Wayne County, Missouri

Wayne County is a county located in the Ozark foothills in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2010 census, the population was 13,521.[1] The county seat is Greenville.[2] The county was officially organized on December 11, 1818, and is named after General "Mad" Anthony Wayne, who served in the American Revolution.[3]

For other uses, see Wayne County.

Wayne County
U.S. county
Wayne County Courthouse in Greenville
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
Missouri's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°07′N 90°28′W
Country United States
State Missouri
FoundedDecember 11, 1818
Named forAnthony Wayne
SeatGreenville
Largest cityPiedmont
Area
 • Total774 sq mi (2,000 km2)
 • Land759 sq mi (1,970 km2)
 • Water15 sq mi (40 km2)  1.9%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total13,521
 • Estimate 
(2018)
13,122
 • Density17/sq mi (6.7/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district8th

History

Wayne County was created in December 1818 by the last Missouri Territorial Legislature from portions of Cape Girardeau and Lawrence counties. Wayne County thus actually predates statehood. In March 1819, Congress established the Territory of Arkansas, and most of Lawrence County became Lawrence County, Arkansas Territory. The small strip that had been excluded was added to Wayne County by the Missouri State Constitution of 1820. The Osage Strip on the Kansas border was added in 1825. Between 1825 and 1831, Wayne County was actually larger than the states of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Delaware combined. All or part of 32 present Missouri counties once belonged to Wayne County. Despite its size, the Census of 1820 revealed that Wayne County had a total population of just 1,239 white inhabitants and 204 African American slaves.

When Wayne County was formed in 1818, the territorial legislature appointed five commissioners to govern it. They chose a small settlement called Cedar Cabin on the St. Francis River to be the county seat. Renamed Greenville, it had grown to about 1,000 by the turn of the 20th century. By 1940, however, the population had declined to 572. In 1941, the remaining inhabitants were forced to relocate because of the construction of Lake Wappapello. This new town's population had fallen to 270 in 1950, but has now increased to about 563.

The Wayne County Courthouse was destroyed by a fire in 1854. In 1866, the records in new courthouse were stolen, and in 1892 the courthouse again burned down. Thus few county records survive from that time.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 774 square miles (2,000 km2), of which 759 square miles (1,970 km2) is land and 15 square miles (39 km2) (1.9%) is water.[4]

The most populous community in Wayne County is Piedmont with a population of 2,401 people,[5] followed by Greenville with 563 and Williamsville with 386.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

National protected areas

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18201,443—
18303,264126.2%
18403,4034.3%
18504,51832.8%
18605,62924.6%
18706,0687.8%
18809,09649.9%
189011,92731.1%
190015,30928.4%
191015,181−0.8%
192013,012−14.3%
193012,243−5.9%
194012,7944.5%
195010,514−17.8%
19608,638−17.8%
19708,546−1.1%
198011,27732.0%
199011,5432.4%
200013,25914.9%
201013,5212.0%
2018 (est.)13,122[6]−3.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2015[1]

As of the 2010 Census,[11] there were 13,521 people, 5,717 households, and 3,850 families residing in the county. The population density was 18 people per square mile (7/km2). There were 8,083 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4/km2).

The racial makeup of the county was 97% White, 0.7% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0% Pacific Islander, 0% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. 1.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. According to the 2000 Census, the most common first ancestries reported in Wayne County were 32.9% American, 15.0% German, 11.9% English, 11.7% Irish, 3.0% French (excluding Basque), 2.0% Dutch and 2.0% Italian.

There were 5,717 households, out of which 23.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were husband-wife families. 32.7% were non-families. 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.82.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.1% under the age of 19, 5% from 20 to 24, 14.2%% from 25 to 39, 36.4% from 40 to 64, and 21.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.8 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,954, and the median income for a family was $39,419. Males had a median income of $26,048 versus $18,250 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,378. About 15.8% of families and 23% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.9% of those under age 18 and 12.7% of those age 65 or over.

Religion

According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2000), Wayne County is a part of the Bible Belt with evangelical Protestantism being the majority religion. The most predominant denominations among residents in Wayne County who adhere to a religion are Southern Baptists (62.76%), Methodists (10.08%), and Roman Catholics (7.07%).

