Wayne County, Missouri

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Wayne County, Missouri
File:Wayne County MO Courthouse 20151021-005.jpg
Wayne County Courthouse in Greenville
Map of Missouri highlighting Wayne County
Location in the U.S. state of Missouri
Map of the United States highlighting Missouri
Missouri's location in the U.S.
Founded December 11, 1818
Named for Anthony Wayne
Seat Greenville
Largest city Piedmont
Area
 • Total 774 sq mi (2,005 km2)
 • Land 759 sq mi (1,966 km2)
 • Water 15 sq mi (39 km2), 1.9%
Population
 • (2010) 13,521
 • Density 18/sq mi (7/km²)
Congressional district 8th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5

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 Revolutionary War.[3]

History

Wayne County was created in December 1818 by the last Missouri Territorial Legislature out of parts of Cape Girardeau and Lawrence counties and thus predates the state of Missouri being admitted to the Union. In March 1819, Congress established the Territory of Arkansas and most of Lawrence County, Missouri Territory became Lawrence County, Arkansas Territory. The small strip of “Old Lawrence County” that had been orphaned in Missouri was added to Wayne County by the Missouri State Constitution of 1820. The Osage Strip along the Kansas border was added in 1825. From 1825-1831, Wayne County was an enormous area larger than Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Delaware combined. All or part of 32 counties in Missouri were at one point part of Wayne County.

When Wayne County was formed, five commissioners were appointed to govern the county. They chose a small settlement known locally as Cedar Cabin located on the St. Francis River to be the county seat and named it Greenville. In 1900, Greenville had a population of about 1,000. By 1940, the population had declined to 572. The town was relocated by the construction of Lake Wappapello in 1941 and the new town only had a population of 270 in 1950. Today, approximately 450 people call Greenville home.

The Wayne County Courthouse burned in 1854. The records in the new courthouse were stolen in 1866 and in 1892 the courthouse burned again. In the Census of 1820, the large area of Wayne County had a population of only 1,239 Whites and 204 slaves.

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]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

National protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1820 1,443 —
1830 3,264 126.2%
1840 3,403 4.3%
1850 4,518 32.8%
1860 5,629 24.6%
1870 6,068 7.8%
1880 9,096 49.9%
1890 11,927 31.1%
1900 15,309 28.4%
1910 15,181 −0.8%
1920 13,012 −14.3%
1930 12,243 −5.9%
1940 12,794 4.5%
1950 10,514 −17.8%
1960 8,638 −17.8%
1970 8,546 −1.1%
1980 11,277 32.0%
1990 11,543 2.4%
2000 13,259 14.9%
2010 13,521 2.0%
Est. 2014 13,452 [5] −0.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2013[1]

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 13,259 people, 5,551 households, and 3,841 families residing in the county. The population density was 17 people per square mile (7/km²). There were 7,496 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.68% White, 0.17% Black or African American, 0.58% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.08% from other races, and 1.36% from two or more races. 0.49% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 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, according to Census 2000.

There were 5,551 households out of which 27.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.20% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.80% were non-families. 27.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the county the population was spread out with 23.20% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 23.50% from 25 to 44, 26.80% from 45 to 64, and 19.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 98.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,166, and the median income for a family was $34,727. Males had a median income of $26,241 versus $17,232 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,852. About 17.90% of families and 21.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.70% of those under age 18 and 15.60% 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

The Democratic Party predominantly controls politics at the local level in Wayne County. Democrats hold all but five of the elected positions in the county.

Wayne County, Missouri
Elected countywide officials
Assessor Frances K. Huitt Democratic
Circuit Clerk Darren T. Garrison Democratic
County Clerk Alan R. Lutes Democratic
Collector Mary Hampton Democratic
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 L. Jackson Democratic
Public Administrator Donna Eads Republican
Recorder Cindy Stout Republican
Sheriff Dean Finch Democratic
Treasurer Carol Hale Democratic

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

Past Presidential Elections Results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2012 66.26% 3,790 31.70% 1,813 2.04% 117
2008 61.49% 3,784 36.45% 2,243 2.06% 127
2004 63.17% 3,919 36.27% 2,250 0.57% 35
2000 57.22% 3,346 40.82% 2,387 1.97% 115
1996 38.45% 2,172 48.75% 2,754 12.73% 719
1992 34.91% 2,101 51.05% 3,073 13.91% 837
1988 51.80% 2,648 48.04% 2,456 0.16% 8
1984 54.82% 2,867 45.18% 2,363 0.00% 0
1980 51.86% 2,823 46.82% 2,549 1.32% 72
1976 39.59% 1,963 60.25% 2,987 0.16% 8

At the presidential level, Wayne County is a fairly independent county or battleground. Unlike many rural counties which are Republican strongholds, voters in Wayne County have seldom 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 in 2008, voters in Wayne County favored John McCain over Barack Obama.

However, like most rural areas, voters in Wayne County generally adhere to socially and culturally conservative principles and therefore have a slight tendency to vote Republican. 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)

In the 2008 Missouri Presidential Preference 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 Missouri Presidential Preference Primary. Wayne County was Clinton's second best county in Missouri; she only did better in Dunklin County.
Wayne County, Missouri
2008 Republican primary in Missouri
John McCain 499 (30.48%)
Mike Huckabee 740 (45.20%)
Mitt Romney 323 (19.73%)
Ron Paul 46 (2.81%)
Wayne County, Missouri
2008 Democratic primary in Missouri
Hillary Clinton 1,458 (75.94%)
Barack Obama 359 (18.70%)
John Edwards (withdrawn) 71 (3.70%)

Education

Of all adults 25 years of age and older in Wayne County, 59.7% possessed a high school diploma or higher while 6.8% 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

Communities

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See also

References

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External links

 Iron County Madison County
Reynolds County Bollinger County
  Wayne County, Missouri  
Carter County Butler County Stoddard County

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