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Barry County, Missouri
Barry County MO Courthouse 20151022-097
The Barry County Courthouse in Cassville
Map of Missouri highlighting Barry County
Location in the state of Missouri
Map of the U.S
Missouri's location in the U.S.
Founded January 5, 1835
Named for William Taylor Barry
Seat Cassville
Largest city Monett
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

791 sq mi (2,049 km²)
778 sq mi (2,015 km²)
13 sq mi (34 km²), 1.6
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

34,534
Congressional district 7th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
WBarry

William Taylor Barry

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.[1] Its county seat is Cassville.[2] The county was organized in 1835 and named after William Taylor Barry, a U.S. Postmaster General from Kentucky.[3] The town of Barry, also named after the postmaster-general, was located just north of Kansas City, not in Barry County.

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 791 square miles (2,050 km2), of which 778 square miles (2,020 km2) is land and 13 square miles (34 km2) (1.6%) is water.[4] Roaring River State Park is located in the southern part of the county, amid the Mark Twain National Forest.

Adjacent counties[]

Major highways[]

  • US 60 U.S. Route 60
  • MO-37 Route 37
  • MO-39 Route 39
  • MO-76 Route 76
  • MO-86 Route 86
  • MO-97 Route 97
  • MO-248 Route 248

National protected area[]

  • Mark Twain National Forest (part)

Demographics[]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1840 4,745
1850 3,467 −26.9%
1860 7,995 130.6%
1870 10,373 29.7%
1880 14,405 38.9%
1890 22,943 59.3%
1900 25,532 11.3%
1910 23,869 −6.5%
1920 23,473 −1.7%
1930 22,803 −2.9%
1940 23,546 3.3%
1950 21,755 −7.6%
1960 18,921 −13.0%
1970 19,597 3.6%
1980 24,408 24.5%
1990 27,547 12.9%
2000 34,010 23.5%
2010 35,597 4.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2020[1]

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 34,010 people, 13,398 households, and 9,579 families residing in the county. The population density was 44 people per square mile (17/km2). There were 15,964 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile (8/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.09% White, 0.11% Black or African American, 0.86% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 3.25% from other races, and 1.38% from two or more races. Approximately 5.04% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 26.5% were of American, 15.5% German, 11.7% English and 10.4% Irish ancestry.

There were 13,398 households, out of which 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.30% were married couples living together, 8.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.50% were non-families. 24.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.10% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 26.10% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 16.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 98.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,906, and the median income for a family was $34,043. Males had a median income of $25,381 versus $18,631 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,980. About 11.80% of families and 16.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.50% of those under age 18 and 11.90% of those age 65 or over.

Religion[]

According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2010), Barry County is regarded as being a part of the Bible Belt, with evangelical Protestantism being the most predominant religion. The most predominant denominations among residents in Barry County who adhere to a religion are Southern Baptists (50.27%), Roman Catholics (19.26%), and United Methodists (4.67%).

Education[]

Public schools[]

  • Cassville R-IV School District – Cassville[10]
    • Eunice Thomas Elementary School (PK-02)
    • Cassville Intermediate School (03-05)
    • Cassville Middle School (06-08)
    • Cassville High School (09-12)
  • Exeter R-VI School District] – Exeter[11]
    • Exeter Elementary School (K-08)
    • Exeter High School (09-12)
  • Monett R-I School District] – Monett[12]
    • Monett Elementary School (PK-02)
    • Central Park Elementary School (03-04)
    • Monett Intermediate School (05-06)
    • Monett Middle School (07-08)
    • Monett High School (09-12)
  • Purdy R-II School District Purdy[13]
    • Purdy Elementary School (K-04)
    • Purdy Middle School (05-08)
    • Purdy High School (09-12)
  • Shell Knob School District No. 78 – Shell Knob[14]
    • Shell Knob Elementary School (K-08)
  • Southwest R-V School District Washburn[15]
    • Southwest Elementary School (PK-04)
    • Southwest Middle School (05-08)
    • Southwest High School (09-12)
  • Wheaton R-III School District – Wheaton[16]
    • Wheaton Elementary School (PK-06)
    • Wheaton High School (07-12)

Private schools[]

Public libraries[]

  • Barry-Lawrence Regional Library[18]

Politics[]

Local[]

Republicans control politics at the local level in Barry County, holding every elected position in the county.

