Jefferson County, Missouri
Encyclopedia
Jefferson County is a county
located in East Central Missouri
in the United States
. The county was included as the mean center of U.S. population
in 1980. It is the sixth most-populous county in Missouri. Census 2010 put the population at 218,733 Its county seat
is Hillsboro
. The county was organized in 1818 and named in honor of former President
Thomas Jefferson
. Governor Mel Carnahan
was killed in a Jefferson county plane crash in 2000.
Jefferson County is part of the St. Louis Metro Area
and consists of many of the southern suburb
s of St. Louis
.
National Protected Area
of 2000, there were 198,099 people, 71,499 households, and 54,553 families residing in the county. The population density
was 302 people per square mile (116/km²). There were 75,586 housing units at an average density of 115 per square mile (44/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.48% White, 0.08% Black or African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.24% from other races
, and 0.93% from two or more races. Approximately 1.01% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 71,499 households out of which 38.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.00% were married couples
living together, 10.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.70% were non-families. 18.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the county the population was spread out with 27.90% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 31.80% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 9.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 98.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $60,636, and the median income for a family was $66,697. Males had a median income of $37,822 versus $25,440 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $25,058. About 4.90% of families and 6.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.10% of those under age 18 and 6.30% of those age 65 or over.
There are 146,316 registered voters.
. All of Jefferson County's local elected offices are held by Democrats.
Jefferson County is divided into seven legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives
, all represented by Democrats who ran unopposed in 2008 and were all reelected with 100% of the vote:
In the Missouri Senate
, Jefferson County is represented by two state senators:
In Missouri's gubernatorial election of 2008
, Governor of Missouri Jay Nixon
(D) defeated former U.S. Representative Kenny Hulshof
(R) with 58.40 percent of the total statewide vote. Nixon performed extremely well and won many of the counties in the state, including his home Jefferson County. The former attorney general Nixon carried Jefferson County by a wide two-to-one margin with 63.87 percent of the vote to Hulshof’s 34.42 percent.
, Jefferson County is represented by Russ Carnahan
(D-St. Louis) who represents most of the southern portion of the Greater St. Louis Area as part of Missouri's 3rd Congressional District.
A predominantly suburb
an county, Jefferson County is fairly independent-leaning at the federal level but does have a tendency to tilt Democratic. Presidential elections in Jefferson County are almost always extremely close; George W. Bush
just narrowly carried the county in 2004
by less than 600 votes and by just over a half of a percentage point. Al Gore
and Barack Obama
also just narrowly carried the county in 2000 and 2008, respectively. Bill Clinton
, however, did manage to carry Jefferson County by double digits both times in 1992 and 1996.
Typical of the suburban culture in most counties throughout the country, voters in Jefferson County tend to be rather centrist on social issues but more liberal on economic issues. In 2004, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman
—it overwhelmingly passed Jefferson County with 72.56 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 passed Jefferson County with 51.85 percent voting for 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
. In 2006, Missourians voted on a proposition (Proposition B) to increase the minimum wage
in the state to $6.50 an hour—it passed Jefferson County with 79.90 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.
U.S. Senator John McCain
(R-Arizona
) won Jefferson County with 33.54 percent of the vote. Former Governor
Mitt Romney
(R-Massachusetts
finished in a not-so-distant second place with 30.45 percent of the vote while former Governor Mike Huckabee
(R-Arkansas
) came in third place with 30.19 percent in Jefferson County. Libertarian
-leaning U.S. Representative Ron Paul
(R-Texas
) finished a distant fourth place with 3.94 percent of the vote in Jefferson County.
Huckabee slightly led Missouri throughout much of the evening until the precincts began reporting from St. Louis where McCain won and put him over the top of Huckabee. In the end, McCain received 32.95 percent of the vote to Huckabee’s 31.53 percent—a 1.42 percent difference. McCain received all of Missouri’s 58 delegates as the Republican Party utilizes the winner-take-all
system.
Democratic
Former U.S. Senator and now Secretary of State
Hillary Rodham Clinton
(D-New York
) won Jefferson County over now President
Barack Obama
(D-Illinois
) by an almost two-to-one margin with 61.32 percent of the vote while Obama received 35.02 percent of the vote. Although he withdrew from the race, former U.S. Senator John Edwards
(D-North Carolina
) still received 2.74 percent of the vote in Jefferson County. Jefferson County gave Clinton one of her strongest showings in a predominantly suburban county in the entire country.
