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Vernon County, Missouri
VernonCountyCourthouse front
Vernon County Courthouse
Map of Missouri highlighting Vernon County
Location in the state of Missouri
Map of the U.S
Missouri's location in the U.S.
Founded February 27, 1855
Named for Colonel Miles Vernon, state senator, and veteran of the Battle of New Orleans
Seat Nevada
Largest city Nevada
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

837 sq mi (2,168 km²)
826 sq mi (2,139 km²)
10 sq mi (26 km²), 1.2
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

19,707
Congressional district 4th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website http://www.vernoncountymo.org/

Vernon County is located in the western region of the U.S. state of Missouri, on the border with Kansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 19,707.[1] Its county seat is Nevada.[2] The county was organized on February 27, 1855, considerably later than counties in the eastern part of the state.[3] It was named for Colonel Miles Vernon (1786–1867), a state senator and veteran of the Battle of New Orleans.[4] This was part of the large historic territory of the Osage Nation of Native Americans.

History[]

The county was developed for agriculture and is still mostly rural.

Vernon County suffered considerable damage during the American Civil War. Guerrillas and insurgents had waged raids against Union troops and carried out personal vendettas in the county. On May 23, 1863, Union Army soldiers burned the county seat of Nevada, along with the courthouse, in retaliation. The present courthouse was completed in 1907.[5]

Vernon County was one of four Missouri counties that were wholly depopulated by Union General Thomas Ewing's General Order No. 11 (1863), which ordered the people evacuated to end support for Confederate guerrillas operating in the area. Most of the residents would not be allowed to return to their homes until after the Civil War ended in May 1865.

Geography[]

Wetland boardwalk at Four Rivers Conservation Area in Vernon County, Missouri

A boardwalk allows visitors to explore a restored wetland at Four Rivers Conservation Area in northern Vernon County

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 837 square miles (2,170 km2), of which 826 square miles (2,140 km2) is land and 10 square miles (26 km2) (1.2%) is water.[6]

Adjacent counties[]

Major highways[]

  • I-49 (MO) Interstate 49
  • US 54 U.S. Route 54
  • US 71 U.S. Route 71
  • MO-43 Route 43

Demographics[]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1860 4,850
1870 11,247 131.9%
1880 19,369 72.2%
1890 31,505 62.7%
1900 31,619 0.4%
1910 28,827 −8.8%
1920 26,069 −9.6%
1930 25,031 −4.0%
1940 25,586 2.2%
1950 22,685 −11.3%
1960 20,540 −9.5%
1970 19,065 −7.2%
1980 19,806 3.9%
1990 19,041 −3.9%
2000 20,454 7.4%
2010 21,159 3.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2020[1]

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 20,454 people, 7,966 households, and 5,432 families residing in the county. The population density was 24 people per square mile (9/km2). There were 8,872 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.99% White, 0.61% Black or African American, 0.79% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. Approximately 0.84% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,966 households, out of which 32.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.30% were married couples living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.80% were non-families. 28.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44, and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.60% under 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 25.40% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 16.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,021, and the median income for a family was $37,714. Males had a median income of $28,182 versus $19,026 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,047. About 10.10% of families and 14.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.30% of those under age 18 and 13.30% of those age 65 or over.

2020 Census[]

Vernon County Racial Composition[12]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 17,966 91.2%
Black or African American (NH) 110 0.56%
Native American (NH) 131 0.66%
Asian (NH) 103 0.52%
Pacific Islander (NH) 18 0.1%
Other/Mixed (NH) 953 4.83%
Hispanic or Latino 426 2.16%

Education[]

Public schools[]

  • Bronaugh R-VII School DistrictBronaugh
    • Bronaugh Elementary School (PK-06)
    • Bronaugh High School (07-12)
  • Nevada R-V School DistrictNevada
    • Bryan Elementary School (PK-01)
    • Benton Elementary School (02)
    • Truman Elementary School (03-05)
    • Nevada Middle School (06-08)
    • Nevada High School (09-12)

/ Northeast Vernon County R-I School District – Walker

    • Northeast Vernon County Elementary School (PK-06)
    • Northeast Vernon County High School (07-12)
  • Sheldon R-VIII School DistrictSheldon
    • Sheldon Elementary School (PK-06)
    • Sheldon High School (07-12)

Private schools[]

Colleges and universities[]

  • Cottey CollegeNevada A private, four-year college for women.

