Scott County | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 37°03′N89°34′W / 37.05°N 89.57°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Missouri |
Founded | December 28, 1821 |
Named for | John Scott |
Seat | Benton |
Largest city | Sikeston |
Area | |
• Total | 426 sq mi (1,100 km2) |
• Land | 420 sq mi (1,100 km2) |
• Water | 5.9 sq mi (15 km2) 1.4% |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 38,059 |
• Density | 89/sq mi (34/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
Congressional district | 8th |
Website | www |
Scott County is a county located in the southeastern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 38,059. [1] Its county seat is Benton. [2] The county was organized in 1821 and named for U.S. Representative John Scott, the first federal representative from Missouri. Scott County comprises the Sikeston, MO Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Cape Girardeau-Sikeston, MO-IL Combined Statistical Area. The county is home to Scott County Central High School, which has won 18 state championships in boys basketball—the most of any high school in the state.
This area along the Mississippi River was long occupied by indigenous peoples. In historic times, the large and powerful Osage people dominated a large territory including this area and up and west from the later St. Louis, Missouri. Cape La Croix, a rock island in the Mississippi River, has a cross erected by Jesuit missionary Father De Montigny, who traveled with early French explorers in 1699. Some French colonists established trading relationships with the Osage; the traders were based in St. Louis, founded in the late 18th century.
Spain had taken control in 1763 after French lost to Britain in the Seven Years' War. They laid out the King's Highway (El Camino Real) in 1789, a north–south route crossing the county and extending through St. Louis, Missouri. In the late 1790s, Southerners were the first United States settlers on Spanish land grants in this area. France briefly took back the territory, then sold it to the United States in 1803 as part of the Louisiana Purchase.
Delaware (Lenape) and Shawnee people migrated into the area in the 1820s from territories east of the Mississippi, pushed by European-American encroachment on their lands.
The second county formed in Missouri's Southeast Lowland Region, Scott County was created by the Missouri state legislature on December 28, 1821. The county was named in honor of John Scott (1785–1861), the first congressman from Missouri. [3]
One of the earliest settlements was Commerce, Missouri, long known as Tywapitty, derived from an Osage language term. It was an early French fur trading post. Under Spanish rule before 1800, Rezin Bowie was syndic of Tywappity Settlement. (He was the brother of Kentucky frontiersman Jim Bowie.) This was established as a river landing by 1803, and residents formed the first Baptist Church in Missouri there in 1805. Sergeant John Ordway of the Lewis and Clark expedition used the proceeds from his land grant bounty to purchase land in Tywapitty where he farmed cotton and had apple and peach orchards until devastated by the 1811-182 New Madrid earthquakes. The city was platted in 1823 and it served as the Scott county seat from 1864 to 1878.
The current county seat of Benton was laid out in 1822; it is named after Thomas Hart Benton, one of Missouri's first U.S. Senators.
New Hamburg, the third town founded in the county, was settled by a wave of German immigrants in the late 1840s, who came to this country after the German revolutions of 1848. The first log church was St. Lawrence Catholic Church. Sikeston, the largest city in the county and the fourth settlement to be founded, was settled in 1800 and was laid out in 1860 by John Sikes on the Cairo & Fulton Railroad.
The county was devastated by guerrilla raids during the U.S. Civil War. Afterward, it developed rapidly from the 1870s to the early 1900s; its dense forests were lumbered off and numerous railroads were constructed. Towns founded during this period included Diehlstadt, Morley, Oran, Perkins, Blodgett, Crowder, Vanduser, Illmo, Fornfelt (Scott City), Chaffee, Ancell, and Kelso. The Thebes-Mississippi River Railroad Bridge at Illmo was built in 1905.
Located near Morley is the gravesite of Nathaniel W. Watkins, a state legislator and a general in the Missouri State Guards. He was a half-brother of statesman Henry Clay. Wilson Brown, the ninth lieutenant governor of Missouri, lived in the county for a time. Noted early legislators such as Joseph Hunter II and Abraham Hunter also lived here.
Cotton, soybeans, melon and grains were all common crops in rural Scott County. Between the Mississippi River and Little River District drainage ditches lies one of the oldest drainage systems in the United States, Crowley's Ridge, established in 1905, is a remnant of an old coastal floodplain and natural levee that crosses the country.