Clinton had a large initial lead in Missouri at the beginning of the evening as the rural precincts began to report, leading several news organizations to call the state for her; however, Obama rallied from behind as the heavily African American
precincts from St. Louis began to report and eventually put him over the top. In the end, Obama received 49.32 percent of the vote to Clinton’s 47.90 percent—a 1.42 percent difference. Both candidates split Missouri’s 72 delegates as the Democratic Party utilizes proportional representation
.
County (United States)
In the United States, a county is a geographic subdivision of a state , usually assigned some governmental authority. The term "county" is used in 48 of the 50 states; Louisiana is divided into parishes and Alaska into boroughs. Parishes and boroughs are called "county-equivalents" by the U.S...
located in East Central Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The county was included as the mean center of U.S. population
Mean center of U.S. population
The mean center of U.S. population is determined by the United States Census Bureau from the results of each census. The Bureau defines it to be:...
in 1980. It is the sixth most-populous county in Missouri. Census 2010 put the population at 218,733 Its county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Hillsboro
Hillsboro, Missouri
Hillsboro is a city in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. The estimated population as of 2008 is 2,062. The population was 1,675 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Jefferson County.- Origin of name :...
. The county was organized in 1818 and named in honor of former President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
. Governor Mel Carnahan
Mel Carnahan
Melvin Eugene "Mel" Carnahan was an American politician. A Democrat, he served as the 51st Governor of Missouri from 1993 to 2000. He died in a plane crash on the Pevely and Hillsboro, Missouri border during a campaign for the U.S...
was killed in a Jefferson county plane crash in 2000.
Jefferson County is part of the St. Louis Metro Area
St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area
Greater St. Louis is the area of Missouri and Illinois that surrounds and includes the independent city of St. Louis. Depending on the counties included in the area, it can refer to the St. Louis, MO-IL metropolitan statistical area or the St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington, MO-IL combined...
and consists of many of the southern suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
s of St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
.
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 664.09 square miles (1,720 km²), of which 656.8 square miles (1,701.1 km²) (or 98.90%) is land and 7.29 square miles (18.9 km²) (or 1.10%) is water. Much of Jefferson County will be in the totality path of the solar eclipse of August 21, 2017.Adjacent counties
- St. Louis CountySt. Louis County, MissouriSt. Louis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. Its county seat is Clayton. St. Louis County is part of the St. Louis Metro Area wherein the independent City of St. Louis and its suburbs in St. Louis County, as well as the surrounding counties in both Missouri and Illinois all...
(north) - Monroe County, IllinoisMonroe County, IllinoisMonroe County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 32,957, which is an increase of 19.3% from 27,619 in 2000. Its county seat is Waterloo...
, across the Mississippi RiverMississippi RiverThe Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
(east) - Ste. Genevieve County (southeast)
- St. Francois County (south)
- Washington CountyWashington County, MissouriWashington County is a county located in East Central Missouri in the United States. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county's population was 25,195. The largest city and county seat is Potosi...
(southwest) - Franklin CountyFranklin County, MissouriFranklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri on the south side of the Missouri River. Franklin County is part of the St. Louis Metro Area and contains many of the St. Louis exurbs. Census 2010 put the population at 101,492; making it the 10th most populous county in Missouri....
(west)
Major highways
Interstate 55
U.S. Route 61
U.S. Route 67
Route 21
Route 30
Route 141
National Protected AreaProtected areaProtected areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognised natural, ecological and/or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the enabling laws of each country or the regulations of the international...
- Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife RefugeMiddle Mississippi River National Wildlife RefugeThe Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge is located on the Mississippi River downstream from St. Louis, Missouri. It is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the Mark Twain National Wildlife Refuge Complex....
(part)
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 198,099 people, 71,499 households, and 54,553 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 302 people per square mile (116/km²). There were 75,586 housing units at an average density of 115 per square mile (44/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.48% White, 0.08% Black or African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.24% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.93% from two or more races. Approximately 1.01% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 71,499 households out of which 38.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.00% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.70% were non-families. 18.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the county the population was spread out with 27.90% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 31.80% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 9.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 98.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $60,636, and the median income for a family was $66,697. Males had a median income of $37,822 versus $25,440 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $25,058. About 4.90% of families and 6.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.10% of those under age 18 and 6.30% of those age 65 or over.
There are 146,316 registered voters.
