Greene County, Missouri

Greene County, Missouri
Location in the state of Missouri
Missouri's location in the U.S.
Founded	1833
Named for	American Revolutionary War General Nathanael Greene
Seat	Springfield
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	677.80 sq mi (1,755 km²) 674.97 sq mi (1,748 km²) 2.82 sq mi (7 km²), 0.42%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	275,174 408/sq mi (157.4/km²)
Website	www.greenecountymo.org

Greene County is a county located in Southwest Missouri. As of 2010, the population was 275,174 making it the fourth most populated county in Missouri. Its county seat is Springfield. The county was organized in 1833 and is named after American Revolutionary War General Nathanael Greene.

Greene County is part of the Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 677.80 square miles (1,755.5 km²), of which 674.97 square miles (1,748.2 km²) (or 99.58%) is land and 2.82 square miles (7.3 km²) (or 0.42%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Polk County (north)
• Dallas County (northeast)
• Webster County (east)
• Christian County (south)
• Lawrence County (southwest)
• Dade County (northwest)

Education

Public schools

• Ash Grove R-IV School District - Ash Grove
  • Ash Grove Elementary School - (PK-06)
  • Bois D'Arc Elementary School - (K-06) - Bois D'Arc
  • Ash Grove High School - (07-12)
• Fair Grove R-X School District - Fair Grove
  • Fair Grove Elementary School - (K-04)
  • Fair Grove Middle School - (05-08)
  • Fair Grove High School - (09-12)
• Logan-Rogersville R-VIII School District - Rogersville
  • Logan-Rogersville Primary School - (K-01)
  • Logan-Rogersville Upper Elementary School - (02-05)
  • Logan-Rogersville Middle School - (06-08)
  • Logan-Rogersville High School (09-12)
• Republic R-III School District - Republic
  • Republic Kindergarten School - (K)
  • Republic Elementary School I - (01-02)
  • Republic Elementary School II - (03-04)
  • Republic Elementary School III - (05-06)
  • Republic Middle School - (07-08)
  • Republic High School - (09-12)
• Springfield R-XII School District - Springfield
  • Shady Dell Early Childhood Center - (PK) - Springfield
  • York Elementary School - (PK-05) - Springfield
  • Williams Elementary School - (K-05) - Springfield
  • Wilder Elementary School - (K-05) - Springfield
  • Westport Elementary School - (K-05) - Springfield
  • Weller Elementary School - (PK-05) - Springfield
  • Weaver Elementary School - (K-05) - Springfield
  • Watkins Elementary School - (PK-05) - Springfield
  • Truman Elementary School - (K-05) - Springfield
  • Sunshine Elementary School - (K-05) - Springfield
  • Sherwood Elementary School - (K-05) - Springfield
  • Sequiota Elementary School - (K-05) - Springfield
  • Rountree Elementary School - (K-05) - Springfield
  • Robberson Elementary School - (K-05) - Springfield
  • Portland Elementary School - (K-05) - Springfield
  • Pleasant View Elementary School - (K-05) - Springfield
  • Pittman Elementary School - (K-05) - Springfield
  • Pershing Elementary School - (K-05) - Springfield
  • McGregor Elementary School - (K-05) - Springfield
  • McBride Elementary School - (K-04) - Springfield
  • Mark Twain Elementary School - (K-05) - Springfield
  • Walt Disney Elementary School - (K-05) - Springfield
  • Jeffries Elementary School - (PK-05) - Springfield
  • Horace Mann Elementary School - (PK-05) - Springfield
  • Holland Elementary School - (K-05) - Springfield
  • Hickory Hills Elementary School - (K-05) - Springfield
  • Gray Elementary School - (K-04) - Springfield
  • Fremont Elementary School - (PK-05) - Springfield
  • Field Elementary School - (K-05) - Springfield
  • Delaware Elementary School - (K-05) - Springfield
  • Cowden Elementary School - (PK-05) - Springfield
  • Campbell Elementary School - (K-05) - Springfield
  • Boyd Elementary School - (PK-05) - Springfield
  • Bowerman Elementary School - (K-05) - Springfield
  • Bissett Elementary School - (K-05) - Springfield
  • Bingham Elementary School - (K-05) - Springfield
  • Wilson's Creek 5-6 Intermediate Center - (05-06) - Battlefield
  • Study Middle School - (06-08) - Springfield
  • Reed Middle School - (06-08) - Springfield
  • Pleasant View Middle School - (06-08) - Springfield
  • Pipkin Middle School - (06-08) - Springfield
  • Pershing Middle School - (06-08) - Springfield
  • Jarrett Middle School - (06-08) - Springfield
  • Hickory Hills Middle School - (06-08) - Springfield
  • Cherokee Middle School - (07-08) - Springfield
  • Carver Middle School - (06-08) - Springfield
  • Parkview High School - (09-12) - Springfield
  • Kickapoo High School - (09-12) - Springfield
  • Hillcrest High School - (09-12) - Springfield
  • Glendale High School - (09-12) - Springfield
  • Central High School - (09-12) - Springfield
• Strafford R-VI School District - Strafford
  • Strafford Elementary School - (K-04)
  • Strafford Middle School - (05-08)
  • Strafford High School - (09-12)
• Walnut Grove R-V School District - Walnut Grove
  • Walnut Grove Preschool (PK)
  • Walnut Grove Elementary School - (K-06)
  • Walnut Grove High School - (07-12)
• Willard R-II School District - Willard
  • Willard North Elementary School - (PK-04) - Willard
  • Willard East Elementary School - (K-04) - Willard
  • Willard South Elementary School - (PK-04) - Springfield
  • Willard Central Elementary School - (K-04) - Springfield
  • Willard Intermediate School - (05-06) - Willard
  • Willard Middle School - (07-08) - Willard
  • Willard High School - (09-12) - Willard