On January 25, 1942, an African American man named Cleo Wright was lynched in Sikeston. A Scott County all-white grand jury did not return any indictments for the crime after three hours of deliberation. [4]
On January 28, 2004, the Scott County Courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 426 square miles (1,100 km2), of which 420 square miles (1,100 km2) is land and 5.9 square miles (15 km2) (1.4%) is water. [5] The county's eastern border with Illinois is formed by the Mississippi River.
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1830 | 2,136 | — | |
1840 | 5,974 | 179.7% | |
1850 | 3,182 | −46.7% | |
1860 | 5,247 | 64.9% | |
1870 | 7,317 | 39.5% | |
1880 | 8,587 | 17.4% | |
1890 | 11,228 | 30.8% | |
1900 | 13,092 | 16.6% | |
1910 | 22,372 | 70.9% | |
1920 | 23,409 | 4.6% | |
1930 | 24,913 | 6.4% | |
1940 | 30,377 | 21.9% | |
1950 | 32,842 | 8.1% | |
1960 | 32,748 | −0.3% | |
1970 | 33,250 | 1.5% | |
1980 | 39,647 | 19.2% | |
1990 | 39,376 | −0.7% | |
2000 | 40,422 | 2.7% | |
2010 | 39,191 | −3.0% | |
2020 | 38,059 | −2.9% | |
U.S. Decennial Census [6] 1790-1960 [7] 1900-1990 [8] 1990-2000 [9] 2010-2015 [10] |
As of the census [11] of 2000, there were 40,422 people, 15,626 households, and 11,219 families residing in the county. The population density was 37 people per square mile (14 people/km2). There were 16,951 housing units at an average density of 16/km2 (41/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 87.68% White, 10.50% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 0.90% from two or more races. Approximately 1.11% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 15,626 households, out of which 35.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.60% were married couples living together, 13.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.20% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.80% 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 3.03.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.40% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 22.90% from 45 to 64, and 13.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 91.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $39,735, and the median income for a family was $48,847. Males had a median income of $30,169 versus $19,269 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,363. About 12.30% of families and 16.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.50% of those under age 18 and 13.60% of those age 65 or over.
According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2000), Scott County is a part of the Bible Belt with evangelical Protestantism being the majority religion. The most predominant denominations among residents in Scott County who adhere to a religion are Southern Baptists (40.54%), Roman Catholics (27.12%), and Methodists (9.28%).
Race | Num. | Perc. |
---|---|---|
White (NH) | 30,595 | 80.4% |
Black or African American (NH) | 4,476 | 11.8% |
Native American (NH) | 84 | 0.22% |
Asian (NH) | 149 | 0.4% |
Pacific Islander (NH) | 2 | 0.05% |
Other/Mixed (NH) | 1,818 | 4.77% |
Hispanic or Latino | 935 | 2.45% |
Of adults 25 years of age and older in Scott County, 72.9% possesses a high school diploma or higher while 10.6% holds a bachelor's degree or higher as their highest educational attainment.
