Texas County, Missouri
Encyclopedia
Texas County is a county located in South Central Missouri
in the United States
. As of the 2010 census, the county's population was 26,008. It's county seat
is Houston
. The county was organized in 1843 as Ashley County, changing its name in 1845 to Texas, after the Republic of Texas
. The 2010 U.S. Census indicates it is the center of population for the United States.
A seat of justice for the county was laid out in 1846 near the center of the county on Brushy Creek and named Houston
for the first president of the Texas Republic. The present Texas County Courthouse, built in 1932, is the county's sixth. It was remodeled in 1977 and again in 2007.
Rugged hills, springs, creeks, rivers and caves abound in Texas County. The Native Americans were here in 1826. There have been many mounds found in the county as proof of Native Americans inhabitants. Native American paintings remain upon various bluffs over ancient campsites. The area was part of the 1808 Osage Native American land cession.
Pioneers came to Texas County in the 1820s from Virginia
, Kentucky
, Tennessee
and the Carolinas and set up sawmills along the Big Piney River. With plenty of water and among the pine timber, pioneers made a nice income rafting the timber down the Piney River toward St. Louis
. Some 48000 acres (194.2 km²) in the north and northwest part of the county is now part of the Mark Twain National Forest
, along with several acres in the southeast part of the county being part of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways Park. They homesteaded the fertile valleys and soon log cabins dotted various parts of the country. Small family farms are still a major part of the landscape of the county. The population of the first Federal Census of Texas County in 1850 was 2,312 citizens.
Life of the pioneer was happy and carefree; he knew nothing of food shortage, for he raised his own provisions, and with his trusty gun he could shoot various wild game. He hunted, trapped and sold furs to traveling buyers. Livestock was limited to razorback hogs and a few chickens. Horses were few and nearly everyone possessed a yoke of oxen. Farming has changed over the years. In the early 1900s farmers grew crops such as corn, wheat, oats, hay, a few cattle, hogs, etc. The 1990s found us to be a beef and dairy county along with the production of feeder pigs.
The American Civil War
period was a time of turmoil in Texas County. The populace was predominantly Southern
. The courthouse was occupied during the war by the Union Army as headquarters. Houston was an important place on the route from federal headquarters in Springfield
to headquarters in Rolla
. Some skirmishes were fought here. Confederate soldiers stormed the town, burning every building. Before the courthouse burnt, the Confederates loaded up all the county records, hauled them to a cave on Arthurs Creek, and kept them there, returning all the books safely, after the conflict was over.
Early social activities were confined to churchgoing when a preacher came to the community. Among the younger set, the amusements were old-time hoedowns, candy pulling, corn husking, barn warming, quilting bees, and log rolling. Arts and crafts have and continue to enter into the lives of many. People still gather for church activities, auctions, musicals, square dancing and sports of all kind. Like the early pioneers, today fishing and river floating are popular recreational activities in Texas County. Hunting is still enjoyed by many and Texas County is one of the leading counties statewide for deer and turkey.
or higher while 10.8% holds a bachelor's degree
or higher as their highest educational attainment.
of 2000, there were 23,003 people, 9,378 households, and 6,647 families residing in the county. The population density
was 21 people per square mile (8/km²). There were 9,378 housing units at an average density of 9 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.47% White, 0.21% Black or African American, 0.96% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races
, and 1.81% from two or more races. Approximately 0.96% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 9,378 households out of which 30.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.10% were married couples
living together, 8.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.10% were non-families. 26.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the county the population was spread out with 24.90% under the age of 18, 7.10% from 18 to 24, 24.90% from 25 to 44, 25.30% from 45 to 64, and 17.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 93.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $29,260, and the median income for a family was $34,503. Males had a median income of $25,071 versus $17,126 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $16,568. About 16.50% of families and 21.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.10% of those under age 18 and 17.20% of those age 65 or over.
with evangelical Protestantism being the majority religion. The most predominant denominations among residents in Texas County who adhere to a religion are Southern Baptists
(55.46%), Christian Churches & Churches of Christ (9.65%), and National Association of Free Will Baptists
(6.92%).
. In fact, all but six of Texas County's elected officeholders are Republicans.
Texas County is divided into two legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives
, both held by Republicans.
