Butler County, Missouri

Butler County is a county located in the southeast Ozark Foothills Region in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2010 Census, the county's population was 42,794.[1] The largest city and county seat is Poplar Bluff.[2] The county was officially organized from Wayne County on February 27, 1849, and is named after former U.S. Representative William O. Butler (D-Kentucky), who was also an unsuccessful candidate for Vice President of the United States.[3] The first meeting in the Butler County Courthouse was held on June 18, 1849.

This article is about the county in southeastern Missouri. For the city in Bates County, in western Missouri, see Butler, Missouri.
Butler County
U.S. county
Butler County Courthouse, October 2014
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
Missouri's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 36°43′N 90°24′W
Country United States
State Missouri
FoundedFebruary 27, 1849
Named forWilliam Orlando Butler
SeatPoplar Bluff
Largest cityPoplar Bluff
Area
 • Total699 sq mi (1,810 km2)
 • Land695 sq mi (1,800 km2)
 • Water4.3 sq mi (11 km2)  0.6%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total42,794
 • Estimate 
(2018)
42,639
 • Density61/sq mi (24/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district8th
Websitebutlercountymo.com

Butler County comprises the Poplar Bluff, MO Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 699 square miles (1,810 km2), of which 695 square miles (1,800 km2) is land and 4.3 square miles (11 km2) (0.6%) is water.[4]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

National protected area

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18501,616—
18602,89178.9%
18704,29848.7%
18806,01139.9%
189010,16469.1%
190016,76965.0%
191020,62423.0%
192024,10616.9%
193023,697−1.7%
194034,27644.6%
195037,70710.0%
196034,656−8.1%
197033,529−3.3%
198037,69312.4%
199038,7652.8%
200040,8675.4%
201042,7944.7%
2018 (est.)42,639[5]−0.4%
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 40,867 people, 16,718 households, and 11,318 families residing in the county. The population density was 59 people per square mile (23/km2). There were 18,707 housing units at an average density of 27 per square mile (10/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.16% White, 5.22% Black or African American, 0.56% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 1.36% from two or more races. Approximately 1.01% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Among the major first ancestries reported in Butler County were 31.7% American, 13.8% German, 11.6% Irish and 10.5% English.

There were 16,718 households, out of which 29.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.50% were married couples living together, 11.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.30% were non-families. 28.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.20% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 26.60% from 25 to 44, 24.10% 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 92.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,422, and the median income for a family was $42,713. Males had a median income of $27,449 versus $19,374 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,282. About 14.00% of families and 18.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.90% of those under age 18 and 16.90% of those age 65 or over.

Religion

According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2010), most residents (58.00%) in Butler County do not adhere to a religion.

Among those who do adhere to a religion (42.00%), the majority of Butler County residents' religious affiliations are:

The main religious families among all adherents in Butler County are:

Education

Of adults 25 years of age and older in Butler County, 70.5% possesses a high school diploma or higher while 11.6% holds a bachelor's degree or higher as their highest educational attainment.

Public Schools
  • Neelyville R-IV School District[11] - Neelyville
    • Hillview Elementary School - Harviell - (PK-02)
    • Neelyville Elementary School - (03-06)
    • Neelyville High School - (07-12)
  • Poplar Bluff R-I School District[12] - Poplar Bluff
    • Eugene Field Elementary School - (01-03)
    • Mark Twain Early Childhood Center - (PK/Daycare)
    • Lake Road Elementary School - (01-04)
    • Poplar Bluff Kindergarten Center - (K)
    • O'Neal Elementary School - (01-03)
    • Oak Grove Elementary School - (01-03)
    • Poplar Bluff Middle School - (04-06)
    • Poplar Bluff Jr. High School (07-08)
    • Poplar Bluff High School (09-12)
  • Twin Rivers R-X School District[13] - Broseley
    • Fisk Elementary School - Fisk - (K-08)
    • Qulin Elementary School - Qulin - (K-08)
    • Twin Rivers High School - Broseley - (09-12)

Private schools

Special education/other schools

Post-secondary

Public libraries
  • Fisk Community Library[17]
  • Poplar Bluff Public Library[18]

