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Cole County, Missouri
Cole County MO Courthouse 20140920-1
The Cole County Courthouse in Jefferson City
Map of Missouri highlighting Cole County
Location in the state of Missouri
Map of the U.S
Missouri's location in the U.S.
Founded 1820
Named for Stephen Cole
Seat Jefferson City
Largest city Jefferson City
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

402 sq mi (1,041 km²)
394 sq mi (1,020 km²)
8.2 sq mi (21 km²), 2.0
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

77,279
Congressional district 3rd
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website www.colecounty.org

Cole County is located in the central part of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, its population was 77,279.[1] Its county seat and largest city is Jefferson City, the state capital.[2] The county was organized November 16, 1820 and named after pioneer Captain Stephen Cole, an Indian fighter and pioneer settler, who built Cole's Fort in Boonville.[3]

Cole County is in the Jefferson City, MO Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is south of the Missouri River.

In 2010, the center of the population of Missouri was in Cole County, near the village of Wardsville.[4]

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 402 square miles (1,040 km2), of which 394 square miles (1,020 km2) is land and 8.2 square miles (21 km2) (2.0%) is water.[5] It is the third-smallest county in Missouri by area.

Adjacent counties[]

Major highways[]

  • US 50 U.S. Route 50
  • US 54 U.S. Route 54
  • US 63 U.S. Route 63
  • MO-17 Route 17
  • MO-179 Route 179

Demographics[]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1830 3,023
1840 9,286 207.2%
1850 6,696 −27.9%
1860 9,697 44.8%
1870 10,292 6.1%
1880 15,515 50.7%
1890 17,281 11.4%
1900 20,578 19.1%
1910 21,957 6.7%
1920 24,680 12.4%
1930 30,848 25.0%
1940 34,912 13.2%
1950 35,464 1.6%
1960 40,761 14.9%
1970 46,228 13.4%
1980 56,663 22.6%
1990 63,579 12.2%
2000 71,397 12.3%
2010 75,990 6.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2020[10]

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 71,397 people, 27,040 households, and 17,927 families residing in the county. The population density was 182 people per square mile (70/km2). There were 28,915 housing units at an average density of 74 per square mile (29/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 87.06% White, 9.92% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.88% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.54% from other races, and 1.23% from two or more races. Approximately 1.28% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 40.1% were of German, 13.6% American, 7.8% English and 6.9% Irish ancestry.

There were 27,040 households, out of which 33.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.00% were married couples living together, 10.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.70% were non-families. 28.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.20% under the age of 18, 9.80% from 18 to 24, 32.30% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 11.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,924, and the median income for a family was $53,416. Males had a median income of $33,769 versus $25,189 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,739. About 5.80% of families and 8.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.50% of those under age 18 and 7.30% of those age 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure[]

The Missouri Department of Corrections (MDOC) operates the Jefferson City Correctional Center in Jefferson City.[12] The current JCCC was opened on September 15, 2004, replacing the Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City.[12]

Education[]

Public schools[]

  • Blair Oaks R-II School District – Jefferson City
    • Blair Oaks Elementary School (K-04)
    • Blair Oaks Middle School (05-08)
    • Blair Oaks High School (09-12)
  • Cole County R-I School District – Russellville
    • Cole County R-I Elementary School (PK-05)
    • Cole County R-I Middle School (06-08)
    • Russellville High School (09-12)
  • Cole County R-V School District – Eugene
    • Eugene Elementary School (PK-06)
    • Eugene High School (07-12)
  • Jefferson City Public School DistrictJefferson City
    • Southwest Early Childhood Education Center (PK)
    • Southwest Elementary School (K-05)
    • Callaway Hills Elementary School (K-05) – Holts Summit
    • South Elementary School (K-05)
    • Thorpe J. Gordon Elementary School (K-05)
    • East Elementary School (K-05)
    • North Elementary School (K-05) – Holts Summit
    • Cedar Hill Elementary School (K-05)
    • West Elementary School (K-05)
    • Moreau Heights Elementary School (K-05)
    • Belair Elementary School (K-05)
    • Pioneer Trail Elementary School (K-05)
    • Clarence Lawson Elementary School (PK-05)
    • Thomas Jefferson Middle School (06-08)
    • Lewis & Clark Middle School (06-08)
    • Jefferson City High School (09-12)
    • Capital City High School (09-12)

Private schools[]

Post-secondary education[]

  • Lincoln University – Jefferson City – A public, four-year historically black university.

