Lafayette County, Missouri

Lafayette County is a county located in the western portion of the U.S. state of Missouri and is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area.[1] As of the 2010 census, the population was 33,381.[2] Its county seat is Lexington.[3] The county was organized November 16, 1820 from Cooper County and originally named Lillard County for James Lillard of Tennessee, who served in the first state constitutional convention and first state legislature.[4] It was renamed Lafayette County on February 16, 1825, in honor of Revolutionary War hero the Marquis de La Fayette, who was then visiting the United States.[5]

Lafayette County
U.S. county
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
Missouri's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°04′N 93°47′W
Country United States
State Missouri
FoundedNovember 16, 1820
Named forMarquis de La Fayette
SeatLexington
Largest cityOdessa
Area
 • Total639 sq mi (1,660 km2)
 • Land628 sq mi (1,630 km2)
 • Water11 sq mi (30 km2)  1.6%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total33,381
 • Estimate 
(2018)
32,598
 • Density52/sq mi (20/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district5th
Websitewww.lafayettecountymo.com

History

Lafayette County was settled primarily from migrants from the Upper Southern states of Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia. They brought slaves and slaveholding traditions and started cultivating crops similar to those in Middle Tennessee and Kentucky: hemp and tobacco.

Peter Youree (1843-1914) was born here to merchant P. E. Youree and the former M. M. Zimmerman. As a young man, he enlisted in the Confederate forces from here, gaining the rank of captain during the American Civil War. Afterward, he settled in Shreveport, Louisiana, where he married, became a successful merchant and banker, and served on the Caddo Parish Police Jury.

As a result of the migration from the South, this part of Missouri, and neighboring counties, became known as Little Dixie. In 1860 slaves made up 25 percent or more of the county's population, and the county was strongly pro-Confederate during the American Civil War.[6]

But immigrants from Germany, as well as German Americans from St. Louis, began arriving shortly before the war, with many more to come afterwards. Many of the Germans were sympathetic to the Union and opposed slavery. They eventually made up a large part of the populations of Concordia, Emma, Wellington, Napoleon, Higginsville, Mayview, and Lexington.

After the war, there were racial tensions as whites worked to dominate the freedmen. Following Reconstruction, whites lynched two blacks in the decades around the turn of the century.

21st century

In November 2013, Leland Ray Kolkmeyer pleaded guilty, in federal court, of a fraud scheme in which he embezzled more than $1.5 million from Wellington-Napoleon Fire Protection District and Special Road District while serving as their treasurer.[7][8][9]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 639 square miles (1,660 km2), of which 628 square miles (1,630 km2) is land and 11 square miles (28 km2) (1.6%) is water.[10]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

National protected area

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18302,912—
18406,815134.0%
185013,690100.9%
186020,09846.8%
187022,62312.6%
188025,71013.6%
189030,18417.4%
190031,6795.0%
191030,154−4.8%
192030,006−0.5%
193029,259−2.5%
194027,856−4.8%
195025,272−9.3%
196025,2740.0%
197026,6265.3%
198029,92512.4%
199031,1073.9%
200032,9606.0%
201033,3811.3%
Est. 201832,598[11]−2.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
1790-1960[13] 1900-1990[14]
1990-2000[15] 2010-2015[2]

As of the census[16] of 2000, there were 32,960 people, 12,569 households, and 9,099 families residing in the county. The population density was 52 people per square mile (20/km²). There were 13,707 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile (8/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.52% White, 2.27% Black or African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.51% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. Approximately 1.17% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 37.3% were of German, 17.5% American, 9.9% English and 9.7% Irish ancestry.

There were 12,569 households out of which 33.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.30% were married couples living together, 9.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.60% were non-families. 24.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.20% 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 3.01.

In the county, the population was spread out with 26.20% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 15.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,235, and the median income for a family was $45,717. Males had a median income of $31,972 versus $22,684 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,493. About 6.90% of families and 8.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.90% of those under age 18 and 9.10% of those ages 65 or over.

Education

Public schools

Private schools

Public Libraries
  • Robertson Memorial Library[17]
  • Trails Regional Library[18]

Politics

Local

The Republican Party mostly controls politics at the local level in Lafayette County. Republicans hold a little more than half of the elected positions in the county.

