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Morgan County, Missouri

Coordinates: 38°26′N 92°53′W / 38.43°N 92.89°W / 38.43; -92.89
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Morgan County, Missouri
County
The Morgan County Courthouse in Versailles
The Morgan County Courthouse in Versailles
Map of Missouri highlighting Morgan County
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
Coordinates: 38°26′N 92°53′W / 38.43°N 92.89°W / 38.43; -92.89
Country United States
State Missouri
FoundedJanuary 5, 1833
Named afterDaniel Morgan
SeatVersailles
Largest cityVersailles
Area
 • Total
614 sq mi (1,590 km2)
 • Land598 sq mi (1,550 km2)
 • Water16 sq mi (41 km2)  2.7%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
21,006
 • Density35.1/sq mi (13.6/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district4th
Websitewww.morgancountymo.gov

Morgan County is a county located in the central portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 21,006.[1] Its county seat is Versailles.[2] The county was organized January 5, 1833, and named for General Daniel Morgan of the American Revolutionary War.

History

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Morgan County was organized in 1833 upon separation from Cooper County. It is named in honor of Revolutionary War General Daniel Morgan. Versailles, with a name referring to the French royal estate near Paris, France, was designated as the county seat and platted in 1854.

Established in 1853 there, the Martin Hotel was visited in the post-Civil War period by both showman and circus entrepreneur P. T. Barnum and outlaw robber Jesse James. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1978, it now operates as a museum. In 1858 the Mulhollen Station was a mail stop here for the newly established Butterfield Overland Mail stagecoach line, which carried goods and mail for several years to San Francisco, California.

The Morgan County Courthouse in Versailles, which has also been listed on the NRHP, was designed with French-style details, such as a mansard roof, in keeping with the origin of the town's name. It burned in 1887. The majority of the records were rescued, and the courthouse was soon rebuilt and restored.

Coal mining was historically an important economic activity in Morgan County.[3]

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 614 square miles (1,590 km2), of which 598 square miles (1,550 km2) is land and 16 square miles (41 km2) (2.7%) is water.[4]

Adjacent counties

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Major highways

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Geographical features

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18404,407—
18504,6505.5%
18608,20276.4%
18708,4342.8%
188010,13220.1%
189012,31121.5%
190012,175−1.1%
191012,8635.7%
192012,015−6.6%
193010,968−8.7%
194011,1401.6%
195010,270−7.8%
19609,476−7.7%
197010,0686.2%
198013,80737.1%
199015,57412.8%
200019,30924.0%
201020,5656.5%
202021,0062.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010[9]

2020 census

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As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 21,006 and a median age of 46.4 years. 22.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 24.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 100.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 100.2 males.[10]

The racial makeup of the county was 92.8% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 0.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.8% from some other race, and 4.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.1% of the population.[11]

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[12]

There were 8,548 households in the county, of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 21.8% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[10]

There were 15,110 housing units, of which 43.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 78.8% were owner-occupied and 21.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.0%.[10]

Morgan County, Missouri – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 1980[13] Pop 1990[14] Pop 2000[15] Pop 2010[16] Pop 2020[17] % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 13,570 15,314 18,693 19,573 19,298 98.28% 98.33% 96.81% 95.18% 91.87%
Black or African American alone (NH) 94 94 97 123 126 0.68% 0.60% 0.50% 0.60% 0.60%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 55 68 119 113 105 0.40% 0.44% 0.62% 0.55% 0.50%
Asian alone (NH) 7 25 21 75 61 0.05% 0.16% 0.11% 0.36% 0.29%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) x [18] x [19] 3 2 8 x x 0.02% 0.01% 0.04%
Other race alone (NH) 10 4 1 4 57 0.07% 0.03% 0.01% 0.02% 0.27%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) x [20] x [21] 214 310 905 x x 1.11% 1.51% 4.31%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 71 69 161 365 446 0.51% 0.44% 0.83% 1.77% 2.12%
Total 13,807 15,574 19,309 20,565 21,006 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

Education

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Public schools

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Private schools

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Public libraries

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  • Morgan County Library[22]

Communities

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Cities and towns

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Townships

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Unincorporated communities

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Politics

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Local

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The Republican Party controls politics at the local level in Morgan County. Republicans hold all but five of the elected positions in the county.