Cities and towns
|
Dittmer, Missouri Dittmer is an unincorporated community in western Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. It is located about fourteen miles northwest of Hillsboro on Route 30. This is shown on an early railroad map published in 1891 as "Dittmer's Store."... De Soto, Missouri De Soto is a city in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. The population was 6,477 at the estimated 2008 census. The Van Metre family were first to settle in 1803 .The town was organized in 1857 and is named for the explorer Hernando De Soto, who claimed the Louisiana Territory for Spain. ... † Festus, Missouri Festus is a city in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. The population was 11,367 at the 2009 estimated census. Festus and its neighbor Crystal City are often collectively known as the "Twin Cities"; however, they are incorporated separately.... † Fletcher, Missouri Fletcher is an unincorporated community in western Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. It is located about ten miles west of De Soto. The community was founded in 1896 and is named for Missouri governor Thomas Clement Fletcher , who served 1865-1869.... Grubville, Missouri Grubville is an unincorporated community in western Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. It is located near the Jefferson/Franklin County line about a mile south of Route 30.... |
Herculaneum, Missouri Herculaneum is a city in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. The population estimate in 2008 was 3,582. It was 2,805 at the 2000 census. The City of Herculaneum was the first county seat of Jefferson County from January 1, 1819 to 1839. The city celebrated its Bicentennial throughout the... † Hematite, Missouri Hematite is an unincorporated community in eastern Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. It is located about seven miles northeast of De Soto. Stephen Osborn founded the community in 1861 and named it after the iron ore mineral hematite that is found there.-Notes:... High Ridge, Missouri High Ridge is a census-designated place in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,598 in the 2007 estimated census. It was 4,236 at the 2000 census... Hillsboro, Missouri Hillsboro is a city in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. The estimated population as of 2008 is 2,062. The population was 1,675 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Jefferson County.- Origin of name :... † Horine, Missouri Horine is a census-designated place in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. The population was estimated in 2007 as 1,002. It was 923 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Horine is located at .... House Springs, Missouri House Springs is an unincorporated community in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. It is located just off Route 30 at the intersection with Routes MM and W near Byrnes Mill. The community is named after Adam House, who settled here ca. 1796, and for the two large springs here. In the... |
Imperial, Missouri Imperial is a census-designated place in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. The estimated population in 2007 was 4,747. It was 4,373 at the 2000 census. It was originally known as West Kimmswick, and is roughly 25 driving minutes south of St. Louis. St... Kimmswick, Missouri Kimmswick is a city in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. The estimated population in 2007 was 102. It was 94 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Kimmswick is a fourth class city located at... † Liguori, Missouri Liguori is an unincorporated community in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. It is a part of the Greater St. Louis, Missouri metropolitan area and is located approximately ten miles south of Arnold on U.S. Route 67... Mapaville, Missouri Mapaville is an unincorporated community in Jefferson County, Missouri. It is located about halfway between Festus and Hillsboro on Missouri Supplemental Route A.... Morse Mill, Missouri Morse Mill is an unincorporated community in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. It is located about five miles northwest of Hillsboro. The community is named after John H. Morse, who settled here in 1847. Built in the early 1870s, the Morse homestead was a three-story frame house with a... Murphy, Missouri Murphy is a census-designated place in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. The population was 9,048 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Murphy is located at .... |
Olympian Village, Missouri Olympian Village is a city in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. The population was 692 at the estimated 2008 census. It was 669 at the 2000 census. Named in honor of Greek myth and culture... † Parkdale, Missouri Parkdale is a village in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. The population was 205 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Parkdale is located at .... † Pevely, Missouri Pevely is a city in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. The 2009 estimated population is 5,883. The population was 3,768 at the 2000 census. Charles S... † Scotsdale, Missouri Scotsdale is a village in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. The population was 211 at the 2000 census, at which time it was a town.-Geography:Scotsdale is located at... † Sulphur Springs, Missouri Sulphur Springs is an unincorporated community in eastern Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. It is located near Barnhart On August 5, 1922, at Sulphur Springs, two trains collided on the Iron Mountain Railroad tracks with 34 people killed and 150 injured in the largest train accident in... Valles Mines, Missouri Valles Mines is an unincorporated community in southern Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. It is located about seven miles south of De Soto and is less than a mile from U.S. Route 67.-References:... |
- † incorporated
Public Schools
- Crystal City School District 47 - Crystal CityCrystal City, MissouriCrystal City is a city in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,523 at the estimated 2009 census. It was 4,247 at the 2000 census....
- Crystal City Elementary School (K-08)
- Crystal City High School (09-12)
- De Soto School District 73 - De SotoDe Soto, MissouriDe Soto is a city in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. The population was 6,477 at the estimated 2008 census. The Van Metre family were first to settle in 1803 .The town was organized in 1857 and is named for the explorer Hernando De Soto, who claimed the Louisiana Territory for Spain. ...