Lafayette County, Missouri
Elected countywide officials
Assessor Chip Langman Democratic
Circuit Clerk Deana Aversman Republican
County Clerk Linda Niendick Republican
Collector Lori Fiegenbaum Democratic
Commissioner
(Presiding)		 Harold Hoflander Republican
Commissioner
(District 1)		 Craig Williams Republican
Commissioner
(District 2)		 Tracy Dyer Republican
Coroner Ram Chandra Republican
Prosecuting Attorney Kristen Ellis Democratic
Public Administrator Barb Copenhaver Republican
Recorder JoAnn Swartz Republican
Sheriff Kerrick Alumbaugh Democratic
Surveyor Mark Nolte Republican
Treasurer Jennifer Jellum Republican

State
Past Gubernatorial Elections Results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2016 57.85% 9,167 38.47% 6,097 3.68% 583
2012 47.91% 7,537 49.31% 7,758 2.78% 438
2008 42.70% 7,022 55.09% 9,060 2.21% 364
2004 52.97% 8,541 45.59% 7,351 1.43% 231
2000 50.32% 7,276 47.94% 6,932 1.74% 251
1996 34.00% 4,450 63.05% 8,252 2.94% 385

Lafayette County is divided into two legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives, both of which are held by Republicans.

Missouri House of Representatives — District 33 — Lafayette County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Donna Pfautsch 51 72.86% -2.81
Democratic Chase Linder 19 27.14% +19.03
Missouri House of Representatives — District 33 — Lafayette County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Donna Pfautsch 28 75.67% +10.96
Democratic Syed Asif 3 8.11% -27.18
Libertarian Matt Stephens 6 16.22% +16.22
Missouri House of Representatives — District 33 — Lafayette County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Donna Pfautsch 33 64.71%
Democratic Ron Harvey 18 35.29%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 53 — Lafayette County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Glen Kolkmeyer 13,719 100.00% +38.93
Missouri House of Representatives — District 53 — Lafayette County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Glen Kolkmeyer 5,818 61.07% +2.43
Democratic Henry Grubb 3,709 38.93% -2.43
Missouri House of Representatives — District 53 — Lafayette County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Glen Kolkmeyer 9,095 58.64%
Democratic Holmes Osborne 6,416 41.36%

All of Lafayette County is a part of Missouri's 21st District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Denny Hoskins (R-Warrensburg).

Missouri Senate — District 21 — Lafayette County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Denny Hoskins 9,738 63.36% +1.36
Democratic ElGene Ver Dught 4,864 31.65% -2.80
Libertarian Bill Wayne 768 5.00% -1.45
Missouri Senate — District 21 — Lafayette County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican David Pearce 9,547 62.00%
Democratic ElGene Ver Dught 5,305 34.45%
Libertarian Steven Hedrick 547 3.55%

Federal
U.S. Senate — Missouri — Lafayette County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Roy Blunt 8,812 55.55% +12.89
Democratic Jason Kander 6,150 38.77% -10.49
Libertarian Jonathan Dine 436 2.75% -5.33
Green Johnathan McFarland 167 1.05% +1.05
Constitution Fred Ryman 299 1.88% +1.88
U.S. Senate — Missouri — Lafayette County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Todd Akin 6,663 42.66%
Democratic Claire McCaskill 7,695 49.26%
Libertarian Jonathan Dine 1,262 8.08%

All of Lafayette County is included in Missouri's 5th Congressional District, which is currently represented by Emanuel Cleaver (D-Kansas City) in the U.S. House of Representatives.