Politics

Local

Though it contains a relatively conservative populace, the Democratic Party historically controlled politics at the local level in Wayne County. However, Republicans have made inroads in recent years, now controlling an equal number of local offices as Democrats.

Wayne County, Missouri
Elected countywide officials
Assessor Frances K. Huitt Democratic
Circuit Clerk Darren T. Garrison Democratic
County Clerk Kent Sisco Republican
Collector Rhonda Cates Republican
Commissioner
(Presiding)		 Brian M. Polk Democratic
Commissioner
(District 1)		 Bill Hovis Republican
Commissioner
(District 2)		 Chad Henson Republican
Coroner Gary Umfleet Democratic
Prosecuting Attorney Michael J. Anderson Democratic
Public Administrator Donna Eads Republican
Recorder Cindy Stout Republican
Sheriff Dean Finch Democratic
Treasurer Amber Sturgeon Republican

State

Wayne County is divided among three legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives.

  • District 153 – Currently represented by Steve Cookson (R-Fairdealing) and consists of the southwestern corner of Wayne County south of Piedmont and includes Mill Spring and Williamsville.
Missouri House of Representatives - District 153 - Wayne County (2010)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Steve Cookson 298 55.49 -44.51
Democratic George Meyers 221 41.16 +41.16
Constitution Rory Calhoun 18 3.35 +3.35
  • District 156 – Currently represented by Shelley Keeney (R-Marble Hill) and consists of most of the northern parts of the county and includes Greenville, Lowndes, and Piedmont.
Missouri House of Representatives - District 156 - Wayne County (2010)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Shelley (White) Keeney* 2,605 100.00 +46.18
Missouri House of Representatives - District 159 - Wayne County (2008)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Billy Pat Wright* 277 60.22 +10.82
Democratic Bill Burlison 183 39.78 -10.82

All of Wayne County is a part of Missouri's 25th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by State Senator Rob Mayer (R-Dexter). In 2008, Mayer defeated Democrat M. Shane Stoelting 65.32%-34.68% in the district. The 25th Senatorial District consists of Butler, Dunklin, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Ripley, Stoddard, and Wayne counties.

Missouri Senate - District 25 - Wayne County (2008)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Rob Mayer 3,750 63.11
Democratic M. Shane Stoelting 2,192 36.89
Past Gubernatorial Elections Results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2012 46.82% 2,642 50.77% 2,865 2.41% 136
2008 44.62% 2,727 53.49% 3,269 1.88% 115
2004 58.84% 3,649 39.86% 2,472 1.31% 81
2000 51.84% 3,008 46.25% 2,684 1.92% 111
1996 42.84% 2,421 55.11% 3,114 2.05% 116
1992 42.65% 2,493 57.35% 3,352 2.05% 116
1988 60.16% 3,047 39.76% 2,014 0.08% 4
1984 53.79% 2,787 46.21% 2,394 0.00% 0
1980 51.05% 2,769 48.89% 2,652 0.06% 3
1976 49.37% 2,428 50.61% 2,489 0.02% 1

Federal

Wayne County is included in Missouri's 8th Congressional District and is currently represented by Jason T. Smith (R-Salem) in the U.S. House of Representatives. Smith won a special election on Tuesday, June 4, 2013, to finish out the remaining term of U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson (R-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 – Wayne County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jo Ann Emerson 4,232 74.65 +5.61
Democratic Jack Rushin 1,311 23.13 -4.40
Libertarian Rick Vandeven 126 2.22 +1.07
U.S. House of Representatives - District 8 - Special Election – Wayne County (2013)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jason T. Smith 817 56.34
Democratic Steve Hodges 332 22.90
Constitution Doug Enyart 278 19.17
Libertarian Bill Slantz 23 1.59

