Fort Towson

The Clark County, Missouri courthouse as it appeared circa 1878.
Clark County Courthouse in 2007. It was demolished in 2010 despite being on the National Register of Historic Places.

Clark County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, its population was 6,634.[1] Its county seat is Kahoka.[2] The county was organized December 16, 1836 and named for William Clark, leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition and later Governor of Missouri Territory.[3][4]

Clark County is part of the Fort MadisonKeokuk, IA-IL-MO Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Missouri folklorist Margot Ford McMillen wrote that early settlers were attracted by Clark County's good and inexpensive agricultural land. One section was called "Bit Nation" because land was sold there for just twelve and one-half cents ("one bit" of a Spanish dollar) an acre.[5]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 512 square miles (1,330 km2), of which 505 square miles (1,310 km2) is land and 7.1 square miles (18 km2) (1.4%) is water.[6]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18402,846
18505,52794.2%
186011,684111.4%
187013,66717.0%
188015,03110.0%
189015,1260.6%
190015,3831.7%
191012,811−16.7%
192011,874−7.3%
193010,254−13.6%
194010,166−0.9%
19509,003−11.4%
19608,725−3.1%
19708,260−5.3%
19808,4932.8%
19907,547−11.1%
20007,416−1.7%
20107,139−3.7%
20206,634−7.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2015[1]

As of the census[11] of 2010, there were 7,139 people, 2,966 households, and 2,079 families residing in the county. The population density was 15 people per square mile (5.8 people/km2). There were 3,483 housing units at an average density of 7 units per square mile (2.7/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.83% White, 0.07% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 0.61% from two or more races. Approximately 0.70% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,966 households, out of which 30.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.70% were married couples living together, 7.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.90% were non-families. 26.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.00% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 25.50% from 25 to 44, 25.00% from 45 to 64, and 16.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,457, and the median income for a family was $36,270. Males had a median income of $27,279 versus $19,917 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,988. About 10.80% of families and 14.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.70% of those under age 18 and 12.70% of those age 65 or over.

2020 Census

Clark County Racial Composition[12]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 6,337 95.52%
Black or African American (NH) 21 0.32%
Native American (NH) 9 0.14%
Asian (NH) 12 0.2%
Pacific Islander (NH) 0 0%
Other/Mixed (NH) 205 3.1%
Hispanic or Latino 50 0.75%

Education

Public schools

Private schools

Public libraries

  • Northeast Missouri Library Service[13]

Communities

Cities

Villages

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated places

Townships (all inactive)

Politics

Local

The Republican Party controls politics at the local level in Clark County. As of 2018, Republicans hold nine of fourteen of the elected positions in the county.

State

Past Gubernatorial Election Results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2020 79.09% 2,667 19.22% 648 1.69% 57
2016 62.34% 2,053 34.74% 1,144 2.92% 96
2012 40.78% 1,312 56.64% 1,822 2.58% 83
2008 51.33% 1,772 46.00% 1,588 1.67% 92
2004 66.98% 2,469 30.63% 1,129 2.38% 88
2000 46.47% 1,751 51.17% 1,928 2.36% 89
1996 29.87% 966 68.46% 2,214 1.67% 54

All of Clark County is included in Missouri's 4th District in the Missouri House of Representatives and is represented by Craig Redmon (R-Ewing).

Missouri House of Representatives — District 4 — Clark County
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Greg Sharpe
Missouri House of Representatives — District 4 — Clark County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Craig Redmon 1,794 100.00%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 4 — Clark County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Craig Redmon 2.582 100.00%

All of Clark County is a part of Missouri's 18th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Cindy O'Laughlin (R-Shelbina).

Missouri Senate — District 18 — Clark County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Brian Munzlinger 1,837 100.00%

Federal

U.S. Senate — Missouri — Clark County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Roy Blunt 2,037 62.16% +22.17
Democratic Jason Kander 1,059 32.32% -23.90
Libertarian Jonathan Dine 98 2.99% -0.80
Green Johnathan McFarland 40 1.22% +1.22
Constitution Fred Ryman 43 1.31% +1.31
U.S. Senate — Missouri — Clark County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Todd Akin 1.288 39.99%
Democratic Claire McCaskill 1,811 56.22%
Libertarian Jonathan Dine 122 3.79%

All of Clark County is included in Missouri's 6th Congressional District and is currently represented by Sam Graves (R-Tarkio) in the U.S. House of Representatives.