U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 5th Congressional District — Lafayette County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Democratic Emanuel Cleaver II 5,744 36.50% +3.58
Republican Jacob Turk 9,505 60.39% -3.58
Libertarian Roy Welborn 490 3.11%
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 5th Congressional District — Lafayette County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Democratic Emanuel Cleaver II 3,153 32.92% -6.74
Republican Jacob Turk 6,128 63.97% +6.90
Libertarian Roy Welborn 298 3.11% -0.16
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri’s 5th Congressional District — Lafayette County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Democratic Emanuel Cleaver II 6,202 39.66%
Republican Jacob Turk 8,925 57.07%
Libertarian Randy Langkraehr 511 3.27%

Political culture
Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[19]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 68.8% 10,988 25.4% 4,053 5.8% 934
2012 61.8% 9,803 35.6% 5,655 2.6% 408
2008 56.9% 9,442 41.6% 6,902 1.5% 256
2004 59.7% 9,656 39.6% 6,412 0.7% 114
2000 54.1% 7,849 43.7% 6,343 2.3% 328
1996 41.6% 5,489 46.3% 6,118 12.1% 1,596
1992 34.5% 4,651 38.7% 5,213 26.8% 3,603
1988 54.5% 6,825 45.2% 5,654 0.3% 35
1984 63.9% 8,581 36.1% 4,848
1980 54.0% 7,271 43.0% 5,792 3.0% 405
1976 51.3% 6,823 48.2% 6,410 0.5% 72
1972 69.3% 9,187 30.7% 4,063
1968 53.4% 6,840 38.0% 4,859 8.6% 1,105
1964 42.6% 5,493 57.4% 7,400
1960 59.1% 8,011 41.0% 5,555
1956 57.2% 8,133 42.8% 6,081
1952 59.3% 8,805 40.5% 6,020 0.2% 32
1948 52.5% 6,634 47.4% 5,988 0.2% 20
1944 58.6% 7,951 41.3% 5,603 0.1% 7
1940 55.9% 8,802 43.9% 6,913 0.2% 29
1936 50.7% 7,535 49.0% 7,275 0.3% 51
1932 41.7% 5,670 58.1% 7,906 0.3% 37
1928 56.3% 7,687 43.5% 5,939 0.2% 32
1924 50.4% 6,517 45.5% 5,877 4.1% 529
1920 54.4% 7,471 44.9% 6,169 0.7% 94
1916 49.1% 4,049 49.4% 4,073 1.5% 126
1912 31.7% 2,367 48.9% 3,650 19.3% 1,442
1908 48.6% 3,771 49.8% 3,865 1.7% 128
1904 48.8% 3,531 49.5% 3,583 1.7% 119
1900 43.4% 3,311 55.3% 4,217 1.3% 101
1896 42.7% 3,375 56.5% 4,463 0.8% 63
1892 40.3% 2,833 55.8% 3,922 3.9% 270
1888 41.3% 2,819 56.6% 3,865 2.1% 146

Missouri presidential preference primary (2008)
  • Former U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York) received more votes, a total of 2,464, than any candidate from either party in Lafayette County during the 2008 presidential primary.
Lafayette County, Missouri
2008 Republican primary in Missouri
John McCain1,148 (35.28%)
Mike Huckabee979 (30.09%)
Mitt Romney898 (27.60%)
Ron Paul160 (4.92%)
Lafayette County, Missouri
2008 Democratic primary in Missouri
Hillary Clinton2,464 (60.75%)
Barack Obama1,436 (35.04%)
John Edwards (withdrawn)106 (2.61%)

Communities

See also

References
  1. https://www.marc.org/Data-Economy/Metrodataline/General-Information/Statistical-Areas
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  4. "Disappearing Missouri Names". The Kansas City Star. March 19, 1911. p. 15. Retrieved August 15, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. Eaton, David Wolfe (1916). How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named. The State Historical Society of Missouri. pp. 183.
  6. T. J. Stiles, Jesse James: The Last Rebel of the Civil War, New York: Vintage Books, 2003, pp. 10-11
  7. "Public servant steals $1.5 million from two tiny towns in Missouri"; The Kansas City Star; 22 November 2013
  8. "Treasurer admits to embezzling over $1 million from small towns’ funds:; Fox4KC; November 22, 2013.]
  9. Treasurer for road district and fire district pleads guilty to embezzling $1.5 million; justice.gov; November 20, 2013.
  10. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 13, 2014. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  11. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  12. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  13. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  14. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  15. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  16. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  17. Breeding, Marshall. "Robertson Memorial Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  18. Breeding, Marshall. "Trails Regional Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  19. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-03-25.

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