In the Missouri Senate
, all of Texas County is a part of Missouri's 33rd District and is currently represented by State Senator
Chuck Purgason
(R-Caulfield
). In 2008, Purgason defeated Eric Reeve (D) 67.31-32.69 percent in the district. The 33rd Senatorial District consists of Camden
, Howell
, Laclede
, Oregon
, Shannon
, Texas, and Wright
counties.
, Texas County is represented by Jo Ann Emerson
(R-Cape Girardeau) who represents all of Southeast Missouri as part of Missouri's 8th Congressional District.
At the presidential level, Texas County is a fairly Republican-leaning county. George W. Bush
carried Texas County by two-to-one margins in 2000
and 2004
. Bill Clinton
was the last Democratic presidential nominee to carry Texas County in 1992
, and like many of the rural counties throughout Missouri, Texas County strongly favored John McCain
over Barack Obama
in 2008
.
Like most rural areas throughout Southeast Missouri, voters in Texas County generally adhere to socially and culturally conservative
principles which tend to 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 Texas County with 85.63 percent of the vote. The initiative passed the state with 71 percent of support from voters as Missouri became the first state to ban same-sex marriage
. In 2006, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to fund and legalize embryonic stem cell research in the state
—it failed in Texas County with 61.13 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 Texas 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 Texas County with 72.03 percent of the vote. The proposition strongly passed every single county in Missouri with 78.99 percent voting in favor as the minimum wage was increased to $6.50 an hour in the state. During the same election, voters in five other states also strongly approved increases in the minimum wage.
Missouri
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 census, the county's population was 26,008. It's 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 Houston
Houston, Missouri
Houston is a city in Texas County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,992 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Texas County.-Geography:...
. The county was organized in 1843 as Ashley County, changing its name in 1845 to Texas, after the Republic of Texas
Republic of Texas
The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...
. The 2010 U.S. Census indicates it is the center of population for the United States.
History
When formed in 1843, Texas County was named after William H. Ashley, the first lieutenant governor of Missouri, but when the county was officially organized on February 14, 1845, it was renamed for the Republic of Texas.A seat of justice for the county was laid out in 1846 near the center of the county on Brushy Creek and named Houston
Houston, Missouri
Houston is a city in Texas County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,992 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Texas County.-Geography:...
for the first president of the Texas Republic. The present Texas County Courthouse, built in 1932, is the county's sixth. It was remodeled in 1977 and again in 2007.
Rugged hills, springs, creeks, rivers and caves abound in Texas County. The Native Americans were here in 1826. There have been many mounds found in the county as proof of Native Americans inhabitants. Native American paintings remain upon various bluffs over ancient campsites. The area was part of the 1808 Osage Native American land cession.
Pioneers came to Texas County in the 1820s from Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, 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...
, 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...
and the Carolinas and set up sawmills along the Big Piney River. With plenty of water and among the pine timber, pioneers made a nice income rafting the timber down the Piney River toward 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...
. Some 48000 acres (194.2 km²) in the north and northwest part of the county is now part of the Mark Twain National Forest
Mark Twain National Forest
Mark Twain National Forest is a U.S. National Forest located in the southern half of Missouri. MTNF was established on September 11, 1939. It is named for author Mark Twain, a Missouri native. The MTNF covers approximately 1.5 million acres , 78,000 acres of which are Wilderness, and National...
, along with several acres in the southeast part of the county being part of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways Park. They homesteaded the fertile valleys and soon log cabins dotted various parts of the country. Small family farms are still a major part of the landscape of the county. The population of the first Federal Census of Texas County in 1850 was 2,312 citizens.
Life of the pioneer was happy and carefree; he knew nothing of food shortage, for he raised his own provisions, and with his trusty gun he could shoot various wild game. He hunted, trapped and sold furs to traveling buyers. Livestock was limited to razorback hogs and a few chickens. Horses were few and nearly everyone possessed a yoke of oxen. Farming has changed over the years. In the early 1900s farmers grew crops such as corn, wheat, oats, hay, a few cattle, hogs, etc. The 1990s found us to be a beef and dairy county along with the production of feeder pigs.
The American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
period was a time of turmoil in Texas County. The populace was predominantly Southern
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
. The courthouse was occupied during the war by the Union Army as headquarters. Houston was an important place on the route from federal headquarters in Springfield
Springfield, Missouri
Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...
to headquarters in Rolla
Rolla, Missouri
Rolla is a city in Phelps County, Missouri, United States, midway between the larger cities of St. Louis and Springfield along I-44. The population in the 2010 United States Census was 19,559.It is the county seat of Phelps County...
