Stoddard County | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 36°52′N89°57′W / 36.86°N 89.95°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Missouri |
Founded | January 2, 1835 |
Named for | Amos Stoddard |
Seat | Bloomfield |
Largest city | Dexter |
Area | |
• Total | 829 sq mi (2,150 km2) |
• Land | 823 sq mi (2,130 km2) |
• Water | 5.8 sq mi (15 km2) 0.7% |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 28,672 |
• Density | 35/sq mi (13/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
Congressional district | 8th |
Stoddard County is a county located in the southeastern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 28,672. [1] The county seat is Bloomfield. [2] The county was officially organized on January 2, 1835, and is named for Amos Stoddard, the first American commandant (an early term for "governor") of Upper Louisiana. [3]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 829 square miles (2,150 km2), of which 823 square miles (2,130 km2) is land and 5.8 square miles (15 km2) (0.7%) is water. [4]
Historical population | |||
---|---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± | |
1840 | 3,153 | — | |
1850 | 4,277 | 35.6% | |
1860 | 7,877 | 84.2% | |
1870 | 8,535 | 8.4% | |
1880 | 13,431 | 57.4% | |
1890 | 17,327 | 29.0% | |
1900 | 24,669 | 42.4% | |
1910 | 27,807 | 12.7% | |
1920 | 29,755 | 7.0% | |
1930 | 27,452 | −7.7% | |
1940 | 33,009 | 20.2% | |
1950 | 33,463 | 1.4% | |
1960 | 29,490 | −11.9% | |
1970 | 25,771 | −12.6% | |
1980 | 29,009 | 12.6% | |
1990 | 28,895 | −0.4% | |
2000 | 29,705 | 2.8% | |
2010 | 29,968 | 0.9% | |
2020 | 28,672 | −4.3% | |
U.S. Decennial Census [5] 1790-1960 [6] 1900-1990 [7] 1990-2000 [8] 2010-2020 [9] 2020 [1] |
As of the census [10] of 2000, there 29,705 people, 12,064 households, and 8,480 families residing in the county. The population density was 36 people per square mile (14/km2). There were 13,221 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile (6/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.34% White, 0.91% Black or African American, 0.40% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.24% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. Approximately 0.78% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 38.4% were of American, 15.4% German, 12.4% Irish and 8.5% English ancestry.
There were 12,064 households, out of which 30.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.40% were married couples living together, 9.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.70% were non-families. 26.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.90% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 26.30% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 17.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 92.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $33,120, and the median income for a family was $41,072. Males had a median income of $26,514 versus $17,778 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,003. About 12.80% of families and 16.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.20% of those under age 18 and 17.60% of those age 65 or over.
According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2000), Stoddard County is a part of the Bible Belt with evangelical Protestantism being the majority religion. The most predominant denominations among residents in Stoddard County who adhere to a religion are Southern Baptists (41.4%), Methodists (12.9%), and Pentecostal (8.3%). [11]
Race | Num. | Perc. |
---|---|---|
White (NH) | 26,610 | 92.8% |
Black or African American (NH) | 298 | 1.04% |
Native American (NH) | 67 | 0.23% |
Asian (NH) | 90 | 0.31% |
Pacific Islander (NH) | 2 | 0.01% |
Other/Mixed (NH) | 1,039 | 3.62% |
Hispanic or Latino | 566 | 2% |
The Republican Party predominately controls politics at the local level in Stoddard County. Republicans hold ten of the elected positions in the county. In the 2016 election, Sheriff Carl Hefner, who originally ran as a Democrat, switched parties and ran as a Republican.
