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Bates County, Missouri
Bates County Courthouse
Bates County Courthouse in Butler
Map of Missouri highlighting Bates County
Location in the state of Missouri
Map of the U.S
Missouri's location in the U.S.
Founded January 29, 1841[1]
Named for Frederick Bates
Seat Butler
Largest city Butler
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

851 sq mi (2,204 km²)
837 sq mi (2,168 km²)
15 sq mi (39 km²), 1.7
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

16,042
Congressional district 4th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website www.batescounty.net

Bates County is a county located in the west central part of the U.S. state of Missouri, two counties south of the Missouri River and is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, the population was 16,042.[2] Its county seat is Butler.[3] The county was organized in 1841 and named after Frederick Bates, the second Governor of Missouri.[4]

This mostly rural county has an overwhelmingly ethnic European-American population, which has declined in number since the early 20th century as people have moved to cities.

History[]

The borderlands of Kansas and Missouri were battlegrounds for insurgents during the American Civil War, with raids going back and forth across the border. Bates County is noted as the site for the first combat engagement during the war of African-American soldiers serving with the Union and against Confederate forces, which occurred on October 28–29, 1862. The First Kansas Colored Division (part of the state militia) fought Confederate guerrillas at the Battle of Island Mound four miles north of present-day Rich Hill, Missouri, and the Union forces won.

The Kansas soldiers were badly outnumbered but stood their ground, fighting valiantly. The skirmish was covered by The New York Times, which noted the men's bravery at a time when many people questioned whether former slaves could make good soldiers.[5] Their heroic action preceded President Abraham Lincoln's announcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in January 1863 and establishment of the United States Colored Troops.

Following a massacre of men and boys and the burning of Lawrence, Kansas, by Confederate bushwhackers in the summer of 1863, the United States General Ewing ordered the evacuation of the civilian population from rural areas of Bates and nearby counties except for within a mile of certain Union-controlled cities, in order to cut off sources of support for Confederate insurgents. This was done under Order No. 11. The county had been a base of Confederate guerrillas. But, Ewing's order generated outrage and added to support of guerrillas in some areas.

This mostly rural county continued to support agriculture in the decades after the Civil War. Since the early 20th century, population has declined as people have moved to cities for work.

Legacy and honors[]

  • A statue commemorating the Battle of Island Mound was installed on the north lawn of the county courthouse in Butler, seven miles from the skirmish site.
  • The skirmish area has been preserved since 2012 as the Battle of Island Mound State Historic Site, and its historic prairie is being restored.[6]
  • The Battle of Island Mound (2014) is a short documentary film made in cooperation with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources; it won two Emmy Awards in 2015 for historic documentary and cinematography.[7]

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 851 square miles (2,200 km2), of which 837 square miles (2,170 km2) is land and 15 square miles (39 km2) (1.7%) is water.[8]

Adjacent counties[]

Major highways[]

  • I-49 (MO) Interstate 49
  • US 71 U.S. Route 71
  • MO-18 Route 18
  • MO-52 Route 52

Demographics[]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1850 3,669
1860 7,215 96.6%
1870 15,960 121.2%
1880 25,381 59.0%
1890 32,223 27.0%
1900 30,141 −6.5%
1910 25,869 −14.2%
1920 23,933 −7.5%
1930 22,068 −7.8%
1940 19,531 −11.5%
1950 17,534 −10.2%
1960 15,905 −9.3%
1970 15,468 −2.7%
1980 15,873 2.6%
1990 15,025 −5.3%
2000 16,653 10.8%
2010 17,049 2.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2020[2]

As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 16,653 people, 6,511 households, and 4,557 families residing in the county. The population density was 20 people per square mile (8/km2). There were 7,247 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.33% White, 0.61% Black or African American, 0.59% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.39% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. Approximately 1.07% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,511 households, out of which 32.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.80% were married couples living together, 7.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.00% were non-families. 26.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.90% 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 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.50% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 26.00% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 17.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,731, and the median income for a family was $36,470. Males had a median income of $30,298 versus $19,772 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,477. About 11.50% of families and 14.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.30% of those under age 18 and 14.10% of those age 65 or over.

Religion[]

According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2010), Bates 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 Bates County who adhere to a religion are Southern Baptists (34.21%), United Methodists (15.78%), and Christian Churches and Churches of Christ (14.48%).