Politics

Local
Butler County, Missouri
Elected countywide officials
Assessor Chris Rickman Republican
Circuit Clerk Cindi Bowman Republican
County Clerk Tonyi Deffendall Republican
Collector Emily Clark Parks Republican
Commissioner
(Presiding)		 Vince Lampe Republican
Commissioner
(District 1)		 Don Anderson Republican
Commissioner
(District 2)		 Dennis “Boots” LeGrand Republican
Coroner Andy Moore Republican
Prosecuting Attorney Kacey Proctor Republican
Public Administrator Sharron Payne Republican
Recorder Debby Lundstrom Republican
Sheriff Mark Dobbs Republican
Treasurer Tammy Marler Republican

The Republican Party completely controls all politics at the local level in Butler County.

State

Butler County is divided into two legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives:

  • District 152 is currently represented by Hardy Billington (R-Poplar Bluff). It consists of all of the cities of Neelyville, Qulin, and Poplar Bluff; all of the census-designated place of Harviell; and the unincorporated communities of Angus, Batesville, Belcher, Booser, Broseley, Fagus, Hubbel, Kremlin, Loma Linda, Nyssa, Oglesville, Platanus, Resnik, Roxie, Taft, and Vastus.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 152 — Butler County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Todd Richardson 9,807 100.00%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 152 — Butler County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Todd Richardson 4,646 100.00%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 152 — Butler County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Todd Richardson 9,569 100.00%
  • District 153 is currently represented by Jeff Shawan (R-Poplar Bluff). It consists of all of the city of Fisk and the unincorporated communities of Ash Hill, Barron, Empire, Halloran, Hamtown, Hendrickson, Hilliard, Keener, Kinzer, Morocco, Rombauer, and Wilby.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 153 — Butler County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Steve Cookson 5,007 81.09% -6.05
Democratic Matt Michel 1,168 18.91% +18.91
Missouri House of Representatives — District 153 — Butler County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Steve Cookson 2,664 87.14% +3.95
Libertarian Ginny Keirns 393 12.86% +12.86
Missouri House of Representatives — District 153 — Butler County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Steve Cookson 4,652 83.19%
Independent Jack (Skip) Johnson 940 16.81%

All of Butler County is included in Missouri's 25th Senatorial District and is represented by Republican Doug Libla (R-Poplar Bluff) in the Missouri Senate.

Missouri Senate — District 25 — Butler County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Doug Libla 12,741 76.16% +6.54
Democratic Bill Burlison 3,989 23.84% -6.54
Missouri Senate — District 25 — Butler County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Doug Libla 11,518 69.62%
Democratic Terry Swinger 5,026 30.38%
Past Gubernatorial Elections Results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2016 73.78% 12,598 23.65% 4,039 2.57% 438
2012 55.46% 9,251 42.18% 7,036 2.36% 393
2008 54.12% 9,205 43.86% 7,459 2.02% 343
2004 66.12% 10,796 32.85% 5,364 1.03% 168
2000 58.40% 8,301 39.80% 5,657 1.80% 257
1996 47.71% 6,793 50.63% 7,208 1.66% 237
1992 49.18% 7,335 50.82% 7,581 0.00% 0
1988 66.86% 9,060 33.12% 4,488 0.02% 3
1984 59.67% 7,875 40.33% 5,323 0.00% 0
1980 53.17% 7,471 46.75% 6,569 0.07% 10
1976 52.91% 6,489 46.82% 5,742 0.27% 33
1972 54.67% 6,972 45.23% 5,768 0.09% 12
1968 41.44% 5,393 58.56% 7,621 0.00% 0
1964 38.67% 5,021 61.33% 7,964 0.00% 0
1960 49.56% 6,772 50.44% 6,891 0.00% 0

Federal

Butler County is represented in the U.S. Senate by U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (Republican) and Roy Blunt (Republican).

Butler County is included in Missouri's 8th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives and is represented by Jason T. Smith (Republican).

