Stone County, Missouri
Encyclopedia
Stone County is a county located in Southwest Missouri
in the United States
. As of the 2010 U.S. Census
, the county's population was 32,202. Its county seat
is Galena
. The county was officially organized on February 10, 1851, and is named after William Stone, an English
pioneer and an early settler in Maryland
who also served as Taney County Judge.
Stone County is part of the Branson
Micropolitan Statistical Area
.
Authentic history of the occupation, settlement and colonization of this region which on February 10, 1851, became Stone County, Missouri, begins about 50 years before the creation of the county. During this period there were two distinct immigrations, one of which was by the Delaware Native Americans and the other by Anglo-Saxon colonizers.
The Delaware Native Americans immigrated to this region about 1800 to 1808 and remained until their evacuation under governmental compulsion in 1830 to the Kansas Territory
. These were the progeny of the Delaware Native Americans which the European explorers, more than two centuries before, had found in the valley of the Delaware River
. They were the traditional enemies of the Iroquois which finally conquered them after which the pressure of both the Iroquois and the whites forced them periodically and successively westward into Ohio
, Indiana
, and finally into Missouri. They lived in portions of Southeast Missouri and finally in territory now included in Greene
, Christian
, Taney
and Stone counties during which time they built and occupied the well-known Delaware town or village on James River in territory which afterwards became Christian County and at or near the point where Highway 14 now crosses that stream. They were peaceful Native Americans.
After their evacuation in 1830, they returned here annually until 1836 to hunt and fish, but when the whites misunderstood their innocent purpose and a military force was sent to investigate, they quietly left this region never to return. The first known white settler in this region was James Yocum (sometimes spelled Yoachum) of German origin who around 1790 located at the junction of James and White rivers. He carried on trading with the Native Americans and the white settlers who had furs and peltries to sell or to barter in exchange for such necessities as coffee, salt, blankets, cloth, shoes, rifles, bullets, pots, knives, hatchets, axes and other articles of primary importance to the settler's manner of life. At that time bear, deer, buffalo, elk, beaver, raccoon and other wild life were abundant.
A trade-coin, the Yocum Dollar, served the local necessities of commerce. This coin was stamped with two words, "Yocum Dollar," and was not intended to be a counterfeit. Its size and shape were identical to the American dollar, and it contained more pure silver.
An important historical event in this region was the tour of Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, a historian and explorer who, in 1818 and 1819 at the age of 25, visited this region to study its features and its occupants. He wrote one of his books in 1853. Schoolcraft found these early white settlers, in the main, were not interested in agricultural pursuits. They cleared out and cultivated only an acre or so of land and grew corn for the family and the horses, and a few vegetables for family use, but hunting and trapping were their main interests. He said that when hunting season arrived, their ordinary labors even in the cornfield fell upon their wives and that "the inhabitants pursue a similar course of life to that of the savages whose love of ease the settlers generally embraced." Among other settlers, Schoolcraft and his party visited Yocum who fed them roast beaver tails. Any impression that all the white settlers in these times were interested only in a life of ease comparable to the Indians in this region would be erroneous. Many other whites, including other Yocums including Jacob and Solomon, and Joseph Philibert, a Frenchman, went seriously into agricultural pursuits and the establishment of permanent homes, although in the process of doing so they were obligated to obtain much of their subsistence from the abundant wild life until their agricultural efforts were adequate for support. Such white settlers formed the nucleus of the permanent colonization next to be noticed.
What we can properly regard as the more permanent and enduring colonization of this region began about 1833 when Kentucky
and Tennessee
sent their sons into the wilderness to open up the country near the confluence of the James and White rivers. These immigrants were the progeny of the proud Anglo-Saxon colonizers of our Middle Atlantic Coast about 200 years previously. They were neither explorers nor exploiters of the land. They sought no enrichment from mineral resources. They sought no higher privilege than to subvert the land to agricultural purposes and to build their permanent homes thereon, which always had been the distinct characteristic of the English colonizers. The Kentuckians generally were political adherents of Henry Clay
and the Tennesseans almost unanimously followed Andrew Jackson
. In these early days, the colonists here and elsewhere in the Missouri religious groups were fundamentalists. They would not have thanked anyone for any allegorical explanation of some portions of the Holy Bible which is a stumbling block to some sinners, and possibly some saints. Divorces were frowned upon, no matter what the provocation, and a man who was sued at law, particularly upon his promissory note, was almost disgraced in the public mind.
