Scott County, Missouri

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Scott County, Missouri
Scott County Courthouse - retouched.jpg
Scott County courthouse in Benton
Map of Missouri highlighting Scott County
Location in the U.S. state of Missouri
Map of the United States highlighting Missouri
Missouri's location in the U.S.
Founded December 28, 1821
Named for John Scott
Seat Benton
Largest city Sikeston
Area
 • Total 426 sq mi (1,103 km2)
 • Land 420 sq mi (1,088 km2)
 • Water 5.9 sq mi (15 km2), 1.4%
Population
 • (2010) 39,191
 • Density 93/sq mi (36/km²)
Congressional district 8th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website www.scottcountymo.com

Scott County is a county located in the southeastern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2010 census, the population was 39,191.[1] Its county seat is Benton.[2] The county was organized in 1821 and named for U.S. Representative John Scott, the first federal representative from Missouri.

Scott County comprises the Sikeston, MO Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Cape Girardeau-Sikeston, MO-IL Combined Statistical Area.

The county is home to Scott County Central High School, which has won 18 state championships in boys basketball—the most of any high school in the state.

History

This area along the Mississippi River was long occupied by indigenous peoples. In historic times, the large and powerful Osage people dominated a large territory including this area and up and west from the later St. Louis, Missouri. Cape St. Croix, a rock island in the Mississippi River, has a cross erected by Jesuit missionary Father De Montigny, who traveled with early French explorers in 1599. Some French colonists established trading relationships with the Osage; the traders were based in St. Louis, founded in the late 18th century.

Spain had taken control in 1763 after French lost to Britain in the Seven Years' War. They laid out the King’s Highway (El Camino Real) in 1789, a north-south route crossing the county and extending through St. Louis, Missouri. In the late 1790s, Southerners were the first United States settlers on Spanish land grants in this area. France briefly took back the territory, then sold it to the United States in 1803 as part of the Louisiana Purchase.

Delaware (Lenape) and Shawnee people migrated into the area in the 1820s from territories east of the Mississippi, pushed by European-American encroachment on their lands.

The second county formed in Missouri’s Southeast Lowland Region, Scott County was created by the Missouri state legislature on December 28, 1821. The county was named in honor of John Scott (1785–1861), the first congressman from Missouri.[3]

One of the earliest settlements was Commerce, Missouri, long known as Tywapitty, derived from an Osage language term. It was an early French fur trading post. Under Spanish rule before 1800, Rezin Bowie was syndic of Tywappity Settlement. (He was the brother of Kentucky frontiersman Jim Bowie.) This was established as a river landing by 1803, and residents formed the first Baptist Church in Missouri here in 1805. The city was platted in 1823. It served as the Scott county seat from 1864–1878.

The current county seat of Benton was laid out in 1822; it is named after Thomas Hart Benton, one of Missouri’s first U.S. Senators.

New Hamburg, the third town founded in the county, was settled by a wave of German immigrants in the late 1840s, who came to this country after the German revolutions of 1848. The first log church was St. Lawrence Catholic Church. Sikeston, the largest city in the county and the fourth settlement to be founded, was settled in 1800 and was laid out in 1860 by John Sikes on the Cairo & Fulton Railroad.

The county was devastated by guerrilla raids during the U.S. Civil War. Afterward, it developed rapidly from the 1870s to the early 1900s; its dense forests were lumbered off and numerous railroads were constructed. Towns founded during this period included Diehlstadt, Morley, Oran, Perkins, Blodgett, Crowder, Vanduser, Illmo, Fornfelt (Scott City), Chaffee, Ancell, and Kelso. The Thebes-Mississippi River Railroad Bridge at Illmo was built in 1905.

Located near Morley is the gravesite of Nathaniel W. Watkins, a state legislator and a general in the Missouri State Guards. He was a half-brother of statesman Henry Clay. Wilson Brown, the ninth lieutenant governor of Missouri, lived in the county for a time. Noted early legislators such as Joseph Hunter II and Abraham Hunton also lived here.

Cotton, soybeans, melon and grains were all common crops in rural Scott County. Between the Mississippi River and Little River District drainage ditches lies one of the oldest drainage systems in the United States, Crowley’s Ridge, established in 1905, is a remnant of an old coastal floodplain and natural levee that crosses the country.