Morgan County, Missouri
Elected countywide officials
Assessor Colleen Richardson-Richey Republican
Circuit Clerk Lori Moon Republican
County Clerk Cathy Daniels Democratic
Collector Kathy Francis Democratic
Commissioner
(presiding)		 James Bryant Republican
Commissioner
(district 1)		 Rodney Schad Republican
Commissioner
(district 2)		 Wayne Kroeschen, Jr. Republican
Coroner Maynard B. Jones Democratic
Prosecuting Attorney Dustin Dunklee Democratic
Public Administrator Amanda Huffman Republican
Recorder Nancy Boles Republican
Sheriff Jim Petty Democratic
Surveyor Lonny Allen Republican
Treasurer Kimberly Gunn Ingersoll Republican

State

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Past gubernatorial election results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2024 79.04% 7,588 18.74% 1,799 2.22% 213
2020 78.00% 7,372 19.89% 1,880 2.11% 199
2016 66.35% 5,820 30.66% 2,689 2.99% 262
2012 51.59% 4,575 44.91% 3,983 3.50% 310
2008 47.58% 4,333 50.18% 4,570 2.24% 204
2004 60.18% 5,273 38.54% 3,377 1.27% 112
2000 53.57% 4,207 43.60% 3,424 2.83% 223
1996 45.08% 3,220 51.99% 3,714 2.93% 209

All of Morgan County is in Missouri's 58th Representative District in the Missouri House of Representatives, represented by David Wood (R-Versailles).

Missouri House of Representatives — District 58 — Morgan County (2016)[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican David Wood 6,773 79.35% −20.65
Democratic Travis Maupin 1,763 20.65% +20.65
Missouri House of Representatives — District 58 — Morgan County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican David Wood 4,559 100.00%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 58 — Morgan County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican David Wood 7,047 100.00%

All of Morgan County is a part of Missouri's 6th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Mike Kehoe (R-Jefferson City).

Missouri Senate — District 6 — Morgan County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Mike Kehoe 4,214 80.04%
Democratic Mollie Kristen Freebairn 1,051 19.96%

Federal

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U.S. Senate — Missouri — Morgan County (2016)[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Roy Blunt 5,410 61.70% +13.06
Democratic Jason Kander 2,916 33.26% −10.54
Libertarian Jonathan Dine 221 2.52% −5.03
Green Johnathan McFarland 113 1.29% +1.29
Constitution Fred Ryman 108 1.23% +1.23
U.S. Senate — Missouri — Morgan County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Todd Akin 4,190 48.64%
Democratic Claire McCaskill 3,773 43.80%
Libertarian Jonathan Dine 650 7.55%
Write-In Write-ins 1 0.01%

All of Morgan County is included in Missouri's 4th Congressional District and is currently represented by Vicky Hartzler (R-Harrisonville) in the U.S. House of Representatives.

