Fort Towson

Johnson County is a county located in western portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 54,013.[1] Its county seat is Warrensburg.[2] The county was formed December 13, 1834 from Lafayette County and named for Vice President Richard Mentor Johnson.[3]

Johnson County comprises the Warrensburg Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS Combined Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 833 square miles (2,160 km2), of which 829 square miles (2,150 km2) is land and 3.9 square miles (10 km2) (0.5%) is water.[4]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18404,471
18507,46466.9%
186014,61495.8%
187024,64868.7%
188028,17214.3%
189028,132−0.1%
190027,843−1.0%
191026,297−5.6%
192024,899−5.3%
193022,413−10.0%
194021,617−3.6%
195020,716−4.2%
196028,98139.9%
197034,17217.9%
198039,05914.3%
199042,5148.8%
200048,25813.5%
201052,5959.0%
202054,0132.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010[9]

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 48,258 people, 17,410 households, and 11,821 families residing in the county. The population density was 58 people per square mile (22 people/km2). There were 18,886 housing units at an average density of 23 units per square mile (8.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 90.12% White, 4.33% Black or African American, 0.65% Native American, 1.43% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 1.29% from other races, and 2.05% from two or more races. Approximately 2.92% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 17,410 households, out of which 35.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.90% were married couples living together, 8.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.10% were non-families. 22.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.10% under the age of 18, 20.20% from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 17.80% from 45 to 64, and 9.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 101.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,391, and the median income for a family was $43,050. Males had a median income of $28,901 versus $21,376 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,037. About 9.50% of families and 14.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.20% of those under age 18 and 10.80% of those age 65 or over.

2020 Census

Johnson County Racial Composition[11]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 44,415 82.23%
Black or African American (NH) 2,309 4.27%
Native American (NH) 259 0.48%
Asian (NH) 821 1.52%
Pacific Islander (NH) 210 0.39%
Other/Mixed (NH) 3,404 6.3%
Hispanic or Latino 2,595 4.8%

Education

Public schools

  • Chilhowee R-IV School District – Chilhowee
  • Holden R-III School District – Holden
    • Holden Elementary School (P–5)
    • Holden Intermediate School (3–5)
    • Holden Middle School (6–8)
    • Holden High School (9–12)
  • Johnson County R-VII School District – Centerview
  • Kingsville R-I School District – Kingsville
  • Knob Noster R-VIII School District – Knob Noster
    • Knob Noster Elementary School (P–5)
    • Whiteman Air Force Base Elementary School (P–5) – Whiteman
    • Knob Noster Middle School (6–8)
    • Knob Noster High School (9–12)
  • Leeton R-X School District – Leeton
  • Warrensburg R-VI School District – Warrensburg
    • Reese Early Childhood Education Center
    • Maple Grove Elementary School (P–2)
    • Ridge View Elementary School (P–2)
    • Martin Warren Elementary School (3–5)
    • Sterling Elementary School (3–5)
    • Warrensburg Middle School (6–8)
    • Warrensburg High School (9–12)
    • Warrensburg Area Career Center

Private schools

Post-secondary

Public libraries

  • Holden Public Library[12]
  • Trails Regional Library[13]

Politics

Local

The Republican Party predominantly controls politics at the local level in Johnson County. Republicans hold all elected offices in Johnson County.

State

Past Gubernatorial Elections Results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2020 66.53% 15,321 29.94% 6,895 3.52% 811
2016 56.88% 12,040 39.38% 8,335 3.74% 793
2012 45.67% 9,484 50.22% 10,428 4.11% 853
2008 43.29% 9,367 53.88% 11,658 2.82% 613
2004 53.54% 10,767 44.55% 8,958 1.91% 384
2000 49.27% 8,219 47.75% 7,964 2.98% 497
1996 34.65% 5,024 62.63% 9,082 2.72% 394

Johnson County is divided into four legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives, all of which are held by Republicans.

Missouri House of Representatives — District 51 — Johnson County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Dean Dohrman 3,713 67.39% +13.82
Democratic John Cozort 1,797 32.61% -7.99
Missouri House of Representatives — District 51 — Johnson County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Dean Dohrman 1,792 53.57% +4.43
Democratic Gary L. Grigsby 1,358 40.60% -5.70
Libertarian Bill Wayne 195 5.83% +1.27
Missouri House of Representatives — District 51 — Johnson County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Dean Dohrman 2,611 49.14%
Democratic Gary L. Grigsby 2,460 46.30%
Libertarian Bill Wayne 242 4.56%
  • District 52 — Nathan Beard (R-Sedalia). Consists of the community of Knob Noster, and Whiteman Air Force Base.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 52 — Johnson County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Nathan Beard 1,189 69.74% -30.26
Democratic Kyle Garner 516 30.26% +30.26
Missouri House of Representatives — District 52 — Johnson County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Nathan Beard 711 100.00% +34.18
Missouri House of Representatives — District 52 — Johnson County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Stanley Cox 986 65.82%
Democratic Phyllis Sue Domann 512 34.18%
Missouri House of Representatives – District 122 – Johnson County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Glen Kolkmeyer 582 100.00% +34.36
Missouri House of Representatives — District 53 — Johnson County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Glen Kolkmeyer 235 65.64% +5.33
Democratic Henry Grubb 123 34.36% -5.33
Missouri House of Representatives — District 53 — Johnson County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Glen Kolkmeyer 383 60.31%
Democratic Holmes Osborne 252 39.69%
  • District 54 — Dan Houx (R- Warrensburg). Consists of western half of the city of Warrensburg and the communities of Centerview, Chilhowee, Holden, Kingsville, La Tour, and Leeton.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 54 — Johnson County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Dan Houx 8,316 65.41% -12.70
Democratic Bob Gregory 3,549 27.92% +27.92
Libertarian Steve Daugherty 848 6.67% +6.67
Missouri House of Representatives — District 54 — Johnson County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Denny Hoskins 5,279 78.11% +17.44
Constitution Daniel Plemons 1,479 21.89% +21.89
Missouri House of Representatives — District 54 — Johnson County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Denny Hoskins 7,753 60.67%
Democratic Nancy Maxwell 3,885 30.40%
Independent Eddie Osborne 1,140 8.92%