2020 Census[]

Bates County Racial Composition[14]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 14,799 92.3%
Black or African American (NH) 155 1%
Native American (NH) 92 0.6%
Asian (NH) 48 0.3%
Pacific Islander (NH) 9 0.06%
Other/Mixed (NH) 604 3.81%
Hispanic or Latino 335 2.1%

Education[]

Public schools[]

Private schools[]

  • Zion Lutheran School – Rockville (02-09) – Lutheran

Public libraries[]

  • Butler Public Library[15]
  • Rich Hill Memorial Library[16]

Politics[]

Local[]

Politics are divided at the local level in Bates County. Republicans hold a majority of the elected positions in the county.

Bates County, Missouri
Elected countywide officials
Assessor Roger Pruden Democratic
Circuit Clerk Shelli White Republican
County Clerk Marlene Wainscott Democratic
Commissioner
(Presiding)
Jim Wheatley Republican
Coroner Greg Mullinax Republican
Prosecuting Attorney Hugh C. Jenkins Democratic
Public Administrator Brenda Doody Democratic
Recorder Danyelle Baker Republican
Sheriff Chad Anderson Republican
Surveyor W.C. “Bill” Lethcho Democratic

State[]

Past Gubernatorial Elections Results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2020 76.70% 6,410 21.08% 1,762 2.21% 185
2016 59.64% 4,772 37.36% 2,989 3.00% 240
2012 45.46% 3,513 51.40% 3,972 3.14% 243
2008 41.75% 3,431 55.43% 4,555 2.82% 232
2004 53.22% 4,479 45.09% 3,795 1.69% 142
2000 48.88% 3,783 49.02% 3,794 2.10% 162
1996 34.70% 2,483 63.33% 4,531 1.97% 141
1992 42.06% 3,204 57.94% 4,414 0.00% 0

Bates County is split between three legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives, all of which are held by Republicans.

  • District 56 — Michael Davis (R-Kansas City). Consists of unincorporated areas in the northwestern quadrant of the county south of Drexel.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 56 — Bates County (2020)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Michael Davis 244 71.98% -28.02
Democratic Neal Barnes 95 28.02% +28.02
Missouri House of Representatives — District 56 — Bates County (2018)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jack Bondon 200 100.00% +25.33
  • District 57 — Rodger Reedy (R-Windsor). Consists of unincorporated areas in the northern part of the county south of Archie and Creighton.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 57 — Bates County (2020)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Rodger Reedy 438 100.00% +29.83
Missouri House of Representatives — District 57 — Bates County (2018)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Rodger Reedy 254 70.17% -1.80
Democratic Joan Shores 108 29.83% +1.80
  • District 126 — Patricia Pike (R-Adrian). Consists of most of the entire county.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 126 — Bates County (2020)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Patricia Pike 5,850 78.42% +6.72
Democratic Jim Hogan 1,610 21.58% -4.87
Missouri House of Representatives — District 126 — Bates County (2018)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Patricia Pike 4,332 71.70% -28.30
Democratic Jim Hogan 1,598 26.45% +26.45
Constitution Stephen Biles 112 1.85% +1.85

All of Bates County is a part of Missouri's 31st Senatorial District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Rick Brattin (R-Harrisonville).

Missouri Senate — District 31 — Bates County (2020)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Rick Brattin 6.323 77.76% +6.74
Democratic Raymond Kinney 1,808 22.24% +22.24
Missouri Senate — District 31 — Bates County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Ed Emery 5,373 71.02% +9.57
Independent Tim Wells 1,459 19.29%
Libertarian Lora Young 733 9.69% +9.69

Federal[]

All of Bates 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. Hartzler was elected to a sixth term in 2020 over Democratic challenger Lindsey Simmons.

U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 4th Congressional District — Bates County (2020)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Vicky Hartzler '6,539 78.88% +5.43
Democratic Lindsey Simmons 1,556 18.77% -5.11
Libertarian Steven K. Koonse 195 2.35% -0.32
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri’s 4th Congressional District — Bates County (2018)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Vicky Hartzler 4,893 73.45% -0.24
Democratic Renee Hoagenson 1,591 23.88% +1.83
Libertarian Mark Bliss 178 2.67% -1.59

Bates 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 – Bates County (2018)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Josh Hawley 4,467 66.82% +23.37
Democratic Claire McCaskill 1,906 28.51% -19.76
Independent Craig O'Dear 183 2.74%
Libertarian Japheth Campbell 89 1.33% -6.95
Green Jo Crain 40 0.60% +0.60

