Benton County
County
The Benton County Courthouse in Warsaw
The Benton County Courthouse in Warsaw
Map of Missouri highlighting Benton County
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
Map of the United States highlighting Missouri
Missouri's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°18′N 93°17′W / 38.3°N 93.29°W / 38.3; -93.29
Country United States
State Missouri
FoundedJanuary 3, 1835
Named forThomas Hart Benton
SeatWarsaw
Largest cityWarsaw
Area
 • Total753 sq mi (1,950 km2)
 • Land704 sq mi (1,820 km2)
 • Water48 sq mi (120 km2)  6.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total19,394
 • Density26/sq mi (9.9/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district4th
Websitewww.bentoncomo.com

Benton County is a county located in the west central part of the U.S. state of Missouri. The population was 19,394 as of the 2020 Census.[1] Its county seat is Warsaw.[2] The county was organized January 3, 1835, and named for U.S. Senator Thomas Hart Benton of Missouri.[3]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 753 square miles (1,950 km2), of which 704 square miles (1,820 km2) is land and 48 square miles (120 km2) (6.4%) is water.[4]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18404,205—
18505,01519.3%
18609,07280.9%
187011,32224.8%
188012,3969.5%
189014,97320.8%
190016,55610.6%
191014,881−10.1%
192012,989−12.7%
193011,708−9.9%
194011,142−4.8%
19509,080−18.5%
19608,737−3.8%
19709,69511.0%
198012,18325.7%
199013,85913.8%
200017,18024.0%
201019,05610.9%
202019,3941.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2015[1] 2019[9]

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 17,180 people, 7,420 households, and 5,179 families residing in the county. The population density was 24 people per square mile (9.3 people/km2). There were 12,691 housing units at an average density of 18 units per square mile (6.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.96% White, 0.15% Black or African American, 0.53% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.12% from other races, and 1.10% from two or more races. Approximately 0.89% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,420 households, out of which 23.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.60% were married couples living together, 6.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.20% were non-families. 26.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.72.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 20.50% under the age of 18, 5.70% from 18 to 24, 21.80% from 25 to 44, 29.70% from 45 to 64, and 22.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 98.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,646, and the median income for a family was $32,459. Males had a median income of $26,203 versus $19,054 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,457. About 10.20% of families and 15.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.50% of those under age 18 and 9.60% of those age 65 or over.

Religion

According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2010), Benton County is a part of the Bible Belt, with evangelical Protestantism being the most predominant religion. The most predominant denominations among residents in Benton County who adhere to a religion are Southern Baptists (38.72%), Lutherans (LCMS) (19.06%), and United Methodists (14.49%).

2020 Census

Benton County Racial Composition[11]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 17,934 92.5%
Black or African American (NH) 75 0.4%
Native American (NH) 100 0.52%
Asian (NH) 51 0.26%
Pacific Islander (NH) 0 0.06%
Other/Mixed (NH) 924 4.8%
Hispanic or Latino 310 1.6%

Education

Public schools

  • Cole Camp R-I School District – Cole Camp
    • Cole Camp Elementary School (PK-05)
    • Cole Camp Middle School (06-08)
    • Cole Camp High School (09-12)
  • Lincoln R-II School District – Lincoln
    • Lincoln Elementary School (K-06)
    • Lincoln High School (07-12)
  • Warsaw R-IX School District – Warsaw
    • North Elementary School (PK-05)
    • South Elementary School (PK-05)
    • John Boise Middle School (06-08)
    • Warsaw High School (09-12)

Private schools

  • Cornerstone Academy of the Ozarks - Warsaw (PK-07) - Interdenominational Christian[12]
  • Lutheran School Association – Cole Camp (K-08) – Lutheran
  • Most of the students who attend Cole Camp's Lutheran School Association attend Benton County R-1 High in Cole Camp.

Public libraries

  • Boonslick Regional Library[13]

Politics

Local

The Republican Party controls politics at the local level in Benton County. Republicans hold every elected position in the county.

