Pike County, Missouri

Pike County is a county on the eastern border of the U.S. state of Missouri, bounded by the Mississippi River. As of the 2010 census, the population was 18,516.[1] Its county seat is Bowling Green.[2] Its namesake was a city in middle Kentucky, a region from where many early migrants came. The county was organized December 14, 1818, and named for explorer Zebulon Pike. The folksong "Sweet Betsy from Pike" is generally thought to be associated with Pike County, Missouri.

Pike County
U.S. county
Pike County Courthouse in Bowling Green
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
Missouri's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°20′N 91°10′W
Country United States
State Missouri
FoundedDecember 14, 1818
Named forZebulon M. Pike
SeatBowling Green
Largest cityBowling Green
Area
 • Total685 sq mi (1,770 km2)
 • Land670 sq mi (1,700 km2)
 • Water14 sq mi (40 km2)  2.1%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total18,516
 • Estimate 
(2018)
18,504
 • Density27/sq mi (10/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district6th
Websitewww.pikecountymo.net

Pike County is said to be the home of Momo (The Missouri Monster). The first reported sightings in the 1970s were traced to various locations throughout the county.

The term "piker", meaning someone who does things in a small way, is reputed to be from immigrants from Pike County, MO to California.[3]

History

The history of Pike County is complicated by the fact that at its establishment in 1818, it included today's boundaries plus all counties north of it, plus the counties bordering all of them on the west, in total over 6 or 7 times larger than its current size, and thus covering the northeast border area of today's State of Missouri. Pike county and the counties north of it were gradually reduced in size by the creation of Ralls and subsequent new counties including Marion, Lewis, Clark, Scotland, Knox, Shelby, and Monroe.

The county was first settled by migrants from the Upper South. Some, though not all, were sympathetic to the Confederate cause in later decades. After the end of the post-Civil-War Reconstruction era, some of the county's inhabitants enforced Jim Crow laws and racial segregation in the county to maintain what has been labeled by some as "white supremacy". This occurred despite the fact that key US/Unionist military operations to control "Confederate" upstarts were launched from Pike County and had bases there.

In a violent period near the turn of the 20th century, five African Americans were tragically lynched in Pike County between 1891 and 1914.[4] Among those were Curtis and Sam Young, who were both lynched for allegedly murdering the city marshall, Walter Meloan, on June 6, 1898 in Clarksville,[5] a small town on the Mississippi River.[6] Pike tied with Howard County, Missouri for the highest number of lynchings of African Americans in the state during this historical period.[7]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 685 square miles (1,770 km2), of which 670 square miles (1,700 km2) is land and 14 square miles (36 km2) (2.1%) is water.[8]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

National protected area

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18203,747—
18306,12963.6%
184010,64673.7%
185013,60927.8%
186018,41735.3%
187023,07625.3%
188026,71515.8%
189026,321−1.5%
190025,744−2.2%
191022,556−12.4%
192020,345−9.8%
193018,001−11.5%
194018,3271.8%
195016,844−8.1%
196016,706−0.8%
197016,9281.3%
198017,5683.8%
199015,969−9.1%
200018,35114.9%
201018,5160.9%
2018 (est.)18,504[9]−0.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010-2015[1]

As of the census[14] of 2010, there were 18,516 people, 6,451 households, and 4,476 families residing in the county. The population density was 27 people per square mile (11/km2). There were 7,493 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 88.44% White, 9.17% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.92% from other races, and 1.04% from two or more races. Approximately 1.61% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 24.6% were of American, 24.5% German, 8.9% English and 8.5% Irish ancestry.