Stoddard County, Missouri | |||
---|---|---|---|
Elected countywide officials | |||
Assessor | Daniel Creg | Republican | |
Circuit Clerk | Paula Yancey | Republican | |
County Clerk | Cecil Weeks | Republican | |
Commissioner (Presiding) | Danny Talkington | Republican | |
Commissioner (District 1) | Steve Jordan | Republican | |
Commissioner (District 2) | Carol Jarrell | Republican | |
Coroner | Brent Stidham | Republican | |
Prosecuting Attorney | Russ Oliver | Republican | |
Public Administrator | Cindy Duckworth | Republican | |
Recorder | Kay Asbell | Democratic | |
Sheriff | Carl Hefner | Republican | |
Surveyor | Joseph R Pulliam | Republican | |
Treasurer | Joshua Speakman | Republican |
Stoddard County is divided among three legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Billy Pat Wright* | 5,999 | 71.33 | +8.70 | |
Democratic | Bill Burlison | 2,411 | 28.67 | -8.70 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Ron McCormick | 257 | 59.49 | +59.49 | |
Democratic | Steve Hodges* | 175 | 40.51 | -59.49 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Kent Hampton | 654 | 63.01 | +63.01 | |
Democratic | Tom Todd* | 384 | 36.99 | -37.86 |
All of Stoddard County is a part of Missouri's 25th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by State Senator Rob Mayer (R-Dexter). In 2008, Mayer defeated Democrat M. Shane Stoelting 65.32%-34.68% in the district. The 25th Senatorial District consists of Butler, Dunklin, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Ripley, Stoddard, and Wayne counties.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Rob Mayer | 9,894 | 75.51 | ||
Democratic | M. Shane Stoelting | 3,209 | 24.49 |
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third Parties |
---|---|---|---|
2020 | 84.50%11,269 | 13.90% 1,855 | 1.2% 162 |
2016 | 73.80%9,792 | 24.00% 3,179 | 1.0% 127 |
2012 | 50.99%6,514 | 46.81% 5,980 | 2.19% 280 |
2008 | 52.85%6,919 | 45.33% 5,934 | 1.82% 239 |
2004 | 61.63%8,152 | 37.35% 4,940 | 1.03% 136 |
2000 | 52.83%6,537 | 45.98% 5,689 | 1.19% 147 |
1996 | 39.80% 4,423 | 58.49%6,501 | 1.71% 190 |
1992 | 46.69% 5,487 | 53.31%6,265 | 0.00% 0 |
1988 | 63.64%6,634 | 36.30% 3,784 | 0.06% 6 |
1984 | 59.47%6,421 | 40.53% 4,376 | 0.00% 0 |
1980 | 53.42%6,093 | 46.54% 5,308 | 0.04% 5 |
1976 | 46.48% 4,617 | 53.50%5,315 | 0.02% 2 |
Stoddard 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. Smith won a special election on Tuesday, June 4, 2013, to finish out the remaining term of U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson (R-Cape Girardeau). Emerson announced her resignation a month after being reelected with over 70 percent of the vote in the district. She resigned to become CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Jo Ann Emerson | 10,043 | 78.49 | +8.12 | |
Democratic | Jack Rushin | 2,381 | 18.61 | -7.42 | |
Libertarian | Rick Vandeven | 372 | 2.91 | +1.60 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Jason T. Smith | 1,968 | 67.33 | ||
Democratic | Steve Hodges | 787 | 26.92 | ||
Constitution | Doug Enyart | 87 | 2.98 | ||
Libertarian | Bill Slantz | 41 | 1.40 | ||
Write-In | Robert W. George | 20 | 0.68 | ||
Write-In | Thomas Brown | 20 | 0.68 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Jason T. Smith | 11,316 | 85.7 | ||
Democratic | Kathy Ellis | 1,738 | 13.2 | ||
Libertarian | Tom Schmitz | 155 | 1.2 |
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 11,484 | 85.54% | 1,819 | 13.55% | 123 | 0.92% |
2016 | 11,079 | 83.36% | 1,876 | 14.11% | 336 | 2.53% |
2012 | 9,496 | 73.81% | 3,153 | 24.51% | 217 | 1.69% |
2008 | 9,172 | 69.16% | 3,899 | 29.40% | 191 | 1.44% |
2004 | 9,242 | 69.74% | 3,946 | 29.78% | 64 | 0.48% |
2000 | 7,727 | 62.04% | 4,476 | 35.94% | 251 | 2.02% |
1996 | 5,020 | 44.92% | 4,883 | 43.69% | 1,273 | 11.39% |
1992 | 4,608 | 37.44% | 5,720 | 46.47% | 1,980 | 16.09% |
1988 | 5,822 | 55.25% | 4,701 | 44.61% | 15 | 0.14% |
1984 | 6,701 | 60.95% | 4,294 | 39.05% | 0 | 0.00% |
1980 | 6,199 | 53.85% | 5,128 | 44.54% | 185 | 1.61% |
1976 | 3,989 | 39.45% | 6,097 | 60.30% | 25 | 0.25% |
1972 | 6,282 | 70.44% | 2,636 | 29.56% | 0 | 0.00% |
1968 | 3,919 | 44.43% | 3,150 | 35.71% | 1,751 | 19.85% |
1964 | 3,014 | 33.65% | 5,944 | 66.35% | 0 | 0.00% |
1960 | 6,366 | 54.49% | 5,317 | 45.51% | 0 | 0.00% |
1956 | 4,832 | 43.14% | 6,369 | 56.86% | 0 | 0.00% |
1952 | 5,514 | 47.33% | 6,110 | 52.45% | 25 | 0.21% |
1948 | 3,117 | 30.65% | 7,029 | 69.12% | 23 | 0.23% |
1944 | 5,079 | 45.81% | 5,982 | 53.96% | 25 | 0.23% |
1940 | 6,055 | 47.24% | 6,725 | 52.47% | 38 | 0.30% |
1936 | 4,828 | 42.02% | 6,608 | 57.51% | 55 | 0.48% |
1932 | 3,234 | 30.84% | 7,139 | 68.09% | 112 | 1.07% |
1928 | 4,906 | 54.81% | 4,016 | 44.87% | 29 | 0.32% |
1924 | 3,844 | 44.29% | 4,348 | 50.09% | 488 | 5.62% |
1920 | 4,641 | 49.16% | 4,428 | 46.90% | 372 | 3.94% |
1916 | 2,482 | 40.63% | 3,274 | 53.59% | 353 | 5.78% |
1912 | 1,363 | 25.94% | 2,603 | 49.54% | 1,288 | 24.51% |