. Some skirmishes were fought here. Confederate soldiers stormed the town, burning every building. Before the courthouse burnt, the Confederates loaded up all the county records, hauled them to a cave on Arthurs Creek, and kept them there, returning all the books safely, after the conflict was over.
Early social activities were confined to churchgoing when a preacher came to the community. Among the younger set, the amusements were old-time hoedowns, candy pulling, corn husking, barn warming, quilting bees, and log rolling. Arts and crafts have and continue to enter into the lives of many. People still gather for church activities, auctions, musicals, square dancing and sports of all kind. Like the early pioneers, today fishing and river floating are popular recreational activities in Texas County. Hunting is still enjoyed by many and Texas County is one of the leading counties statewide for deer and turkey.
Education
Of adults 25 years of age and older in Texas County, 71.4% 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 10.8% 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
- Cabool R-IV School District - CaboolCabool, MissouriCabool is a city in Texas County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2,146 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Cabool has a total area of , of which is land and is water.- Origin of name :...
- Cabool Elementary School (PK-04)
- Cabool Middle School (05-08)
- Cabool High School (09-12)
- Houston R-I School District - HoustonHouston, MissouriHouston is a city in Texas County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,992 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Texas County.-Geography:...
- Houston Elementary School (PK-05)
- Houston Middle School (06-08)
- Houston High School (09-12)
- Licking R-VIII School District - LickingLicking, MissouriLicking is a city located in Texas County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,471 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Licking is located at...
- Licking Elementary School (PK-06)
- Licking High School (07-12)
- Plato R-V School District - PlatoPlato, MissouriPlato is an incorporated village in northwestern Texas County, Missouri, United States. It is located about twenty miles northwest of Houston, Missouri and ten miles south of Fort Leonard Wood on Route 32. Plato had an estimated population of 1,430 in 2000....
- Plato Elementary School (PK-05)
- Plato High School (06-12)
- Raymondville R-VII School District - RaymondvilleRaymondville, MissouriRaymondville is a village in Texas County, Missouri, United States. The population was 442 at the 2000 census, at which time it was a town.-Geography:Raymondville is located at ....
- Raymondville Elementary School (PK-08)
- Success R-VI School District - SuccessSuccess, MissouriSuccess is an unincorporated community in Texas County, Missouri, United States. It is located about twelve miles northwest of Houston at the southern intersection of Routes 17 and 32. The community was founded in 1883 and was originally known as Wye City. The Success R-VI School District has a...
- Success Elementary School (K-08)
- Summersville R-II School District - SummersvilleSummersville, MissouriSummersville is a city in Shannon and Texas counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population was 544 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Summersville is located at ....
- Summersville Elementary School (K-06)
- Summersville High School (07-12)
Private Schools
- Wellspring Christian School - HoustonHouston, MissouriHouston is a city in Texas County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,992 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Texas County.-Geography:...
- (05-08) - 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
- Exceptional Child Cooperative - HoustonHouston, MissouriHouston is a city in Texas County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,992 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Texas County.-Geography:...
- (K-12) - Special Education - Gentry Residential Treatment Facility - CaboolCabool, MissouriCabool is a city in Texas County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2,146 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Cabool has a total area of , of which is land and is water.- Origin of name :...
(06-12) - Alternative
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 1179.24 square miles (3,054.2 km²), the largest county in Missouri, of which 1178.54 square miles (3,052.4 km²) (or 99.94%) is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) (or 0.06%) is water.Adjacent counties
- Pulaski CountyPulaski County, MissouriPulaski County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. The county was organized in 1833 and named for Kazimierz Pułaski, Polish patriot who died fighting in the American Revolution. As of 2010, the population was 52,274, an increase of 27% from the 2000 Census count of 41,165. Its...
(north) - Phelps CountyPhelps County, MissouriPhelps County is a county located in south-central Missouri in the United States.According to the U.S. Census Bureau, it includes the mean center of U.S. population in 2000. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 39,825. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 42,205....
(north) - Dent CountyDent County, MissouriDent 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 14,927. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 15,119. The largest city and county seat is Salem...
