Cole County, Missouri

Cole County is a county in the central part of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2010 census, the population was 75,990.[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
U.S. county
Cole County Courthouse in Jefferson City
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
Missouri's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°31′N 92°17′W
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
 (2010)
 • Total75,990
 • Estimate 
(2018)
76,796
 • Density190/sq mi (73/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.colecounty.org

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.%±
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%
Est. 201876,796[6]1.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2015[1]

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][13] 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 District – Jefferson 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)
    • Simonsen Ninth Grade Center (09)
    • Jefferson 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[14]

Politics

Local

The Republican Party predominantly controls politics at the local level in Cole County. Republicans hold all but one of the elected positions in the county. The only county-wide office held by a Democrat is that of Circuit Judge, currently held by Judge Patricia Joyce.

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)		 Kris Scheperle Republican
Coroner Carl R. Doerhoff Independent
Prosecuting Attorney William Locke Thompson Republican
Public Administrator Joseph Kuensting Republican
Recorder Ralph Bray Republican
Sheriff Gary Wheeler Republican
Treasurer Eric Peters Republican

State
Past Gubernatorial Elections Results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
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 (one is currently vacant).

  • 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 (2016)[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Travis Fitzwater 918 100.00% +35.66
Missouri House of Representatives — District 49 — Cole County (2014)[16]
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)[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Jeanie Riddle 704 69.91%
Democratic Pam Murray 303 30.09%
  • District 50 — (Currently vacant). Consists of unincorporated areas in the northwest corner of the county.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 50 — Cole County (2016)[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Caleb Jones 684 100.00%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 50 — Cole County (2014)[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Caleb Jones 426 100.00% 0.00
Missouri House of Representatives — District 50 — Cole County (2012)[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Caleb Jones 611 100.00%
  • District 59 — Mike Bernskoetter (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 (2016)[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Mike Bernskoetter 14,923 100.00%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 59 — Cole County (2014)[16]
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)[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Mike Bernskoetter 12,604 80.75%
Democratic Vonnieta Trickey 3,005 19.25%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 60 — Cole County (2016)[15]
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)[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Jason (Jay) Barnes 9,041 100.00% -39.89
Missouri House of Representatives — District 60 — Cole County (2012)[17]
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 (2016)[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Tom Hurst 991 100.00%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 62 — Cole County (2014)[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Tom Hurst 592 100.00% -25.51
Missouri House of Representatives — District 62 — Cole County (2012)[17]
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 Kehoe (R-Jefferson City).

Missouri Senate — District 6 — Cole County (2014)[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Mike Kehoe 17,157 75.64%
Democratic Mollie Kristen Freebairn 5,526 24.36%

Federal
U.S. Senate — Missouri — (2016)[15]
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)[17]
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 (2016)[15]
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)[16]
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)[17]
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
Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 65.4% 24,616 29.0% 10,913 5.7% 2,127
2012 65.9% 24,490 32.3% 12,005 1.9% 695
2008 62.8% 24,385 36.0% 13,959 1.3% 490
2004 67.4% 24,752 32.0% 11,753 0.5% 196
2000 61.5% 20,167 36.8% 12,056 1.7% 552
1996 55.0% 16,140 37.0% 10,857 8.0% 2,345
1992 48.8% 15,270 32.6% 10,201 18.6% 5,833
1988 68.2% 18,023 31.6% 8,359 0.2% 59
1984 75.2% 20,366 24.8% 6,702
1980 62.0% 16,373 34.9% 9,210 3.2% 840
1976 63.9% 14,370 35.3% 7,949 0.8% 184
1972 77.8% 16,685 22.2% 4,754
1968 60.6% 11,575 31.0% 5,916 8.5% 1,625
1964 55.3% 10,068 44.7% 8,127
1960 53.4% 9,763 46.6% 8,532
1956 55.8% 9,323 44.2% 7,388
1952 56.4% 9,700 43.6% 7,507 0.0% 3
1948 46.6% 6,909 53.2% 7,891 0.2% 25
1944 50.8% 7,364 49.2% 7,139 0.0% 4
1940 48.2% 7,664 51.7% 8,219 0.1% 9
1936 40.9% 6,180 58.5% 8,831 0.6% 95
1932 38.3% 5,636 61.6% 9,068 0.2% 27
1928 50.5% 6,637 49.4% 6,481 0.1% 15
1924 52.5% 6,205 42.6% 5,033 4.9% 583
1920 58.3% 5,878 41.3% 4,167 0.4% 36
1916 48.2% 2,746 51.1% 2,915 0.7% 42
1912 43.2% 2,103 50.3% 2,447 6.5% 316
1908 48.6% 2,402 50.4% 2,494 1.0% 48
1904 47.5% 2,081 51.2% 2,244 1.3% 58
1900 47.8% 2,157 51.5% 2,320 0.7% 32
1896 47.5% 2,033 51.4% 2,198 1.1% 46
1892 47.8% 1,752 50.3% 1,844 1.9% 68
1888 48.1% 1,708 51.4% 1,824 0.5% 17

Missouri presidential preference primary (2008)
  • Former U.S. Senator and current 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.
Cole County, Missouri
2008 Republican primary in Missouri
John McCain2,982 (28.74%)
Mike Huckabee3,247 (31.30%)
Mitt Romney3,729 (35.95%)
Ron Paul227 (2.19%)
Cole County, Missouri
2008 Democratic primary in Missouri
Hillary Clinton4,089 (45.07%)
Barack Obama4,642 (51.16%)
John Edwards (withdrawn)264 (2.91%)
Uncommitted{{{uncommitted}}}

Communities

Cities

Villages

Unincorporated communities

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. Eaton, David Wolfe (1916). How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named. The State Historical Society of Missouri. pp. 278.
  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. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
  9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
  10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
  11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  12. "Jefferson City Correctional Center." Missouri Department of Corrections. May 7, 2006. Retrieved on September 18, 2010.
  13. "MidMoGIS Mapping Website Archived 2011-07-18 at the Wayback Machine." City of Jefferson. Retrieved on September 18, 2010.
  14. Breeding, Marshall. "Missouri River Regional Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  15. "Cole County, Missouri, General Election". Cole County Clerk. November 8, 2016. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
  16. "Cole County, Missouri, General Election". Cole County Clerk. November 7, 2014. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  17. "Cole County, Missouri, General Election". Cole County Clerk. November 8, 2012. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  18. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-03-24.

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

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