- Early Childhood Center (PK)
- Athena Elementary School (K-06)
- Vineland Elementary School (K-06)
- De Soto Jr. High School (07-08)
- De Soto High School (09-12)
- Dunklin R-V School District - HerculaneumHerculaneum, MissouriHerculaneum is a city in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. The population estimate in 2008 was 3,582. It was 2,805 at the 2000 census. The City of Herculaneum was the first county seat of Jefferson County from January 1, 1819 to 1839. The city celebrated its Bicentennial throughout the...
- Pevely Elementary School (K-04) - PevelyPevely, MissouriPevely is a city in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. The 2009 estimated population is 5,883. The population was 3,768 at the 2000 census. Charles S...
- Senn-Thomas Middle School (05-08) - Herculaneum
- Herculaneum High School (09-12)
- Pevely Elementary School (K-04) - Pevely
- Festus R-VI School District - FestusFestus, MissouriFestus is a city in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. The population was 11,367 at the 2009 estimated census. Festus and its neighbor Crystal City are often collectively known as the "Twin Cities"; however, they are incorporated separately....
- Festus Elementary School (K-03)
- Festus Intermediate School (04-06)
- Festus Middle School (07-08)
- Festus High School (09-12)
- Fox C-6 School District - ArnoldArnold, MissouriArnold is the largest city in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. The population was estimated to be 20,603 in 2008, slightly more than the 19,965 number reported in the 2000 census.-Geography:Arnold is located at...
- Antonia Elementary School (K-06) - ImperialImperial, MissouriImperial is a census-designated place in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. The estimated population in 2007 was 4,747. It was 4,373 at the 2000 census. It was originally known as West Kimmswick, and is roughly 25 driving minutes south of St. Louis. St...
- Clyde Hamrick Elementary School (K-06) - Imperial
- Don Earl Early Childhood Center (PK) - Arnold
- Fox Elementary School (K-06) - Arnold
- George Guffey Elementary School (K-06) - FentonFenton, MissouriFenton is a city in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States, and a suburb of St. Louis. The population was 4,022 at the 2010 census.-History:Due to its proximity to fertile land and the Meramec River, the Fenton area has been inhabited for over 1,000 years...
- Lone Dell Elementary School (K-06) - Arnold
- Meramec Heights Elementary School (K-06) - Arnold
- Raymond & Nancy Hodge Elementary School (K-06) - Imperial
- Richard Simpson Elementary School (K-06) - Arnold
- Rockport Heights Elementary School (K-06) - Arnold
- Seckman Elementary School (K-06) - Imperial
- Sherwood Elementary School (K-06) - Arnold
- Antonia Middle School (06-08) - Barnhardt
- Fox Middle School (07-08) - Arnold
- Ridgewood Middle School (07-08) - Arnold
- Seckman Middle School (07-08) - Imperial
- Fox High School (09-12) - Arnold
- Seckman High School (09-12) - Imperial
- Antonia Elementary School (K-06) - Imperial
- Grandview R-II School District - HillsboroHillsboro, MissouriHillsboro is a city in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. The estimated population as of 2008 is 2,062. The population was 1,675 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Jefferson County.- Origin of name :...
- Grandview Elementary School (K-05) - Hillsboro
- Grandview Middle School (06-08) - Hillsboro
- Grandview High School (09-12) - Hillsboro
- Hillsboro R-III School District - HillsboroHillsboro, MissouriHillsboro is a city in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. The estimated population as of 2008 is 2,062. The population was 1,675 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Jefferson County.- Origin of name :...
- Hillsboro Primary School (K-02)
- Hillsboro Elementary School (03-04)
- Hillsboro Middle School (05-06)
- Hillsboro Jr. High School (07-08)
- Hillsboro High School (09-12)
- Jefferson County R-VII School District - FestusFestus, MissouriFestus is a city in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. The population was 11,367 at the 2009 estimated census. Festus and its neighbor Crystal City are often collectively known as the "Twin Cities"; however, they are incorporated separately....
- Plattin Primary School (PK-02) - Festus
- Telegraph Intermediate School (03-05) - Festus
- Danby-Rush Tower Middle School (06-08) - Festus
- Jefferson High School- Festus
- Northwest R-I School District - High RidgeHigh Ridge, MissouriHigh Ridge is a census-designated place in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,598 in the 2007 estimated census. It was 4,236 at the 2000 census...
- Brennan Woods Elementary School (K-04) - High Ridge
- Cedar Springs Elementary School (K-04) - House SpringsHouse Springs, MissouriHouse Springs is an unincorporated community in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. It is located just off Route 30 at the intersection with Routes MM and W near Byrnes Mill. The community is named after Adam House, who settled here ca. 1796, and for the two large springs here. In the...