(northeast) - Shannon CountyShannon County, MissouriShannon County is a county located in South Central Missouri in the United States, and the second-largest by area in Missouri. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 8,324. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 8,423. Its county seat is Eminence. The county was...
(east) - Howell CountyHowell County, MissouriHowell County is a county located in South Central Missouri in the United States. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county's population was 40,400. The largest city and county seat is West Plains...
(south) - Douglas CountyDouglas County, MissouriDouglas County is a county located in South Central Missouri in the United States. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county's population was 13,684. The largest city and county seat is Ava. The county was officially organized on October 29, 1857, and is named after U.S. Senator Stephen A...
(southwest) - Wright CountyWright County, MissouriWright County is a county located in South Central Missouri in the United States. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county's population was 18,815. Its county seat is Hartville. The county was officially organized on January 29, 1841, and is named after Silas Wright , a former Congressman, U.S...
(west) - Laclede CountyLaclede County, MissouriLaclede County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of 2000, the population was 32,513. Its county seat is Lebanon. The county was organized February 24, 1849, and was named after Pierre Laclède, founder of St...
(northwest)
Major highways
U.S. Route 60
U.S. Route 63
Route 17
Route 32
Route 38
Route 137
National protected areas
- Mark Twain National ForestMark Twain National ForestMark Twain National Forest is a U.S. National Forest located in the southern half of Missouri. MTNF was established on September 11, 1939. It is named for author Mark Twain, a Missouri native. The MTNF covers approximately 1.5 million acres , 78,000 acres of which are Wilderness, and National...
(part) - Ozark National Scenic RiverwaysOzark National Scenic RiverwaysThe Ozark National Scenic Riverways is a national park in the Ozarks of southern Missouri in the U.S..The park was created by an Act of Congress in 1964 to protect the Current and Jacks Fork rivers, and it was formally dedicated in 1971. The park's are used for many forms of recreation and are...
(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 23,003 people, 9,378 households, and 6,647 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 21 people per square mile (8/km²). There were 9,378 housing units at an average density of 9 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.47% White, 0.21% Black or African American, 0.96% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.19% 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 1.81% from two or more races. Approximately 0.96% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 9,378 households out of which 30.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.10% 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, 8.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.10% were non-families. 26.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the county the population was spread out with 24.90% under the age of 18, 7.10% from 18 to 24, 24.90% from 25 to 44, 25.30% from 45 to 64, and 17.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 93.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $29,260, and the median income for a family was $34,503. Males had a median income of $25,071 versus $17,126 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 $16,568. About 16.50% of families and 21.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.10% of those under age 18 and 17.20% of those age 65 or over.
Cities and towns
|
Elk Creek, Missouri Elk Creek is an unincorporated community in Texas County, Missouri, United States. It is about nine miles south of Houston.... Ellis Prairie, Missouri Ellis Prairie is an unincorporated community in Texas County, Missouri, United States. It is located about eight miles northwest of Houston. Its post office is closed, mail now comes from nearby Bucyrus.... Eunice, Missouri Eunice is an unincorporated community in southeastern Texas County, Missouri, United States. It is about ten miles southeast of Houston on Route 17.... Hartshorn, Missouri Hartshorn is an unincorporated community in eastern Texas County, Missouri, United States. It is located about six miles north of Summersville and seventeen miles east of Houston, United States.... |
Houston, Missouri Houston is a city in Texas County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,992 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Texas County.-Geography:... Huggins, Missouri Huggins is an unincorporated community in western Texas County, Missouri, United States, about thirteen miles west of Houston. It is located on Route M about two miles north of Route 38 near Bendavis.... Kimble, Missouri Kimble is an unincorporated community in northern Texas County, Missouri, United States. It is just east of U.S. Route 63 about six miles north of Licking. Its post office is closed, mail is now from Licking.... Licking, Missouri Licking is a city located in Texas County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,471 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Licking is located at... |