There were 6,451 households, out of which 31.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.70% were married couples living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.60% were non-families. 26.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.40% under the age of 18, 9.10% from 18 to 24, 29.80% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 15.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 119.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 123.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,373, and the median income for a family was $39,059. Males had a median income of $28,528 versus $19,426 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,462. 15.50% of the population and 11.90% of families were below the poverty line. 20.20% of those under the age of 18 and 15.20% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Education

Public schools

Private schools

Public libraries
  • Bowling Green Free Public Library[15]
  • Clarksville Public Library[16]
  • Louisiana Public Library[17]

Politics

Local

The Republican Party predominantly controls politics at the county level in Pike County, with Republicans holding many of the elected positions, with exceptions as stated below. Note that, per the tables below, Republican Pike County voters prevailed in Missouri gubernatorial elections of 2016 and 2004, and came close to a tie for dominance in 2012, followed by a clear overtaking of county politics in 2016, in contrast with a tradition of nominal Democratic party affiliations of county-level officials.

Pike County, Missouri
Elected countywide officials
Assessor Trace R. Foster Republican
Circuit Clerk Jerri Harrelson Democratic
County Clerk Susie Oberdahloff Republican
Collector Tara Eskew Democratic
Commissioner
(Presiding)		 Chris Gamm Republican
Commissioner
(District 1)		 Justin Sheppard Republican
Commissioner
(District 2)		 Bill Allen Republican
Coroner Chris Stark Republican
Prosecuting Attorney Alex G. Ellison Republican
Public Administrator Debbie Tepen Republican
Recorder Kim Martin Luebrecht Republican
Sheriff Stephen Korte Republican
Treasurer Patti Crane Democratic

State
Past Gubernatorial Elections Results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2016 59.45% 4,389 37.31% 2,755 3.24% 239
2012 47.66% 3,482 50.03% 3,655 2.31% 169
2008 49.09% 3,850 49.19% 3,858 1.73% 135
2004 55.32% 4,416 43.02% 3,434 1.65% 132
2000 46.74% 3,427 50.70% 3,717 2.56% 188
1996 30.30% 2,027 67.65% 4,525 2.05% 137

Pike County is a part of Missouri's 40th District in the Missouri House of Representatives and is represented by Jim Hansen (R-Frankford).

Missouri House of Representatives — District 40 — Pike County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jim Hansen 6,301 100.00% +24.00
Missouri House of Representatives — District 40 — Pike County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jim Hansen 3,091 76.00% +18.88
Democratic Lowell Jackson 976 24.00% -18.88
Missouri House of Representatives — District 40 — Pike County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jim Hansen 4,121 57.12%
Democratic Paul Quinn 3,094 42.88%

Pike County is a part of Missouri's 18th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Brian Munzlinger (R-Williamstown).

Missouri Senate — District 18 — Pike County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Brian Munzlinger 3,287 100.00%

Federal
U.S. Senate — Missouri — Pike County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Roy Blunt 4,084 55.55% +9.21
Democratic Jason Kander 2,872 39.06% -8.21
Libertarian Jonathan Dine 192 2.61% -3.78
Green Johnathan McFarland 84 1.14% +1.14
Constitution Fred Ryman 120 1.63% +1.63
U.S. Senate — Missouri — Pike County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Todd Akin 3,381 46.34%
Democratic Claire McCaskill 3,449 47.27%
Libertarian Jonathan Dine 466 6.39%

