Harrison County, Missouri

Harrison County is a county located in the northwest portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2010 census, the population was 8,957.[1] Its county seat is Bethany.[2] The county was organized February 14, 1845 and named for U.S. Representative Albert G. Harrison of Missouri.[3]

Harrison County
U.S. county
Harrison County Courthouse in Bethany
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
Missouri's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°21′N 93°59′W
Country United States
State Missouri
FoundedFebruary 14, 1845
Named forAlbert G. Harrison
SeatBethany
Largest cityBethany
Area
 • Total726 sq mi (1,880 km2)
 • Land723 sq mi (1,870 km2)
 • Water3.9 sq mi (10 km2)  0.5%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total8,957
 • Estimate 
(2018)
8,414
 • Density12/sq mi (4.8/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district6th

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 726 square miles (1,880 km2), of which 723 square miles (1,870 km2) is land and 3.9 square miles (10 km2) (0.5%) is water.[4]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18502,447—
186010,601333.2%
187014,63538.1%
188020,30438.7%
189021,0333.6%
190024,39816.0%
191020,466−16.1%
192019,719−3.6%
193017,233−12.6%
194016,525−4.1%
195014,107−14.6%
196011,603−17.8%
197010,257−11.6%
19809,890−3.6%
19908,469−14.4%
20008,8504.5%
20108,9571.2%
2018 (est.)8,414[5]−6.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2015[1]

As of the 2010 census, there were 8,957 people, 3,669 households and 2,461 families residing in the county. The population density was 12 people per square mile (5/km2). There were 4,407 housing units at an average density of 6 per square mile (2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.55% White, 0.36% Native American, 0.33% Black or African American, 0.20% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 0.52% from other races and 0.93% from two or more races. Approximately 1.57% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,669 households, out of which 29.79% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.51% were married couples living together, 8.29% had a female householder with no husband present and 32.92% were non-families. 28.26% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.31% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.80% under the age of 18, 7.18% from 18 to 24, 20.88% from 25 to 44, 26.44% from 45 to 64 and 20.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.6 years. For every 100 females there were 98.47 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.79 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,000 and the median income for a family was $47,788. Males had a median income of $33,105 versus $25,388 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,967. About 10.3% of families and 15.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.9% of those under age 18 and 13.8% of those age 65 or over.

Religion

According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2010), evangelical Protestantism is the most common religion among adherents in Harrison County, although 37.69% of the population does not claim any religion. The most predominant denominations among residents in Harrison County who adhere to a religion are Southern Baptists (44.11%), United Methodists (10.77%) and Disciples of Christ (10.76%).

Education

Public schools

Private schools

Public libraries
  • Bethany Public Library[10]

Politics

Local

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

Harrison County, Missouri
Elected countywide officials
Assessor Lila Mae Craig Republican
Circuit Clerk C. Sherece Eivins Republican
County Clerk Jackie Deskins Republican
Collector Cheryl Coleman Republican
Commissioner
(Presiding)		 Jack W. Hodge Republican
Commissioner
(District 1)		 Roger D. Gibson Republican
Commissioner
(District 2)		 George Bowles Republican
Coroner Jeremy Eivins Republican
Prosecuting Attorney R. Cristine Stallings Democratic
Public Administrator Kimberly King Republican
Recorder C. Sherece Eivins Republican
Sheriff Trevor Place Republican
Surveyor Edgar Lawrence Republican
Treasurer Cheryl Coleman Republican

State
Past gubernatorial elections results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2016 67.50% 2,473 29.50% 1,081 3.00 110
2012 56.78% 2,072 39.82% 1,453 3.40% 124
2008 54.06 % 2,090 43.87% 1,696 2.07% 80
2004 63.53% 2,556 35.22% 1,417 1.25% 50
2000 60.16% 2,307 37.29% 1,430 2.55% 98
1996 39.36% 1,472 58.82% 2,200 1.82% 68

Harrison County is a part of Missouri's 2nd District in the Missouri House of Representatives and is represented by J. Eggleston (R-Maysville).

Missouri House of Representatives — District 2 — Harrison County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican J. Eggleston 3,282 100.00% +23.37
Missouri House of Representatives — District 2 — Harrison County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican J. Eggleston 1,767 76.63% -9.63
Democratic Mike Waltemath 539 23.37% +23.37
Missouri House of Representatives — District 2 — Harrison County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Casey Guernsey 3,151 86.26%
Independent Jim Nash 502 13.74%

Harrison County is a part of Missouri's 12th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Dan Hegeman (R-Cosby).

Missouri Senate — District 12 — Harrison County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Dan Hegeman 2,051 100.00

Federal
U.S. Senate — Missouri — Harrison County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Roy Blunt 2,415 65.89% +17.69
Democratic Jason Kander 1,053 28.73% -14.33
Libertarian Jonathan Dine 88 2.40% -6.33
Green Johnathan McFarland 37 1.01% +1.01
Constitution Fred Ryman 72 1.96% +1.96
U.S. Senate — Missouri — Harrison County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Todd Akin 1,744 48.20%
Democratic Claire McCaskill 1,558 43.06%
Libertarian Jonathan Dine 316 8.73%

Harrison 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 — Harrison County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sam Graves 2,940 80.84% +1.73
Democratic David M. Blackwell 578 15.89% -0.32
Libertarian Russ Lee Monchil 81 2.23% -2.45
Green Mike Diel 38 1.04% +1.04
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri’s 6th Congressional District — Harrison County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sam Graves 1,859 79.11% +0.99
Democratic Bill Hedge 381 16.21% -3.12
Libertarian Russ Lee Monchil 110 4.68% +2.13
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 6th Congressional District — Harrison County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican San Graves 2,850 78.12%
Democratic Kyle Yarber 705 19.33%
Libertarian Russ Lee Monchil 93 2.55%

Political culture

Harrison County is often carried by Republican candidates. The last time a Democratic candidate has won the county was in 1992 by Bill Clinton: however, the victory was of a margin of .7%.