Private schools

• Christian Schools of Springfield - (PK-12) - Springfield - Baptist
• Grace Classical Academy - (PK-12) - Springfield - Nondenominational Christianity
• Greenwood Laboratory School - (K-12) - Springfield - Nonsectarian
• Immaculate Conception School - (PK-8) - Springfield - Roman Catholic
• New Covenant Academy - (PK-12) - Springfield - Nondenominatonal Christianity
• Springfield Catholic High School - (09-12) - Springfield - Roman Catholic
• Springfield Lutheran School - (PS-8) - Springfield - Lutheran MO Synod
• St. Agnus Cathedral School - (PK-8) - Springfield - Roman Catholic
• St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School - (PK-5) - Springfield - Roman Catholic

Alternative/Other Schools

• Bailey Educational Center - (09-12) - Springfield - Alternative/Other School
• Community Learning Center - (06-12) - Springfield - Alternative/Other School
• Datema House - (05-12) - Springfield - Alternative/Other School
• Excel School - (06-12) - Springfield - Alternative/Other School
• Graff Career Center - (09-12) - Springfield - Vocational/Technical School
• Greene County Special Education Cooperative - (K-12) - Republic - Special Education
• Greene Valley - Springfield - Special Education
• Phelps Gifted Center - (01-12) - Springfield - Alternative/Other School/Gifted Education
• Wilson Creek Group Home - (06-12) - Springfield - Alternative/Other School

Colleges & Universities

• Missouri State University - Springfield - Formerly known as Southwest Missouri State University - A public, four-year university.
• Evangel University - Springfield - A private, four-year Pentecostal liberal arts university.
• Drury University - Springfield - A private, four-year liberal arts university.
• Bible Baptist College - Springfield - A private, conservative Bible college owned by the Baptist Bible Fellowship International
• Ozarks Technical Community College: Allied Health - Springfield - A public, two-year community college.
• Everest College - Springfield - A public, four-year for-profit Corinthian college.

Transportation

Major highways

• Interstate 44
• U.S. Route 60
• U.S. Route 65
• U.S. Route 66 (1926–1979)
• U.S. Route 160
• Route 13
• Route 125
• Route 266
• Route 360
• Route 413
• Route 744

Airports

• Springfield-Branson National Airport

Recreation

National protected area

• Wilson's Creek National Battlefield

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 240,391 people, 97,859 households, and 61,846 families residing in the county. The population density was 356 people per square mile (138/km²). There were 104,517 housing units at an average density of 155 per square mile (60/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.54% White, 2.26% Black or African American, 0.66% Native American, 1.13% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.67% from other races, and 1.68% from two or more races. Approximately 1.84% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 97,859 households out of which 28.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.00% were married couples living together, 9.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.80% were non-families. 29.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.70% 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 2.89.

In the county the population was spread out with 22.30% under the age of 18, 13.80% from 18 to 24, 28.60% from 25 to 44, 21.80% from 45 to 64, and 13.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 94.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $44,185, and the median income for a family was $56,047. Males had a median income of $30,672 versus $21,987 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,770. About 7.60% of families and 12.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.60% of those under age 18 and 7.50% of those age 65 or over.

There are 190,417 registered voters in Greene County.

Cities and towns

Ash Grove Battlefield Bois D'Arc Ebenezer

Fair Grove Logan Mission Hills Oak Grove Heights Plano

Republic Rogersville Springfield Strafford

Turners Walnut Grove Willard

Fire departments and districts

Republic and Springfield have city fire departments. Additionally, the county is served by the following fire districts:

• Ash Grove
• Battlefield
• Billings
• Brookline
• Ebenezer
• Fair Grove
• Logan-Rogersville
• Pleasant View http://www.pleasant-viewfire.org/
• Strafford
• Walnut Grove
• West Republic
• Willard

Famous people

See List of People from Springfield, Missouri

Politics

Local

Politics at the local level in Greene County is completely controlled by the Republican Party.