- High Ridge Elementary School (K-04) - High Ridge
- House Springs Elementary School (K-04) - House Springs
- Maple Grove Elementary School (K-04) - DittmerDittmer, MissouriDittmer is an unincorporated community in western Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. It is located about fourteen miles northwest of Hillsboro on Route 30. This is shown on an early railroad map published in 1891 as "Dittmer's Store."...
- Murphy Elementary School (K-04) - High Ridge
- Cedar Hill Intermediate School (05-06) - Cedar HillCedar Hill, MissouriCedar Hill is a census-designated place in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. The estimated population in 2007 was 1,848. It was 1,703 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Cedar Hill is located at ....
- House Springs Intermediate School (05-06) - House Springs
- North Jefferson Intermediate School (05-06) - High Ridge
- Northwest Valley School (07-08) - House Springs
- Northwest High School (09-12) - Cedar Hill
- Sunrise R-IX School District - De SotoDe Soto, MissouriDe Soto is a city in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. The population was 6,477 at the estimated 2008 census. The Van Metre family were first to settle in 1803 .The town was organized in 1857 and is named for the explorer Hernando De Soto, who claimed the Louisiana Territory for Spain. ...
- Sunrise Elementary School (K-08) - De Soto
- Windsor C-1 School District - ImperialImperial, MissouriImperial is a census-designated place in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. The estimated population in 2007 was 4,747. It was 4,373 at the 2000 census. It was originally known as West Kimmswick, and is roughly 25 driving minutes south of St. Louis. St...
- James E. Freer Elementary School (K-03) - BarnhartBarnhart, MissouriBarnhart is a census-designated place in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. The population was 6,631 in the estimated 2007 census. It was 6,108 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Barnhart is located at ....
- Windsor Elementary School (K-02) - Imperial
- Windsor Intermediate School (03-05) - Imperial
- Windsor Middle School (06-08) - Imperial
- Windsor High School (09-12) - Imperial
- James E. Freer Elementary School (K-03) - Barnhart
Private Schools
- Christian Outreach School (K-12) - Hillsboro - Nondenominational ChristianNon-denominational ChristianityIn Christianity, nondenominational institutions or churches are those not formally aligned with an established denomination, or that remain otherwise officially autonomous. This, however, does not preclude an identifiable standard among such congregations...
- People's Christian Academy (K-12) - Arnold - Assembly of God/Pentecostal
- St. Pius X High School (09-12) - Festus - Roman CatholicRoman Catholic ChurchThe Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
- Twin City Christian Academy (PK-12) - Festus - BaptistBaptistBaptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
- Good Shepherd Catholic School - (K-08) - Hillsboro - Roman Catholic
- Holy Child Elementary & Middle School - Arnold - (K-08) - Nondenominational Christianity
- Manna Christian Academy - De Soto - (K-12) - Southern BaptistSouthern Baptist ConventionThe Southern Baptist Convention is a United States-based Christian denomination. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 16 million members...
- Our Lady's Catholic School - Festus - (K-08) - Roman Catholic
- Our Lady Queen of Peace School - House Springs - (K-08) - Roman Catholic
- Sacred Heart Catholic School - Festus - (K-08) - Roman Catholic
- St. Anthony's Catholic School - High Ridge - (K-08) - Roman Catholic
- St. Joseph's Catholic School - KimmswickKimmswick, MissouriKimmswick is a city in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. The estimated population in 2007 was 102. It was 94 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Kimmswick is a fourth class city located at...
- (K-08) - Roman Catholic - St. Johns Lutheran School - Arnold - (PK-08) - Lutheran
- St. Johns School - ImperialImperial, MissouriImperial is a census-designated place in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. The estimated population in 2007 was 4,747. It was 4,373 at the 2000 census. It was originally known as West Kimmswick, and is roughly 25 driving minutes south of St. Louis. St...