These Anglo-Saxons needed and used the hunting and trapping predecessors as a means of subsistence until their agricultural pursuits improved their living conditions. It was a long and laborious process to reach their goal, for few if any in this hill country had slaves or any other independent means to augment their efforts, but all had large families. Their story is "the short and simple annals of the poor." These immigrations from Kentucky and Tennessee and, in time, from other states continued unabated to these two rivers and their tributaries and beyond until about all the low-cost government lands which were desirable for agriculture had been taken. Immigrations were interrupted during the period of the U.S. Civil War, but were resumed thereafter when free lands also were obtainable under the Homestead Law of 1862. The government would not sell land even for a church or a school site until its surveys were completed, for the reason that surveys afforded a definite description and a convenient means of conveying the land.
President James Monroe on April 30, 1818, issued a proclamation authorizing the sale of lands in Missouri after its survey. No doubt the delays in making surveys tended to retard the settlement of this area; the extreme northeastern portion of the area in this county, including the confluence of Finley Creek and James River, was not surveyed until 1838. And the remainder was not surveyed until between 1846 and 1849, or barely in advance of the creation of Stone County, although long after the evacuation of the Delaware and other Native American tribes. The 16th General Assembly of Missouri convened on December 30, 1850. By its Act of February 10, 1851, Stone County was created and was named "in honor of William Stone late of Taney County, Missouri."
, also known as Branson West Municipal Airport, is a public-use general aviation
airport
in Stone County. It is located two nautical miles (3.7 km) west of the central business district
of the Branson West
, which owns the airport.
of 2000, there were 28,658 people, 11,822 households, and 8,842 families residing in the county. The population density
was 62 people per square mile (24/km²). There were 16,241 housing units at an average density of 35 per square mile (14/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.64% White, 0.07% Black or African American, 0.61% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.25% from other races
, and 1.20% from two or more races. Approximately 1.04% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Among the major first ancestries reported in Stone County were 24.3% American
, 20.4% German, 11.3% English
, and 10.8% Irish
, according to Census 2000.
There were 11,822 households out of which 25.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.70% were married couples
living together, 7.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.20% were non-families. 21.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.76.
In the county the population was spread out with 21.40% under the age of 18, 6.20% from 18 to 24, 23.80% from 25 to 44, 29.70% from 45 to 64, and 18.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 96.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $40,487, and the median income for a family was $46,675. Males had a median income of $26,224 versus $19,190 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $21,813. About 8.50% of families and 12.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.00% of those under age 18 and 8.10% of those age 65 or over.
or higher while 14.2% holds a bachelor's degree
or higher as their highest educational attainment.
. All elected officeholders in Stone County are Republicans.
Stone County is divided into four legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives
, all represented by Republicans:
In the Missouri Senate
, Stone County is a part of Missouri's 29th Senatorial District and is currently represented by Jack Goodman
(R-Mount Vernon). In 2008, Goodman ran unopposed and was reelected with 100% of the vote. The 29th District includes Barry
, Lawrence, McDonald
, Ozark
, Stone, and Taney
counties in Southwest Missouri.
In Missouri's gubernatorial election of 2008
, Democratic Governor Governor Jay Nixon
solidly defeated Republican U.S. Representative Kenny Hulshof
with 58.40 percent of the total statewide vote. While Nixon performed extremely well and won many of the rural counties in the state, Stone County was not one of them. Hulshof narrowly won Stone County with 49.53 percent while Nixon received 47.46 percent of the vote. Outside of Greene County
which contains Springfield, it was one of Nixon's better showing in Southwest Missouri.
, Stone County is a part of Missouri's 7th Congressional District and is currently represented by Billy Long (R-Springfield).