Pike 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 — Pike County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sam Graves 4,907 68.33% +0.08
Democratic David M. Blackwell 2,051 28.56% +0.08
Libertarian Russ Lee Monchil 143 1.99% -1.28
Green Mike Diel 80 1.11% +1.11
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri’s 6th Congressional District — Pike County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sam Graves 2,696 68.25% +8.22
Democratic Bill Hedge 1,125 28.48% -8.83
Libertarian Russ Lee Monchil 129 3.27% +0.61
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 6th Congressional District — Pike County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sam Graves 4,151 60.03%
Democratic Kyle Yarber 2,580 37.31%
Libertarian Russ Lee Monchil 184 2.66%
Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 76.2% 5,863 22.3% 1,717 1.5% 115
2016 71.0% 5,274 24.3% 1,806 4.7% 348
2012 62.5% 4,577 35.3% 2,582 2.2% 162
2008 54.0% 4,268 44.1% 3,487 1.9% 153
2004 53.7% 4,314 45.7% 3,670 0.7% 56
2000 49.6% 3,648 48.4% 3,557 2.0% 146
1996 33.0% 2,209 52.2% 3,495 14.8% 989
1992 30.7% 2,255 49.2% 3,609 20.1% 1,472
1988 46.1% 3,271 53.8% 3,816 0.2% 13
1984 54.3% 3,933 45.7% 3,313
1980 51.8% 3,932 45.5% 3,454 2.7% 205
1976 46.8% 3,355 52.6% 3,770 0.5% 37
1972 62.6% 4,452 37.4% 2,659
1968 43.5% 3,072 45.2% 3,192 11.4% 803
1964 26.9% 1,944 73.1% 5,273
1960 48.8% 3,900 51.2% 4,096
1956 45.1% 3,474 54.9% 4,232
1952 45.5% 3,836 54.3% 4,582 0.2% 18
1948 33.1% 2,448 66.7% 4,934 0.2% 18
1944 41.7% 3,351 58.0% 4,659 0.3% 22
1940 39.1% 3,707 60.5% 5,742 0.4% 40
1936 32.5% 2,871 66.8% 5,898 0.7% 58
1932 29.4% 2,462 69.0% 5,783 1.6% 134
1928 54.7% 4,569 44.9% 3,749 0.4% 29
1924 46.4% 3,715 50.5% 4,040 3.1% 244
1920 43.1% 3,860 56.2% 5,034 0.8% 69
1916 40.6% 2,322 58.4% 3,344 1.0% 58
1912 39.2% 1,901 56.0% 2,720 4.8% 235
1908 41.8% 2,403 57.8% 3,326 0.4% 23
1904 43.6% 2,445 55.5% 3,113 0.9% 50
1900 40.0% 2,534 59.2% 3,747 0.8% 53
1896 42.7% 2,884 56.8% 3,839 0.6% 38
1892 40.7% 2,564 58.1% 3,655 1.2% 74
1888 43.3% 2,729 55.4% 3,493 1.4% 86

Missouri presidential preference primary (2008)
  • Former U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York) received more votes, a total of 1,447, than any candidate from either party in Pike County during the 2008 presidential primary. She also received more votes individually than the entire number of votes cast in the Republican Primary in Pike County.
Pike County, Missouri
2008 Republican primary in Missouri
John McCain463 (32.58%)
Mike Huckabee461 (32.44%)
Mitt Romney388 (27.30%)
Ron Paul84 (5.91%)
Pike County, Missouri
2008 Democratic primary in Missouri
Hillary Clinton1,447 (62.67%)
Barack Obama767 (33.22%)
John Edwards (withdrawn)82 (3.55%)

Communities

Cities

Villages

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated places

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. "World Wide Words: Piker". World Wide Words. Retrieved 2019-10-21.
  4. NAACP (1919). Thirty Years of Lynching in the United States, 1889—1918. NAACP. pp. 80–81.
  5. "Lynching in Missouri", Saline County, Missouri/GenWeb Project
  6. Missouri Negro Industrial Commission (data from NAACP), Biennial Report of the Missouri Negro Industrial Commission, Hugh Stephens Press, 1922, p. 79
  7. Lynching in America/ Supplement: Lynchings by County, 3rd edition Archived 2017-10-23 at the Wayback Machine, Montgomery, Alabama: Equal Justice Initiative, 2015, p. 7
  8. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  9. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  10. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  11. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  12. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  13. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  14. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  15. Breeding, Marshall. "Bowling Green Free Public Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  16. Breeding, Marshall. "Clarksville Public Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  17. Breeding, Marshall. "Louisiana Public Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  18. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-03-26.

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