On January 28, 2004, the Scott County Courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 426 square miles (1,100 km2), of which 420 square miles (1,100 km2) is land and 5.9 square miles (15 km2) (1.4%) is water.[4] The county's eastern border with Illinois is formed by the Mississippi River.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1830 2,136 —
1840 5,974 179.7%
1850 3,182 −46.7%
1860 5,247 64.9%
1870 7,317 39.5%
1880 8,587 17.4%
1890 11,228 30.8%
1900 13,092 16.6%
1910 22,372 70.9%
1920 23,409 4.6%
1930 24,913 6.4%
1940 30,377 21.9%
1950 32,842 8.1%
1960 32,748 −0.3%
1970 33,250 1.5%
1980 39,647 19.2%
1990 39,376 −0.7%
2000 40,422 2.7%
2010 39,191 −3.0%
Est. 2014 38,903 [5] −0.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2013[1]

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 40,422 people, 15,626 households, and 11,219 families residing in the county. The population density was 37/km² (96/mi²). There were 16,951 housing units at an average density of 16/km² (40/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 87.68% White, 10.50% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 0.90% from two or more races. Approximately 1.11% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 15,626 households out of which 35.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.60% were married couples living together, 13.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.20% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the county the population was spread out with 27.40% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 22.90% from 45 to 64, and 13.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 91.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,735, and the median income for a family was $48,847. Males had a median income of $30,169 versus $19,269 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,363. About 12.30% of families and 16.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.50% of those under age 18 and 13.60% of those age 65 or over.

Religion

According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2000), Scott County is a part of the Bible Belt with evangelical Protestantism being the majority religion. The most predominant denominations among residents in Scott County who adhere to a religion are Southern Baptists (40.54%), Roman Catholics (27.12%), and Methodists (9.28%).

Politics

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Local

The Democratic Party completely controls politics at the local level in Scott County. Democrats hold every elected position in the county.[11]

Scott County, Missouri
Elected countywide officials
Assessor Teresa Houchin Democratic
Circuit Clerk Christy Hency Democratic
County Clerk Rita Milam Democratic
Collector Mark Hensley Democratic
Commissioner
(Presiding)		 Jamie Burger Democratic
Commissioner
(District 1)		 Dennis Ziegenhorn Democratic
Commissioner
(District 2)		 Donnie Kiefer Democratic
Coroner Scott C. Amick Democratic
Prosecuting Attorney Paul R. Boyd Democratic
Public Administrator Pam Dirnberger Democratic
Recorder Tara Mason Democratic
Sheriff Rick Walter Democratic
Treasurer Glenda Enderle Democratic

State

Scott County is divided into three legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives.

Past Gubernatorial Elections Results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2012 49.99% 8,421 48.04% 8,092 1.98% 333
2008 53.12% 9,494 45.55% 8,142 1.33% 238
2004 58.69% 10,198 40.31% 7,004 1.00% 174
2000 52.12% 8,159 46.59% 7,293 1.29% 202
1996 38.71% 5,878 59.76% 9,074 1.53% 233
1992 47.32% 7,564 52.68% 8,422 0.00% 0
1988 56.49% 7,845 43.45% 6,035 0.06% 8
1984 59.90% 8,446 40.10% 5,654 0.00% 0
1980 49.80% 7,619 50.13% 7,669 0.07% 11
1976 41.63% 5,558 58.37% 7,793 0.01% 1

Federal

Scott County is included in Missouri’s 8th Congressional District and is currently represented by Jason T. Smith (R-Salem) in the U.S. House of Representatives.

7614

U.S. House of Representatives – District 8 – General Election – Scott County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jason T. Smith* 5,305 69.67
Democratic Barbara Stocker 1,755 23.05
Libertarian Rick Vandeven 294 3.86
Independent Terry Hampton 145 1.90
Constitution Doug Enyart 115 1.51
Community Mitt Romney % Barack Obama % Gary Johnson % Virgil H. Goode, Jr. % % Total
Benton 846 75.94% 244 21.90% 21 1.89% 3 0.27% R+ 54.04% 1,114
Blodgett 781 81.61% 164 17.14% 9 0.94% 3 0.31% R+ 64.47% 957
Chaffee 999 67.87% 439 29.82% 30 2.04% 4 0.27% R+ 38.05% 1,472
Commerce 214 64.26% 107 32.13% 12 3.60% 0 0.00% R+ 32.13% 333
Diehlstadt 135 75.84% 42 23.60% 0 0.00% 1 0.56% R+ 52.24% 178
Haywood City 9 9.28% 88 90.72% 0 0.00% 0 0.00% D+ 81.44% 97
Kelso 635 79.18% 156 19.45% 11 1.37% 0 0.00% R+ 59.73% 802
McMullin 76 84.44% 14 15.56% 0 0.00% 0 0.00% R+ 68.88% 90
Miner 763 77.86% 201 20.51% 12 1.22% 4 0.41% R+ 57.35% 980
Morley 284 65.59% 137 31.64% 8 1.85% 4 0.92% R+ 33.95% 433
New Hamburg 286 80.56% 62 17.46% 3 0.85% 4 1.13% R+ 63.10% 355
Oran 701 77.98% 183 20.36% 12 1.34% 3 0.33% R+ 57.62% 899
Perkins 56 61.54% 33 36.26% 2 2.20% 0 0.00% R+ 25.28% 91
Scott City 1,329 68.15% 581 29.80% 39 2.00% 1 0.05% R+ 38.35% 1,950
Sikeston 3,676 60.31% 2,360 38.72% 52 0.85% 7 0.12% R+ 21.59% 6,095
Vanduser 136 75.14% 45 24.86% 0 0.00% 0 0.00% R+ 50.28% 181
Absentees 697 71.71% 266 27.37% 8 0.82% 1 0.10% R+ 44.34% 972
County Total 11,623 68.37% 5,122 30.13% 219 1.29% 35 0.21% R+ 38.24% 16,999