Like most counties situated in Southwest Missouri, Stone County is a Republican stronghold in presidential elections. George W. Bush
carried Stone County in 2000
and 2004
by more than two-to-one margins, and like many other rural counties throughout Missouri, Stone County strongly favored John McCain
over Barack Obama
in 2008
. No Democratic presidential nominee has won Stone County in over 50 years.
Like most rural areas throughout the Bible Belt in Southwest Missouri, voters in Stone 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 Stone County with 79.87 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 Stone County with 52.80 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 Stone 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 Stone County with 76.72 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.
Former U.S. Senator and now Secretary of State
Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-New York
) won Stone County over now President
Barack Obama
(D-Illinois
) by an almost two-to-one margin with 61.76 percent of the vote while Obama received 35.17 percent of the vote. Although he withdrew from the race, former U.S. Senator John Edwards
(D-North Carolina
) still received 2.16 percent of the vote in Stone County.
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
.
Republican
Former Governor Mike Huckabee
(R-Arkansas
) won Stone County with 45.01 percent of the vote. U.S. Senator John McCain
(R-Arizona
) finished in second place in Stone County with 31.82 percent. Former Governor
Mitt Romney
(R-Massachusetts
) came in third place, receiving 18.80 percent of the vote while libertarian
-leaning U.S. Representative Ron Paul
(R-Texas
) finished fourth with 2.74 percent in Stone 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.
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...
. As of the 2010 U.S. Census
United States Census, 2010
The Twenty-third United States Census, known as Census 2010 or the 2010 Census, is the current national census of the United States. National Census Day was April 1, 2010 and is the reference date used in enumerating individuals...
, the county's population was 32,202. 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 Galena
Galena, Missouri
Galena is a city in Stone County, Missouri, United States. The population was 451 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Stone County. Galena is part of the Branson, Missouri Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
. The county was officially organized on February 10, 1851, and is named after William Stone, an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
pioneer and an early settler in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
who also served as Taney County Judge.
Stone County is part of the Branson
Branson, Missouri
Branson is a city in Taney County in the U.S. state of Missouri. It was named after Reuben Branson, postmaster and operator of a general store in the area in the 1880s....
Micropolitan Statistical Area
Branson micropolitan area
The Branson Micropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in southwestern Missouri, anchored by the city of Branson.As of the 2010 census, the μSA had a population of 83,877...
.
History
This section sites no references and may be incorrect, please edit to include only referenced material and to match the tone of an encyclopedia article. See Talk pageAuthentic history of the occupation, settlement and colonization of this region which on February 10, 1851, became Stone County, Missouri, begins about 50 years before the creation of the county. During this period there were two distinct immigrations, one of which was by the Delaware Native Americans and the other by Anglo-Saxon colonizers.
The Delaware Native Americans immigrated to this region about 1800 to 1808 and remained until their evacuation under governmental compulsion in 1830 to the Kansas Territory
Kansas Territory
The Territory of Kansas was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 30, 1854, until January 29, 1861, when the eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Kansas....
. These were the progeny of the Delaware Native Americans which the European explorers, more than two centuries before, had found in the valley of the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
. They were the traditional enemies of the Iroquois which finally conquered them after which the pressure of both the Iroquois and the whites forced them periodically and successively westward into Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, and finally into Missouri. They lived in portions of Southeast Missouri and finally in territory now included in Greene
Greene County, Missouri
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...
, Christian
Christian County, Missouri
Christian County is a county located in Southwest Missouri. The county had a population of 54,285 in 2000 census. According to the 2010 census, the county's population is 77,422 , making it the fastest growing county in Missouri and one of the fastest growing in the nation as the county becomes...
, Taney
Taney County, Missouri
Taney County is a county located in Southwest Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 39,703. In the 2010 census the counties population was 51,675 Its county seat is Forsyth....
and Stone counties during which time they built and occupied the well-known Delaware town or village on James River in territory which afterwards became Christian County and at or near the point where Highway 14 now crosses that stream. They were peaceful Native Americans.
