Sullivan County, Missouri

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Not to be confused with Sullivan, Missouri.
Sullivan County, Missouri
Sullivan County Missouri courthouse.jpg
Sullivan County Courthouse in Milan
Map of Missouri highlighting Sullivan County
Location in the U.S. state of Missouri
Map of the United States highlighting Missouri
Missouri's location in the U.S.
Founded 1843 (created)
1845 (organized)
Named for John Sullivan
Seat Milan
Largest city Milan
Area
 • Total 652 sq mi (1,689 km2)
 • Land 648 sq mi (1,678 km2)
 • Water 3.5 sq mi (9 km2), 0.5%
Population
 • (2010) 6,714
 • Density 10/sq mi (4/km²)
Congressional district 6th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5

Sullivan County is a county located in the northern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2010 census, the population was 6,714.[1] Its county seat is Milan.[2] The county was organized February 14, 1845 and named for Major General John Sullivan of the American Revolutionary War.[3]

History

In 1682, René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle claimed the territory west of the Mississippi River for France, which included present-day Sullivan County. The United States acquired this region under terms of the Louisiana Purchase on July 4, 1803. Twenty-one years later, the Sac (Sauk), Meskwaki (Fox), and Iowa Native American nations ceded their tribal land to the U.S. government under two treaties in August 1824.

Dr. Jacob Holland and his son, Robert W. Holland, arrived in 1836, becoming the county's first permanent White settlers. Dr. Holland, a veteran of the Black Hawk War and practitioner of herbal medicine, and son staked their home sites at the Main Locust Creek Settlement near a place called Scottsville.[4] American pioneers from Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia quickly followed them and established farms and small businesses at Pharsalia (Milan) Settlement, Yellow Creek Settlement, and Jackson's Corners (Jacksonville) by 1840.

The Missouri state legislature defined the boundaries of the county from Chariton County during the 1842–1843 legislative session, and first named it Highland County. However, the number of permanent settlers did not meet requirements for civil governance and military purposes, so legislators attached administration of Highland County to Linn County. A new survey of the county in 1844 determined that the population was sufficient to permit full organization. E.M.C. Morelock, a representative from Highland County, presented an act to the state legislature, which they approved on February 14, 1845, and the county became formally organized. By the same act, it was renamed Sullivan County in honor of John Sullivan, a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.[5][6]

Settlers established the town of Milan (pronounced MY-lun) in 1845, located at the center of the county, where the first courts met. William Putnam built the first courthouse, which was occupied in October 1847. Ten years later, residents leveled an Indian mound in the middle of town to make the public square and Major John McCollough built the second courthouse, the first brick structure in Milan, on this site during 1857–1858.[7] (This courthouse was destroyed by fire in 1908 and it was not until 1938 that it was replaced by the three-story limestone building that stands today.[8]) The last federal land office established in Missouri also operated from the square from 1849 to 1859. The state legislature officially incorporated the city of Milan on February 8, 1859. Other towns platted in the county's early years included Greencastle (1857), Newtown (1858), Pollock (1873), Boynton and Cora (1877), Green City and Winigan (1880), Humphreys and Reger (1881), Osgood (1886), and Harris (1887). Green City College opened in 1885, and a business institute opened in Humphreys in 1884.

During the U.S. Civil War (1861–1865), a Union Army post stood in Milan. The Union cause was supported by four Union volunteer infantry regiments, two Union cavalry volunteer regiments, two Missouri Militia units, one provisional militia unit, and a large unit of Sullivan County Home Guards. The Confederate side was supported by four units of Missouri State Guard infantrymen.[9] Soldiers from Sullivan County fought at the Battle of Shiloh, Battle of Atlanta, Battle of Jonesborough, and other major engagements throughout the war. Military skirmishes within the county were mostly confined to bushwhackers.