- (K-08) - Nondenominational Christianity - St. Rose of Lima Catholic School - De Soto - (K-08) - Roman Catholic
County Parks and Recreation
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Local
Politics at the local level in Jefferson County is completely controlled by the Democratic PartyDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. All of Jefferson County's local elected offices are held by Democrats.
| Office | Incumbent | Party |
|---|---|---|
| Assessor Assessor (property) An assessor is a specialist who calculates the value of property. The value calculated by the assessor is then used as the basis for determining the amounts to be paid or assessed for tax or insurance purposes.... |
Randy Holman | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
| Auditor | Dorothy Stafford | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
| County Executive County commission A county commission is a group of elected officials charged with administering the county government in local government in some states of the United States. County commissions are usually made up of three or more individuals... |
Edward L. Kemp | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
| County Executive County commission A county commission is a group of elected officials charged with administering the county government in local government in some states of the United States. County commissions are usually made up of three or more individuals... |
Patrick J. Lamping | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
| County Executive County commission A county commission is a group of elected officials charged with administering the county government in local government in some states of the United States. County commissions are usually made up of three or more individuals... |
Chuck Banks | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
| Circuit Clerk | Howard L. Wagner | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
| Clerk | Wes Wagner | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
| Collector County collecting County collecting is keeping track of the counties and other major census divisions one has visited in the United States. Many county collectors try to go for blackout, to visit every county unit in the United States... |
Beth Mahn | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
| Prosecuting Attorney | Forrest K. Wegge | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
| Public Administrator Public administration Public Administration houses the implementation of government policy and an academic discipline that studies this implementation and that prepares civil servants for this work. As a "field of inquiry with a diverse scope" its "fundamental goal..... |
Bruce King | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
| Recorder Recorder of deeds Recorder of deeds is a government office tasked with maintaining public records and documents, especially records relating to real estate ownership that provide persons other than the owner of a property with real rights over that property.-Background:... |
Marlene Castle | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
| Sheriff Sheriff A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country.... |
Oliver Glenn Boyer | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
| Treasurer Treasurer A treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:... |
Mark Abel | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
State
| Year | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
Third Parties Third party (United States) The term third party is used in the United States for any and all political parties in the United States other than one of the two major parties . The term can also refer to independent politicians not affiliated with any party at all and to write-in candidates.The United States has had a... |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 Missouri gubernatorial election, 2008 -Polling:-Results:-See also:* U.S. gubernatorial elections, 2008* Missouri gubernatorial election, 2004* Missouri Lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2008-External links:* from the Missouri Secretary of State* at Project Vote Smart... |
34.42% 35,947 | 63.87% 66,697 | 1.71% 1,781 |
| 2004 Missouri gubernatorial election, 2004 The 2004 Missouri gubernatorial election took place on 2 November 2004 for the post of Governor of Missouri. Missouri Secretary of State Republican Matt Blunt defeated State Auditor Democrat Claire McCaskill... |
49.23% 45,891 | 49.25% 45,909 | 1.52% 1,424 |
| 2000 | 47.05% 36,060 | 49.33% 37,808 | 3.62% 2,775 |
| 1996 | 43.90% 28,986 | 52.96% 34,970 | 3.14% 2,077 |
Jefferson County is divided into seven legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives
Missouri House of Representatives
The Missouri House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 163 members, representing districts with an average size of 31,000 residents. House members are elected for two-year terms during general elections held in even-numbered years.In 1992 Missouri...
, all represented by Democrats who ran unopposed in 2008 and were all reelected with 100% of the vote:
- District 90: Sam Komo (D-House Springs)
- District 101: Timothy G. Meadows (D-Imperial)
- District 102: Jeff Roorda (D-Barnhart)
- District 103: Ron Casey (D-Crystal City)
- District 104: Joseph Fallert, Jr. (D-Ste. Genevieve)
- District 105: Michael Frame (D-Eureka)
- District 110: Belinda Harris (D-Hillsboro)
In the Missouri Senate
Missouri Senate
The Missouri State Senate is the upper chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 34 members, representing districts with an average population of 160,000...
, Jefferson County is represented by two state senators:
- District 3: Kevin Engler (R-FarmingtonFarmington, MissouriFarmington is a city in St. Francois County located south of St. Louis in the Lead Belt region in Missouri in the United States. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population was 16,240. It is the county seat of St. Francois County. The Farmington Micropolitan Statistical Area embraces St...
). In 2008, Engler defeated Democratic challenger Dennis Riche with 58.72% of the total vote in the district while Riche received 41.29%; the Jefferson County precincts backed Engler with 54.73% and gave Riche 45.27%. The 3rd Senatorial District consists of CarterCarter County, MissouriCarter County is a county located in the central western portion of the Ozark Foothills Region in Southeast Missouri in the United States. The county was officially organized on March 10, 1859, and is named after Zimri A. Carter, a pioneer settler who came to Missouri from South Carolina in 1812. ...
, IronIron County, MissouriIron County is a county located in the Lead Belt region in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 10,697. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 9,918. The largest city and county seat is Ironton...