Public libraries[]

  • Missouri River Regional Library[13]

Politics[]

Local[]

The Republican Party controls politics at the local level in Cole County. Republicans hold all but one of the elected positions in the county.The Democratic Party do not hold any elected positions on the county level.[14][15]

Cole County, Missouri
Elected countywide officials
Assessor Chris Estes Republican
Circuit Clerk Dawnel P. Davidson Republican
County Clerk Larry Vincent Republican
Collector Larry Vincent Republican
Commissioner
(Presiding)
Sam Bushman Republican
Commissioner
(District 1)
Jeff Hoelscher Republican
Commissioner
(District 2)
Harry Otto Republican
Coroner Carl R. Doerhoff Independent
Prosecuting Attorney Locke Thompson Republican
Public Administrator Ralph Jobe Republican
Recorder Judy Ridgeway Republican
Sheriff John P. Wheeler Republican
Treasurer Eric Peters Republican

State[]

Past Gubernatorial Elections Results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2020 67.94% 26,886 29.63% 11,726 2.43% 961
2016 55.58% 20,872 42.09% 15,806 2.33% 877
2012 51.85% 19,099 45.64% 16,810 2.51% 926
2008 49.87% 19,285 48.98% 18,941 1.15% 447
2004 63.13% 23,147 36.08% 13,229 0.80% 292
2000 51.14% 16,673 47.23% 15,397 1.63% 532
1996 33.77% 9,902 63.80% 18,708 2.43% 713

Cole County is divided into five legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives, all of which elected Republicans.


  • District 49 — Travis Fitzwater (R-Holts Summit). Consists of a small unincorporated area of the county just west of the city of Jefferson City.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 49 — Cole County (2020)[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Travis Fitzwater 963 96.59%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 49 — Cole County (2016)[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Travis Fitzwater 918 100.00% +35.66
Missouri House of Representatives — District 49 — Cole County (2018)[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Travis Fitzwater 692 69.69%
Democratic Lisa Buhr 300 30.21%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 49 — Cole County (2014)[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Travis Fitzwater 442 64.34% -5.57
Democratic Gracia Yancey Backer 245 35.66% +5.57
Missouri House of Representatives — District 49 — Cole County (2012)[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jeanie Riddle 704 69.91%
Democratic Pam Murray 303 30.09%
  • District 50 — Sara Walsh. Consists of unincorporated areas in the northwest corner of the county.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 50 — Cole County (2020)[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sara Walsh 691 81.29%
Democratic Kari Chesney 159 18.71%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 50 — Cole County (2018)[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sara Walsh 536 76.90%
Democratic Michela Skelton 161 23.10%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 50 — Cole County (2016)[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Caleb Jones 684 100.00%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 50 — Cole County (2014)[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Caleb Jones 426 100.00% 0.00
Missouri House of Representatives — District 50 — Cole County (2012)[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Caleb Jones 611 100.00%
  • District 59 — Rudy Veit (R-Jefferson City). Consists of the communities of Centertown, Eugene, Lohman, Russellville, St. Martins, Taos, and Wardsville.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 59 — Cole County (2020)[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Rudy Veit 15,592 98.27%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 59 — Cole County (2018)[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Rudy Veit 11,226 76.05%
Democratic Linda Ellen Greeson 3,518 23.83%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 59 — Cole County (2016)[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Mike Bernskoetter 14,923 100.00%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 59 — Cole County (2014)[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Mike Bernskoetter 8,396 88.59% +7.84
Constitution Michael Eberle 1,081 11.41% +11.41
Missouri House of Representatives — District 59 — Cole County (2012)[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Mike Bernskoetter 12,604 80.75%
Democratic Vonnieta Trickey 3,005 19.25%
  • District 60 — Dave Griffith (R-Jefferson City) Consists of the city of Jefferson City.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 60 — Cole County (2020)[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Dave Griffith 11,404 63.66%
Democratic Joshua Dunne 6,483 36.19%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 60 — Cole County (2018)[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Dave Griffith 8,944 57.57%
Democratic Sara Michael 6,572 42.30%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 60 — Cole County (2016)[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jason (Jay) Barnes 11,139 64.24% -35.76
Democratic Kevin Nelson 6,202 35.76%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 60 — Cole County (2014)[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jason (Jay) Barnes 9,041 100.00% -39.89
Missouri House of Representatives — District 60 — Cole County (2012)[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jason (Jay) Barnes 10,674 60.11%
Democratic Thomas Minihan 7.084 39.89%
  • District 62 — Tom Hurst (R-Meta) Consists of the community of St. Thomas.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 62 — Cole County (2020)[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Bruce Sassmann 955 83.63%
Democratic Nancy Ragan 187 16.37%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 62 — Cole County (2018)[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Tom Hurst 774 83.50%
Democratic Ashley Fajkowski 153 16.50%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 62 — Cole County (2016)[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Tom Hurst 991 100.00%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 62 — Cole County (2014)[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Tom Hurst 592 100.00% -25.51
Missouri House of Representatives — District 62 — Cole County (2012)[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Tom Hurst 765 74.49%
Democratic Greg Stratman 262 25.51%