Maples, Missouri Maples is an unincorporated community in northeastern Texas County, Missouri, United States. It is located about seven miles northeast of Licking. It formerly had a post office, which has now been closed and mail is now served by the office in Licking.... Mountain Grove, Missouri Mountain Grove is a city in Texas and Wright Counties in the U.S. state of Missouri, located in south central Missouri. The population was 4,574 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Mountain Grove is located at... Plato, Missouri Plato is an incorporated village in northwestern Texas County, Missouri, United States. It is located about twenty miles northwest of Houston, Missouri and ten miles south of Fort Leonard Wood on Route 32. Plato had an estimated population of 1,430 in 2000.... Raymondville, Missouri Raymondville is a village in Texas County, Missouri, United States. The population was 442 at the 2000 census, at which time it was a town.-Geography:Raymondville is located at .... |
Roby, Missouri Roby is an unincorporated community in northwestern Texas County, Missouri, United States. It is located about sixteen miles northwest of Houston and ten miles south of Fort Leonard Wood at the northern junction of Routes 17 and 32... Sherrill, Missouri Sherrill is an unincorporated community in northern Texas County, Missouri, United States. It is about six miles north of Licking and is located just west of U.S. Route 63. Its post office has closed and mail now comes from nearby Licking. The community was founded in 1874 and is named for... Solo, Missouri Solo is an unincorporated community in Texas County, Missouri, United States. It is about six miles south of Houston. It was so named for being a lonely place.... Success, Missouri Success is an unincorporated community in Texas County, Missouri, United States. It is located about twelve miles northwest of Houston at the southern intersection of Routes 17 and 32. The community was founded in 1883 and was originally known as Wye City. The Success R-VI School District has a... |
Summersville, Missouri Summersville is a city in Shannon and Texas counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population was 544 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Summersville is located at .... Upton, Missouri Upton is an unincorporated community in western Texas County, Missouri, United States. It is located about ten miles west of Houston. Its post office is closed, mail is now served by the post office in Plato.... Yukon, Missouri Yukon is an unincorporated community in eastern Texas County, Missouri, United States. It is located at the junction of Route 17 and Route 137 about nine miles east of Houston. The community was founded in 1900 and is named after the Gold rush in the Yukon that occurred in 1898-1899. Its post... |
Religion
According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2000), Texas County is a part of the Bible BeltBible Belt
Bible Belt is an informal term for a region in the southeastern and south-central United States in which socially conservative evangelical Protestantism is a significant part of the culture and Christian church attendance across the denominations is generally higher than the nation's average.The...
with evangelical Protestantism being the majority religion. The most predominant denominations among residents in Texas County who adhere to a religion are Southern Baptists
Southern Baptist Convention
The 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...
(55.46%), Christian Churches & Churches of Christ (9.65%), and National Association of Free Will Baptists
National Association of Free Will Baptists
The National Association of Free Will Baptists is a national body of Free Will Baptist churches in the United States and Canada, organized on November 5, 1935 in Nashville, Tennessee...
(6.92%).
Local
Politics at the local level in Texas County is controlled by the Republican 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...
. In fact, all but six of Texas County's elected officeholders are Republicans.
| Office | Incumbent | Party |
|---|---|---|
| Assessor | Debbie James | 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 | Susan Warkentin | 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 | Marci Mosley | 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... |
| County Clerk | Donald "Don" R. Troutman | 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... |
| Commissioner – District 1 | John Casey | 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 – District 2 | Linda L. Garrett | 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 | Thomas C. Whittaker | 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... |
| Presiding Commissioner | Fred W. Stenger | 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 | Mike Anderson | 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 | Theresa Campbell | 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 | Carl Watson | 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... |
| Surveyor | Louie Carmack, Jr. | 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 & Ex Officio Collector | Tammy Cantrell | 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... |
43.40% 4,688 | 54.14% 5,848 | 2.46% 265 |
| 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... |
60.32% 6,644 | 37.92% 4,177 | 1.76% 193 |
| 2000 | 50.73% 5,030 | 47.49% 4,709 | 1.78% 176 |
| 1996 | 48.50% 4,558 | 48.19% 4,528 | 3.31% 311 |
Texas County is divided into two 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...
, both held by Republicans.
- District 144 - Currently represented by Tony Dugger (R-HartvilleHartville, MissouriHartville is a city in Wright County, Missouri, United States. The population was 607 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Wright County.-Geography:Hartville is located at , along the Woods Fork of the Gasconade River...
) and consists of some of the eastern portions of the county. In 2010, Dugger ran unopposed and was reelected with 100 percent of the vote.
- District 147 – Currently represented by Don Wells (R-CaboolCabool, MissouriCabool is a city in Texas County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2,146 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Cabool has a total area of , of which is land and is water.- Origin of name :...
