Iron County, Missouri

Iron County is a county located in the Lead Belt region in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2010 census, the population was 10,630.[1] The largest city and county seat is Ironton.[2] Iron County was officially organized on February 17, 1857, and was named after the abundance of iron ore found within its borders.[3][4]

Iron County
U.S. county
County courthouse in Ironton
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
Missouri's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°33′N 90°46′W
Country United States
State Missouri
FoundedFebruary 17, 1857
Named forIron ore
SeatIronton
Largest cityIronton
Area
 • Total552 sq mi (1,430 km2)
 • Land550 sq mi (1,400 km2)
 • Water1.8 sq mi (5 km2)  0.3%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total10,630
 • Estimate 
(2018)
10,177
 • Density19/sq mi (7.4/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district8th

Iron County includes the 6-mile (9.7 km)-long, 2-mile (3.2 km)-wide Arcadia Valley, the site of Pilot Knob, Ironton, and Arcadia, communities established by immigrants in the 19th Century.[5] The valley is surrounded by the Saint Francois Mountains of the Ozarks Plateau. Iron County is also home to dozens of mountains,[6] including the 1,772-foot (540 m) Taum Sauk Mountain, the highest point in Missouri.

The county is home to a number of state parks and historical sites including Taum Sauk Mountain State Park, Elephant Rocks State Park and Fort Davidson State Historic Site as well as 96,047 acres (390 km2) of Mark Twain National Forest.[7]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 552 square miles (1,430 km2), of which 550 square miles (1,400 km2) is land and 1.8 square miles (4.7 km2) (0.3%) is water.[8]

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18605,842—
18706,2787.5%
18808,18330.3%
18909,11911.4%
19008,716−4.4%
19108,563−1.8%
19209,45810.5%
19309,6421.9%
194010,4408.3%
19509,458−9.4%
19608,041−15.0%
19709,52918.5%
198011,08416.3%
199010,726−3.2%
200010,697−0.3%
201010,630−0.6%
2018 (est.)10,177[9]−4.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010-2015[1]

As of the census[14] of 2000, there were 10,697 people, 4,197 households, and 2,963 families residing in the county. The population density was 7/km2 (19/mi2). There were 4,907 housing units at an average density of 3/km2 (9/mi2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.74% White, 1.56% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.22% from other races, and 1.05% from two or more races. Approximately 0.58% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,197 households, out of which 32.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.80% were married couples living together, 9.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.40% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.00% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 25.30% from 25 to 44, 24.80% from 45 to 64, and 17.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 94.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,276, and the median income for a family was $38,037. Males had a median income of $28,603 versus $16,615 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,717. About 13.80% of families and 19.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.60% of those under age 18 and 13.20% of those age 65 or over.

Religion

According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2000), Iron County is a part of the Bible Belt with evangelical Protestantism being the majority religion. The most predominant denominations among residents in Iron County who adhere to a religion are Southern Baptists (56.62%), Methodists (10.60%), and Roman Catholics (7.82%).

Politics

Local

Control is evenly split at the local level in Iron County. Democrats hold 7 of the 14 positions in the county, while Republicans control the other 7.

Iron County, Missouri
Elected countywide officials
Assessor David L. Huff Democratic
Circuit Clerk Sammye (Gail) White Democratic
County Clerk Stephanie Lebron Republican
Collector Crystal Price Republican
Commissioner
(Presiding)		 Jim Scaggs Democratic
Commissioner
(District 1)		 Ben Young Republican
Commissioner
(District 2)		 Ronnie Chandler Republican
Coroner Tim Harbison Republican
Prosecuting Attorney Brian Parker Democratic
Public Administrator Lisa Light Republican
Recorder Karen K. Reagan Democratic
Sheriff Jeff Burkett Republican
Surveyor Mark Nations Democratic
Treasurer Carol Hardy Democratic

State

In the Missouri House of Representatives, all of Iron County is a part of Missouri's 144th District and is currently represented by Republican Paul Fitzwater of Potosi. Fitzwater was elected in 2016 to his fourth and final term in the Missouri House.

In the Missouri Senate, all of Iron County is a part of Missouri's 3rd District and is currently represented by Republican Gary Romine of Farmington. Romine defeated former Democratic State Representative Joseph Fallert, Jr. of Ste. Genevieve in 2012 with 53.84 percent of the vote in the district, which includes most of the Missouri Lead Belt region. The seat was vacated by former Republican State Senator Kevin Engler of Farmington. Engler successfully served two terms/eight years in the Missouri Senate and was ineligible to seek a third term due to term limits.