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

U.S. Senate — Class III — Bates County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Roy Blunt 4,630 58.06% +14.61
Democratic Jason Kander 2,866 35.94% -12.33
Libertarian Jonathan Dine 259 3.25% -5.02
Green Johnathan McFarland 126 1.58% +1.58
Constitution Fred Ryman 94 1.18% +1.18

Political culture[]

United States presidential election results for Bates County, Missouri[17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 6,597 78.18% 1,672 19.82% 169 2.00%
2016 6,001 74.24% 1,618 20.02% 464 5.74%
2012 5,020 64.60% 2,557 32.90% 194 2.50%
2008 4,833 58.35% 3,271 39.49% 179 2.16%
2004 5,004 59.11% 3,398 40.14% 64 0.76%
2000 4,245 54.48% 3,386 43.45% 161 2.07%
1996 2,904 40.69% 3,224 45.17% 1,009 14.14%
1992 2,499 32.33% 2,993 38.72% 2,238 28.95%
1988 3,574 51.57% 3,332 48.08% 24 0.35%
1984 4,223 59.38% 2,889 40.62% 0 0.00%
1980 4,061 54.00% 3,297 43.84% 163 2.17%
1976 3,350 43.60% 4,288 55.80% 46 0.60%
1972 5,314 63.76% 3,020 36.24% 0 0.00%
1968 4,087 49.49% 3,370 40.81% 801 9.70%
1964 3,514 40.50% 5,162 59.50% 0 0.00%
1960 5,429 58.16% 3,906 41.84% 0 0.00%
1956 5,467 55.97% 4,300 44.03% 0 0.00%
1952 6,002 60.03% 3,995 39.95% 2 0.02%
1948 4,156 48.71% 4,371 51.22% 6 0.07%
1944 5,122 55.46% 4,096 44.35% 18 0.19%
1940 5,727 53.33% 4,978 46.36% 33 0.31%
1936 5,022 46.60% 5,681 52.71% 74 0.69%
1932 3,395 35.02% 6,220 64.16% 79 0.81%
1928 6,133 62.70% 3,594 36.74% 54 0.55%
1924 4,552 47.11% 4,722 48.87% 389 4.03%
1920 5,039 51.91% 4,433 45.66% 236 2.43%
1916 2,597 42.88% 3,255 53.75% 204 3.37%
1912 1,383 22.95% 3,057 50.72% 1,587 26.33%
1908 2,754 44.07% 3,248 51.98% 247 3.95%
1904 2,956 47.11% 2,967 47.28% 352 5.61%
1900 2,731 39.26% 3,591 51.62% 634 9.11%
1896 2,522 32.63% 5,073 65.64% 133 1.72%
1892 1,928 27.65% 3,007 43.12% 2,039 29.24%
1888 2,674 38.07% 3,556 50.63% 794 11.30%



At the presidential level, Bates County has become solidly Republican in recent years. Bates County strongly favored Donald Trump in both 2016 and 2020. Bill Clinton was the last Democratic presidential nominee to carry Bates County in 1996 with a plurality of the vote, and a Democrat hasn't won majority support from the county's voters in a presidential election since Jimmy Carter in 1976.

Like most rural areas throughout Missouri, voters in Bates County generally adhere to socially and culturally conservative principles which tend to influence their Republican leanings, at least on the state and national levels. Despite Bates County's longstanding tradition of supporting socially conservative platforms, voters in the county have a penchant for advancing populist causes. In 2018, Missourians voted on a proposition (Proposition A) concerning right to work, the outcome of which ultimately reversed the right to work legislation passed in the state the previous year. 75.43% of Bates County voters cast their ballots to overturn the law.

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 Bates County by a wide margin. Biden went on to defeat President Donald Trump in the general election.

Missouri Democratic Presidential Primary – Bates County (2020)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Joe Biden 602 63.77
Democratic Bernie Sanders 273 28.92
Democratic Tulsi Gabbard 18 1.91
Democratic Others/Uncommitted 51 5.40

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

Missouri Republican Presidential Primary – Bates County (2020)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Donald Trump 947 97.83
Republican Bill Weld 2 0.21
Republican Others/Uncommitted 19 1.96

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 and carried a plurality of the vote in Bates County. He went on to win the presidency.