1908 | 2,025 | 39.87% | 2,736 | 53.87% | 318 | 6.26% |
1904 | 2,088 | 45.63% | 2,265 | 49.50% | 223 | 4.87% |
1900 | 1,840 | 39.78% | 2,695 | 58.26% | 91 | 1.97% |
1896 | 1,584 | 34.64% | 2,968 | 64.90% | 21 | 0.46% |
1892 | 1,218 | 33.97% | 2,220 | 61.92% | 147 | 4.10% |
1888 | 1,064 | 35.41% | 1,919 | 63.86% | 22 | 0.73% |
At the presidential level, Stoddard County generally tends to lean Republican. John McCain carried Stoddard County over Barack Obama by more than a two-to-one margin in 2008. George W. Bush also carried Stoddard County twice in 2000 over Al Gore and in 2004 over John Kerry when he received just under 70 percent of the vote. Bill Clinton did manage to carry Stoddard County in 1992 but narrowly lost it in his reelection bid in 1996 to Bob Dole.
Like most rural areas, voters in Stoddard County generally adhere to socially and culturally conservative principles which strongly influence their Republican leanings. In 2004, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman—it overwhelmingly passed Stoddard County with 88.29 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 Stoddard County with 60.65 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 Stoddard 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 Stoddard County with 72.02 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.
In the 2008 presidential primary, voters in Stoddard County from both political parties supported candidates who finished in second place in the state at large and nationally.
Former U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York) received more votes, a total of 2,225, than any candidate from either party in Stoddard County during the 2008 presidential primaries.
Wright County is a county located in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2010 census, the population was 18,815. 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.
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.
Washington County is located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 23,514. The county seat and largest city is Potosi. The county was officially organized on August 21, 1813, and was named in honor of George Washington, the first President of the United States.
Warren County is a county located in the eastern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2010 census, the population was 32,513. The county is located on the north side of the Missouri River. Its county seat is Warrenton. The county was organized on January 5, 1833; it was named for General Joseph Warren, who died in the Battle of Bunker Hill during the American Revolutionary War.
Taney County is a county located in the southwestern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 56,066. Its county seat is Forsyth. It is included in the Branson, Missouri, Micropolitan Statistical Area.
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. Its county seat is Benton. 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.
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 Fox (Meskwaki) people. This has been an area of cotton plantations and later other commodity crops.
Ozark County is a county located in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,553. The largest city and county seat is Gainesville. The county was organized as Ozark County, named after the Ozark Mountains, on January 29, 1841. It was renamed Decatur County, after Commodore Stephen Decatur, from 1843 to 1845, after which the name Ozark County was restored.
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 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.
Jefferson County is located in the eastern portion of the 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.
Howell County is a county located in the southern portion of Missouri. As of the 2010 census, the population was 40,400. 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.
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.
Gasconade County is a county located in the east-central portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,794. The county seat has been Hermann since 1842. The county was named after the Gasconade River.
Franklin County is located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 104,682. Its county seat is Union. The county was organized in 1818 and is named after Founding Father Benjamin Franklin.
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 2010 Census, the population was 24,696. Its county seat is Steelville. The county was organized in 1829 and is named after U.S. Senator William H. Crawford of Georgia.
Christian County is located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, its population was 88,842. Its county seat is Ozark. The county was organized in 1859 and is named after William Christian, a Kentucky soldier of the American Revolutionary War.
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.
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.