Cole County is a part of Missouri's 6th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Mike Bernskoetter (R-Jefferson City).

Missouri Senate — District 6 — Cole County (2018)[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Mike Bernskoetter 23,058 69.49%
Democratic Nicole Thompson 9,473 28.55%
Libertarian Steven Wilson 625 1.88%
Missouri Senate — District 6 — Cole County (2014)[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Mike Kehoe 17,157 75.64%
Democratic Mollie Kristen Freebairn 5,526 24.36%

Federal[]

U.S. Senate — Missouri — (2018)[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Josh Hawley 20,738 61.95%
Democratic Claire McCaskill 11,718 35.01%
[[Independent Party (United States)|Template:Independent Party (United States)/meta/shortname]] Craig O'Dear 448 1.34%
Libertarian Japheth Campbell 380 1.14%
Green Jo Crain 158 0.47%
U.S. Senate — Missouri — (2016)[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Roy Blunt 21,940 58.54% +6.77
Democratic Jason Kander 14,216 37.93% -4.19
Libertarian Jonathan Dine 800 2.13% -3.98
Green Johnathan McFarland 311 0.83% +0.83
Constitution Fred Ryman 206 0.55% +0.55
Write-in Patrick Lee 3 0.01% +0.01
U.S. Senate — Missouri — (2012)[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Todd Akin 18,918 51.77
Democratic Claire McCaskill 15,394 42.12
Libertarian Jonathan Dine 2,233 6.11

All of Cole County is included in Missouri's 3rd congressional district and is currently represented by Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-Saint Elizabeth) in the U.S. House of Representatives.

U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 3rd Congressional District — Cole County (2020)[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Blaine Luetkemeyer 27,676 70.78%
Democratic Megan Rezabek 10,385 26.56%
Libertarian Leonard J Steinman II 1,002 2.56%
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 3rd Congressional District — Cole County (2018)[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Blaine Luetkemeyer 23,049 69.29%
Democratic Katy Geppert 9,649 29.00%
Libertarian Donald Stolle 549 1.65%
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 3rd Congressional District — Cole County (2016)[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Blaine Luetkemeyer 26,481 71.61% -0.51
Democratic Kevin Miller 9,368 25.33% +1.19
Libertarian Dan Hogan 815 2.20% -1.54
Constitution Doanita Simmons 314 0.85% +0.85
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 3rd Congressional District — Cole County (2014)[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Blaine Luetkemeyer 16,401 72.12% +1.77
Democratic Courtney Denton 5,491 24.14% -3.10
Libertarian Steven Hedrick 851 3.74% +1.33
Write-in Harold Davis 1 >0.00%
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri’s 3rd Congressional District — Cole County (2012)[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Blaine Luetkemeyer 25,576 70.35%
Democratic Eric C. Mayer 9,901 27.24%
Libertarian Steven Wilson 877 2.41%

Political culture[]