After their evacuation in 1830, they returned here annually until 1836 to hunt and fish, but when the whites misunderstood their innocent purpose and a military force was sent to investigate, they quietly left this region never to return. The first known white settler in this region was James Yocum (sometimes spelled Yoachum) of German origin who around 1790 located at the junction of James and White rivers. He carried on trading with the Native Americans and the white settlers who had furs and peltries to sell or to barter in exchange for such necessities as coffee, salt, blankets, cloth, shoes, rifles, bullets, pots, knives, hatchets, axes and other articles of primary importance to the settler's manner of life. At that time bear, deer, buffalo, elk, beaver, raccoon and other wild life were abundant.
A trade-coin, the Yocum Dollar, served the local necessities of commerce. This coin was stamped with two words, "Yocum Dollar," and was not intended to be a counterfeit. Its size and shape were identical to the American dollar, and it contained more pure silver.
An important historical event in this region was the tour of Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, a historian and explorer who, in 1818 and 1819 at the age of 25, visited this region to study its features and its occupants. He wrote one of his books in 1853. Schoolcraft found these early white settlers, in the main, were not interested in agricultural pursuits. They cleared out and cultivated only an acre or so of land and grew corn for the family and the horses, and a few vegetables for family use, but hunting and trapping were their main interests. He said that when hunting season arrived, their ordinary labors even in the cornfield fell upon their wives and that "the inhabitants pursue a similar course of life to that of the savages whose love of ease the settlers generally embraced." Among other settlers, Schoolcraft and his party visited Yocum who fed them roast beaver tails. Any impression that all the white settlers in these times were interested only in a life of ease comparable to the Indians in this region would be erroneous. Many other whites, including other Yocums including Jacob and Solomon, and Joseph Philibert, a Frenchman, went seriously into agricultural pursuits and the establishment of permanent homes, although in the process of doing so they were obligated to obtain much of their subsistence from the abundant wild life until their agricultural efforts were adequate for support. Such white settlers formed the nucleus of the permanent colonization next to be noticed.
What we can properly regard as the more permanent and enduring colonization of this region began about 1833 when Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
and Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
sent their sons into the wilderness to open up the country near the confluence of the James and White rivers. These immigrants were the progeny of the proud Anglo-Saxon colonizers of our Middle Atlantic Coast about 200 years previously. They were neither explorers nor exploiters of the land. They sought no enrichment from mineral resources. They sought no higher privilege than to subvert the land to agricultural purposes and to build their permanent homes thereon, which always had been the distinct characteristic of the English colonizers. The Kentuckians generally were political adherents of Henry Clay
Henry Clay
Henry Clay, Sr. , was a lawyer, politician and skilled orator who represented Kentucky separately in both the Senate and in the House of Representatives...
and the Tennesseans almost unanimously followed Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
. In these early days, the colonists here and elsewhere in the Missouri religious groups were fundamentalists. They would not have thanked anyone for any allegorical explanation of some portions of the Holy Bible which is a stumbling block to some sinners, and possibly some saints. Divorces were frowned upon, no matter what the provocation, and a man who was sued at law, particularly upon his promissory note, was almost disgraced in the public mind.
These Anglo-Saxons needed and used the hunting and trapping predecessors as a means of subsistence until their agricultural pursuits improved their living conditions. It was a long and laborious process to reach their goal, for few if any in this hill country had slaves or any other independent means to augment their efforts, but all had large families. Their story is "the short and simple annals of the poor." These immigrations from Kentucky and Tennessee and, in time, from other states continued unabated to these two rivers and their tributaries and beyond until about all the low-cost government lands which were desirable for agriculture had been taken. Immigrations were interrupted during the period of the U.S. Civil War, but were resumed thereafter when free lands also were obtainable under the Homestead Law of 1862. The government would not sell land even for a church or a school site until its surveys were completed, for the reason that surveys afforded a definite description and a convenient means of conveying the land.
