Greene County, Missouri

Greene County, Missouri

Historic Greene County Courthouse
Map of Missouri highlighting Greene County
Location in the state of Missouri
Map of the United States highlighting Missouri
Missouri's location in the U.S.
Founded January 2, 1833
Named for Nathanael Greene
Seat Springfield
Largest city Springfield
Area
 • Total 678 sq mi (1,756 km2)
 • Land 675 sq mi (1,748 km2)
 • Water 2.6 sq mi (7 km2), 0.4%
Population (est.)
 • (2015) 288,072
Congressional district 7th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website www.greenecountymo.org

Greene County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2010 census, the population was 275,174,[1] making it the fourth-most populous county in Missouri. Its county seat is Springfield.[2] The county was organized in 1833 and is named after American Revolutionary War General Nathanael Greene.[3]

Greene County is included in the Springfield, MO Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 678 square miles (1,760 km2), of which 675 square miles (1,750 km2) is land and 2.6 square miles (6.7 km2) (0.4%) is water.[4]

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18405,372—
185012,785138.0%
186013,1863.1%
187021,54963.4%
188028,80133.7%
189048,61668.8%
190052,7138.4%
191063,83121.1%
192068,6987.6%
193082,92920.7%
194090,5419.2%
1950104,92315.9%
1960126,27620.4%
1970152,92921.1%
1980185,30221.2%
1990207,94912.2%
2000240,39115.6%
2010275,17414.5%
Est. 2015288,072[5]4.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2015[1]

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 240,391 people, 97,859 households, and 61,846 families residing in the county. The population density was 356 people per square mile (138/km²). There were 104,517 housing units at an average density of 155 per square mile (60/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.54% White, 2.26% Black or African American, 0.66% Native American, 1.13% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.67% from other races, and 1.68% from two or more races. Approximately 1.84% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 97,859 households out of which 28.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.00% were married couples living together, 9.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.80% were non-families. 29.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the county the population was spread out with 22.30% under the age of 18, 13.80% from 18 to 24, 28.60% from 25 to 44, 21.80% from 45 to 64, and 13.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 94.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $44,185, and the median income for a family was $56,047. Males had a median income of $30,672 versus $21,987 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,770. About 7.60% of families and 12.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.60% of those under age 18 and 7.50% of those age 65 or over.

There are 190,417 registered voters in Greene County.[11]

Emergency services

Republic and Springfield have city fire departments. Additionally, the county is served by the following fire districts:

Politics

Local

The Republican Party predominantly controls politics at the local level in Greene County. Republicans hold all but one of the elected positions in the county.

Greene County, Missouri
Elected countywide officials
Assessor Rick Kessinger Republican
Circuit Clerk Tom Barr Republican
County Clerk Shane Schoeller Republican
Collector Leah Betts Republican
Commissioner
(Presiding)		 Bob Cirtin Republican
Commissioner
(District 1)		 Harold Bengsch Republican
Commissioner
(District 2)		 Roseann Bentley Republican
Prosecuting Attorney Dan Patterson Republican
Public Administrator David Yancey Republican
Recorder Cheryl Dawson Republican
Sheriff Jim Arnott Republican
Treasurer Justin Hill Republican

State

Past Gubernatorial Elections Results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2012 47.62% 59,660 49.46% 61,970 2.92% 3,659
2008 42.84% 57,565 54.45% 73,164 2.71% 3,641
2004 61.45% 76,645 37.25% 46,470 1.30% 1,621
2000 53.57% 54,770 44.61% 45,612 1.82% 1,861
1996 51.63% 49,991 45.08% 43,646 3.29% 3,189

Greene County is divided into eight legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives; seven of which are held by Republicans and one Democratic seat.

Missouri House of Representatives - District 130 - Greene County (2014)[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jeff Messenger 7,598 100.00
Missouri House of Representatives - District 130 - Greene County (2012)[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jeff Messenger 13,188 81.42
Libertarian Jake Wilburn 3,009 18.58
Missouri House of Representatives - District 131 - Greene County (2014)[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sonya Anderson 5,578 72.9
Democratic Marlee Yant 2,072 29.1
Missouri House of Representatives - District 131 - Greene County (2012)[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sonya Anderson 13,279 100.00
Missouri House of Representatives - District 132 - Greene County (2014)[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Charlie Norr 2,100 56.2
Republican Fred Elison 1,635 43.8
Missouri House of Representatives - District 132 - Greene County (2012)[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Charlie Norr 5,203 54.09
Republican Melissa Leach 4,416 45.91
Missouri House of Representatives - District 133 - Greene County (2014)[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Eric Burlison 7,047 100.00
Missouri House of Representatives - District 133 - Greene County (2012)[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Eric Burlison 11,878 70.49
Democratic Nicholas Landendorf 4,972 29.51
Missouri House of Representatives - District 134 - Greene County (2014)[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Elijah Haahr 5,214 64.19 +8.15
Democratic Kevin Knox 2,909 35.81 -8.15
Missouri House of Representatives - District 134 - Greene County (2012)[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Elijah Haahr 9,227 56.04
Democratic James Owen 7,239 43.96
Missouri House of Representatives - District 135 - Greene County (2014)[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Lincoln Hough 4,698 57.92 +2.93
Democratic Angie Filbeck 3,413 42.08 -2.93
Missouri House of Representatives - District 135 - Greene County (2012)[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Lincoln Hough 8,932 54.99
Democratic Casey Clark 7,310 45.01
Missouri House of Representatives - District 136 - Greene County (2014)[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Kevin Austin 9,808 100.00
Missouri House of Representatives - District 136 - Greene County (2012)[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Kevin Austin 17,648 100.00
Missouri House of Representatives - District 137 - Greene County (2014)[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Lyndall Fraker 3,876 69.85 -10.58
Democratic Sandy Grogan 1,418 25.55
Libertarian Bill Boone 255 4.60 -14.97
Missouri House of Representatives - District 137 - Greene County (2012)[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Lyndall Fraker 7,408 80.43
Libertarian Bill Boone 1,802 19.57

Greene County is also divided into two districts in the Missouri Senate, both of which represented by Republicans.