Past Gubernatorial Elections Results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2016 60.76% 2,600 34.99% 1,497 4.25% 182
2012 39.87% 1,596 56.91% 2,278 3.22% 129
2008 33.45% 1,483 64.14% 2,844 2.41% 107
2004 50.62% 2,359 47.53% 2,215 2.85% 86
2000 45.42% 2,002 51.23% 2,258 3.35% 148
1996 35.54% 1,470 62.60% 2,589 1.86% 77
1992 37.07% 1,653 62.93% 2,806 0.00% 0
1988 55.65% 2,290 44.16% 1,817 0.19% 8
1984 50.01% 2,127 49.99% 2,126 0.00% 0
1980 51.18% 2,322 48.62% 2,206 0.20% 9
1976 46.76% 2,043 52.99% 2,315 0.25% 11
1972 51.80% 1,840 48.86% 1,760 0.06% 2
1968 33.82% 1,246 66.18% 2,438 0.00% 0
1964 28.59% 1,066 71.41% 2,662 0.00% 0
1960 38.41% 1,465 61.59% 2,349 0.00% 0

Federal

Missouri's two U.S. Senators are Republicans Roy Blunt and Josh Hawley.

Hawley was elected to his first term in 2018 with 51.4 percent of the statewide vote over Democratic U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill; Iron County voters backed Hawley with 62.6 percent of the vote.

U.S. Senate - Class I - Iron County (2018)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Josh Hawley 2,236 62.6
Democratic Claire McCaskill 1,231 34.4

Blunt was re-elected in 2016 with 49.3 percent of the statewide vote over Democratic Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander, Libertarian Jonathan Dine of Riverside, Constitutionalist Fred Ryman, and Green Party candidate Johnathan McFarland; Iron County voters supported Blunt with over 55 percent of the vote.

U.S. Senate - Class III - Iron County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Roy Blunt 2,329 55.10
Democratic Jason Kander 1,671 39.53
Libertarian Jonathan Dine 102 2.41
Green Johnathan McFarland 79 1.87
Constitution Fred Ryman 46 1.09

All of Iron County is included in Missouri's 8th Congressional District and is currently represented by Republican Jason T. Smith of Salem in the U.S. House of Representatives. Smith won a special election on Tuesday, June 4, 2013, to complete the remaining term of former Republican U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson of Cape Girardeau. Emerson announced her resignation a month after being reelected with over 70 percent of the vote in the district. She resigned to become CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative.

U.S. House of Representatives - District 8 – Iron County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jo Ann Emerson 2,741 69.01 +15.84
Democratic Jack Rushin 1,113 28.02 -13.51
Libertarian Rick Vandeven 118 2.97 +0.19
U.S. House of Representatives - District 8 - Special Election – Iron County (2013)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jason T. Smith 409 52.44
Democratic Steve Hodges 229 43.46
Constitution Doug Enyart 20 2.56
Libertarian Bill Slantz 6 0.77
Write-in Thomas Brown 6 0.77

Political culture
Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 78.3% 3,596 20.6% 945 1.1% 51
2016 74.3% 3,173 21.9% 933 3.8% 163
2012 55.9% 2,252 41.4% 1,669 2.7% 110
2008 47.4% 2,090 50.1% 2,213 2.5% 111
2004 52.9% 2,477 46.1% 2,157 1.0% 45
2000 50.7% 2,237 46.3% 2,044 3.0% 133
1996 31.9% 1,328 53.4% 2,221 14.7% 611
1992 27.5% 1,276 54.1% 2,507 18.4% 851
1988 45.0% 1,877 54.8% 2,283 0.2% 10
1984 53.4% 2,316 46.6% 2,023
1980 48.5% 2,205 48.9% 2,226 2.6% 120
1976 39.8% 1,765 59.7% 2,646 0.5% 23
1972 62.1% 2,203 37.9% 1,346
1968 41.6% 1,600 45.6% 1,755 12.8% 491
1964 27.8% 1,050 72.2% 2,730
1960 53.4% 2,122 46.6% 1,851
1956 47.9% 1,810 52.1% 1,970
1952 44.4% 1,831 55.4% 2,286 0.2% 7
1948 35.9% 1,435 63.9% 2,552 0.2% 7
1944 42.8% 1,649 57.2% 2,205
1940 45.2% 2,062 54.7% 2,495 0.2% 8
1936 39.8% 1,605 59.9% 2,413 0.3% 11
1932 34.5% 1,439 64.5% 2,689 1.1% 44
1928 58.7% 1,910 41.2% 1,342 0.1% 3
1924 43.2% 1,328 54.5% 1,675 2.2% 68
1920 47.6% 1,463 50.6% 1,554 1.8% 54
1916 45.1% 874 53.1% 1,027 1.8% 35
1912 40.2% 666 51.0% 845 8.8% 145
1908 46.6% 828 52.4% 931 1.0% 18
1904 42.9% 670 55.2% 861 1.9% 30
1900 40.2% 642 58.4% 932 1.4% 23
1896 37.2% 607 62.3% 1,016 0.4% 7
1892 38.7% 568 60.0% 880 1.2% 18
1888 37.4% 662 56.8% 1,004 5.8% 102