President James Monroe on April 30, 1818, issued a proclamation authorizing the sale of lands in Missouri after its survey. No doubt the delays in making surveys tended to retard the settlement of this area; the extreme northeastern portion of the area in this county, including the confluence of Finley Creek and James River, was not surveyed until 1838. And the remainder was not surveyed until between 1846 and 1849, or barely in advance of the creation of Stone County, although long after the evacuation of the Delaware and other Native American tribes. The 16th General Assembly of Missouri convened on December 30, 1850. By its Act of February 10, 1851, Stone County was created and was named "in honor of William Stone late of Taney County, Missouri."
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 510.91 square miles (1,323.3 km²), of which 463.22 square miles (1,199.7 km²) (or 90.67%) is land and 47.68 square miles (123.5 km²) (or 9.33%) is water.Adjacent counties
- Christian CountyChristian County, MissouriChristian County is a county located in Southwest Missouri. The county had a population of 54,285 in 2000 census. According to the 2010 census, the county's population is 77,422 , making it the fastest growing county in Missouri and one of the fastest growing in the nation as the county becomes...
(north) - Taney CountyTaney County, MissouriTaney County is a county located in Southwest Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 39,703. In the 2010 census the counties population was 51,675 Its county seat is Forsyth....
(east) - Carroll County, Arkansas (south)
- Barry CountyBarry County, MissouriBarry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of 2010, the population was 35,597. Its county seat is Cassville. The county was organized in 1835 and named after William Taylor Barry from Kentucky, a United States Postmaster General....
(west) - Lawrence County (northwest)
Major highways
Route 13
Route 76
Route 86
Route 173
Route 176
Route 248
Route 265
Route 413
Airports
Branson West AirportBranson West Airport
Branson West Airport, also known as Branson West Municipal Airport, is a city-owned, public-use airport located two nautical miles west of the central business district of the City of Branson West, in Stone County, Missouri, United States...
, also known as Branson West Municipal Airport, is a public-use general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
in Stone County. It is located two nautical miles (3.7 km) west of the central business district
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
of the Branson West
Branson West, Missouri
Branson West is a city in Stone County, Missouri, United States. The population was 408 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Branson, Missouri Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Branson West is located at ....
, which owns the airport.
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 28,658 people, 11,822 households, and 8,842 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 62 people per square mile (24/km²). There were 16,241 housing units at an average density of 35 per square mile (14/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.64% White, 0.07% Black or African American, 0.61% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.25% 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 1.20% from two or more races. Approximately 1.04% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Among the major first ancestries reported in Stone County were 24.3% American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 20.4% German, 11.3% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
, and 10.8% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
, according to Census 2000.
There were 11,822 households out of which 25.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.70% 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, 7.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.20% were non-families. 21.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.76.
In the county the population was spread out with 21.40% under the age of 18, 6.20% from 18 to 24, 23.80% from 25 to 44, 29.70% from 45 to 64, and 18.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 96.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $40,487, and the median income for a family was $46,675. Males had a median income of $26,224 versus $19,190 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 $21,813. About 8.50% of families and 12.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.00% of those under age 18 and 8.10% of those age 65 or over.
