 6th Congressional District — Pike County (2012)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Sam Graves4,15160.03%
Democratic Kyle Yarber2,58037.31%
Libertarian Russ Lee Monchil1842.66%
United States presidential election results for Pike County, Missouri [19]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
2024 6,15178.33%1,61820.60%841.07%
2020 5,86376.08%1,71722.28%1261.64%
2016 5,27471.00%1,80624.31%3484.68%
2012 4,57762.52%2,58235.27%1622.21%
2008 4,26853.97%3,48744.09%1531.93%
2004 4,31453.66%3,67045.65%560.70%
2000 3,64849.63%3,55748.39%1461.99%
1996 2,20933.00%3,49552.22%98914.78%
1992 2,25530.74%3,60949.20%1,47220.07%
1988 3,27146.07%3,81653.75%130.18%
1984 3,93354.28%3,31345.72%00.00%
1980 3,93251.80%3,45445.50%2052.70%
1976 3,35546.84%3,77052.64%370.52%
1972 4,45262.61%2,65937.39%00.00%
1968 3,07243.47%3,19245.17%80311.36%
1964 1,94426.94%5,27373.06%00.00%
1960 3,90048.77%4,09651.23%00.00%
1956 3,47445.08%4,23254.92%00.00%
1952 3,83645.47%4,58254.31%180.21%
1948 2,44833.08%4,93466.68%180.24%
1944 3,35141.72%4,65958.01%220.27%
1940 3,70739.07%5,74260.51%400.42%
1936 2,87132.53%5,89866.82%580.66%
1932 2,46229.38%5,78369.02%1341.60%
1928 4,56954.74%3,74944.91%290.35%
1924 3,71546.44%4,04050.51%2443.05%
1920 3,86043.07%5,03456.16%690.77%
1916 2,32240.57%3,34458.42%581.01%
1912 1,90139.15%2,72056.01%2354.84%
1908 2,40341.78%3,32657.82%230.40%
1904 2,44543.60%3,11355.51%500.89%
1900 2,53440.01%3,74759.16%530.84%
1896 2,88442.66%3,83956.78%380.56%
1892 2,56440.74%3,65558.08%741.18%
1888 2,72943.26%3,49355.37%861.36%

Missouri presidential preference primary (2008)

Former U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York) received more votes, a total of 1,447, than any candidate from either party in Pike County during the 2008 presidential primary. She also received more votes individually than the entire number of votes cast in the Republican Primary in Pike County.

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. ↑ "Pike County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Pike County Missouri - Peno Township".
  4. ↑ NAACP (1919). Thirty Years of Lynching in the United States, 1889—1918. NAACP. pp. 80–81.
  5. ↑ "Lynching in Missouri", Saline County, Missouri/GenWeb Project
  6. ↑ Missouri Negro Industrial Commission (data from NAACP), Biennial Report of the Missouri Negro Industrial Commission, Hugh Stephens Press, 1922, p. 79
  7. ↑ Lynching in America/ Supplement: Lynchings by County, 3rd edition Archived October 23, 2017, at the Wayback Machine , Montgomery, Alabama: Equal Justice Initiative, 2015, p. 7
  8. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  9. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 18, 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 18, 2014.
  13. ↑ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
  14. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  15. ↑ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Pike County, Missouri".
  16. ↑ Breeding, Marshall. "Bowling Green Free Public Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  17. ↑ Breeding, Marshall. "Clarksville Public Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  18. ↑ Breeding, Marshall. "Louisiana Public Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  19. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 26, 2018.

39°20′N91°10′W / 39.34°N 91.17°W / 39.34; -91.17

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