Gasconade County, Missouri

Gasconade County is a county located in the east-central portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2010 census, the population was 15,222.[1] The county seat has been Hermann since 1842.[2] The county was named after the Gasconade River.

Gasconade County
U.S. county
Gasconade County Courthouse in Hermann
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
Missouri's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°26′N 91°31′W
Country United States
State Missouri
FoundedNovember 25, 1820
Named forGasconade River
SeatHermann
Largest cityOwensville
Area
 • Total524 sq mi (1,360 km2)
 • Land518 sq mi (1,340 km2)
 • Water6.6 sq mi (17 km2)  1.3%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total15,222
 • Estimate 
(2018)
14,705
 • Density29/sq mi (11/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code573
Congressional district3rd
Websitegasconadecounty.org

The county is located on the south side of the Missouri River, which once served as the chief route of transportation in the state. It is located in the area known as the Missouri Rhineland. Because of its distinctive conditions, the Hermann area was designated an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in 1983. The southern part of the county is within the larger Ozark Highlands AVA, established in 1987.

Etymology

Gasconade County (and the Gasconade River) received its name from French-speaking settlers.[3] They came from the Gascony region in southwestern France during French colonial rule of New France (Louisiana Territory).

Per a 1916 Missouri Historical Review article, "The name is from 'Gascon', an inhabitant of Gascony,'[4] a unique, marginal maritime province in the southwest of France with Basque cultural roots.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 524 square miles (1,360 km2), of which 518 square miles (1,340 km2) is land and 6.6 square miles (17 km2) (1.3%) is water.[5]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18301,545—
18405,330245.0%
18504,996−6.3%
18608,72774.7%
187010,09315.7%
188011,15310.5%
189011,7065.0%
190012,2985.1%
191012,8474.5%
192012,381−3.6%
193012,172−1.7%
194012,4142.0%
195012,342−0.6%
196012,195−1.2%
197011,878−2.6%
198013,18111.0%
199014,0066.3%
200015,3429.5%
201015,222−0.8%
2018 (est.)14,705[6]−3.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2015[1]

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 15,342 people, 6,171 households, and 4,288 families residing in the county. The population density was 30 people per square mile (11/km2). There were 7,813 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile (6/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.69% White, 0.12% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.14% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. Approximately 0.42% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,171 households, out of which 31.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.00% were married couples living together, 7.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.50% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.80% under the age of 18, 6.90% from 18 to 24, 25.90% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 18.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 94.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,047, and the median income for a family was $41,518. Males had a median income of $29,659 versus $20,728 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,319. About 7.00% of families and 9.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.20% of those under age 18 and 10.00% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Local

The Republican Party completely controls politics at the local level in Gasconade County. Republicans hold all of the elected positions in the county.[12]

Gasconade County, Missouri
Elected countywide officials
Assessor Paul Schulte Republican
Circuit Clerk Pamela R. Greunke Republican
County Clerk Lesa Lietzow Republican
Collector Shawn Schlottach Republican
Commissioner
(Presiding)		 Larry Miskel Republican
Commissioner
(District 1)		 James Holland Republican
Commissioner
(District 2)		 Jerry D. Lairmore Republican
Coroner Benjamin D. Grosse Republican
Prosecuting Attorney Ada Brehe-Kreuger Republican
Public Administrator Fay Owsley Republican
Recorder Pamela R. Greunke Republican
Sheriff John D. Romanus Republican
Surveyor Vincent Klott Republican
Treasurer Michael C. Feagan Republican

State
Past Gubernatorial Elections Results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2016 63.04% 4,681 32.35% 2,402 4.61% 342
2012 53.18% 3,775 44.55% 3,162 2.27% 161
2008 55.78% 4,307 42.90% 3,313 1.32% 102
2004 65.36% 4,696 33.57% 2,412 1.07% 77
2000 61.83% 4,091 35.31% 2,336 2.86% 189
1996 50.99% 3,042 46.36% 2,766 2.65% 158

Gasconade County is divided into two legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives.

  • District 61 — Justin Alferman (R-Herman). Consists of the communities of Gasconade, Herman, Morrison, and Mt. Sterling.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 61 — Gasconade County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Justin Alferman 2,531 80.20% +4.86
Democratic Tom Smith 625 19.80% -4.86
Missouri House of Representatives — District 61 — Gasconade County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Justin Alferman 1,341 75.34% +6.58
Democratic Tom Smith 439 24.66% -6.58
Missouri House of Representatives — District 61 — Gasconade County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Dave Schatz 2,067 68.76%
Democratic Michael Sage 939 31.24%
  • District 62 – Tom Hurst (R-Meta). Consists of the communities of Bland, Owensville, and Rosebud.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 62 — Gasconade County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Tom Hurst 3,570 100.00%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 62 — Gasconade County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Tom Hurst 1,953 100.00 +30.28
Missouri House of Representatives — District 62 — Gasconade County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Tom Hurst 2,701 69.72
Democratic Greg Stratman 1,173 30.28

Gasconade County is a part of Missouri's 6th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Mike Kehoe (R-Jefferson City).