Office	Incumbent	Party
Assessor	Rick Kessinger	Republican
Cindy S. Stein	Susan G. Yarnell	Republican
Circuit Clerk	Steve Helms	Republican
Clerk	Richard T. Struckhoff	Republican
Collector	Scott Payne	Republican
Commissioner – District 1	Harold Bengsch	Republican
Commissioner – District 2	Roseanne Bentley	Republican
Presiding Commissioner	Jim Viebrock	Republican
Prosecuting Attorney	Dan Patterson	Republican
Public Administrator	David Yancey	Republican
Recorder	Linda S. Montgomery	Republican
Sheriff	Jim Arnott	Republican
Treasurer	John R. Hoffman	Republican

State

Past Gubernatorial Elections Results

Year	Republican	Democratic	Third Parties
2008	42.84% 57,565	54.45% 73,164	2.71% 3,641
2004	61.45% 76,645	37.25% 46,470	1.30% 1,621
2000	53.57% 54,770	44.61% 45,612	1.82% 1,861
1996	51.63% 49,991	45.08% 43,646	3.29% 3,189

Greene County is divided into eight legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives with six seats being held by Republicans and two being held by Democrats.

• District 134 - Rep. Thomas Long (R-Battlefield). In 2010, Long ran against Mark Stuppy and James Green and was elected with 48% of the votes.
• District 135 – Rep. Charles W. Denison (R-Springfield). In 2008, Denison defeated Democratic challenger Nancy Hagan 56.22-43.78%.
• District 136 – Rep. Eric Burlison (R-Springfield). In 2008, Burlison defeated Democratic challenger Nick Beatty 57.88-42.12%.
• District 137 – Rep. Charlie Norr (D-Springfield). In 2008, Norr defeated Republican challenger Ronald D. Day 65.22-34.78%.
• District 138 – Rep. Sara Lampe (D-Springfield). In 2008, Lampe defeated Republican challenger Michael S. Goodart, Jr. 61.75-38.25%.
• District 139 – Rep. Shane Schoeller (R-Willard). In 2008, Schoeller defeated Democratic challenger Janet Adams 69.20-30.80%.
• District 140 - Rep. Bob Dixon (R-Springfield). In 2008, Dixon ran unopposed and was reelected with 100% of the vote.
• District 145 - Rep. Mike Cunningham (R-Rogersville). In 2008, Cunningham ran unopposed and was reelected with 100% of the vote.

Greene County is also divided into two districts in the Missouri Senate, both represented by Republicans.

• District 20: State Senator Jay Wasson (R-Nixa). In 2010, Wasson defeated Democratic challenger Terry Traw with 78% of the total vote in the district. The 20th Senatorial District consists of Christian, Douglas, Webster and parts of Greene counties in Southwest Missouri.
• District 30: State Senator Norma Champion (R-Springfield). In 2006, Champion defeated Democratic challenger Doug Harpool with 57.45% of the total vote while Harpool received 42.55%. The 30th Senatorial District is entirely within Greene County.

Federal

In the U.S. House of Representatives, Greene County is a part of Missouri's 7th Congressional District and is currently represented by Billy Long (R-Strafford).

Political culture

Past Presidential Elections Results

Year	Republican	Democratic	Third Parties
2008	57.06% 77,683	41.26% 56,181	1.68% 2,283
2004	62.18% 77,885	37.25% 46,657	0.58% 724
2000	57.50% 59,178	39.92% 41,091	2.58% 2,657
1996	49.60% 48,193	40.45% 39,300	9.95% 9,671

Like most counties situated in Southwest Missouri, Greene County is a Republican stronghold in presidential elections. Although the county contains the urban Springfield and Missouri State University, the county is located in the heart of the Bible Belt where voters tend to be very socially conservative and therefore more amendable to voting Republican. George W. Bush carried Greene County in 2000 and 2004 by almost two-to-one margins, and like many other counties throughout the Bible Belt in Southwest Missouri, Greene County favored John McCain over Barack Obama in 2008. The last Democratic presidential nominee to win Greene County was Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.

Like most areas throughout the Bible Belt in Southwest Missouri, voters in Greene County traditionally adhere to socially and culturally conservative principles which tend to strongly influence their Republican leanings. In 2004, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman—it overwhelmingly passed Greene County with 72.04 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 narrowly failed in Greene County with 51.62 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 Greene 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 Greene County with 74.41 percent of the vote. The proposition strongly passed every single county in Missouri with 78.99 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)

Voters in Greene County from both political parties supported candidates who finished in second place in the state at large and nationally.

• Although a conservative/Republican stronghold, former U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-New York) still received more votes, a total of 18,322, than any candidate from either party in Greene County during the 2008 presidential primary.

Greene County, Missouri
2008 Republican primary in Missouri
John McCain	9,979 (27.09%)
Mike Huckabee	15,645 (42.48%)
Mitt Romney	9,271 (25.17%)
Ron Paul	1,552 (4.21%)

Greene County, Missouri
2008 Democratic primary in Missouri
Hillary Rodham Clinton	18,322 (54.94%)
Barack Obama	14,263 (42.77%)
John Edwards (withdrawn)	613 (1.84%)

See also

• List of counties in Missouri
• Missouri census statistical areas
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Greene County, Missouri

External links

• Greene County government's website
• Information about Springfield, MO
• Greene County message board
• Digitized 1930 Plat Book of Greene County from University of Missouri Division of Special Collections, Archives, and Rare Books