Political culture
Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[12]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 80.8% 4,658 16.5% 948 2.7% 156
2012 66.3% 3,790 31.7% 1,813 2.1% 117
2008 61.5% 3,784 36.5% 2,243 2.1% 127
2004 63.2% 3,919 36.3% 2,250 0.6% 35
2000 57.2% 3,346 40.8% 2,387 2.0% 115
1996 38.5% 2,172 48.8% 2,754 12.8% 723
1992 34.9% 2,101 51.1% 3,073 14.0% 845
1988 51.8% 2,648 48.0% 2,456 0.2% 8
1984 54.8% 2,867 45.2% 2,363
1980 51.9% 2,823 46.8% 2,549 1.3% 72
1976 39.6% 1,963 60.3% 2,987 0.2% 8
1972 63.9% 3,091 36.1% 1,746
1968 47.8% 2,156 38.0% 1,714 14.2% 641
1964 40.2% 2,019 59.8% 3,005
1960 58.8% 3,069 41.2% 2,152
1956 50.6% 2,513 49.4% 2,451
1952 49.1% 2,423 50.6% 2,500 0.3% 14
1948 41.8% 1,937 58.2% 2,695 0.0% 2
1944 49.9% 2,171 49.9% 2,169 0.2% 9
1940 47.7% 2,735 52.1% 2,991 0.2% 13
1936 43.4% 2,494 56.3% 3,235 0.3% 16
1932 37.8% 1,955 61.4% 3,172 0.8% 42
1928 56.8% 2,662 42.9% 2,011 0.3% 12
1924 44.1% 1,958 51.4% 2,283 4.5% 198
1920 52.3% 2,380 45.5% 2,072 2.2% 100
1916 47.3% 1,528 49.4% 1,594 3.3% 107
1912 35.5% 1,052 48.3% 1,432 16.3% 483
1908 47.1% 1,554 49.7% 1,641 3.2% 104
1904 50.4% 1,678 47.0% 1,567 2.6% 86
1900 48.1% 1,648 50.9% 1,745 1.0% 34
1896 47.1% 1,418 52.1% 1,568 0.7% 22
1892 39.9% 964 57.6% 1,393 2.6% 62
1888 41.1% 1,001 58.7% 1,428 0.2% 5

At the presidential level, Wayne County was traditionally a fairly independent county or battleground, though in recent years the county has leaned Republican. Unlike many rural counties which are steadfast Republican strongholds, voters in Wayne County have not always been lockstep in their tendencies. While George W. Bush carried Wayne County both times in 2000 and 2004, Bill Clinton also carried the county both times in 1992 and 1996. Like many rural counties in Missouri and throughout the United States in 2008, voters in Wayne County favored John McCain over Barack Obama, and favored Mitt Romney by a significantly larger margin in 2012. In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump earned the county's support over Hillary Clinton.

In 2004, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman—it overwhelmingly passed Wayne County with 87.75 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 Wayne County with 55.15 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 Wayne 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 Wayne County with 77.36 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.

Missouri presidential preference primary (2008)
Wayne County, Missouri
2008 Republican primary in Missouri
John McCain499 (30.48%)
Mike Huckabee740 (45.20%)
Mitt Romney323 (19.73%)
Ron Paul46 (2.81%)
Wayne County, Missouri
2008 Democratic primary in Missouri
Hillary Clinton1,458 (75.94%)
Barack Obama359 (18.70%)
John Edwards (withdrawn)71 (3.70%)
Uncommitted{{{uncommitted}}}

In the 2008 presidential primary, voters in Wayne 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 1,458, than any candidate from either party in Wayne County during the 2008 presidential primary. Wayne County was Clinton's second best county in Missouri; her only better result was in Dunklin County.

Education

Of all adults 25 years of age and older in Wayne County, 87% possessed a high school diploma or higher while 30.3% had a bachelor's degree or higher as their highest educational attainment.

Public schools
  • Clearwater R-I School District - Piedmont
    • Clearwater Elementary School (PK-04)
    • Clearwater Middle School (05-08)
    • Clearwater High School (09-12)
  • Greenville R-II School District - Greenville
    • Williamsville Elementary School (PK-06) - Williamsville
    • Greenville Elementary School (PK-06)
    • Greenville Jr. High School (07-08)
    • Greenville High School (09-12)

Private schools

Public libraries
  • Piedmont Public Library[13]

Communities

Cities

Village

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

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

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Eaton, David Wolfe (1918). How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named. The State Historical Society of Missouri. p. 370.
  4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
  5. Bureau, U.S. Census. "American FactFinder - Results". factfinder.census.gov. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  6. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
  9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
  10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
  11. Bureau, U.S. Census. "American FactFinder - Community Facts". factfinder.census.gov. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  12. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  13. Breeding, Marshall. "Piedmont Public Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.

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