Political culture
Statewide Election Results
Year Office Results
2012 President Romney 72.52% — 25.83% Obama
U.S. Senator Akin 54.33% — 40.59% McCaskill
Governor Spence 55.46% — 42.18% Nixon
Lt. Governor Kinder 70.68% — 25.51% Montee
Secretary of State Schoeller 65.26% — 31.39% Kander
State Treasurer McNary 63.41% — 32.74% Zweifel
Attorney General Martin 56.67% — 39.59% Koster
2010 U.S. Senator Blunt 70.54% — 25.19% Carnahan
State Auditor Schweich 69.06% — 27.20% Montee
2008 President McCain 68.09% — 30.66% Obama
Governor Hulshof 54.12% — 43.86% Nixon
Lt. Governor Kinder 64.84% — 32.94% Page
Secretary of State Carnahan 50.10% — 47.50% Hubbard
State Treasurer Lager 62.53% — 35.17% Zweifel
Attorney General Gibbons 60.27% — 39.73% Koster
2006 U.S. Senator Talent 60.89% — 35.79% McCaskill
State Auditor Thomas 57.27% — 38.93% Montee
2004 President Bush 71.14% — 28.38% Kerry
U.S. Senator Bond 73.11% — 25.95% Farmer
Governor Blunt 66.12% — 32.85% McCaskill
Lt. Governor Kinder 63.00% — 33.96% Cook
Secretary of State Hanaway 60.51% — 36.84% Carnahan
State Treasurer Steelman 60.07% — 31.32% Powell
Attorney General Byrd 54.54% — 42.27% Nixon
Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[19]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 80.5% 14,602 18.2% 3,301 1.32% 238
2016 79.1% 13,650 17.6% 3,036 3.3% 573
2012 72.5% 12,248 25.8% 4,363 1.7% 278
2008 68.1% 11,805 30.7% 5,316 1.3% 217
2004 71.1% 11,696 28.4% 4,666 0.5% 79
2000 63.3% 9,111 34.7% 4,996 2.0% 290
1996 48.8% 6,996 40.3% 5,780 10.9% 1,567
1992 42.2% 6,450 43.2% 6,602 14.5% 2,220
1988 58.0% 7,968 41.9% 5,751 0.1% 19
1984 65.0% 8,712 35.0% 4,699
1980 58.8% 8,342 39.5% 5,605 1.7% 234
1976 45.4% 5,669 54.1% 6,759 0.5% 57
1972 72.6% 9,198 27.4% 3,466
1968 47.0% 6,326 32.5% 4,379 20.5% 2,759
1964 42.1% 5,616 57.9% 7,710
1960 61.8% 8,751 38.2% 5,406
1956 55.2% 7,216 44.9% 5,869
1952 54.9% 7,843 45.0% 6,426 0.1% 16
1948 44.4% 4,276 55.2% 5,319 0.4% 35
1944 60.0% 6,375 39.7% 4,219 0.3% 32
1940 56.2% 8,024 43.5% 6,213 0.3% 38
1936 50.3% 6,355 49.4% 6,234 0.3% 42
1932 40.3% 4,155 58.8% 6,058 0.9% 90
1928 62.5% 5,591 37.1% 3,320 0.4% 38
1924 56.0% 4,489 36.8% 2,953 7.2% 577
1920 61.8% 4,601 35.8% 2,662 2.4% 179
1916 53.8% 2,717 42.2% 2,135 4.0% 202
1912 39.7% 1,851 41.7% 1,946 18.6% 868
1908 51.2% 2,186 44.4% 1,893 4.4% 189
1904 54.9% 1,960 38.4% 1,369 6.7% 239
1900 51.8% 1,888 45.8% 1,670 2.4% 89
1896 48.2% 1,635 51.4% 1,743 0.4% 15
1892 42.3% 1,052 49.6% 1,233 8.1% 202
1888 41.0% 857 56.9% 1,189 2.1% 43

Communities
The Art Deco-style Rodgers Theatre opened in Poplar Bluff on June 1, 1949.

Cities

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Townships

Butler County is divided into ten townships:

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. 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. 264.
  4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  5. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  8. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  9. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  11. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-06-21. Retrieved 2009-01-28.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. "Poplar Bluff Public Schools".
  13. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-02-26. Retrieved 2009-01-28.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-03-18. Retrieved 2009-01-28.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. "Welcome!". Westwood Baptist Church. Retrieved 2018-03-24.
  16. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2005-11-18. Retrieved 2009-01-28.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  17. Breeding, Marshall. "Fisk Community Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  18. Breeding, Marshall. "Poplar Bluff Public Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  19. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-03-24.

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