Historically, Iron County has been one of the most reliably Democratic counties in Missouri. Located in the Lead Belt region of the state, mining has been important to the county's economy. It was one of only three predominantly rural counties in Missouri to vote for Barack Obama in 2008 (nearby Washington and Ste. Genevieve counties being the other two). Like much of the rest of the state's rural areas, the county saw a rapid rightward swing starting in 2000, when George W. Bush became the first Republican since 1984 (and the second since 1972) to carry it, after Bill Clinton had carried it in 1996 by over twenty points. Apart from the interruption in 2008, the Republican vote share has, as of 2020, grown in every subsequent election. At the local and state levels, however, Iron County still remains quite Democratic. At the same time Romney won Iron County by 15 points in 2012, all Democratic statewide candidates Jay Nixon (Governor), Claire McCaskill (U.S. Senator), Jason Kander (Secretary of State), Chris Koster (Attorney General), and Clint Zweifel (State Treasurer) carried Iron County by healthy margins; Peter Kinder (Lieutenant Governor) was the only other statewide Republican to win Iron County alongside Romney, and even then, the margin of victory was smaller than in most other rural counties.

Like most rural areas throughout Southeast Missouri, voters in Iron County generally adhere to socially and culturally conservative principles but are more moderate or populist on economic issues. In 2004, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman—it overwhelmingly passed Iron County with 80.90 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 Iron County with 56.03 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 Iron 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 Iron County with 78.25 percent of the vote. The proposition strongly passed every single county in Missouri with 75.94 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.

Donald Trump won the county with 74% of the vote in 2016, continuing a trend of white, rural Midwestern counties that had voted for Obama in 2008 and/or 2012 and had swung hard to Trump in 2016. The Trump campaign had made promises to bolster the jobs situations in the Rust Belt, which combined with elevated social liberalism from the Democrats, may have played a role in the margins -- which could be said for various other white working-class Midwestern counties that did the same.

Missouri presidential preference primary (2008)

In the 2008 Missouri Presidential Preference Primary, voters in Iron County from both political parties supported candidates who finished in second place in the state at large and nationally.

  • Former U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York) received more votes, a total of 1,180, than any candidate from either party in Iron County during the 2008 Missouri Presidential Primaries. She also received more votes altogether than the total number of votes cast in the entire Republican Primary in Iron County.
Iron County, Missouri
2008 Republican primary in Missouri
John McCain269 (32.80%)
Mike Huckabee354 (43.17%)
Mitt Romney138 (16.83%)
Ron Paul43 (5.24%)
Iron County, Missouri
2008 Democratic primary in Missouri
Hillary Clinton1,180 (70.53%)
Barack Obama406 (24.27%)
John Edwards (withdrawn)72 (4.30%)

Education

Of adults 25 years of age and older in Iron County, 65.2% possesses a high school diploma or higher while 8.4% holds a bachelor's degree or higher as their highest educational attainment.

Public schools

Vocational/technical schools
  • Arcadia Valley Career Technical Center - Ironton - (09-12)

Public libraries
  • Ozark Regional Library[16]

Transportation

State highways

Railroads

Communities

See also

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. 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. 176.
  4. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 166.
  5. “The Arcadia Country” ca. 1920 Archived 2008-12-01 at the Wayback Machine from the Western Historical Manuscript Collection of Missouri S&T
  6. Summits of Iron County from TopoZone
  7. "Acreage by State, Congressional District and County Report". U.S. Forest Service. 2007-10-10. Retrieved 2008-11-18.
  8. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  9. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  10. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  11. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  12. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  13. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  14. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  15. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-03-25.
  16. Breeding, Marshall. "Ozark Regional Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  17. H.R. 1424, an Act of Congress dated July 13, 1868, from the American Memory website

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