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Morgan County, Missouri

Coordinates: 38°26′N 92°53′W / 38.43°N 92.89°W / 38.43; -92.89
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Morgan County
The Morgan County Courthouse in Versailles
The Morgan County Courthouse in Versailles
Map of Missouri highlighting Morgan County
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
Map of the United States highlighting Missouri
Missouri's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°26′N 92°53′W / 38.43°N 92.89°W / 38.43; -92.89
Country United States
State Missouri
FoundedJanuary 5, 1833
Named forDaniel Morgan
SeatVersailles
Largest cityVersailles
Area
 • Total
614 sq mi (1,590 km2)
 • Land598 sq mi (1,550 km2)
 • Water16 sq mi (40 km2)  2.7%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
21,006
 • Density34/sq mi (13/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district4th
Websitewww.morgancountymo.gov

Morgan County is a county located in the central portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 21,006.[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.

History

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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

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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

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Major highways

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Geographical features

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
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%
202021,0062.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010[9]

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 people/km2). There were 13,898 housing units at an average density of 23 units per square mile (8.9/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.

2020 Census

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Morgan County Racial Composition[11]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 19,298 91.9%
Black or African American (NH) 126 0.6%
Native American (NH) 105 0.5%
Asian (NH) 61 0.3%
Pacific Islander (NH) 8 0.04%
Other/Mixed (NH) 962 4.58%
Hispanic or Latino 446 2.12%

Education

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Public schools

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Private schools

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Public libraries

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  • Morgan County Library[12]

Communities

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Cities and towns

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Townships

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Unincorporated communities

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Politics

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Local

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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

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Past gubernatorial election results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2020 78.00% 7,372 19.89% 1,880 2.11% 199
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)[13]
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

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U.S. Senate — Missouri — Morgan County (2016)[13]
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)[13]
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%
United States presidential election results for Morgan County, Missouri[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 7,725 79.35% 1,914 19.66% 96 0.99%
2020 7,442 78.44% 1,924 20.28% 121 1.28%
2016 6,760 76.64% 1,768 20.04% 293 3.32%
2012 5,733 65.99% 2,773 31.92% 182 2.09%
2008 5,451 59.58% 3,565 38.97% 133 1.45%
2004 5,657 64.50% 3,053 34.81% 61 0.70%
2000 4,460 56.59% 3,235 41.05% 186 2.36%
1996 3,059 42.89% 3,006 42.14% 1,068 14.97%
1992 2,819 36.28% 2,906 37.40% 2,045 26.32%
1988 3,958 60.13% 2,604 39.56% 20 0.30%
1984 4,392 66.94% 2,169 33.06% 0 0.00%
1980 3,577 57.86% 2,460 39.79% 145 2.35%
1976 2,831 50.60% 2,738 48.94% 26 0.46%
1972 4,021 70.47% 1,685 29.53% 0 0.00%
1968 2,906 57.44% 1,649 32.60% 504 9.96%
1964 2,742 52.63% 2,468 47.37% 0 0.00%
1960 3,239 62.07% 1,979 37.93% 0 0.00%
1956 3,163 59.75% 2,131 40.25% 0 0.00%
1952 3,390 65.86% 1,750 34.00% 7 0.14%
1948 2,365 55.80% 1,862 43.94% 11 0.26%
1944 2,896 62.40% 1,735 37.38% 10 0.22%
1940 3,166 56.98% 2,376 42.76% 14 0.25%
1936 2,993 53.48% 2,585 46.19% 18 0.32%
1932 2,000 41.61% 2,768 57.58% 39 0.81%
1928 3,017 67.68% 1,432 32.12% 9 0.20%
1924 2,489 56.61% 1,842 41.89% 66 1.50%
1920 2,911 60.90% 1,834 38.37% 35 0.73%
1916 1,578 53.19% 1,368 46.11% 21 0.71%
1912 1,239 45.47% 1,163 42.68% 323 11.85%
1908 1,663 55.30% 1,315 43.73% 29 0.96%
1904 1,624 55.60% 1,262 43.20% 35 1.20%
1900 1,434 49.84% 1,390 48.31% 53 1.84%
1896 1,366 45.46% 1,628 54.18% 11 0.37%
1892 1,088 43.21% 1,143 45.39% 287 11.40%
1888 1,260 47.87% 1,362 51.75% 10 0.38%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Morgan County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  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. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  6. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  7. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  8. ^ "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 16, 2014.
  9. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  10. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  11. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Morgan County, Missouri".
  12. ^ Breeding, Marshall. "Morgan County Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  13. ^ a b c "County Results - State of Missouri - 2016 General Election - November 8, 2016 - Official Results". Missouri Secretary of State. December 12, 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  14. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 25, 2018.

Further reading

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  • 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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38°26′N 92°53′W / 38.43°N 92.89°W / 38.43; -92.89