Expansion of the railroads brought growth to Sullivan County beginning in the 1870s. The C., B. & K.C. (Chicago, Burlington and Kansas City Railway) built a line running north to south through the county in 1876, which was followed by construction of the Quincy, Missouri & Pacific Railway line east to west though the county from 1878 to 1881. The two lines crossed in Milan, which became a major shipping point. The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway soon built a north–south line along Medicine Creek the length of the western edge of the county that served the towns of Newtown and Harris, which continues to be active today. (All three railroads eventually merged into the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad.)

By 1900, following the railroad construction boom, the county's population exceeded 20,000. However, business activity and the number of residents declined steadily during the subsequent decades. The number of farms decreased from about 3,100 in 1900 to under 900 by 1982, but over the same time period, the size of farms increased from about 130 acres to 385 acres. The county primarily remains rural agricultural land today, planted in corn and grains with family operated poultry, livestock, and dairy farms.[10] One medium size manufacturer in Milan employs about 750 people.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 652 square miles (1,690 km2), of which 648 square miles (1,680 km2) is land and 3.5 square miles (9.1 km2) (0.5%) is water.[11]

The main water courses in Sullivan County are Medicine, Locust, East Locust, Yellow, and Spring Creeks. The highest point in the county, about 1,060 feet (320 m) above sea level, is on the primary divide between the Chariton River and Grand River drainage basins along its northern border shared with Putnam County northwest of Green City. The lowest point, about 740 feet (230 m) above sea level, is where Locust Creek flows out of the county on its southern border with Linn County, near the town of Browning.[12]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1850 2,983 —
1860 9,108 205.3%
1870 11,907 30.7%
1880 16,569 39.2%
1890 19,000 14.7%
1900 20,282 6.7%
1910 18,598 −8.3%
1920 17,781 −4.4%
1930 15,212 −14.4%
1940 13,701 −9.9%
1950 11,299 −17.5%
1960 8,783 −22.3%
1970 7,572 −13.8%
1980 7,434 −1.8%
1990 6,326 −14.9%
2000 7,219 14.1%
2010 6,714 −7.0%
Est. 2014 6,411 [13] −4.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[14]
1790-1960[15] 1900-1990[16]
1990-2000[17] 2010-2013[1]

As of the census[18] of 2010, there were 6,714 people, 2,925 households, and 1,959 families residing in the county. The population density was 11 people per square mile (4/km²). There were 3,364 housing units at an average density of 5 per square mile (2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 88.73% White, 0.51% Black or African American, 0.66% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 8.67% from other races, and 1.19% from two or more races. Approximately 18.59% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race, making Sullivan County the most heavily Hispanic/Latino county in Missouri.

There were 2,925 households out of which 29.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.30% were married couples living together, 9.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.00% were non-families. 29.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.00% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 26.30% from 25 to 44, 22.70% from 45 to 64, and 18.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 100.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,107, and the median income for a family was $33,590. Males had a median income of $23,245 versus $19,167 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,392. About 11.00% of families and 16.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.60% of those under age 18 and 20.90% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Public schools

Politics

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Local

The Republican and Democratic parties equally control politics at the local level in Sullivan County. Both parties hold exactly half of the elected positions in the county.

Sullivan County, Missouri
Elected countywide officials
Assessor Karen LaFaver Democratic
Circuit Clerk Sherry Brinkley Democratic
County Clerk Jackie Morris Democratic
Collector Jennifer Hollon-Russell Republican
Commissioner
(Presiding)		 Chris May Republican
Commissioner
(District 1)		 John Watt Republican
Commissioner
(District 2)		 Danny Busick Republican
Coroner Paul Ruschmeier Democratic
Prosecuting Attorney Jerry A. Hollon Democratic
Public Administrator Joan Brummitt Democratic
Recorder Peggy Sloan Republican
Sheriff Roger Smiley Republican
Treasurer Jennifer Hollon-Russell Republican

State

Past Gubernatorial Elections Results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2008 51.43% 1,476 46.03% 1,321 2.54% 73
2004 62.45% 1,929 35.77% 1,105 1.78% 55
2000 58.11% 1,755 40.33% 1,218 1.56% 47
1996 35.59% 1,084 62.57% 1,906 1.84% 56

Sullivan County is divided into three districts in the Missouri House of Representatives, two of which are held by Republicans and one by a Democrat.