Barry County, Missouri
Elected countywide officials
Assessor Sherry Smith Republican
Circuit Clerk Craig Williams Republican
County Clerk Joyce Ennis Republican
Collector Skyler Bowman Republican
Commissioner
(Presiding)
Gary Youngblood Republican
Coroner Gary Swearingen Republican
Prosecuting Attorney Amy Boxx Republican
Public Administrator Sam Madsen Republican
Recorder Danielle Still Republican
Sheriff Danny Boyd Republican
Treasurer Lois Lowe Republican

State[]

Past Gubernatorial Elections Results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2020 79.57% 12,356 18.03% 2,841 2.13% 331
2016 68.09% 9,943 28.50% 4,161 3.41% 498
2012 56.68% 7,769 40.06% 5,491 3.25% 446
2008 49.48% 7,156 47.90% 6,928 2.62% 379
2004 68.97% 9,594 29.81% 4,147 1.22% 170
2000 59.91% 7,352 38.14% 4,681 1.95% 239
1996 55.84% 6,574 41.28% 4,859 2.88% 339
1992 52.56% 6,529 47.44% 5,893 0.00% 0

All of Barry County is a part of Missouri's 158th Legislative District in the Missouri House of Representatives and is represented by Scott Cupps (R-Shell Knob).[19]

Missouri House of Representatives — District 158 — Barry County (2020)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Scott Cupps 12,408 81.35% -1.24
Democratic Brenda McKinney 2,845 18.65% +1.24
Missouri House of Representatives — District 158 Special Election — Barry County (2019)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Scott Cupps 1,798 82.59% -17.41
Democratic Lisa Kalp 379 17.41% +17.41

All of Barry County is a part of Missouri's 29th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Mike Moon (R-Ash Grove).

Missouri Senate — District 29 — Barry County (2020)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Mike Moon 13,499 100.00% ±0.00
Missouri Senate — District 29 — Barry County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican David Sater 13,239 100.00% ±0.00

Federal[]

All of Barry County is included in Missouri's 7th Congressional District and is currently represented by Billy Long (R-Springfield) in the U.S. House of Representatives. Long was elected to a sixth term in 2020 over Democratic challenger Teresa Montseny.

U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 7th Congressional District — Barry County (2020)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Billy Long 12,016 78.46% +2.49
Democratic Teresa Montseny 2,701 17.64% -3.34
Libertarian Kevin Craig 580 3.79% +0.74
[[|Template:/meta/shortname]] Write-ins 18 0.12%
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri’s 7th Congressional District — Barry County (2018)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Billy Long 9.261 75.97% +0.43
Democratic Jamie Daniel Schoolcraft 2,558 20.98% -0.03
Libertarian Benjamin T. Brixey 372 3.05% -0.41

Barry County, along with the rest of the state of Missouri, is represented in the U.S. Senate by Josh Hawley (R-Columbia) and Roy Blunt (R-Strafford).

U.S. Senate – Class I – Barry County (2018)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Josh Hawley 9,019 73.36% +19.56
Democratic Claire McCaskill 2,822 22.95% -14.65
Independent Craig O'Dear 234 1.90%
Libertarian Japheth Campbell 149 1.21% -7.39
Green Jo Crain 71 0.58% +0.58

Blunt was elected to a second term in 2016 over then-Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander.

U.S. Senate — Class III — Barry County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Roy Blunt 10,059 68.69% +14.89
Democratic Jason Kander 3,864 26.38% -11.22
Libertarian Jonathan Dine 388 2.65% -5.95
Green Johnathan McFarland 175 1.19% +1.19
Constitution Fred Ryman 159 1.09% +1.09

Political culture[]