, ReynoldsReynolds County, MissouriReynolds County is a county located in the northwestern portion of the Ozark Foothills Region in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 6,689. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 6,388. Its county seat is Centerville...
, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve and WashingtonWashington County, MissouriWashington County is a county located in East Central Missouri in the United States. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county's population was 25,195. The largest city and county seat is Potosi...
counties in Southeast Missouri as well as parts of Jefferson County. - District 22: Ryan McKennaRyan McKennaRyan Glennon McKenna is a Democratic member of the Missouri Senate, representing the 22nd District since 2007. Previously he was a member of the Missouri House of Representatives from 1999 through 2006....
(D-Crystal City). In 2006, McKenna received 60.47% of the total vote in the district to defeat Republican challenger Bill Alter who received 39.53% of the vote. The 22nd Senatorial District consists of parts of Jefferson County.
In Missouri's gubernatorial election of 2008
Missouri gubernatorial election, 2008
-Polling:-Results:-See also:* U.S. gubernatorial elections, 2008* Missouri gubernatorial election, 2004* Missouri Lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2008-External links:* from the Missouri Secretary of State* at Project Vote Smart...
, Governor of Missouri Jay Nixon
Jay Nixon
Jeremiah Wilson "Jay" Nixon, Sr. is the 55th and current Governor of the U.S. state of Missouri. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as Missouri's Attorney General before his election in 2008.-Political career:...
(D) defeated former U.S. Representative Kenny Hulshof
Kenny Hulshof
Kenneth C. "Kenny" Hulshof is a politician from the U.S. state of Missouri, and represented in the United States House of Representatives. He was the unsuccessful nominee of the Republican Party for Governor of Missouri in the 2008 election.- Biography :...
(R) with 58.40 percent of the total statewide vote. Nixon performed extremely well and won many of the counties in the state, including his home Jefferson County. The former attorney general Nixon carried Jefferson County by a wide two-to-one margin with 63.87 percent of the vote to Hulshof’s 34.42 percent.
Federal
In the U.S. House of RepresentativesUnited States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, Jefferson County is represented by Russ Carnahan
Russ Carnahan
John Russell "Russ" Carnahan is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Democratic Party.The district includes the southern third of the city of St. Louis and most of the southern St. Louis suburbs including most of Jefferson County and all of Ste. Genevieve County...
(D-St. Louis) who represents most of the southern portion of the Greater St. Louis Area as part of Missouri's 3rd Congressional District.
Political Culture
| Year | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
Third Parties Third party (United States) The term third party is used in the United States for any and all political parties in the United States other than one of the two major parties . The term can also refer to independent politicians not affiliated with any party at all and to write-in candidates.The United States has had a... |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 47.91% 50,804 | 50.42% 53,467 | 1.67% 1,779 |
| 2004 | 49.99% 46,624 | 49.38% 46,057 | 0.63% 583 |
| 2000 | 47.62% 36,766 | 50.02% 38,616 | 2.36% 1,822 |
| 1996 | 36.12% 23,877 | 48.52% 32,073 | 15.36% 10,152 |
A predominantly suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
an county, Jefferson County is fairly independent-leaning at the federal level but does have a tendency to tilt Democratic. Presidential elections in Jefferson County are almost always extremely close; George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
just narrowly carried the county in 2004
United States presidential election, 2004
The United States presidential election of 2004 was the United States' 55th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. Republican Party candidate and incumbent President George W. Bush defeated Democratic Party candidate John Kerry, the then-junior U.S. Senator...
by less than 600 votes and by just over a half of a percentage point. Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
and Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
also just narrowly carried the county in 2000 and 2008, respectively. Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
, however, did manage to carry Jefferson County by double digits both times in 1992 and 1996.
Typical of the suburban culture in most counties throughout the country, voters in Jefferson County tend to be rather centrist on social issues but more liberal on economic issues. In 2004, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman
Missouri Constitutional Amendment 2 (2004)
Constitutional Amendment 2 of 2004 is an amendment to the Missouri Constitution that prohibited same-sex marriages from being conducted or recognized in Missouri. The Amendment passed via public referendum on August 3, 2004 with 71% of voters supporting and 29% opposing. Every county voted in...
—it overwhelmingly passed Jefferson County with 72.56 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
Same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage typically refer to such recognition as marriage equality....
. In 2006, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to fund and legalize embryonic stem cell research in the state
Missouri Constitutional Amendment 2 (2006)
Missouri Constitutional Amendment 2 is a state constitutional amendment initiative that concerns stem cell research and human cloning in Missouri...