Missouri Republican Presidential Primary – Bates County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Donald Trump 1,306 46.04
Republican Ted Cruz 1,080 38.07
Republican John Kasich 199 7.01
Republican Marco Rubio 143 5.04
Republican Others/Uncommitted 109 3.84

On the Democratic side, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D-New York) narrowly won statewide, but Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) won a majority of the vote in Bates County.

Missouri Democratic Presidential Primary – Bates County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Bernie Sanders 632 53.12
Democratic Hillary Clinton 518 43.53
Democratic Others/Uncommitted 40 3.36

2012[]

The 2012 Missouri Republican Presidential Primary's results were nonbinding on the state's national convention delegates. Voters in Bates 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 Santorum. 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.

Missouri Republican Presidential Primary – Bates County (2008)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican John McCain 594 37.71
Republican Mike Huckabee 503 31.94
Republican Mitt Romney 368 23.37
Republican Ron Paul 71 4.51
Republican Others/Uncommitted 39 2.48

Then-Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York) received more votes than any candidate from either party in Bates 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 – Bates County (2008)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Hillary Clinton 1,427 63.51
Democratic Barack Obama 676 30.08
Democratic Others/Uncommitted 144 6.41

Communities[]

Cities[]

  • Adrian
  • Amoret
  • Amsterdam
  • Butler (county seat)
  • Drexel
  • Rich Hill
  • Rockville
  • Hume

Villages[]

  • Foster
  • Merwin
  • Passaic

Unincorporated communities[]

  • Altona
  • Ballard
  • Burdett
  • Crescent Hill
  • Hudson
  • Johnstown
  • Mayesburg
  • New Home
  • Nyhart
  • Papinville
  • Pleasant Gap
  • Prairie City
  • Sprague
  • Spruce
  • Virginia
  • Worland

Townships[]

Bates County is divided into 24 townships:

  • Charlotte
  • Deepwater
  • Deer Creek
  • East Boone
  • Elkhart
  • Grand River
  • Homer
  • Howard
  • Hudson
  • Lone Oak
  • Mingo
  • Mound
  • Mount Pleasant
  • New Home
  • Osage
  • Pleasant Gap
  • Prairie
  • Rockville
  • Shawnee
  • Spruce
  • Summit
  • Walnut
  • West Boone
  • West Point

Notable people[]

  • Robert Heinlein, science fiction author who was born and lived in Butler, mentioned the town in his short story "Requiem" and the novel To Sail Beyond the Sunset, in which the main character mentions the town several times
  • Howard Maple, professional athlete in American football and baseball[18]
  • Charles O'Rear, photographer and author best known for his photo Bliss, the default wallpaper of Windows XP
  • Stan Wall, former Major League Baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers
  • Warren Welliver, Missouri Supreme Court Justice (1979–1989)

See also[]

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

References[]

  1. ^ "Bates County History". Bates County. http://www.batescounty.net/history.php. 
  2. ^ 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. 
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. 
  4. ^ Eaton, David Wolfe (1916). How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named. The State Historical Society of Missouri. pp. 208. https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_RfAuAAAAYAAJ. 
  5. ^ "AFFAIRS IN THE WEST.; A Negro Regiment in Action--The Battle of Island Mounds--Desperate Bravery of the Negros--Defeat of the Guerrillas--An Attempted Fraud", The New York Times, 19 November 1862, accessed 22 February 2016
  6. ^ "Battle of Island Mound State Historic Site". Missouri State Parks. Missouri Department of Natural Resources. http://mostateparks.com/park/battle-island-mound-state-historic-site. 
  7. ^ " 'The Battle of Island Mound' wins two Emmy Awards from NATAS Mid-American Chapter", 7 October 2015 Press Release, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, accessed 29 February 2016
  8. ^ "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. 
  9. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html. 
  10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu. 
  11. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mo190090.txt. 
  12. ^ "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. 
  13. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov. 
  14. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Bates County, Missouri". https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Bates%20County,%20Missouri&t=Race%20and%20Ethnicity&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2. 
  15. ^ Breeding, Marshall. "Butler Public Library". Libraries.org. https://librarytechnology.org/library/20392. 
  16. ^ Breeding, Marshall. "Rich Hill Memorial Library". Libraries.org. https://librarytechnology.org/library/20175. 
  17. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS. 
  18. ^ "Howard Maple Baseball Stats | Baseball Almanac". http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=mapleho01. 

External links[]

Coordinates: 38°16′N 94°20′W / 38.26, -94.34

This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Bates 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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