United States presidential election results for Barry County, Missouri[20]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 12,425 79.66% 2,948 18.90% 225 1.44%
2016 11,428 78.25% 2,710 18.56% 467 3.20%
2012 9,832 71.22% 3,667 26.56% 307 2.22%
2008 9,758 66.63% 4,630 31.62% 256 1.75%
2004 9,599 68.92% 4,223 30.32% 105 0.75%
2000 7,885 63.75% 4,135 33.43% 348 2.81%
1996 5,855 49.62% 4,352 36.88% 1,592 13.49%
1992 5,565 43.62% 4,791 37.56% 2,401 18.82%
1988 7,231 63.00% 4,210 36.68% 36 0.31%
1984 7,683 68.81% 3,483 31.19% 0 0.00%
1980 7,038 61.42% 4,193 36.59% 227 1.98%
1976 5,053 49.79% 5,046 49.72% 49 0.48%
1972 7,295 69.73% 3,167 30.27% 0 0.00%
1968 5,537 57.12% 3,398 35.06% 758 7.82%
1964 4,757 47.27% 5,307 52.73% 0 0.00%
1960 6,706 63.12% 3,919 36.88% 0 0.00%
1956 6,063 57.27% 4,523 42.73% 0 0.00%
1952 6,664 61.77% 4,124 38.23% 0 0.00%
1948 4,812 50.46% 4,724 49.54% 0 0.00%
1944 5,796 58.85% 4,029 40.91% 23 0.23%
1940 6,573 55.68% 5,207 44.11% 24 0.20%
1936 5,906 50.48% 5,744 49.10% 49 0.42%
1932 4,497 42.47% 5,957 56.26% 134 1.27%
1928 5,901 62.89% 3,431 36.57% 51 0.54%
1924 4,065 47.93% 3,606 42.52% 810 9.55%
1920 5,162 57.04% 3,729 41.21% 158 1.75%
1916 2,683 47.82% 2,752 49.05% 176 3.14%
1912 1,396 27.71% 2,300 45.65% 1,342 26.64%
1908 2,526 49.62% 2,383 46.81% 182 3.57%
1904 2,568 51.21% 2,237 44.61% 210 4.19%
1900 2,420 46.49% 2,661 51.12% 124 2.38%
1896 2,320 42.24% 3,151 57.37% 21 0.38%
1892 1,940 42.98% 1,904 42.18% 670 14.84%
1888 1,904 45.07% 1,963 46.46% 358 8.47%



At the presidential level, Barry County is solidly Republican. Barry County strongly favored Donald Trump in both 2016 and 2020. No Democrat has carried the county's votes in a presidential election since Lyndon Johnson in 1964.

Like most rural areas throughout Missouri, voters in Barry County generally adhere to socially and culturally conservative principles which tend to influence their Republican leanings.

Missouri presidential preference primaries[]

2020[]

The 2020 presidential primaries for both the Democratic and Republican parties were held in Missouri on March 10. On the Democratic side, former Vice President Joe Biden (D-Delaware) both won statewide and carried Barry County by a wide margin. Biden went on to defeat President Donald Trump in the general election.

Missouri Democratic Presidential Primary – Barry County (2020)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Joe Biden 1,040 65.70
Democratic Bernie Sanders 441 27.86
Democratic Tulsi Gabbard 15 0.95
Democratic Others/Uncommitted 87 5.50

Incumbent President Donald Trump (R-Florida) faced a primary challenge from former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld, but won both Barry County and statewide by overwhelming margins.

Missouri Republican Presidential Primary – Barry County (2020)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Donald Trump 2,988 98.39
Republican Bill Weld 11 0.36
Republican Others/Uncommitted 38 1.25

2016[]

The 2016 presidential primaries for both the Republican and Democratic parties were held in Missouri on March 15. Businessman Donald Trump (R-New York) narrowly won the state overall, but Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) carried a plurality of the vote in Barry County. Trump went on to win the nomination and the presidency.

Missouri Republican Presidential Primary – Barry County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Ted Cruz 3,189 45.36
Republican Donald Trump 3,030 43.10
Republican John Kasich 400 5.69
Republican Marco Rubio 255 3.63
Republican Others/Uncommitted 157 2.23

On the Democratic side, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D-New York) both won statewide and carried Barry County by a small margin.

