Morgan County, Missouri

Morgan County is a county located in the central portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2010 census, the population was 20,565.[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.

Morgan County
U.S. county
Morgan County Courthouse in Versailles
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
Missouri's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°26′N 92°53′W
Country United States
State Missouri
FoundedJanuary 5, 1833
Named forDaniel Morgan
SeatVersailles
Largest cityVersailles
Area
 • Total614 sq mi (1,590 km2)
 • Land598 sq mi (1,550 km2)
 • Water16 sq mi (40 km2)  2.7%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total20,565
 • Estimate 
(2018)
20,358
 • Density33/sq mi (13/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district4th
Websitewww.morgan-county.org

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.%±
18404,407—
18504,6505.5%
18608,20276.4%
18708,4342.8%
188010,13220.1%
189012,31121.5%
190012,175−1.1%
191012,8635.7%
192012,015−6.6%
193010,968−8.7%
194011,1401.6%
195010,270−7.8%
19609,476−7.7%
197010,0686.2%
198013,80737.1%
199015,57412.8%
200020,82033.7%
201020,565−1.2%
Est. 201820,358[5]−1.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2015[1]

As of the census[10] of 2007, there were 20,820 people, over 7,850 households, and over 5,549 families residing in the county. The population density was 32 people per square mile (12/km²). There were 13,898 housing units at an average density of 23 per square mile (9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.34% White, 0.51% Black or African American, 0.63% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.16% from other races, and 1.22% from two or more races. Approximately 0.83% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,850 households out of which 26.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.50% were married couples living together, 7.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.30% were non-families. 25.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the county, the population was spread out with 23.80% under the age of 18, 6.20% from 18 to 24, 23.10% from 25 to 44, 27.30% from 45 to 64, and 19.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 97.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,659, and the median income for a family was $35,908. Males had a median income of $26,579 versus $19,072 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,950. About 12.10% of families and 16.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.60% of those under age 18 and 9.70% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Public schools

Private schools

Public libraries
  • Morgan County Library[11]

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 Elections Results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2016 66.35% 5,820 30.66% 2,689 2.99% 262
2012 51.59% 4,575 44.91% 3,983 3.50% 310
2008 47.58% 4,333 50.18% 4,570 2.24% 204
2004 60.18% 5,273 38.54% 3,377 1.27% 112
2000 53.57% 4,207 43.60% 3,424 2.83% 223
1996 45.08% 3,220 51.99% 3,714 2.93% 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)[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican David Wood 6,773 79.35% -20.65
Democratic Travis Maupin 1,763 20.65% +20.65
Missouri House of Representatives — District 58 — Morgan County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican David Wood 4,559 100.00%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 58 — Morgan County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican David Wood 7,047 100.00%

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)
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Mike Kehoe 4,214 80.04%
Democratic Mollie Kristen Freebairn 1,051 19.96%

Federal
U.S. Senate — Missouri — Morgan County (2016)[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Roy Blunt 5,410 61.70% +13.06
Democratic Jason Kander 2,916 33.26% -10.54
Libertarian Jonathan Dine 221 2.52% -5.03
Green Johnathan McFarland 113 1.29% +1.29
Constitution Fred Ryman 108 1.23% +1.23
U.S. Senate — Missouri — Morgan County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Todd Akin 4,190 48.64%
Democratic Claire McCaskill 3,773 43.80%
Libertarian Jonathan Dine 650 7.55%
Write-in Write-ins 1 0.01%

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)[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Vicky Hartzler 6,470 75.34% -0.02
Democratic Gordon Christensen 1,748 20.35% +0.43
Libertarian Mark Bliss 370 4.31% -0.41
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 4th Congressional District — Morgan County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Vicky Hartzler 3,964 75.36% +8.90
Democratic Nate Irvin 1,048 19.92% -10.23
Libertarian Herschel L. Young 248 4.72% +1.99
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri’s 4th Congressional District — Morgan County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Vicky Hartzler 5,662 66.46%
Democratic Teresa Hensley 2,569 30.15%
Libertarian Thomas Holbrook 233 2.73%
Constitution Greg Cowan 56 0.66%

Political culture
Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 76.6% 6,760 20.0% 1,768 3.3% 293
2012 66.0% 5,733 31.9% 2,773 2.1% 182
2008 59.6% 5,451 39.0% 3,565 1.5% 133
2004 64.5% 5,657 34.8% 3,053 0.7% 61
2000 56.6% 4,460 41.1% 3,235 2.4% 186
1996 42.9% 3,059 42.1% 3,006 15.0% 1,068
1992 36.3% 2,819 37.4% 2,906 26.3% 2,045
1988 60.1% 3,958 39.6% 2,604 0.3% 20
1984 66.9% 4,392 33.1% 2,169
1980 57.9% 3,577 39.8% 2,460 2.3% 145
1976 50.6% 2,831 48.9% 2,738 0.5% 26
1972 70.5% 4,021 29.5% 1,685
1968 57.4% 2,906 32.6% 1,649 10.0% 504
1964 52.6% 2,742 47.4% 2,468
1960 62.1% 3,239 37.9% 1,979
1956 59.8% 3,163 40.3% 2,131
1952 65.9% 3,390 34.0% 1,750 0.1% 7
1948 55.8% 2,365 43.9% 1,862 0.3% 11
1944 62.4% 2,896 37.4% 1,735 0.2% 10
1940 57.0% 3,166 42.8% 2,376 0.3% 14
1936 53.5% 2,993 46.2% 2,585 0.3% 18
1932 41.6% 2,000 57.6% 2,768 0.8% 39
1928 67.7% 3,017 32.1% 1,432 0.2% 9
1924 56.6% 2,489 41.9% 1,842 1.5% 66
1920 60.9% 2,911 38.4% 1,834 0.7% 35
1916 53.2% 1,578 46.1% 1,368 0.7% 21
1912 45.5% 1,239 42.7% 1,163 11.9% 323
1908 55.3% 1,663 43.7% 1,315 1.0% 29
1904 55.6% 1,624 43.2% 1,262 1.2% 35
1900 49.8% 1,434 48.3% 1,390 1.8% 53
1896 45.5% 1,366 54.2% 1,628 0.4% 11
1892 43.2% 1,088 45.4% 1,143 11.4% 287
1888 47.9% 1,260 51.8% 1,362 0.4% 10

Missouri presidential preference primary (2008)
  • Then U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York) received more votes, a total of 1,434, than any candidate from either party in Morgan County in the 2008 presidential primary.
Morgan County, Missouri
2008 Republican primary in Missouri
John McCain857 (34.29%)
Mike Huckabee896 (35.85%)
Mitt Romney615 (24.61%)
Ron Paul76 (3.04%)
Morgan County, Missouri
2008 Democratic primary in Missouri
Hillary Clinton1,434 (62.05%)
Barack Obama776 (33.58%)
John Edwards (withdrawn)78 (3.38%)
Uncommitted{{{uncommitted}}}

Cities and towns

Townships

Unincorporated communities

See also
  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Morgan County, Missouri

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  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. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  8. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  9. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  11. Breeding, Marshall. "Morgan County Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  12. "County Results - State of Missouri - 2016 General Election - November 8, 2016 - Official Results". Missouri Secretary of State. December 12, 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  13. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-03-25.

Further reading
  • History of Cole, Moniteau, Morgan, Benton, Miller, Maries and Osage counties, Missouri : from the earliest time to the present, including a department devoted to the preservation of sundry personal, business, professional and the private records; besides a valuable fund of notes, original observations, etc. etc. (1889) online

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