Public libraries[]

  • Nevada Public Library[13]

Politics[]

Local[]

The Republican Party predominantly controls politics at the local level in Vernon County despite the Democratic Party's historical control. Republicans hold all but three of the elected positions in the county.

Vernon County, Missouri
Elected countywide officials
Assessor Cherie K. Roberts Democratic
Circuit Clerk Vickie Erwin Democratic
County Clerk Mike Buehler[14] Republican
Collector Brent Banes Republican
Commissioner
(Presiding)
Joe Hardin[14] Republican
Commissioner
(District 1)
Cindy Thompson Republican
Commissioner
(District 2)
Everett Wolf[15] Republican
Coroner David L. Ferry Democratic
Prosecuting Attorney Brandy McInroy[14] Republican
Public Administrator Tammy Bond Democratic
Recorder Doug Shupe Republican
Sheriff Jason Mosher[14] Republican
Surveyor Jerry Wood Republican
Treasurer Brent Banes Republican

State[]

Past Gubernatorial Elections Results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2020 77.01% 7,022 20.72% 1,889 2.27% 207
2016 66.67% 5,699 30.66% 2,621 2.67% 228
2012 52.26% 4,424 44.40% 3,759 3.34% 283
2008 46.54% 4,095 51.05% 4,491 2.41% 212
2004 66.76% 5,989 31.97% 2,868 1.27% 114
2000 52.49% 4,370 45.20% 3,763 2.30% 192
1996 39.90% 3,039 57.27% 4,362 2.84% 216

All of Vernon County is a part of Missouri's 126th District in the Missouri House of Representatives and is represented by Patricia Pike (R-Adrian).

Missouri House of Representatives — District 126 — Vernon County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Patricia Pike 7,836 100.00% +46.45
Missouri House of Representatives — District 126 — Vernon County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Patricia Pike 2,960 53.55% -46.45
Democratic Sam Foursha 2,398 43.38% +43.38
Constitution William M. Gilmore 170 3.07% +3.07
Missouri House of Representatives — District 126 — Vernon County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Randy Pike 7,309 100.00%

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

Missouri Senate — District 31 — Vernon County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Ed Emery 5,492 65.69% -2.73
Independent Tim Wells 2,320 27.75% +27.75
Libertarian Lora Young 548 6.56% +6.56
Missouri Senate — District 31 — Vernon County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Ed Emery 5,698 68.42%
Democratic Charlie A. Burton 2,630 31.58%

Federal[]

U.S. Senate — Missouri — Vernon County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Roy Blunt 5,448 63.71% +14.48
Democratic Jason Kander 2,700 31.58% -13.38
Libertarian Jonathan Dine 231 2.70% -3.11
Green Johnathan McFarland 91 1.06% +1.06
Constitution Fred Ryman 81 0.95% +0.95
U.S. Senate — Missouri — Vernon County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Todd Akin 4,171 49.23%
Democratic Claire McCaskill 3,810 44.96%
Libertarian Jonathan Dine 492 5.81%

All of Vernon 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 — Vernon County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Vicky Hartzler 6,526 77.00% +4.66
Democratic Gordon Christensen 1,676 19.78% -3.76
Libertarian Mark Bliss 273 3.22% -0.90
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 4th Congressional District — Vernon County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Vicky Hartzler 3,970 72.34% +5.41
Democratic Nate Irvin 1,292 23.54% -5.66
Libertarian Herschel L. Young 226 4.12% +1.01
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 4th Congressional District — Vernon County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Vicky Hartzler 5,597 66.93%
Democratic Teresa Hensley 2,442 29.20%
Libertarian Thomas Holbrook 260 3.11%
Constitution Greg Cowan 64 0.76%

Political culture[]

Like many neighboring counties, Vernon County has become increasingly Republican over the past few presidential elections. The last time a Democratic candidate has carried this county was in 1996 by Bill Clinton.