Political culture

Past Presidential Elections Results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2012 68.37% 11,623 30.13% 5,122 1.50% 254
2008 63.95% 11,563 34.61% 6,258 1.44% 261
2004 64.94% 11,330 34.71% 6,057 0.35% 61
2000 57.30% 8,999 41.09% 6,452 1.61% 253
1996 43.54% 6,641 45.97% 7,011 10.49% 1,600
1992 37.95% 6,265 45.14% 7,452 16.74% 2,763
1988 57.45% 8,013 42.40% 5,914 0.15% 21
1984 61.04% 8,727 38.96% 5,569 0.00% 0
1980 53.65% 8,227 44.69% 6,854 1.66% 255
1976 40.31% 5,473 59.48% 8,075 0.21% 28

At the presidential level, Scott County is fairly independent-leaning. While George W. Bush carried Scott County in 2000 and 2004, Bill Clinton won the county both times in 1992 and 1996. Like most of the rural counties in Missouri, Scott County favored John McCain over Barack Obama in 2008.

Like most rural areas throughout Southeast Missouri, voters in Scott County generally adhere to socially and culturally conservative principles. In 2004, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman—it overwhelmingly passed Scott County with 85.32 percent of the vote. The initiative passed the state with 71 percent of support from voters as Missouri became the first state to ban same-sex marriage. In 2006, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to fund and legalize embryonic stem cell research in the state—it failed in Scott County with 64.85 percent voting against the measure. The initiative narrowly passed the state with 51 percent of support from voters as Missouri became one of the first states in the nation to approve embryonic stem cell research. Despite Scott County’s longstanding tradition of supporting socially conservative platforms, voters in the county have a penchant for advancing populist causes like increasing the minimum wage. In 2006, Missourians voted on a proposition (Proposition B) to increase the minimum wage in the state to $6.50 an hour—it passed Scott County with 67.99 percent of the vote. The proposition strongly passed every single county in Missouri with 75.94 percent voting in favor as the minimum wage was increased to $6.50 an hour in the state. During the same election, voters in five other states also strongly approved increases in the minimum wage.

Missouri Presidential Preference Primary (2008)

In the 2008 Missouri Presidential Preference Primary, voters in Scott County from both political parties supported candidates who finished in second place in the state at large and nationally.

  • Former U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York) received more votes, a total of 2,931, than any candidate from either party in Scott County during the 2008 Missouri Presidential Preference Primary.
Scott County, Missouri
2008 Republican primary in Missouri
John McCain 1,389 (32.99%)
Mike Huckabee 1,549 (36.79%)
Mitt Romney 1,076 (25.56%)
Ron Paul 113 (2.68%)
Scott County, Missouri
2008 Democratic primary in Missouri
Hillary Clinton 2,931 (63.43%)
Barack Obama 1,443 (31.23%)
John Edwards (withdrawn) 191 (4.13%)

Education

Of adults 25 years of age and older in Scott County, 72.9% possesses a high school diploma or higher while 10.6% holds a bachelor's degree or higher as their highest educational attainment.

Public schools

Private schools

Colleges and universities

Communities

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See also

References

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  11. ↑ http://www.scottcountymo.com/countyclerk/

External links

 Cape Girardeau County Alexander County, Illinois
  Scott County, Missouri  
Stoddard County New Madrid County Mississippi County

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