The Democratic Party has historically controlled politics at the local level in Scott County. In recent years, however, Republicans have made inroads, gaining control of several county offices in 2018 and 2020. Republicans now hold most elected positions in the county, while Democrats only control the offices of County Clerk, Collector, Commissioner (district 2), Coroner, Recorder, and Surveyor. [15]
Scott County, Missouri | |||
---|---|---|---|
Elected countywide officials | |||
Assessor | Carla Essner | Republican | |
Circuit Clerk | Stacey Naile | Republican | |
County Clerk | Allen Seabaugh | Republican | |
Collector | Mark Hensley | Democratic | |
Commissioner (Presiding) | Danny Tetley | Republican | |
Commissioner (District 1) | Terry Cole | Republican | |
Commissioner (District 2) | Donnie Kiefer | Democratic | |
Coroner | Scott Branum | Republican | |
Prosecuting Attorney | Don Cobb | Republican | |
Public Administrator | Julia Crader Dolan | Republican | |
Recorder | Tara Mason | Democratic | |
Sheriff | Wes Drury | Republican | |
Surveyor | Brian Strickland | Democratic | |
Treasurer | Joe Bill Davis | Republican |
Scott County is divided into three legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives and one district in the Missouri Senate.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Jamie Burger | 11,343 | 97.80 | 0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Don Rone | 1,342 | 92.11 | 0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Herman Morse | 2,628 | 98.91 | 0 |
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third Parties |
---|---|---|---|
2020 | 76.74%13,535 | 21.51% 3,794 | 1.75% 308 |
2016 | 65.92%11,323 | 31.51% 5,412 | 2.48% 442 |
2012 | 49.99%8,421 | 48.04% 8,092 | 1.98% 333 |
2008 | 53.12%9,494 | 45.55% 8,142 | 1.33% 238 |
2004 | 58.69%10,198 | 40.31% 7,004 | 1.00% 174 |
2000 | 52.12%8,159 | 46.59% 7,293 | 1.29% 202 |
1996 | 38.71% 5,878 | 59.76%9,074 | 1.53% 233 |
1992 | 47.32% 7,564 | 52.68%8,422 | 0.00% 0 |
1988 | 56.49%7,845 | 43.45% 6,035 | 0.06% 8 |
1984 | 59.90%8,446 | 40.10% 5,654 | 0.00% 0 |
1980 | 49.80% 7,619 | 50.13%7,669 | 0.07% 11 |
1976 | 41.63% 5,558 | 58.37%7,793 | 0.01% 1 |
Scott County is included in Missouri's 8th Congressional District and is currently represented by Jason T. Smith (R-Salem) in the U.S. House of Representatives.
7614
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Jason T. Smith* | 13,547 | 77.62 | ||
Democratic | Kathy Ellis | 3,671 | 21.03 | ||
Libertarian | Tom Schmitz | 227 | 1.30 |
7614
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Jason T. Smith* | 5,305 | 69.67 | ||
Democratic | Barbara Stocker | 1,755 | 23.05 | ||
Libertarian | Rick Vandeven | 294 | 3.86 | ||
Independent | Terry Hampton | 145 | 1.90 | ||
Constitution | Doug Enyart | 115 | 1.51 |
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2024 | 13,786 | 78.87% | 3,525 | 20.17% | 169 | 0.97% |
2020 | 13,769 | 77.58% | 3,753 | 21.15% | 226 | 1.27% |
2016 | 13,168 | 75.95% | 3,575 | 20.62% | 594 | 3.43% |
2012 | 11,623 | 68.37% | 5,122 | 30.13% | 254 | 1.49% |
2008 | 11,563 | 63.95% | 6,258 | 34.61% | 261 | 1.44% |
2004 | 11,330 | 64.94% | 6,057 | 34.71% | 61 | 0.35% |
2000 | 8,999 | 57.30% | 6,452 | 41.09% | 253 | 1.61% |
1996 | 6,641 | 43.54% | 7,011 | 45.97% | 1,600 | 10.49% |
1992 | 6,265 | 37.95% | 7,452 | 45.14% | 2,790 | 16.90% |
1988 | 8,013 | 57.45% | 5,914 | 42.40% | 21 | 0.15% |
1984 | 8,727 | 61.05% | 5,569 | 38.95% | 0 | 0.00% |
1980 | 8,227 | 53.65% | 6,854 | 44.69% | 255 | 1.66% |
1976 | 5,473 | 40.31% | 8,075 | 59.48% | 28 | 0.21% |
1972 | 7,316 | 66.74% | 3,646 | 33.26% | 0 | 0.00% |
1968 | 3,856 | 36.23% | 4,313 | 40.52% | 2,474 | 23.25% |
1964 | 3,212 | 29.95% | 7,512 | 70.05% | 0 | 0.00% |
1960 | 5,807 | 47.77% | 6,349 | 52.23% | 0 | 0.00% |
1956 | 4,654 | 41.05% | 6,683 | 58.95% | 0 | 0.00% |
1952 | 4,661 | 39.45% | 7,127 | 60.33% | 26 | 0.22% |
1948 | 2,519 | 23.32% | 8,266 | 76.52% | 18 | 0.17% |
1944 | 3,995 | 35.77% | 7,132 | 63.86% | 41 | 0.37% |
1940 | 4,401 | 35.66% | 7,899 | 64.00% | 42 | 0.34% |
1936 | 3,126 | 28.57% | 7,763 | 70.95% | 52 | 0.48% |
1932 | 2,310 | 24.75% | 6,948 | 74.45% | 75 | 0.80% |
1928 | 3,779 | 42.25% | 5,159 | 57.68% | 6 | 0.07% |
1924 | 3,335 | 40.54% | 3,633 | 44.16% | 1,258 | 15.29% |
1920 | 4,204 | 49.00% | 4,157 | 48.46% | 218 | 2.54% |
1916 | 2,285 | 42.78% | 2,816 | 52.72% | 240 | 4.49% |