All of Johnson 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 — Johnson County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Denny Hoskins 14,641 70.46% -2.70
Democratic ElGene Ver Dught 5,028 24.20% +1.64
Libertarian Bill Wayne 1,110 5.34% +1.07
Missouri Senate — District 21 — Johnson County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican David Pearce 14,983 73.16%
Democratic ElGene Ver Dught 4,621 22.56%
Libertarian Steven Hedrick 875 4.27%

Federal

U.S. Senate — Missouri — Johnson County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Roy Blunt 11,611 54.88% +13.41
Democratic Jason Kander 8,315 39.30% -9.80
Libertarian Jonathan Dine 714 3.37% -6.06
Green Johnathan McFarland 268 1.27% +1.27
Constitution Fred Ryman 248 1.17% +1.17
U.S. Senate — Missouri — Johnson County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Todd Akin 8,613 41.47%
Democratic Claire McCaskill 10,197 49.10%
Libertarian Jonathan Dine 1,959 9.43%

All of Johnson 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.

U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 4th Congressional District — Johnson County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Vicky Hartzler 14,102 67.63% -0.14
Democratic Gordon Christensen 5,584 26.78% +1.05
Libertarian Mark Bliss 1,167 5.59% -0.91
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 4th Congressional District — Johnson County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Vicky Hartzler 7,770 67.77% +7.59
Democratic Nate Irvin 2,950 25.73% -9.05
Libertarian Herschel L. Young 745 6.50% +2.48
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri’s 4th Congressional District — Johnson County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Vicky Hartzler 12,356 60.18%
Democratic Teresa Hensley 7,140 34.78%
Libertarian Thomas Holbrook 825 4.02%
Constitution Greg Cowan 209 1.02%

Political culture

Johnson is a solidly Republican county. The last Democrat to carry Johnson County was Bill Clinton in 1992.

United States presidential election results for Johnson County, Missouri[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 15,489 66.84% 6,974 30.10% 709 3.06%
2016 13,719 64.22% 5,930 27.76% 1,713 8.02%
2012 12,763 60.72% 7,667 36.47% 591 2.81%
2008 12,183 55.18% 9,480 42.93% 417 1.89%
2004 12,257 60.57% 7,790 38.50% 189 0.93%
2000 9,339 55.63% 6,926 41.26% 522 3.11%
1996 6,276 43.06% 6,220 42.68% 2,078 14.26%
1992 5,032 33.10% 5,546 36.48% 4,625 30.42%
1988 7,512 58.14% 5,373 41.58% 36 0.28%
1984 8,413 66.50% 4,238 33.50% 0 0.00%
1980 6,449 51.24% 5,441 43.23% 695 5.52%
1976 5,513 49.14% 5,551 49.47% 156 1.39%
1972 7,228 70.37% 3,044 29.63% 0 0.00%
1968 4,834 51.78% 3,484 37.32% 1,018 10.90%
1964 4,348 40.41% 6,412 59.59% 0 0.00%
1960 6,970 59.66% 4,712 40.34% 0 0.00%
1956 6,599 59.30% 4,530 40.70% 0 0.00%
1952 6,990 61.82% 4,294 37.98% 23 0.20%
1948 4,903 50.01% 4,888 49.85% 14 0.14%
1944 5,949 57.32% 4,419 42.58% 10 0.10%
1940 6,468 54.23% 5,441 45.62% 19 0.16%
1936 5,797 47.86% 6,294 51.96% 22 0.18%
1932 4,088 38.40% 6,481 60.88% 76 0.71%
1928 7,032 61.86% 4,316 37.97% 19 0.17%
1924 5,248 47.68% 5,526 50.21% 232 2.11%
1920 5,700 50.66% 5,444 48.38% 108 0.96%
1916 2,966 43.83% 3,701 54.69% 100 1.48%
1912 1,772 27.02% 3,468 52.87% 1,319 20.11%
1908 2,997 45.44% 3,483 52.81% 115 1.74%
1904 2,989 46.56% 3,277 51.05% 153 2.38%
1900 3,051 44.76% 3,612 52.99% 153 2.24%
1896 3,219 42.88% 4,240 56.48% 48 0.64%
1892 2,667 41.28% 3,109 48.12% 685 10.60%
1888 2,895 46.33% 3,183 50.94% 171 2.74%

Communities

Cities

Villages

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated places

See also

References

  1. ^ "Johnson County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 169.
  4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  5. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  6. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  7. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 16, 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 16, 2014.
  9. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 21, 2011. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
  10. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  11. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Johnson County, Missouri".
  12. ^ Breeding, Marshall. "Holden Public Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  13. ^ Breeding, Marshall. "Trails Regional Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  14. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 25, 2018.

Further reading

  • Cockrell, Ewing. History of Johnson County, Missouri (1918) online

External links

38°45′N 93°49′W / 38.75°N 93.81°W / 38.75; -93.81