  • District 2 – Zachary Wyatt (R-Greencastle). Consists of the communities of Green City, Greencastle, Milan, and Pollock.
Missouri House of Representatives – District 2 – Sullivan County (2010)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Zachary Wyatt 1,034 63.59
Democratic Rebecca McClanahan 592 36.41
  • District 3 – Casey Guernsey (R-Bethany). Consists of the communities of Harris, Humphreys, Newtown, and Osgood.
Missouri House of Representatives – District 3 – Sullivan County (2010)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Casey Guernsey 648 100.00
Missouri House of Representatives – District 8 – Sullivan County (2010)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Tom Shively 14 60.87
Republican William Jesse Foster 9 39.13

All of Sullivan County is a part of Missouri’s 12th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Brad Lager (R-Savannah).

Missouri Senate - District 12 – Sullivan County (2010)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Brad Lager 1,908 100.00

Federal

All of Sullivan 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 – Sullivan County (2010)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sam Graves 1,738 72.15
Democratic Clint Hylton 671 27.85
Past Presidential Elections Results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2008 56.01% 1,607 40.89% 1,173 3.10% 89
2004 60.86% 1,880 38.14% 1,178 1.01% 31
2000 61.26% 1,877 36.78% 1,127 1.96% 60
1996 41.75% 1,275 45.91% 1,402 12.34% 377

Missouri Presidential Preference Primary (2008)

  • Former U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York) received more votes, a total of 506, than any candidate from either party in Sullivan County during the 2008 presidential primary.
Sullivan County, Missouri
2008 Republican primary in Missouri
John McCain 197 (32.45%)
Mike Huckabee 209 (34.43%)
Mitt Romney 130 (21.42%)
Ron Paul 60 (9.88%)
Sullivan County, Missouri
2008 Democratic primary in Missouri
Hillary Clinton 506 (71.37%)
Barack Obama 172 (24.26%)
John Edwards (withdrawn) 26 (3.67%)

Communities

Cities

Villages

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Former communities

Source[19]

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  • Bairdston
  • Boynton
  • Brown
  • Bute
  • Cookman
  • Cora
  • Jacksonville
  • Judson
  • Lindley
  • Mystic
  • Opel
  • Owasco
  • Parsons
  • Pawpaw
  • Pennville
  • Sorrell
  • Sticklerville
  • Wintersville

Townships

Source[20]

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  • Bowman
  • Buchanan
  • Clay
  • Duncan
  • Jackson
  • Liberty
  • Morris
  • Penn
  • Pleasant Hill
  • Polk
  • Taylor
  • Union

Notable residents

  • Gene Bartow - Hall of Fame college basketball coach and NBA executive.
  • Fred "Killer" Burke - notorious bank robber and gangster, lived under an alias for several months near Green City before being captured there in March 1931.
  • Bud Houser - Winner of multiple Olympic medals in track & field events. Born in Winnigan.
  • Dave Samuels - Professional DJ & Environmental Engineer

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ MOGenWeb Project, Sullivan County, Missouri, Early Settlements of Sullivan County
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ University of Missouri Extension, Encyclopedia of Missouri Courthouses, Sullivan County Courthouse. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ United States Department of Agriculture, Soil Survey of Sullivan County, Missouri, April 1985
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ United States Department of Agriculture, Soil Survey of Sullivan County, Missouri, April 1995.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ GNIS, Query Results: Sullivan County, Missouri
  20. ↑ MOGenWeb Project, Sullivan County Townships

External links

 Mercer County Putnam County
Adair County
  Sullivan County, Missouri  
Grundy County Linn County Macon County

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