1912 | 1,235 | 29.50% | 1,945 | 46.45% | 1,007 | 24.05% |
1908 | 1,473 | 36.79% | 1,853 | 46.28% | 678 | 16.93% |
1904 | 1,124 | 41.96% | 1,470 | 54.87% | 85 | 3.17% |
1900 | 821 | 32.07% | 1,706 | 66.64% | 33 | 1.29% |
1896 | 751 | 28.21% | 1,906 | 71.60% | 5 | 0.19% |
1892 | 671 | 28.66% | 1,612 | 68.86% | 58 | 2.48% |
1888 | 629 | 31.28% | 1,382 | 68.72% | 0 | 0.00% |
At the presidential level, Scott County was historically a Democratic stronghold, voting Democratic in every election from 1872 through 1976 save Warren Harding's 1920 landslide and Richard Nixon's 1972 landslide. [21] A shift began to become evident in the 1980s, as Scott County voted Republican thrice in a row for the first time, one of those times even being against Southerner Jimmy Carter; however, all three elections were nationally decisive Republican wins, and Bill Clinton was able to recapture the county, albeit not by large margins, in both of his wins. Since then, however, Scott County has transitioned to being a reliable Republican stronghold; as of 2020, it has voted Republican six times in a row, and the Republican vote share has not gone below 60% since 2000. Donald Trump exceeded three-quarters of the vote in both of his runs.
Like most rural areas throughout Southeast Missouri, voters in Scott County generally adhere to socially and culturally conservative principles. In 2004, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman—it overwhelmingly passed Scott County with 85.32 percent of the vote. The initiative passed the state with 71 percent of support from voters as Missouri became the first state to ban same-sex marriage. In 2006, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to fund and legalize embryonic stem cell research in the state—it failed in Scott County with 64.85 percent voting against the measure. The initiative narrowly passed the state with 51 percent of support from voters as Missouri became one of the first states in the nation to approve embryonic stem cell research. Despite Scott County's longstanding tradition of supporting socially conservative platforms, voters in the county have a penchant for advancing populist causes like increasing the minimum wage. In 2006, Missourians voted on a proposition (Proposition B) to increase the minimum wage in the state to $6.50 an hour—it passed Scott County with 67.99 percent of the vote. The proposition strongly passed every single county in Missouri with 75.94 percent voting in favor as the minimum wage was increased to $6.50 an hour in the state. During the same election, voters in five other states also strongly approved increases in the minimum wage.
Wayne County is a county located in the Ozark foothills in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 10,974. The county seat is Greenville. The county was officially organized on December 11, 1818, and is named after General "Mad" Anthony Wayne, who served in the American Revolution. As of August 28, 2023, Wayne County is designated the UFO Capital of Missouri, along with the city of Piedmont.
Sainte Genevieve County, often abbreviated Ste. Genevieve County, is a county located in the eastern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 18,479. The largest city and county seat is Ste. Genevieve. The county was officially organized on October 1, 1812, and is named after the Spanish district once located in the region, after Saint Genevieve, patroness of Paris, France.
Pemiscot County is a county located in the southeastern corner in the Bootheel in the U.S. state of Missouri, with the Mississippi River forming its eastern border. As of the 2020 census, the population was 15,661. The largest city and county seat is Caruthersville. The county was officially organized on February 19, 1851. It is named for the local bayou, taken from the word pem-eskaw, meaning "liquid mud", in the language of the native Meskwaki people. This has been an area of cotton plantations and later other commodity crops.
New Madrid County is a county located in the Bootheel of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 16,434. The largest city is Portageville and county seat is New Madrid, located on the northern side of the Kentucky Bend in the Mississippi River, where it has formed an oxbow around an exclave of Fulton County, Kentucky. This feature has also been known as New Madrid Bend or Madrid Bend, for the city.