United States presidential election results for Vernon County, Missouri[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 7,155 77.90% 1,903 20.72% 127 1.38%
2016 6,533 75.69% 1,707 19.78% 391 4.53%
2012 5,758 67.57% 2,580 30.28% 183 2.15%
2008 5,334 60.08% 3,381 38.08% 163 1.84%
2004 5,732 63.75% 3,206 35.65% 54 0.60%
2000 4,985 59.29% 3,156 37.54% 267 3.18%
1996 3,123 40.70% 3,363 43.82% 1,188 15.48%
1992 2,851 34.34% 3,546 42.71% 1,906 22.96%
1988 4,149 54.79% 3,402 44.93% 21 0.28%
1984 5,181 63.45% 2,984 36.55% 0 0.00%
1980 4,391 51.93% 3,704 43.80% 361 4.27%
1976 3,715 42.78% 4,921 56.67% 48 0.55%
1972 4,892 61.54% 3,057 38.46% 0 0.00%
1968 3,590 45.27% 3,557 44.85% 783 9.87%
1964 3,077 34.06% 5,958 65.94% 0 0.00%
1960 5,387 56.27% 4,186 43.73% 0 0.00%
1956 5,184 53.27% 4,547 46.73% 0 0.00%
1952 5,924 56.92% 4,450 42.76% 34 0.33%
1948 3,808 41.55% 5,342 58.29% 14 0.15%
1944 5,171 51.39% 4,885 48.55% 6 0.06%
1940 5,443 46.38% 6,271 53.44% 21 0.18%
1936 4,546 39.61% 6,872 59.87% 60 0.52%
1932 2,856 29.50% 6,687 69.07% 138 1.43%
1928 5,783 60.94% 3,676 38.74% 31 0.33%
1924 3,593 38.89% 4,839 52.38% 807 8.73%
1920 4,645 45.33% 5,419 52.89% 182 1.78%
1916 2,211 35.50% 3,776 60.63% 241 3.87%
1912 1,654 26.57% 3,483 55.94% 1,089 17.49%
1908 2,369 37.48% 3,705 58.61% 247 3.91%
1904 2,450 40.51% 3,225 53.32% 373 6.17%
1900 2,356 34.24% 4,306 62.58% 219 3.18%
1896 2,230 30.03% 5,133 69.12% 63 0.85%
1892 1,847 29.09% 3,627 57.13% 875 13.78%
1888 2,252 33.99% 4,057 61.23% 317 4.78%



Missouri presidential preference primary (2008)[]

Former U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York) received more votes, a total of 1,434, than any candidate from either party in Vernon County during the 2008 presidential primary.

Communities[]

Townships[]

  • Bacon Township
  • Badger Township
  • Blue Mound Township
  • Center Township
  • Clear Creek Township
  • Coal Township
  • Deerfield Township
  • Dover Township
  • Drywood Township
  • Harrison Township
  • Henry Township
  • Lake Township
  • Metz Township
  • Montevallo Township
  • Moundville Township
  • Osage Township
  • Richland Township
  • Virgil Township
  • Walker Township
  • Washington Township

Cities[]

  • Bronaugh
  • Nevada (county seat)
  • Schell City
  • Sheldon

Villages[]

  • Deerfield
  • Harwood
  • Metz
  • Milo
  • Moundville
  • Richards
  • Stotesbury

Unincorporated communities[]

  • Amos
  • Arthur
  • Bellamy
  • Blaine
  • Bristow
  • Carbon Center
  • Dederick
  • Ellis
  • Eve
  • Fair Haven
  • Horton
  • Katy
  • Ketterman
  • Montevallo
  • Panama
  • Portia
  • Swart
  • Rinehart
  • Virgil City
  • Walker
  • Zodiac

Former settlements[]

  • Fort Carondelet

See also[]

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

References[]

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/29/29217.html. 
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. 
  3. ^ History of Vernon county, Missouri. St. Louis: Brown & Co.. 1887. pp. 194–196. http://cdm16795.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/mocohist/id/93403. 
  4. ^ "The Nevada Daily Mail". May 11, 1960: pp. 8. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uGIfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=p9QEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1071%2C5478027. 
  5. ^ "History". http://www.vernoncountymo.org/Directory/About/History.htm. 
  6. ^ "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. 
  7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html. 
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu. 
  9. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mo190090.txt. 
  10. ^ "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. 
  11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov. 
  12. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Vernon County, Missouri". https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Vernon%20County,%20Missouri&t=Race%20and%20Ethnicity&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2. 
  13. ^ Breeding, Marshall. "Nevada Public Library". Libraries.org. https://librarytechnology.org/library/20348. 
  14. ^ a b c d 2014 Election
  15. ^ 2012 Election
  16. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS. 

External links[]

Coordinates: 37°51′N 94°20′W / 37.85, -94.34

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