—it narrowly passed Jefferson County with 51.85 percent voting for 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
Embryonic stem cell
Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent stem cells derived from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst, an early-stage embryo. Human embryos reach the blastocyst stage 4–5 days post fertilization, at which time they consist of 50–150 cells...
. In 2006, Missourians voted on a proposition (Proposition B) to increase the minimum wage
Minimum wage
A minimum wage is the lowest hourly, daily or monthly remuneration that employers may legally pay to workers. Equivalently, it is the lowest wage at which workers may sell their labour. Although minimum wage laws are in effect in a great many jurisdictions, there are differences of opinion about...
in the state to $6.50 an hour—it passed Jefferson County with 79.90 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.
2008 Missouri Presidential Primary
RepublicanU.S. Senator John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
(R-Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
) won Jefferson County with 33.54 percent of the vote. Former Governor
Governor of Massachusetts
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the executive magistrate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States. The current governor is Democrat Deval Patrick.-Constitutional role:...
Mitt Romney
Mitt Romney
Willard Mitt Romney is an American businessman and politician. He was the 70th Governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007 and is a candidate for the 2012 Republican Party presidential nomination.The son of George W...
(R-Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
finished in a not-so-distant second place with 30.45 percent of the vote while former Governor Mike Huckabee
Mike Huckabee
Michael "Mike" Dale Huckabee is an American politician who served as the 44th Governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007. He was a candidate in the 2008 United States Republican presidential primaries, finishing second in delegate count and third in both popular vote and number of states won . He won...
(R-Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
) came in third place with 30.19 percent in Jefferson County. Libertarian
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
-leaning U.S. Representative Ron Paul
Ron Paul
Ronald Ernest "Ron" Paul is an American physician, author and United States Congressman who is seeking to be the Republican Party candidate in the 2012 presidential election. Paul represents Texas's 14th congressional district, which covers an area south and southwest of Houston that includes...
(R-Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
) finished a distant fourth place with 3.94 percent of the vote in Jefferson County.
Huckabee slightly led Missouri throughout much of the evening until the precincts began reporting from St. Louis where McCain won and put him over the top of Huckabee. In the end, McCain received 32.95 percent of the vote to Huckabee’s 31.53 percent—a 1.42 percent difference. McCain received all of Missouri’s 58 delegates as the Republican Party utilizes the winner-take-all
Winner-take-all
Winner-take-all is a computational principle applied in computational models of neural networks by which neurons in a layer compete with each others for activation...
system.
Democratic
Former U.S. Senator and now Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton is the 67th United States Secretary of State, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama. She was a United States Senator for New York from 2001 to 2009. As the wife of the 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton, she was the First Lady of the...
(D-New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
) won Jefferson County over now President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
(D-Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
) by an almost two-to-one margin with 61.32 percent of the vote while Obama received 35.02 percent of the vote. Although he withdrew from the race, former U.S. Senator John Edwards
John Edwards
Johnny Reid "John" Edwards is an American politician, who served as a U.S. Senator from North Carolina. He was the Democratic nominee for Vice President in 2004, and was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004 and 2008.He defeated incumbent Republican Lauch Faircloth in...
(D-North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
) still received 2.74 percent of the vote in Jefferson County. Jefferson County gave Clinton one of her strongest showings in a predominantly suburban county in the entire country.
Clinton had a large initial lead in Missouri at the beginning of the evening as the rural precincts began to report, leading several news organizations to call the state for her; however, Obama rallied from behind as the heavily African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
precincts from St. Louis began to report and eventually put him over the top. In the end, Obama received 49.32 percent of the vote to Clinton’s 47.90 percent—a 1.42 percent difference. Both candidates split Missouri’s 72 delegates as the Democratic Party utilizes proportional representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
.
- Hillary Rodham Clinton received more votes, a total of 19,075, than any candidate from either party in Jefferson County during the 2008 Missouri Presidential Primaries. She also received more votes than the total number of votes cast in the entire Republican Primary in Jefferson County.
See also
- List of counties in Missouri
- Missouri census statistical areasMissouri census statistical areasThe United States Census Bureau has defined 3 Combined Statistical Areas , 8 Metropolitan Statistical Areas , and 20 Micropolitan Statistical Areas in the State of Missouri...
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Jefferson County, Missouri
External links
- Jefferson County MO Historical Society
- Jefferson County Online
- Jefferson County Sherriff's Department
- Jefferson County portion of Goodspeed's History (1888)
- Digitized 1930 Plat Book of Jefferson County from University of MissouriUniversity of MissouriThe University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
Division of Special Collections, Archives, and Rare Books