Mississippi County is a county located in the Bootheel of the U.S. state of Missouri, with its eastern border formed by the Mississippi River. As of the 2020 census, the population was 12,577. The largest city and county seat is Charleston. The county was officially organized on February 14, 1845, and was named after the Mississippi River.
Madison County is a county located in the Lead Belt region of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 12,626. Its county seat and largest city is Fredericktown. The county was officially organized on December 14, 1818, and was named after President James Madison. Mining has been a key industry in this area with Madison County recorded as having the oldest lead mine west of the Mississippi River.
Jefferson County is located in the eastern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. It is a part of the St. Louis Metropolitan Area. As of the 2020 census, the population was 226,739, making it the sixth-most populous county in Missouri. Its county seat is Hillsboro. The county was organized in 1818 and named in honor of former president Thomas Jefferson. In 1980, according to the U.S. census held that year, the county contained the mean center of U.S. population. Notably, this was the first census in which the center of population was west of the Mississippi River. Jefferson County is part of the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area and encompasses many of the city's southern suburbs.
Jasper County is located in the southwest portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 122,761. Its county seat is Carthage, and its largest city is Joplin. The county was organized in 1841 and named for William Jasper, a hero of the American Revolutionary War.
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.
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.
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.
Cole County is located in the central part of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, its population was 77,279. Its county seat and largest city is Jefferson City, the state capital. The county was organized November 16, 1820, and named after pioneer William Temple Cole who built Cole's Fort in Boonville.
Cape Girardeau County is located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Missouri; its eastern border is formed by the Mississippi River. At the 2020 census, the population was 81,710. The county seat is Jackson, the first city in the US to be named in honor of President Andrew Jackson. Officially organized on October 1, 1812, the county is named after Ensign Sieur Jean Baptiste de Girardot, an official of the French colonial years. The "cape" in the county's name is named after a former promontory rock overlooking the Mississippi River; this feature was demolished during railroad construction. Cape Girardeau County is the hub of the Cape Girardeau–Jackson metropolitan area. Its largest city is Cape Girardeau.
Bollinger County is a county located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the county's population was 10,567. The county seat, largest and only city, is Marble Hill. The largely rural county is supported by agriculture and construction. The county was officially organized in March 1851 from portions of Wayne, Cape Girardeau and Stoddard Counties, and named in honor of George Frederick Bollinger, an early settler.
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.
Cape Girardeau is a city in Cape Girardeau and Scott Counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. At the 2020 census, the population was 39,540, making it the 17th-largest in the state. The city is one of two principal cities of the Cape Girardeau, MO-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses Alexander County, Illinois, Bollinger County, Missouri and Cape Girardeau County, Missouri and has a population of 97,517. The sliver of the city located in Scott County is part of the Sikeston Micropolitan Statistical Area, and the entire city forms the core of the Cape Girardeau-Sikeston Combined Statistical Area.
Scott City is a city in Cape Girardeau and Scott counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population was 4,346 at the 2020 census. The Scott County portion of Scott City is part of the Sikeston Micropolitan Statistical Area, while the Cape Girardeau County portion is part of the Cape Girardeau–Jackson, MO-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Sikeston is a city located both in southern Scott County and northern New Madrid County, in the state of Missouri, United States. It is situated just north of the "Missouri Bootheel", although many locals consider Sikeston a part of it. By way of Interstate 55, Interstate 57, and U.S. Route 60, Sikeston is close to the halfway point between St. Louis and Memphis, Tennessee and is four hours from Nashville.
Missouri's 8th congressional district is one of 435 congressional districts in the United States and one of eight congressional districts in the state of Missouri. The district encompasses rural Southeast Missouri and South Central Missouri as well as some counties in Southwest Missouri. The district stretches from the Bootheel in the south to the St. Louis southern exurbs of Festus, Hillsboro, and surrounding areas in the Lead Belt; it ranges in the east to counties along the Mississippi River and in the west to counties along the Ozark Plateau near Branson. With a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of R+28, it is the most Republican district in Missouri.
Missouri's 27th Senatorial District is one of 34 districts in the Missouri Senate. The district is currently represented by Republican Holly Rehder.