Cities and towns
|
Coney Island, Missouri Coney Island is a village in Stone County, Missouri, United States. The population was 94 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Branson, Missouri Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Coney Island is located at... Crane, Missouri Crane is a city in Stone County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,390 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Branson, Missouri Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Crane is located at .... Crossroads, Missouri Crossroads is an unincorporated community in western Stone County, Missouri, United States. It is located at the intersection of Route 173 and Route 248 about four miles west of Galena. A few businesses and homes are located there.... Elsey, Missouri Elsey is an unincorporated community in Stone County, Missouri, United States. It is located at the intersection of Route 413 and Route 173 and is halfway between Galena and Crane. The community is part of the Branson, Missouri Micropolitan Statistical Area.... |
Galena, Missouri Galena is a city in Stone County, Missouri, United States. The population was 451 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Stone County. Galena is part of the Branson, Missouri Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:... Hurley, Missouri Hurley is a city in Stone County, Missouri, United States. The population was 157 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Branson, Missouri Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:... Indian Point, Missouri Indian Point is a village in Stone County, Missouri, United States. The population was 588 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Branson, Missouri Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Indian Point is located at .... Kimberling City, Missouri Kimberling City is a city in Stone County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2,253 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Branson, Missouri Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Kimberling City is located at .... |
Lampe, Missouri Lampe is an unincorporated community in southern Stone County, Missouri, United States. It is located on Route 13 south of Table Rock Lake.The community is part of the Branson, Missouri Micropolitan Statistical Area.... McCord Bend, Missouri McCord Bend is a village in Stone County, Missouri, United States. The population was 292 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Branson, Missouri Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:McCord Bend is located at .... Ponce de Leon, Missouri Ponce de Leon is an unincorporated community in Stone County, Missouri, United States, about twenty miles southwest of Springfield. It is part of the Branson, Missouri Micropolitan Statistical Area. The community was founded in 1882... Possum Trot, Missouri Possum Trot is a former town in northeastern Stone County, Missouri, United States, about eight miles southwest of Nixa on Missouri Supplemental Route M. Only the remains of a church and a house are left.... |
Reeds Spring, Missouri Reeds Spring is a city in Stone County, Missouri, United States. The population was 465 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Branson, Missouri Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Reeds Spring is located at .... Reeds Spring Junction, Missouri Reeds Spring Junction is an unincorporated community in eastern Stone County, Missouri, United States. It was so named as it was located on U.S. Route 160 at Route 248, a road which continued west to the city of Reeds Spring two miles to the west... Shell Knob, Missouri Shell Knob is a census-designated place in White River Township in Barry and Alpine Township in Stone counties in the U.S. state of Missouri... Union City, Missouri Union City is an unincorporated community in Stone County, Missouri, United States. It is located about five miles south of Clever on Missouri Supplemental Routes M and K.Union City was a Union Army camp during the Civil War... |
Viola, Missouri Viola is an unincorporated community on Route 39 on the border between Barry and Stone Counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. The community was founded in 1894 and is named for an unidentified woman. It is also situated on Table Rock Lake.... |
Education
Of adults 25 years of age and older in Stone County, 80.4% possesses a high school diplomaHigh school diploma
A high school diploma is a diploma awarded for the completion of high school. In the United States and Canada, it is considered the minimum education required for government jobs and higher education. An equivalent is the GED.-Past diploma styles:...
or higher while 14.2% holds a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
or higher as their highest educational attainment.
Public Schools
- Blue Eye R-V School District - Blue EyeBlue Eye, MissouriBlue Eye is a village in Stone County, Missouri, United States. The population was 129 at the 2000 census, at which time it was a town. It is part of the Branson, Missouri Micropolitan Statistical Area...
- Blue Eye Elementary School (PK-04)
- Blue Eye Middle School (05-08)
- Blue Eye High School (09-12)
- Crane R-III School District - CraneCrane, MissouriCrane is a city in Stone County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,390 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Branson, Missouri Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Crane is located at ....
- Crane Elementary School (K-04)
- Crane Middle School (05-08)
- Crane High School (09-12)
- Galena R-II School District - GalenaGalena, MissouriGalena is a city in Stone County, Missouri, United States. The population was 451 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Stone County. Galena is part of the Branson, Missouri Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
- Galena-Abesville Elementary School (PK-06)
- Galena High School (07-12)
- Hurley R-I School District - HurleyHurley, MissouriHurley is a city in Stone County, Missouri, United States. The population was 157 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Branson, Missouri Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
- Hurley Elementary School (K-05)
- Hurley High School (06-12)
- Reeds Spring R-IV School District - Reeds SpringReeds Spring, MissouriReeds Spring is a city in Stone County, Missouri, United States. The population was 465 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Branson, Missouri Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Reeds Spring is located at ....
- Reeds Spring Primary School (PK-01)
- Reeds Spring Elementary School (02-04)
- Reeds Spring Intermediate School (05-06)
- Reeds Spring Middle School (07-08)
- Reeds Spring High School (09-12)
Private Schools
- Apostolic Christian School - Reeds SpringReeds Spring, MissouriReeds Spring is a city in Stone County, Missouri, United States. The population was 465 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Branson, Missouri Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Reeds Spring is located at ....