Missouri Senate - District 20 - Greene County (2014)[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jay Wasson 23,796 100.00
Missouri Senate - District 20 - Greene County (2010)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jay Wasson 26,332 75.89
Democratic Terry Traw 8,365 24.21
Missouri Senate - District 30 - Greene County (2014)[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Bob Dixon 27,207 100.00
Missouri Senate - District 30 - Greene County (2010)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Bob Dixon 33,715 64.85
Democratic Michael Hoeman 18,272 35.15

Federal

All of Greene County is included in Missouri's 7th Congressional District and is currently represented by Billy Long (R-Springfield) in the U.S. House of Representatives.

U.S. House of Representatives - District 7 - Greene County (2014)[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Billy Long 33,738 53.82 -3.08
Democratic Jim Evans 23,624 37.69 +0.14
Libertarian Kevin Craig 5,323 8.49 +2.94
U.S. House of Representatives - District 7 - Greene County (2012)[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Billy Long 70,212 56.90 +0.78
Democratic Jim Evans 46,331 37.55 +0.63
Libertarian Kevin Craig 6,850 5.55 -1.41
U.S. Senate - Missouri - Greene County (2012)[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Claire McCaskill 59,979 48.18 +14.06
Republican Todd Akin 55,304 44.43 -21.45
Libertarian Jonathan Dine 9,197 7.39
U.S. House of Representatives - District 7 - Greene County (2010)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Billy Long 49,157 56.12
Democratic Scott Eckersley 32,336 36.92
Libertarian Kevin Craig 6,098 6.96
U.S. Senate - Missouri - Greene County (2010)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Roy Blunt 54,270 65,88
Democratic Robin Carnahan 28,107 34.12

[15]

Political culture

Past presidential elections results
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2012 60.83% 76,900 36.56% 46,219 1.87% 2,362
2008 57.06% 77,683 41.26% 56,181 1.68% 2,283
2004 62.18% 77,885 37.25% 46,657 0.58% 724
2000 57.50% 59,178 39.92% 41,091 2.58% 2,657
1996 49.60% 48,193 40.45% 39,300 9.95% 9,671

Like most counties situated in Southwest Missouri, Greene County is a Republican stronghold in presidential elections. Although the county contains the urban Springfield and Missouri State University, the county is located in the heart of the Bible Belt where voters tend to be very socially conservative and therefore more amenable to voting Republican. George W. Bush carried Greene County in 2000 and 2004 by almost two-to-one margins, and like many other counties throughout the Bible Belt in Southwest Missouri, Greene County favored John McCain over Barack Obama in 2008. The last Democratic presidential nominee to win Greene County was Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.

Like most areas throughout the Bible Belt in Southwest Missouri, voters in Greene County traditionally adhere to socially and culturally conservative principles which tend to strongly influence their Republican leanings. In 2004, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman—it passed Greene County with 72.04 percent of the vote. The initiative passed the state with 71 percent of support from voters as Missouri became the first state to ban same-sex marriage. In 2006, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to fund and legalize embryonic stem cell research in the state—it narrowly failed in Greene County with 51.62 percent voting against the measure. The initiative narrowly passed the state with 51 percent of support from voters as Missouri became one of the first states in the nation to approve embryonic stem cell research. Despite Greene County’s longstanding tradition of supporting socially conservative platforms, voters in the county have a penchant for advancing populist causes like increasing the minimum wage. In 2006, Missourians voted on a proposition (Proposition B) to increase the minimum wage in the state to $6.50 an hour—it passed Greene County with 74.41 percent of the vote. The proposition strongly passed every single county in Missouri with 78.99 percent voting in favor as the minimum wage was increased to $6.50 an hour in the state. During the same election, voters in five other states also strongly approved increases in the minimum wage.

Missouri Presidential Preference Primary (2008)

Voters in Greene County from both political parties supported candidates who finished in second place in the state at large and nationally.

Greene County, Missouri
2008 Republican primary in Missouri
John McCain 9,979 (27.09%)
Mike Huckabee 15,645 (42.48%)
Mitt Romney 9,271 (25.17%)
Ron Paul 1,552 (4.21%)
Greene County, Missouri
2008 Democratic primary in Missouri
Hillary Clinton 18,322 (54.94%)
Barack Obama 14,263 (42.77%)
John Edwards (withdrawn) 613 (1.84%)

Education

Public schools

Private schools

Alternative/other schools

Colleges and universities

Transportation

Major highways

Airports

Communities

Notable residents

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ Eaton, David Wolfe (1916). How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named. The State Historical Society of Missouri. p. 170.
  4. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  6. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  10. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  11. ↑ Registered Voters in Missouri 2008
  12. ↑ http://www.pleasant-viewfire.org
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "County Results, State of Missouri - General Election - November 4, 2014". Retrieved March 23, 2016.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "County Results, State of Missouri - General Election - November 6, 2012". Retrieved March 23, 2016.
  15. ↑ "Missouri senate election 2010". MSNBC. Retrieved 2012-08-25.

External links

 Dade County Polk County Dallas County
Webster County
   Greene County, Missouri  
Lawrence County Christian County

Coordinates: 37°16′N 93°20′W / 37.26°N 93.34°W / 37.26; -93.34

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