Cole County
County
The Cole County Courthouse in Jefferson City
The Cole County Courthouse in Jefferson City
Official seal of Cole County
Seal
Map of Missouri highlighting Cole 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°31′N 92°17′W / 38.51°N 92.28°W / 38.51; -92.28
Country United States
State Missouri
Founded1820
Named forStephen Cole
SeatJefferson City
Largest cityJefferson City
Area
 • Total402 sq mi (1,040 km2)
 • Land394 sq mi (1,020 km2)
 • Water8.2 sq mi (21 km2)  2.0%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total77,279
 • Density190/sq mi (74/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.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 William Temple Cole 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

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18303,023—
18409,286207.2%
18506,696−27.9%
18609,69744.8%
187010,2926.1%
188015,51550.7%
189017,28111.4%
190020,57819.1%
191021,9576.7%
192024,68012.4%
193030,84825.0%
194034,91213.2%
195035,4641.6%
196040,76114.9%
197046,22813.4%
198056,66322.6%
199063,57912.2%
200071,39712.3%
201075,9906.4%
202077,2791.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2015[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 inhabitants per square mile (70/km2). There were 28,915 housing units at an average density of 74 units 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.

2020 Census

Cole County Racial Composition[12]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 61,474 79.54%
Black or African American (NH) 8,041 10.4%
Native American (NH) 175 0.23%
Asian (NH) 965 1.3%
Pacific Islander (NH) 56 0.07%
Other/Mixed (NH) 3,907 5.1%
Hispanic or Latino 2,661 3.44%

Government and infrastructure

The Missouri Department of Corrections (MDOC) operates the Jefferson City Correctional Center in Jefferson City.[13][14] The current JCCC was opened on September 15, 2004, replacing the Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City.[13]

Education

Public schools

  • Blair Oaks R-II School District – Jefferson City[15]
    • Blair Oaks Elementary School (K-02)
    • Blair Oaks Intermediate School (03-05)
    • Blair Oaks Middle School (06-08)
    • Blair Oaks High School (09-12)
  • Cole County R-I School District – Russellville[16]
    • Cole County R-I Elementary School (PK-06)
    • Russellville High School (07-12)
  • Cole County R-V School District – Eugene[17]
    • Eugene Elementary School (PK-06)
    • Eugene High School (07-12)
  • Jefferson City Public School District – Jefferson City[18]
    • Southwest Early Childhood Education Center (PK)
    • Callaway Hills Elementary School (K-05) – Holts Summit
    • South Elementary School (K-05)
    • Thorpe J. Gordon STEM 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 (K-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[21]

Communities

Cities

Villages

Unincorporated communities

See also

Education

School districts include:[22]

  • Blair Oaks R-II School District
  • Cole County R-I School District
  • Cole County R-V School District
  • Jamestown C-1 School District
  • Jefferson City Public Schools

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.[23][24]

Cole County, Missouri
Elected countywide officials
Assessor Chris Estes Republican
Circuit Clerk Dawnel P. Davidson Republican
County Clerk Steve Korsmeyer 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)[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Travis Fitzwater 963 96.59%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 49 — Cole County (2016)[25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Travis Fitzwater 918 100.00% +35.66
Missouri House of Representatives — District 49 — Cole County (2018)[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Travis Fitzwater 692 69.69%
Democratic Lisa Buhr 300 30.21%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 49 — Cole County (2014)[26]
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)[27]
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)[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sara Walsh 691 81.29%
Democratic Kari Chesney 159 18.71%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 50 — Cole County (2018)[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sara Walsh 536 76.90%
Democratic Michela Skelton 161 23.10%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 50 — Cole County (2016)[25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Caleb Jones 684 100.00%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 50 — Cole County (2014)[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Caleb Jones 426 100.00% 0.00
Missouri House of Representatives — District 50 — Cole County (2012)[27]
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)[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Rudy Veit 15,592 98.27%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 59 — Cole County (2018)[24]
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)[25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Mike Bernskoetter 14,923 100.00%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 59 — Cole County (2014)[26]
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)[27]
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)[23]
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)[24]
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)[25]
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)[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jason (Jay) Barnes 9,041 100.00% -39.89
Missouri House of Representatives — District 60 — Cole County (2012)[27]
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)[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Bruce Sassmann 955 83.63%
Democratic Nancy Ragan 187 16.37%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 62 — Cole County (2018)[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Tom Hurst 774 83.50%
Democratic Ashley Fajkowski 153 16.50%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 62 — Cole County (2016)[25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Tom Hurst 991 100.00%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 62 — Cole County (2014)[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Tom Hurst 592 100.00% -25.51
Missouri House of Representatives — District 62 — Cole County (2012)[27]
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)[24]
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)[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Mike Kehoe 17,157 75.64%
Democratic Mollie Kristen Freebairn 5,526 24.36%

Federal

U.S. Senate — Missouri — (2018)[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Josh Hawley 20,738 61.95%
Democratic Claire McCaskill 11,718 35.01%
Independent Craig O'Dear 448 1.34%
Libertarian Japheth Campbell 380 1.14%
Green Jo Crain 158 0.47%
U.S. Senate — Missouri — (2016)[25]
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)[27]
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)[23]
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)[24]
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)[25]
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)[26]
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)[27]
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[28]
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.

References

  1. ↑ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ "The Cole of Cole County: Who was he?". www.newstribune.com. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Centers of Population by State:2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 3, 2014. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
  5. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
  6. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
  9. ↑ "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 14, 2014.
  10. ↑ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
  11. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  12. ↑ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Cole County, Missouri".
  13. 1 2 "Jefferson City Correctional Center." Missouri Department of Corrections. May 7, 2006. Retrieved on September 18, 2010.
  14. ↑ "MidMoGIS Mapping Website Archived 2011-07-18 at the Wayback Machine." City of Jefferson. Retrieved on September 18, 2010.
  15. ↑ https://www.blairoaks.k12.mo.us/
  16. ↑ https://coler1indians.socs.net/
  17. ↑ https://www.coler-v.k12.mo.us/
  18. ↑ https://www.jcschools.us/
  19. ↑ https://riveroakjc.org/
  20. ↑ https://www.calvarylhs.org/
  21. ↑ Breeding, Marshall. "Missouri River Regional Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  22. ↑ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Cole County, MO" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 23, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022. - Text list
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Cole County Final Cumulative Election Summary 2020". Cole County Board of Elections.
  24. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Cole County Final Cumulative Election Summary 2018". Cole County Board of Elections.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Cole County, Missouri, General Election". Cole County Clerk. November 8, 2016. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
  26. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Cole County, Missouri, General Election". Cole County Clerk. November 7, 2014. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  27. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Cole County, Missouri, General Election". Cole County Clerk. November 8, 2012. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  28. ↑ 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°31′N 92°17′W / 38.51°N 92.28°W / 38.51; -92.28

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