- (05-12) - Non-denominational 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...
Alternative & Vocational Schools
- Gibson Technical Center - Reeds SpringReeds Spring, MissouriReeds Spring is a city in Stone County, Missouri, United States. The population was 465 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Branson, Missouri Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Reeds Spring is located at ....
- (09-12) - Vocational/Technical - New Horizons Alternative School - Reeds SpringReeds Spring, MissouriReeds Spring is a city in Stone County, Missouri, United States. The population was 465 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Branson, Missouri Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Reeds Spring is located at ....
- (06-12) - Alternative/Other - Tri-Lakes Special Education Cooperative - Blue EyeBlue Eye, MissouriBlue Eye is a village in Stone County, Missouri, United States. The population was 129 at the 2000 census, at which time it was a town. It is part of the Branson, Missouri Micropolitan Statistical Area...
- (K-12) - Special Education
Local
Politics at the local level in Stone County is completely controlled by the Republican PartyRepublican 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...
. All elected officeholders in Stone County are Republicans.
| 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.... |
Brad Hudson | 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... |
| Commissioner – Northern District 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... |
Kenneth Booth | 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... |
| Commissioner – Southern District 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... |
Jerry Dodd | 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... |
| Circuit Clerk | Cathy Shortt | 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... |
| Clerk | Judy Berkstresser | 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... |
| 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... |
Vicki A. May | 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... |
| Coroner Coroner A coroner is a government official who* Investigates human deaths* Determines cause of death* Issues death certificates* Maintains death records* Responds to deaths in mass disasters* Identifies unknown dead* Other functions depending on local laws... |
Rick Stumpff | 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... |
| Northern Road Commissioner - District A | James Gold | 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... |
| Presiding Commissioner 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... |
Dennis Wood | 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... |
| Prosecuting Attorney | Matt Selby | 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... |
| 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..... |
Glenda Wendy Metcalf | 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... |
| 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:... |
Amy Jo Larson | 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... |
| 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.... |
Richard Hill | 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... |
| Surveyor County surveyor 1. A county surveyor is a public official in many counties of the USA. At the bottom of this page are working "External Links" as at 4 November 2011 to websites of a selection of such County Surveyor's departments. Most of these officials are elected on the partisan ballot to four-year terms... |
Rick Kemp | 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... |
| Southern Road Commissioner - District B | Stanley Potter | 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... |
| 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:... |
Kristi Stephens | 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... |
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... |
49.53% 8,043 | 47.46% 7,708 | 3.01% 489 |
| 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... |
67.23% 10,176 | 31.66% 4,791 | 1.11% 168 |
| 2000 | 60.91% 7,338 | 37.22% 4,484 | 1.87% 225 |
| 1996 | 58.55% 5,886 | 38.11% 3,831 | 3.34% 336 |
Stone County is divided into four 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 Republicans:
- District 62: State Representative Dennis F. Wood (R). In 2008, Wood defeated Democratic challenger Peter D. Tsahiridis with 73.12% of the total vote in the district to Tsahiridis's 26.88%; the Stone County precincts, however, backed Wood with 75.39% and gave Tsahiridis 24.61%.
- District 68: State Representative David Sater (R-Cassville). In 2008, Sater ran unopposed and was reelected with 100% of the vote.
- District 141: State Representative Jay Wasson (R-Nixa). In 2008, Wasson defeated Democratic challenger Ron Shawgo with 72.78% of the total vote in the district to Shawgo's 27.22%; the Stone County precincts, however, backed Wasson with 76.39% and gave Shawgo 23.61%.
- District 143: State Representative Maynard Wallace (R-Thornfield). In 2008, Wallace defeated Democratic challenger Cathy Hilliard with 67.66% of the total vote in the district to Hilliard's 32.34%; the Stone County precincts, however, backed Wallace with 68.35% and gave Hilliard 31.65%.
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...