) and consists of most of the entire county, including Cabool, Houston, Licking, Raymondville, and Summersville. In 2010, Wells ran unopposed and was reelected with 100 percent of the vote.
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...
, all of Texas County is a part of Missouri's 33rd District and is currently represented by State Senator
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...
Chuck Purgason
Chuck Purgason
Chuck Purgason is a Republican Missouri politician. A member of the Missouri Senate since 2004, he was an unsuccessful candidate for United States Senate in 2010 losing the Republican primary to then-U.S. Congressman Roy Blunt....
(R-Caulfield
Caulfield, Missouri
Caulfield is an unincorporated community in western Howell County, Missouri, United States. It is located on U.S. Highway 160 about fifteen miles west of West Plains. The community was founded in 1930 and is named after Missouri governor Henry Stewart Caulfield, who took office in 1929.On March...
). In 2008, Purgason defeated Eric Reeve (D) 67.31-32.69 percent in the district. The 33rd Senatorial District consists of Camden
Camden County, Missouri
Camden County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of 2000, the population was 37,051. Its county seat is Camdenton. The county was organized in 1841 as Kinderhook County and renamed in 1843, for Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden, Chancellor of England, and leader of the Whig...
, Howell
Howell County, Missouri
Howell County is a county located in South Central Missouri in the United States. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county's population was 40,400. The largest city and county seat is West Plains...
, Laclede
Laclede County, Missouri
Laclede County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of 2000, the population was 32,513. Its county seat is Lebanon. The county was organized February 24, 1849, and was named after Pierre Laclède, founder of St...
, Oregon
Oregon County, Missouri
Oregon 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 10,344. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 10,264. Its county seat is Alton...
, Shannon
Shannon County, Missouri
Shannon County is a county located in South Central Missouri in the United States, and the second-largest by area in Missouri. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 8,324. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 8,423. Its county seat is Eminence. The county was...
, Texas, and Wright
Wright County, Missouri
Wright County is a county located in South Central Missouri in the United States. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county's population was 18,815. Its county seat is Hartville. The county was officially organized on January 29, 1841, and is named after Silas Wright , a former Congressman, U.S...
counties.
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...
, Texas County is represented by Jo Ann Emerson
Jo Ann Emerson
Jo Ann Emerson is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1996. The district consists of Southeast and South Central Missouri and includes the Bootheel, the Lead Belt and the Ozarks. Emerson is a member of the Republican Party....
(R-Cape Girardeau) who represents all of Southeast Missouri as part of Missouri's 8th 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 | 66.49% 7,215 | 31.43% 3,410 | 2.08% 226 |
| 2004 | 65.66% 7,234 | 33.25% 3,664 | 1.09% 120 |
| 2000 | 61.78% 6,136 | 35.10% 3,486 | 3.12% 310 |
| 1996 | 43.06% 4,065 | 41.28% 3,897 | 15.66% 1,478 |
At the presidential level, Texas County is a fairly Republican-leaning county. 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 Texas County by two-to-one margins 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...
. 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...
was the last Democratic presidential nominee to carry Texas County in 1992
United States presidential election, 1992
The United States presidential election of 1992 had three major candidates: Incumbent Republican President George Bush; Democratic Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton, and independent Texas businessman Ross Perot....
, and like many of the rural counties throughout Missouri, Texas 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...
.
Like most rural areas throughout Southeast Missouri, voters in Texas County generally 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 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 Texas County with 85.63 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 failed in Texas County with 61.13 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 Texas 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 Texas County with 72.03 percent of the vote. The proposition strongly passed every single county in Missouri with 78.99 percent voting in favor as the minimum wage was increased to $6.50 an hour in the state. During the same election, voters in five other states also strongly approved increases in the minimum wage.
Missouri Presidential Preference Primary (2008)
In the 2008 Missouri Presidential Preference Primary, voters in Texas County from both political parties supported candidates who finished in second place in the state at large and nationally.- Former U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham ClintonHillary Rodham ClintonHillary 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 YorkNew YorkNew 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...
) received more votes, a total of 1,858, than any candidate from either party in Texas County during the 2008 Missouri Presidential Preference Primary.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Texas County, Missouri
External links
- Digitized 1930 Plat Book of Texas 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