Benton County, Missouri
Elected countywide officials
Assessor Jim Hansen Republican
Circuit Clerk Cheryl Schultz Republican
County Clerk Susan Porterfield Republican
Collector David Brodersen Republican
Commissioner
(Presiding)		 Steve Daleske Republican
Commissioner
(District 1)		 Scott Harms Republican
Commissioner
(District 2)		 Larry Berry Republican
Coroner J. Weston Miller Republican
Prosecuting Attorney Karen Coffey Woodley Republican
Public Administrator Lori Dunkin Republican
Recorder Carla Brown Republican
Sheriff Eric Knox Republican
Surveyor Jesse Wininger Republican
Treasurer Rick Renno Republican

State

Past Gubernatorial Elections Results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2020 76.84% 8,017 20.89% 2,179 2.27% 237
2016 63.41% 6,047 33.55% 3,199 3.04% 290
2012 50.94% 4,641 46.25% 4,213 2.81% 256
2008 41.57% 3,967 56.09% 5,353 2.34% 223
2004 56.67% 5,088 41.95% 3,767 1.39% 124
2000 52.76% 3,944 45.58% 3,407 1.66% 124
1996 44.36% 2,979 52.42% 3,520 3.22% 216

Benton County is split between two of Missouri's legislative districts that elect members of the Missouri House of Representatives. Both are represented by Republicans.

  • District 57 — Rodger Reedy (R-Windsor). Consists of the northern half of the county, including Cole Camp, Ionia, and Lincoln.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 57 — Benton County (2020)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Rodger Reedy 4,127 100.00% +17.13
Missouri House of Representatives — District 57 — Benton County (2018)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Rodger Reedy 2,966 82.87% +9.55
Democratic Joan Shores 613 17.13% -9.55
  • District 125 — Jim Kalberloh (R-Lowry City). Consists of the southern half of the county, including Edwards and Warsaw.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 125 — Benton County (2020)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jim Kalberloh 5,010 100.00% +38.24
Missouri House of Representatives — District 125 — Benton County (2018)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Warren D. Love 2,910 61.76% -38.24
Democratic Chase Crawford 1,802 38.24% +38.24

All of Benton County is a part of Missouri's 28th District in the Missouri Senate, which is represented by Sandy Crawford (R-Buffalo). A previous incumbent, Mike Parson, was elected Lieutenant Governor in 2016 and became Governor in 2018 following the resignation of Eric Greitens.

Missouri Senate — District 28 — Benton County (2018)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sandy Crawford 6,198 75.36% +13.60
Democratic Joe Poor 2,027 24.64% -13.60
Missouri Senate — District 28 Special Election — Benton County (2017)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sandy Crawford 877 61.76% -38.24
Democratic Albert J. Skalicky 543 38.24% +38.24

Federal

All of Benton 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 — Benton County (2020)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Vicky Hartzler 7,981 77.28% +5.54
Democratic Lindsey Simmons 2,073 20.07% -5.72
Libertarian Steven K. Koonse 273 2.64% +0.17
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 4th Congressional District — Benton County (2018)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Vicky Hartzler 5,966 71.74% -1.99
Democratic Renee Hoagenson 2,145 25.79% +3.91
Libertarian Mark Bliss 205 2.47% -1.93

Benton 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 – Benton County (2018)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Josh Hawley 5,685 68.05% +20.84
Democratic Claire McCaskill 2,318 27.75% -17.32
Independent Craig O'Dear 166 1.99%
Libertarian Japheth Campbell 127 1.52% -6.20
Green Jo Crain 58 0.69% +0.69

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

U.S. Senate — Missouri — Benton County (2016)[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Roy Blunt 5,891 61.87% +14.66
Democratic Jason Kander 3,097 32.52% -12.55
Libertarian Jonathan Dine 300 3.15% -4.57
Green Johnathan McFarland 103 1.08% +1.08
Constitution Fred Ryman 131 1.38% +1.38

