Vernon County, Missouri

Vernon County, Missouri
Map of Missouri highlighting Vernon County
Location in the U.S. state of Missouri
Map of the United States highlighting Missouri
Missouri's location in the U.S.
Founded February 27, 1855
Named for Colonel Miles Vernon, state senator, and veteran of the Battle of New Orleans
Seat Nevada
Largest city Nevada
Area
 • Total 837 sq mi (2,168 km2)
 • Land 826 sq mi (2,139 km2)
 • Water 10 sq mi (26 km2), 1.2%
Population (est.)
 • (2015) 20,826
 • Density 26/sq mi (10/km²)
Congressional district 4th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website www.vernoncountymo.org

Vernon County is a county located in west central Missouri. As of the 2010 census, the population was 21,159.[1] Its county seat is Nevada.[2] The county was organized on February 27, 1855[3] and was named for Col. Miles Vernon (1786–1867), a state senator and veteran of the Battle of New Orleans.[4]

History

Vernon County suffered considerable damage during the American Civil War. The courthouse was burned by Union Army soldiers on May 23, 1863, along with the entire town of Nevada. The present courthouse dates to 1907.[5] Vernon County was one of four Missouri counties that were completely depopulated by Union General Thomas Ewing's notorious General Order No. 11 (1863). Most of the inhabitants would not be allowed to return to their homes until after the Civil War ended in May 1865.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 837 square miles (2,170 km2), of which 826 square miles (2,140 km2) is land and 10 square miles (26 km2) (1.2%) is water.[6]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18604,850—
187011,247131.9%
188019,36972.2%
189031,50562.7%
190031,6190.4%
191028,827−8.8%
192026,069−9.6%
193025,031−4.0%
194025,5862.2%
195022,685−11.3%
196020,540−9.5%
197019,065−7.2%
198019,8063.9%
199019,041−3.9%
200020,4547.4%
201021,1593.4%
Est. 201520,826[7]−1.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2015[1]

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 20,454 people, 7,966 households, and 5,432 families residing in the county. The population density was 24 people per square mile (9/km²). There were 8,872 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.99% White, 0.61% Black or African American, 0.79% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. Approximately 0.84% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,966 households out of which 32.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.30% were married couples living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.80% were non-families. 28.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.60% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 25.40% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 16.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 93.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,021, and the median income for a family was $37,714. Males had a median income of $28,182 versus $19,026 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,047. About 10.10% of families and 14.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.30% of those under age 18 and 13.30% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Public schools

Private schools

Colleges and universities

Politics

Local

The Democratic Party predominantly controls politics at the local level in Vernon County. Democrats hold all but three of the elected positions in the county.

Vernon County, Missouri
Elected countywide officials
Assessor Cherie K. Roberts Democratic
Circuit Clerk Vickie Erwin Democratic
County Clerk Mike Buehler[13] Republican
Collector Phil Couch Democratic
Commissioner
(Presiding)		 Joe Hardin[14] Republican
Commissioner
(District 1)		 Neal F. Gerster Democratic
Commissioner
(District 2)		 Everett Wolf[15] Republican
Coroner David L. Ferry Democratic
Prosecuting Attorney Brandy McInroy[16] Republican
Public Administrator Tammy Bond Democratic
Recorder Doug Shupe Republican
Sheriff Jason Mosher[17] Republican
Surveyor Jerry Wood Republican
Treasurer Phil Couch Democratic

State

Past Gubernatorial Elections Results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2008 46.54% 4,095 51.05% 4,491 2.41% 212
2004 66.76% 5,989 31.97% 2,868 1.27% 114
2000 52.49% 4,370 45.20% 3,763 2.30% 192
1996 39.90% 3,039 57.27% 4,362 2.84% 216

All of Vernon County is a part of Missouri’s 125th District in the Missouri House of Representatives and is represented by Barney Joe Fisher (R-Richards).

Missouri House of Representatives – District 125 - Vernon County (2010)
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Barney Joe Fisher 5,852 100.00

All of Vernon County is a part of Missouri’s 31st District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by David Pearce (R-Warrensburg).

Missouri Senate - District 31 - Cedar County (2010)
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican David Pearce 4,693 55.06
Democratic Chris Benjamin 3,831 44.94

Federal

All of Vernon 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 - Vernon County (2010)
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Vicky Hartzler 3,491 52.89
Democratic Ike Skelton* 2,887 43.74
Libertarian Jason Michael Braun 135 2.05
Constitution Greg Cowan 88 1.33

Political culture

Past Presidential Elections Results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2008 60.08% 5,334 38.08% 3,381 1.84% 163
2004 63.75% 5,732 35.65% 3,206 0.60% 54
2000 59.29% 4,985 37.54% 3,156 3.18% 267
1996 40.70% 3,123 43.82 3,363 15.48% 1,188

Missouri Presidential Preference Primary (2008)

Vernon County, Missouri
2008 Republican primary in Missouri
John McCain 705 (32.64%)
Mike Huckabee 920 (42.59%)
Mitt Romney 408 (18.89%)
Ron Paul 74 (3.43%)
Vernon County, Missouri
2008 Democratic primary in Missouri
Hillary Clinton 1,434 (61.55%)
Barack Obama 732 (31.42%)
John Edwards (withdrawn) 124 (5.32%)

Communities

Townships

  • Bacon Township
  • Badger Township
  • Blue Mound Township
  • Center Township
  • Clear Creek Township
  • Coal Township
  • Deerfield Township
  • Dover Township
  • Drywood Township
  • Harrison Township
  • Henry Township
  • Lake Township
  • Metz Township
  • Montevallo Township
  • Moundville Township
  • Osage Township
  • Richland Township
  • Virgil Township
  • Walker Township
  • Washington Township

Other communities

Notable residents

The Texas political figure Orville Bullington was born in Indian Springs in Vernon County before his family moved to Parker County, west of Fort Worth, Texas.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ History of Vernon county, Missouri. St. Louis: Brown & Co. 1887. pp. 194–196.
  4. ↑ "The Nevada Daily Mail". May 11, 1960. p. 8. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  5. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on April 22, 2009. Retrieved October 14, 2009.
  6. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
  7. ↑ "County Totals Dataset: Population, Population Change and Estimated Components of Population Change: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  8. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 11, 2015. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
  12. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on September 11, 2013. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  13. ↑ 2014 Election
  14. ↑ 2014 Election
  15. ↑ 2012 Election
  16. ↑ 2014 Election
  17. ↑ 2014 Election
 Linn County, Kansas Bates County St. Clair County
Bourbon County, Kansas Cedar County
   Vernon County, Missouri  
Crawford County, Kansas Barton County

Coordinates: 37°51′N 94°20′W / 37.85°N 94.34°W / 37.85; -94.34

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