Missouri Senate — District 6 — Gasconade County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Mike Kehoe 3,105 78.49%
Democratic Mollie Freebairn 851 21.51%

Federal
U.S. Senate — Missouri — Gasconade County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Roy Blunt 4,743 63.92% +12.62
Democratic Jason Kander 2,319 31.25% -10.43
Libertarian Jonathan Dine 176 2.37% -4.65
Green Johnathan McFarland 90 1.21% +1.21
Constitution Fred Ryman 92 1.24% +1.24
U.S. Senate — Missouri — Gasconade County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Todd Akin 3,603 51.30%
Democratic Claire McCaskill 2,927 41.68%
Libertarian Jonathan Dine 493 7.02%

Gasconade County is included in Missouri's 3rd Congressional District and is represented by Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-St. Elizabeth) in the U.S. House of Representatives.

U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 3rd Congressional District — Gasconade County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Blaine Luetkemeyer 5,770 78.61% +1.36
Democratic Kevin Miller 1,344 18.31% -1.31
Libertarian Dan Hogan 155 2.11% -1.02
Constitution Doanita Simmons 71 0.97% +0.97
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 3rd Congressional District — Gasconade County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Blaine Luetkemeyer 3,083 77.25% +1.83
Democratic Courtney Denton 783 19.62% -2.81
Libertarian Steven Hedrick 125 3.13% +0.98
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 3rd Congressional District — Gasconade County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Blaine Luetkemeyer 5,272 75.42%
Democratic Eric Mayer 1,568 22.43%
Libertarian Steven Wilson 150 2.15%

Political culture
Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 78.5% 6,222 20.2% 1,601 1.3% 100
2016 76.1% 5,670 20.4% 1,520 3.5% 261
2012 68.6% 4,895 29.4% 2,099 2.0% 140
2008 61.3% 4,763 37.3% 2,899 1.4% 109
2004 66.3% 4,753 32.8% 2,355 0.9% 63
2000 63.2% 4,190 34.1% 2,257 2.8% 182
1996 50.2% 2,997 35.2% 2,104 14.6% 870
1992 42.5% 2,690 30.8% 1,952 26.7% 1,692
1988 72.0% 4,216 27.7% 1,621 0.3% 18
1984 80.5% 4,678 19.5% 1,130
1980 72.2% 4,481 25.0% 1,550 2.8% 172
1976 69.1% 3,925 30.0% 1,702 1.0% 55
1972 80.1% 4,944 19.9% 1,226
1968 74.6% 4,400 19.2% 1,131 6.2% 364
1964 63.3% 3,672 36.7% 2,126
1960 74.6% 4,854 25.4% 1,651
1956 79.0% 5,080 21.0% 1,353
1952 80.5% 5,339 19.4% 1,285 0.1% 9
1948 77.8% 4,268 22.0% 1,204 0.2% 13
1944 83.3% 5,007 16.5% 994 0.2% 12
1940 82.0% 5,333 17.9% 1,163 0.1% 5
1936 73.5% 4,202 26.1% 1,492 0.4% 22
1932 55.8% 2,571 43.3% 1,998 0.9% 41
1928 79.6% 4,171 20.2% 1,058 0.3% 13
1924 75.9% 3,306 13.2% 577 10.9% 474
1920 90.0% 4,481 9.1% 454 0.9% 43
1916 82.2% 2,513 16.7% 510 1.1% 34
1912 58.9% 1,539 19.8% 518 21.2% 554
1908 80.4% 2,220 18.4% 509 1.2% 34
1904 80.2% 2,045 18.4% 469 1.4% 36
1900 76.9% 2,015 22.0% 575 1.2% 30
1896 80.1% 2,185 18.9% 515 1.0% 28
1892 72.7% 1,625 27.0% 602 0.3% 7
1888 75.1% 1,735 24.1% 556 0.8% 18

At the presidential level, Gasconade County is one of the most reliably Republican strongholds in the state of Missouri. The Republican presidential nominee has won Gasconade County in every presidential election since 1860, giving the county the longest active Republican voting streak for presidential elections in the United States.

Like most rural areas throughout Northeast Missouri, voters in Gasconade County generally adhere to socially and culturally conservative principles which tend to 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 overwhelmingly passed Gasconade County with 76.48 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 failed in Gasconade County with 58.61 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 Gasconade 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 Gasconade County with 74.74 percent of the vote. The proposition strongly passed every single county in Missouri with 78.99 percent voting in favor. (During the same election, voters in five other states also strongly approved increases in the minimum wage.)

Missouri presidential preference primary (2008)
  • Former U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-New York) received more votes, a total of 848, than any candidate from either party in Gasconade County during the 2008 Missouri Presidential Preference Primary.
Gasconade County, Missouri
2008 Republican primary in Missouri
John McCain793 (40.25%)
Mike Huckabee514 (26.09%)
Mitt Romney536 (27.21%)
Ron Paul75 (3.81%)
Gasconade County, Missouri
2008 Democratic primary in Missouri
Hillary Clinton848 (53.54%)
Barack Obama692 (43.69%)
John Edwards (withdrawn)25 (1.58%)
Uncommitted{{{uncommitted}}}

Education

Public schools

Private schools

Public libraries
  • Hermann Branch Library[14]
  • Owensville Branch Library[15]

Communities

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 135.
  4. Eaton, David Wolfe (1916). How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named. The State Historical Society of Missouri. pp. 168–169.
  5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  6. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  12. "Gasconade County Officials". Gasconade County. 2019-09-05. Retrieved 2019-09-08.
  13. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-03-25.
  14. Breeding, Marshall. "Hermann Branch Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  15. Breeding, Marshall. "Owensville Branch Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.

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