Political culture

United States presidential election results for Benton County, Missouri[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 8,109 77.35% 2,180 20.79% 195 1.86%
2016 7,213 75.21% 2,025 21.12% 352 3.67%
2012 6,069 66.28% 2,925 31.94% 163 1.78%
2008 5,759 59.92% 3,629 37.76% 223 2.32%
2004 5,575 61.88% 3,381 37.53% 53 0.59%
2000 4,218 55.99% 3,150 41.81% 166 2.20%
1996 2,895 43.11% 2,996 44.62% 824 12.27%
1992 2,511 34.51% 3,195 43.91% 1,570 21.58%
1988 3,467 56.42% 2,654 43.19% 24 0.39%
1984 3,805 62.83% 2,251 37.17% 0 0.00%
1980 3,451 58.97% 2,241 38.29% 160 2.73%
1976 2,875 51.46% 2,684 48.04% 28 0.50%
1972 3,537 71.31% 1,423 28.69% 0 0.00%
1968 2,899 61.13% 1,345 28.36% 498 10.50%
1964 2,477 54.96% 2,030 45.04% 0 0.00%
1960 3,484 69.96% 1,496 30.04% 0 0.00%
1956 3,145 66.80% 1,563 33.20% 0 0.00%
1952 3,470 72.31% 1,303 27.15% 26 0.54%
1948 2,768 67.01% 1,360 32.92% 3 0.07%
1944 3,294 74.73% 1,108 25.14% 6 0.14%
1940 3,912 68.69% 1,765 30.99% 18 0.32%
1936 3,375 63.13% 1,950 36.48% 21 0.39%
1932 2,038 43.62% 2,596 55.57% 38 0.81%
1928 3,411 72.33% 1,296 27.48% 9 0.19%
1924 2,693 60.71% 1,588 35.80% 155 3.49%
1920 3,367 68.50% 1,506 30.64% 42 0.85%
1916 1,842 57.87% 1,285 40.37% 56 1.76%
1912 1,142 37.38% 1,209 39.57% 704 23.04%
1908 1,924 59.09% 1,280 39.31% 52 1.60%
1904 1,963 57.00% 1,372 39.84% 109 3.16%
1900 1,980 54.40% 1,532 42.09% 128 3.52%
1896 1,957 51.75% 1,762 46.59% 63 1.67%
1892 1,570 51.01% 1,058 34.37% 450 14.62%
1888 1,704 54.27% 1,374 43.76% 62 1.97%

At the presidential level, Benton County is solidly Republican. Benton County strongly favored Donald Trump in both 2016 and 2020. Bill Clinton was the last Democratic presidential nominee to carry Benton 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 Franklin Roosevelt in 1932.

Like most rural areas throughout Missouri, voters in Benton County generally adhere to socially and culturally conservative principles which tend to influence their Republican leanings. Despite Benton 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. 64.74% of Benton 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 Benton County by a wide margin. Biden went on to defeat President Donald Trump in the general election.

Missouri Democratic Presidential Primary – Benton County (2020)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Joe Biden 843 69.50
Democratic Bernie Sanders 280 23.08
Democratic Tulsi Gabbard 10 0.82
Democratic Others/Uncommitted 80 6.60

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

Missouri Republican Presidential Primary – Benton County (2020)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Donald Trump 1,520 98.45
Republican Bill Weld 3 0.19
Republican Others/Uncommitted 21 1.36

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 carried a majority of the vote in Benton County. He went on to win the presidency.

Missouri Republican Presidential Primary – Benton County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Donald Trump 2,278 55.40
Republican Ted Cruz 1,314 31.96
Republican John Kasich 287 6.98
Republican Marco Rubio 138 3.36
Republican Others/Uncommitted 95 2.31

On the Democratic side, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D-New York) narrowly won statewide and carried a majority in Benton County.

Missouri Democratic Presidential Primary – Benton County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Hillary Clinton 669 53.31
Democratic Bernie Sanders 568 45.26
Democratic Others/Uncommitted 18 1.43

2012

The 2012 Missouri Republican Presidential Primary's results were nonbinding on the state's national convention delegates. Voters in Benton 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. However, former Governor Mike Huckabee (R-Arkansas) won a slim plurality in Benton County.

Missouri Republican Presidential Primary – Benton County (2008)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Mike Huckabee 824 35.58
Republican John McCain 803 34.67
Republican Mitt Romney 580 25.04
Republican Ron Paul 75 3.24
Republican Others/Uncommitted 34 1.46

Then-Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York) received more votes than any candidate from either party in Benton 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 – Benton County (2008)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Hillary Clinton 1,753 68.77
Democratic Barack Obama 687 26.95
Democratic Others/Uncommitted 109 4.28

Communities

Cities

Village

Census-designated places

Townships

Other communities

Notable people

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "2020Population and Housing State Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ Eaton, David Wolfe (1916). How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named. The State Historical Society of Missouri. pp. 209.
  4. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  5. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  9. ↑ "QuickFacts. Benton County, Missouri". Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  10. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  11. ↑ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Benton County, Missouri".
  12. ↑ "About Us". Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  13. ↑ Breeding, Marshall. "Boonslick Regional Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  14. ↑ "County Results - State of Missouri - 2016 General Election - November 8, 2016 - Official Results". Missouri Secretary of State. December 12, 2016. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  15. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 24, 2018.

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

38°18′N 93°17′W / 38.30°N 93.29°W / 38.30; -93.29

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