United States presidential election results for Cole County, Missouri[19]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 26,086 65.80% 12,694 32.02% 865 2.18%
2016 24,616 65.37% 10,913 28.98% 2,127 5.65%
2012 24,490 65.85% 12,005 32.28% 695 1.87%
2008 24,385 62.79% 13,959 35.95% 490 1.26%
2004 24,752 67.44% 11,753 32.02% 196 0.53%
2000 20,167 61.53% 12,056 36.78% 552 1.68%
1996 16,140 55.01% 10,857 37.00% 2,345 7.99%
1992 15,270 48.78% 10,201 32.59% 5,833 18.63%
1988 18,023 68.16% 8,359 31.61% 59 0.22%
1984 20,366 75.24% 6,702 24.76% 0 0.00%
1980 16,373 61.96% 9,210 34.86% 840 3.18%
1976 14,370 63.86% 7,949 35.32% 184 0.82%
1972 16,685 77.83% 4,754 22.17% 0 0.00%
1968 11,575 60.55% 5,916 30.95% 1,625 8.50%
1964 10,068 55.33% 8,127 44.67% 0 0.00%
1960 9,763 53.36% 8,532 46.64% 0 0.00%
1956 9,323 55.79% 7,388 44.21% 0 0.00%
1952 9,700 56.36% 7,507 43.62% 3 0.02%
1948 6,909 46.60% 7,891 53.23% 25 0.17%
1944 7,364 50.76% 7,139 49.21% 4 0.03%
1940 7,664 48.23% 8,219 51.72% 9 0.06%
1936 6,180 40.91% 8,831 58.46% 95 0.63%
1932 5,636 38.26% 9,068 61.56% 27 0.18%
1928 6,637 50.54% 6,481 49.35% 15 0.11%
1924 6,205 52.49% 5,033 42.58% 583 4.93%
1920 5,878 58.31% 4,167 41.34% 36 0.36%
1916 2,746 48.15% 2,915 51.11% 42 0.74%
1912 2,103 43.22% 2,447 50.29% 316 6.49%
1908 2,402 48.58% 2,494 50.44% 48 0.97%
1904 2,081 47.48% 2,244 51.20% 58 1.32%
1900 2,157 47.84% 2,320 51.45% 32 0.71%
1896 2,033 47.53% 2,198 51.39% 46 1.08%
1892 1,752 47.82% 1,844 50.33% 68 1.86%
1888 1,708 48.13% 1,824 51.39% 17 0.48%



Missouri presidential preference primary (2008)[]

Former U.S. Senator and President Barack Obama (D-Illinois) received more votes, a total of 4,642, than any candidate from either party in Cole County during the 2008 presidential primary. Cole County was one of only six counties (including the independent city of St. Louis) that backed Obama in Missouri.

Communities[]

Cities[]

Villages[]

  • Centertown
  • Wardsville

Unincorporated communities[]

  • Apache Flats
  • Bass
  • Brazito
  • Elston
  • Eugene
  • Henley
  • Hickory Hill
  • Honey Creek
  • Marion
  • Millbrook
  • Osage
  • Osage Bluff
  • Osage City
  • Schubert
  • Scott
  • Scrivner
  • Stringtown

See also[]

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

References[]

  1. ^ "Explore Census Data". https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US29051. 
  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. 278. https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_RfAuAAAAYAAJ. 
  4. ^ "Centers of Population by State:2010". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/geo/reference/docs/cenpop2010/CenPop2010_Mean_ST.txt. 
  5. ^ "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. 
  6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html. 
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu. 
  8. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mo190090.txt. 
  9. ^ "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. 
  10. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/29/29051.html. 
  11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov. 
  12. ^ a b "Jefferson City Correctional Center." Missouri Department of Corrections. May 7, 2006. Retrieved on September 18, 2010.
  13. ^ Breeding, Marshall. "Missouri River Regional Library". Libraries.org. https://librarytechnology.org/library/5686. 
  14. ^ a b c d e f g "Cole County Final Cumulative Election Summary 2020". https://www.colecounty.org/DocumentCenter/View/6171/11-3-20-Cumulative-. 
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Cole County Final Cumulative Election Summary 2018". https://www.colecounty.org/DocumentCenter/View/4070/11-6-18_Cumulative. 
  16. ^ a b c d e f g "Cole County, Missouri, General Election". Cole County Clerk. November 8, 2016. http://www.colecounty.org/DocumentCenter/Home/View/2017. 
  17. ^ a b c d e f g "Cole County, Missouri, General Election". Cole County Clerk. November 7, 2014. http://www.colecounty.org/DocumentCenter/Home/View/1049. 
  18. ^ a b c d e f g "Cole County, Missouri, General Election". Cole County Clerk. November 8, 2012. http://www.colecounty.org/DocumentCenter/Home/View/1060. 
  19. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS. 

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

External links[]

Coordinates: 38°31′N 92°17′W / 38.51, -92.28


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