, Stone County is a part of Missouri's 29th Senatorial District and is currently represented by Jack Goodman
Jack Goodman
Jack Goodman is a Republican member of the Missouri Senate, representing the 29th District since 2005. He is currently the Assistant Majority Floor Leader. Previously he was a member of the Missouri House of Representatives from 2003 through 2005....
(R-Mount Vernon). In 2008, Goodman ran unopposed and was reelected with 100% of the vote. The 29th District includes Barry
Barry County, Missouri
Barry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of 2010, the population was 35,597. Its county seat is Cassville. The county was organized in 1835 and named after William Taylor Barry from Kentucky, a United States Postmaster General....
, Lawrence, McDonald
McDonald County, Missouri
McDonald County is a county located in Southwest Missouri in the United States of America. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population was 23,083. Its county seat is Pineville...
, Ozark
Ozark County, Missouri
Ozark County is a county located in South Central Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 9,542. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 9,227. The largest city and county seat is Gainesville. From 1843 to 1845 the county was called...
, Stone, and Taney
Taney County, Missouri
Taney County is a county located in Southwest Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 39,703. In the 2010 census the counties population was 51,675 Its county seat is Forsyth....
counties in Southwest Missouri.
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...
, Democratic Governor Governor 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:...
solidly defeated Republican 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 :...
with 58.40 percent of the total statewide vote. While Nixon performed extremely well and won many of the rural counties in the state, Stone County was not one of them. Hulshof narrowly won Stone County with 49.53 percent while Nixon received 47.46 percent of the vote. Outside of Greene County
Greene County, Missouri
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...
which contains Springfield, it was one of Nixon's better showing in Southwest Missouri.
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...
, Stone County is a part of Missouri's 7th Congressional District and is currently represented by Billy Long (R-Springfield).
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 | 67.78% 11,147 | 30.58% 5,029 | 1.64% 269 |
| 2004 | 69.35% 10,534 | 30.14% 4,578 | 0.51% 77 |
| 2000 | 64.13% 7,793 | 33.37% 4,055 | 2.50% 303 |
| 1996 | 51.40% 5,223 | 34.42% 3,497 | 14.18% 1,441 |
Like most counties situated in Southwest Missouri, Stone County is a Republican stronghold in presidential elections. 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....
carried Stone County in 2000
United States presidential election, 2000
The United States presidential election of 2000 was a contest between Republican candidate George W. Bush, then-governor of Texas and son of former president George H. W. Bush , and Democratic candidate Al Gore, then-Vice President....
and 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 more than two-to-one margins, and like many other rural counties throughout Missouri, Stone County strongly favored 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....
over 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...
in 2008
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
. No Democratic presidential nominee has won Stone County in over 50 years.
Like most rural areas throughout the Bible Belt in Southwest Missouri, voters in Stone County traditionally adhere to socially and culturally conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
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
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 Stone County with 79.87 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 failed in Stone County with 52.80 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
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...
. Despite Stone County’s longstanding tradition of supporting socially conservative platforms, voters in the county have a penchant for advancing populist
Populism
Populism can be defined as an ideology, political philosophy, or type of discourse. Generally, a common theme compares "the people" against "the elite", and urges social and political system changes. It can also be defined as a rhetorical style employed by members of various political or social...
causes like increasing 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 2006, Missourians voted on a proposition (Proposition B) to increase the minimum wage in the state to $6.50 an hour—it passed Stone County with 76.72 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
DemocraticFormer U.S. Senator and now Secretary of State
Secretary of State
Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
Hillary Rodham Clinton (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 Stone 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 61.76 percent of the vote while Obama received 35.17 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 2.16 percent of the vote in Stone County.
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...
.
Republican
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...
) won Stone County with 45.01 percent of the vote. U.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...
) finished in second place in Stone County with 31.82 percent. 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...
) came in third place, receiving 18.80 percent of the vote while 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 fourth with 2.74 percent in Stone 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.
- Mike Huckabee received more votes, a total of 2,528, than any candidate from either party in Stone County during the 2008 Missouri Presidential Primaries.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Stone County, Missouri
External links
- Digitized 1930 Plat Book of Stone 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 - http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/29/29209.html
- http://2010.census.gov/2010census/popmap/