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[11]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 83.6% 3,189 15.6% 597 0.8% 31
2016 80.4% 2,965 15.6% 574 4.1% 150
2012 71.0% 2,624 26.6% 984 2.4% 87
2008 64.2% 2,512 32.9% 1,287 3.0% 116
2004 67.4% 2,729 31.6% 1,279 1.0% 40
2000 63.9% 2,552 33.3% 1,328 2.8% 111
1996 44.8% 1,737 42.0% 1,628 13.3% 515
1992 37.0% 1,563 37.7% 1,590 25.3% 1,069
1988 55.9% 2,271 43.7% 1,776 0.4% 16
1984 63.3% 2,844 36.7% 1,649
1980 58.7% 2,734 37.2% 1,732 4.1% 189
1976 51.5% 2,478 47.9% 2,304 0.6% 31
1972 72.1% 3,574 27.9% 1,383
1968 59.6% 3,092 32.5% 1,688 7.9% 412
1964 47.4% 2,516 52.6% 2,787
1960 65.4% 4,166 34.6% 2,200
1956 62.2% 4,141 37.8% 2,518
1952 69.5% 5,191 30.3% 2,261 0.2% 13
1948 56.0% 3,646 43.8% 2,854 0.2% 13
1944 62.2% 4,330 37.7% 2,623 0.2% 11
1940 61.4% 5,304 38.5% 3,325 0.1% 7
1936 55.2% 4,888 44.5% 3,942 0.3% 22
1932 42.1% 2,476 57.4% 3,376 0.5% 31
1928 67.4% 4,818 32.4% 2,319 0.2% 16
1924 58.2% 4,247 38.3% 2,792 3.6% 261
1920 66.6% 5,151 32.3% 2,502 1.1% 87
1916 53.9% 2,741 43.3% 2,205 2.8% 143
1912 40.5% 2,081 38.6% 1,985 20.9% 1,074
1908 58.4% 2,842 39.8% 1,938 1.8% 86
1904 63.0% 3,014 33.3% 1,596 3.7% 177
1900 56.3% 3,083 40.3% 2,209 3.4% 188
1896 53.0% 2,956 46.3% 2,582 0.7% 39
1892 52.8% 2,474 34.8% 1,630 12.4% 579
1888 56.2% 2,418 40.0% 1,722 3.7% 161

At the presidential level, Harrison County is reliably Republican. George W. Bush carried the county easily in 2000 and 2004. Bill Clinton was the last Democratic presidential nominee to carry Harrison County in 1992. Like many of the rural counties throughout Missouri, Harrison County strongly favored John McCain over Barack Obama in 2008.

Like most rural areas throughout northwest Missouri, voters in Harrison 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 won in Harrison County with 81% of the vote. The initiative passed the state with 71% support from voters. In 2006, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to fund and legalize embryonic stem cell research in the state—it failed in Harrison County with 56% voting against the measure. The initiative narrowly passed the state with 51% of support from voters as Missouri became one of the first states in the nation to approve embryonic stem cell research. Despite Harrison 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 Harrison County with 61% of the vote. The proposition strongly passed every single county in Missouri with 79% voting in favor. (During the same election, voters in five other states also strongly approved increases in the minimum wage.)

2012

In the 2012 Missouri Republican Presidential Primary, voters in Harrison County supported former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum (R-Pennsylvania), who finished first in the state at large, but ultimately lost the nomination to former Governor Mitt Romney (R-Massachusetts). Delegates were chosen at a county caucus that ultimately selected an uncommitted delegation.

2008
  • Former U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York) received more votes, a total of 436, than any candidate from either party in Harrison County during the 2008 presidential primary.
Harrison County, Missouri
2008 Republican primary in Missouri
John McCain288 (32.65%)
Mike Huckabee277 (31.41%)
Mitt Romney207 (23.47%)
Ron Paul93 (10.54%)
Harrison County, Missouri
2008 Democratic primary in Missouri
Hillary Clinton436 (60.81%)
Barack Obama249 (34.73%)
John Edwards (withdrawn)24 (3.35%)

Communities

Cities

Villages

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Source[12]

  • Adams
  • Bethany
  • Butler
  • Clay
  • Colfax
  • Cypress
  • Dallas
  • Fox Creek
  • Grant
  • Hamilton
  • Jefferson
  • Lincoln
  • Madison
  • Marion
  • Sherman
  • Sugar Creek
  • Trail Creek
  • Union
  • Washington
  • White Oak

Notable people

See also
  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Harrison County, Missouri

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 9, 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. 171.
  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. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  8. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  9. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  10. Breeding, Marshall. "Bethany Public Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  11. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-03-25.
  12. USGenWeb Project, Harrison County, Missouri

Further reading
  • Wanamaker, George W. History of Harrison County, Missouri (1921) online

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