Missouri Democratic Presidential Primary – Barry County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Hillary Clinton 874 51.62
Democratic Bernie Sanders 796 47.02
Democratic Others/Uncommitted 23 1.36

2012[]

The 2012 Missouri Republican Presidential Primary's results were nonbinding on the state's national convention delegates. Voters in Barry County supported former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum (R-Pennsylvania), who finished first in the state at large, but eventually lost the nomination to former Governor Mitt Romney (R-Massachusetts). Delegates to the congressional district and state conventions were chosen at a county caucus, which selected a delegation favoring Romney. Incumbent President Barack Obama easily won the Missouri Democratic Primary and renomination. He defeated Romney in the general election.

2008[]

In 2008, the Missouri Republican Presidential Primary was closely contested, with Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) prevailing and eventually winning the nomination. However, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee carried Barry County, receiving more votes than any other candidate of either party.

Missouri Republican Presidential Primary – Barry County (2008)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Mike Huckabee 2,396 49.69
Republican John McCain 1,365 28.31
Republican Mitt Romney 739 15.33
Republican Ron Paul 266 5.52
Republican Others/Uncommitted 56 1.16

Then-Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York) easily won Barry County during the 2008 presidential primary. Despite initial reports that Clinton had won Missouri, Barack Obama (D-Illinois), also a Senator at the time, narrowly defeated her statewide and later became that year's Democratic nominee, going on to win the presidency.

Missouri Democratic Presidential Primary – Barry County (2008)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Hillary Clinton 1,976 65.52
Democratic Barack Obama 919 30.47
Democratic Others/Uncommitted 121 4.01

Communities[]

Cities[]

  • Cassville (county seat)
  • Exeter
  • Monett
  • Pierce City
  • Purdy
  • Seligman
  • Washburn
  • Wheaton

Villages[]

  • Arrow Point
  • Butterfield
  • Chain-O-Lakes
  • Emerald Beach

Census-designated places[]

Other unincorporated communities[]

  • Cato
  • Corsicana
  • Jenkins
  • Leann
  • Lohmer
  • Madry
  • Mayflower
  • McDowell
  • Mineral Spring
  • Osa
  • Pasley
  • Pioneer
  • Pleasant Ridge
  • Pulaskifield
  • Ridgely
  • Scholten
  • Travers
  • Viola
  • Wheelerville
  • Yonkerville

Townships[]

Barry County is divided into 25 townships:

  • Ash
  • Butterfield
  • Capps Creek
  • Corsicana
  • Crane Creek
  • Exeter
  • Flat Creek
  • Jenkins
  • Kings Prairie
  • Liberty
  • McDonald
  • McDowell
  • Mineral
  • Monett
  • Mountain
  • Ozark
  • Pioneer
  • Pleasant Ridge
  • Purdy
  • Roaring River
  • Shell Knob
  • Sugar Creek
  • Washburn
  • Wheaton
  • White River

Notable people[]

  • Clete Boyer - Major League Baseball player
  • Curtis F. Marbut - Director of the Soil Survey Division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (1913-1935)
  • Scott Fitzpatrick - Missouri State Treasurer (2019-present)

See also[]

  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Barry County, Missouri

References[]

  1. ^ a b "2020 Population and Housing State Data". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/2020-population-and-housing-state-data.html. 
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. 
  3. ^ Eaton, David Wolfe (1916). How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named. The State Historical Society of Missouri. pp. 205. https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_RfAuAAAAYAAJ. 
  4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_29.txt. 
  5. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html. 
  6. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu. 
  7. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mo190090.txt. 
  8. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf. 
  9. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov. 
  10. ^ Cassville R-IV School District
  11. ^ Exeter R-VI School District
  12. ^ Monett R-I
  13. ^ Purdy R-II School District
  14. ^ Shell Knob School District No. 78
  15. ^ Southwest R-V School District
  16. ^ Wheaton R-III School District
  17. ^ St. Lawrence Catholic School
  18. ^ Breeding, Marshall. "Barry-Lawrence Regional Library". Libraries.org. https://librarytechnology.org/library/20234. 
  19. ^ Scott Cupps
  20. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS. 

External links[]

Coordinates: 36°43′N 93°50′W / 36.71, -93.83

This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Barry County, Missouri. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License.
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