U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 4th Congressional District — Morgan County (2016)[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Vicky Hartzler 6,470 75.34% −0.02
Democratic Gordon Christensen 1,748 20.35% +0.43
Libertarian Mark Bliss 370 4.31% −0.41
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 4th Congressional District — Morgan County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Vicky Hartzler 3,964 75.36% +8.90
Democratic Nate Irvin 1,048 19.92% −10.23
Libertarian Herschel L. Young 248 4.72% +1.99
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri’s 4th Congressional District — Morgan County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Vicky Hartzler 5,662 66.46%
Democratic Teresa Hensley 2,569 30.15%
Libertarian Thomas Holbrook 233 2.73%
Constitution Greg Cowan 56 0.66%
United States presidential election results for Morgan County, Missouri[24]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
№  % №  % №  %
1888 1,260 47.87% 1,362 51.75% 10 0.38%
1892 1,088 43.21% 1,143 45.39% 287 11.40%
1896 1,366 45.46% 1,628 54.18% 11 0.37%
1900 1,434 49.84% 1,390 48.31% 53 1.84%
1904 1,624 55.60% 1,262 43.20% 35 1.20%
1908 1,663 55.30% 1,315 43.73% 29 0.96%
1912 1,239 45.47% 1,163 42.68% 323 11.85%
1916 1,578 53.19% 1,368 46.11% 21 0.71%
1920 2,911 60.90% 1,834 38.37% 35 0.73%
1924 2,489 56.61% 1,842 41.89% 66 1.50%
1928 3,017 67.68% 1,432 32.12% 9 0.20%
1932 2,000 41.61% 2,768 57.58% 39 0.81%
1936 2,993 53.48% 2,585 46.19% 18 0.32%
1940 3,166 56.98% 2,376 42.76% 14 0.25%
1944 2,896 62.40% 1,735 37.38% 10 0.22%
1948 2,365 55.80% 1,862 43.94% 11 0.26%
1952 3,390 65.86% 1,750 34.00% 7 0.14%
1956 3,163 59.75% 2,131 40.25% 0 0.00%
1960 3,239 62.07% 1,979 37.93% 0 0.00%
1964 2,742 52.63% 2,468 47.37% 0 0.00%
1968 2,906 57.44% 1,649 32.60% 504 9.96%
1972 4,021 70.47% 1,685 29.53% 0 0.00%
1976 2,831 50.60% 2,738 48.94% 26 0.46%
1980 3,577 57.86% 2,460 39.79% 145 2.35%
1984 4,392 66.94% 2,169 33.06% 0 0.00%
1988 3,958 60.13% 2,604 39.56% 20 0.30%
1992 2,819 36.28% 2,906 37.40% 2,045 26.32%
1996 3,059 42.89% 3,006 42.14% 1,068 14.97%
2000 4,460 56.59% 3,235 41.05% 186 2.36%
2004 5,657 64.50% 3,053 34.81% 61 0.70%
2008 5,451 59.58% 3,565 38.97% 133 1.45%
2012 5,733 65.99% 2,773 31.92% 182 2.09%
2016 6,760 76.64% 1,768 20.04% 293 3.32%
2020 7,442 78.44% 1,924 20.28% 121 1.28%
2024 7,725 79.35% 1,914 19.66% 96 0.99%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Morgan County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Williams, Walter (1904). The State of Missouri. pp. 456.
  4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  5. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  6. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  7. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  8. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  9. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  10. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  11. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  12. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  13. ^ "1980 Census of Population - General Social and Economic Characteristics - Missouri- Table 16 - Persons by Spanish Origin, Race, and Sex: 1980" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 20-25.
  14. ^ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Missouri: Table 5 - Race and Hispanic Origin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 13-63.
  15. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Morgan County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau.
  16. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Morgan County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau.
  17. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Morgan County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau.
  18. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  19. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  20. ^ not an option in the 1980 Census
  21. ^ not an option in the 1990 Census
  22. ^ Breeding, Marshall. "Morgan County Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  23. ^ a b c "County Results - State of Missouri - 2016 General Election - November 8, 2016 - Official Results". Missouri Secretary of State. December 12, 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  24. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 25, 2018.

Further reading

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  • History of Cole, Moniteau, Morgan, Benton, Miller, Maries and Osage counties, Missouri : from the earliest time to the present, including a department devoted to the preservation of sundry personal, business, professional and the private records; besides a valuable fund of notes, original observations, etc. etc. (1889) online
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38°26′N 92°53′W / 38.43°N 92.89°W / 38.43; -92.89

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