U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 6th Congressional District — Clark County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sam Graves 2,413 75.24% +3.79
Democratic David M. Blackwell 673 20.99% -4.49
Libertarian Russ Lee Monchil 68 2.12% -0.95
Green Mike Diel 53 1.65% +1.65
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri’s 6th Congressional District — Clark County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sam Graves 1,464 71.45% +13.75
Democratic Bill Hedge 522 25.48% -13.91
Libertarian Russ Lee Monchil 63 3.07% +0.16
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 6th Congressional District — Clark County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sam Graves 1,746 57.70%
Democratic Kyle Yarber 1,192 39.39%
Libertarian Russ Lee Monchil 88 2.91%
United States presidential election results for Clark County, Missouri[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 2,672 78.73% 678 19.98% 44 1.30%
2016 2,458 74.13% 724 21.83% 134 4.04%
2012 1,730 53.64% 1,398 43.35% 97 3.01%
2008 1,782 51.56% 1,572 45.49% 102 2.95%
2004 1,899 50.83% 1,794 48.02% 43 1.15%
2000 1,899 49.95% 1,812 47.66% 91 2.39%
1996 1,081 32.63% 1,749 52.79% 483 14.58%
1992 1,039 28.99% 1,815 50.64% 730 20.37%
1988 1,493 43.52% 1,925 56.11% 13 0.38%
1984 2,068 55.97% 1,627 44.03% 0 0.00%
1980 2,042 56.50% 1,494 41.34% 78 2.16%
1976 1,582 48.32% 1,679 51.28% 13 0.40%
1972 2,499 64.04% 1,403 35.96% 0 0.00%
1968 2,111 53.55% 1,489 37.77% 342 8.68%
1964 1,660 42.75% 2,223 57.25% 0 0.00%
1960 2,642 56.44% 2,039 43.56% 0 0.00%
1956 2,623 54.46% 2,193 45.54% 0 0.00%
1952 2,850 57.95% 2,045 41.58% 23 0.47%
1948 2,264 49.01% 2,352 50.92% 3 0.06%
1944 2,707 55.61% 2,155 44.27% 6 0.12%
1940 3,171 53.59% 2,728 46.10% 18 0.30%
1936 2,812 48.15% 3,003 51.42% 25 0.43%
1932 2,223 41.75% 3,072 57.70% 29 0.54%
1928 3,259 59.83% 2,170 39.84% 18 0.33%
1924 2,948 50.37% 2,770 47.33% 135 2.31%
1920 3,310 57.46% 2,383 41.36% 68 1.18%
1916 1,782 50.68% 1,692 48.12% 42 1.19%
1912 1,214 36.53% 1,586 47.73% 523 15.74%
1908 1,741 49.52% 1,737 49.40% 38 1.08%
1904 1,836 50.50% 1,724 47.41% 76 2.09%
1900 1,899 47.70% 2,021 50.77% 61 1.53%
1896 1,953 47.89% 2,107 51.67% 18 0.44%
1892 1,684 47.48% 1,807 50.94% 56 1.58%
1888 1,724 48.54% 1,791 50.42% 37 1.04%

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 17, 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. 275.
  4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 82.
  5. ^ McMillen, Margot Ford (1994). Paris, Tightwad and Peculiar: Missouri Place Names. Columbia, Missouri: University of Missouri Press. p. 46. ISBN 0-8262-0972-6.
  6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
  7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. 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. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
  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) – Clark County, Missouri".
  13. ^ Breeding, Marshall. "Northeast Missouri Library Service". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  14. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 24, 2018.

External links

40°25′N 91°44′W / 40.41°N 91.74°W / 40.41; -91.74