Wayne County, Missouri
Encyclopedia
Wayne County is a county located in the Ozark Foothills Region of Southeast Missouri
in the United States
. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the population was 13,259. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 12,652. The county seat
is Greenville
. The county was officially organized on December 11, 1818, and is named after General "Mad" Anthony Wayne
who served in the American Revolutionary War
.
and Lawrence counties and thus predates the state of Missouri
being admitted to the Union. In March 1819, Congress established the Territory of Arkansas
and most of Lawrence County, Missouri Territory became Lawrence County, Arkansas Territory. The small strip of “Old Lawrence County” that had been orphaned in Missouri was added to Wayne County by the Missouri State Constitution of 1820. The Osage Strip along the Kansas
border was added in 1825. From 1825-1831, Wayne County was an enormous area larger than Massachusetts
, Connecticut
, Rhode Island
, and Delaware
combined. All or part of 32 counties in Missouri were at one point part of Wayne County.
When Wayne County was formed, five commissioners were appointed to govern the county. They chose a small settlement known locally as Cedar Cabin located on the St. Francis River to be the county seat and named it Greenville
. In 1900, Greenville had a population of about 1,000. By 1940, the population had declined to 572. The town was relocated by the construction of Lake Wappapello in 1941 and the new town only had a population of 270 in 1950. Today, approximately 450 people call Greenville home.
The Wayne County Courthouse burned in 1854. The records in the new courthouse were stolen in 1866 and in 1892 the courthouse burned again. In the Census of 1820, the large area of Wayne County had a population of only 1,239 Whites and 204 slaves
.
or higher while 6.8% had a bachelor's degree
or higher as their highest educational attainment.
with evangelical Protestantism being the majority religion. The most predominant denominations among residents in Wayne County who adhere to a religion are Southern Baptists
(62.76%), Methodists
(10.08%), and Roman Catholics (7.07%).
of 2000, there were 13,259 people, 5,551 households, and 3,841 families residing in the county. The population density
was 17 people per square mile (7/km²). There were 7,496 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.68% White, 0.17% Black or African American, 0.58% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.08% from other races
, and 1.36% from two or more races. 0.49% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. The most common first ancestries reported in Wayne County were 32.9% American
, 15.0% German, 11.9% English
, 11.7% Irish
, 3.0% French
(excluding Basque
), 2.0% Dutch
and 2.0% Italian
, according to Census 2000.
There were 5,551 households out of which 27.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.20% were married couples
living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.80% were non-families. 27.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the county the population was spread out with 23.20% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 23.50% from 25 to 44, 26.80% from 45 to 64, and 19.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 98.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $29,166, and the median income for a family was $34,727. Males had a median income of $26,241 versus $17,232 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $16,852. About 17.90% of families and 21.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.70% of those under age 18 and 15.60% of those age 65 or over.
As of 2008, the unemployment rate in Wayne County is 7.0%.
. In fact, all but four of Wayne County's elected officeholders are Democrats.
Wayne County is divided among three legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives
.
In the Missouri Senate
, all of Wayne County is a part of Missouri's 25th District and is currently represented by State Senator
Rob Mayer (R-Dexter). In 2008, Mayer defeated M. Shane Stoelting (D) 65.32%-34.68% in the district. The 25th Senatorial District consists of Butler
, Dunklin
, New Madrid
, Pemiscot
, Ripley
, Stoddard
, and Wayne counties.
, Wayne 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, Wayne County is a fairly independent county or battleground. Unlike many rural counties which are Republican strongholds, voters in Wayne County have seldom been lockstep in their tendencies. While George W. Bush
carried Wayne County both times in 2000
and 2004
, Bill Clinton
also carried the county both times in 1992
and 1996
. Like many rural counties in Missouri in 2008
, voters in Wayne County favored John McCain
over Barack Obama
.
However, like most rural areas, voters in Wayne County generally adhere to socially and culturally conservative
principles and therefore have a slight tendency to vote Republican. In 2004, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman
—it overwhelmingly passed Wayne County with 87.75 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 Wayne County with 55.15 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 Wayne 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 Wayne County with 77.36 percent of the vote. The proposition strongly passed every single county in Missouri with 75.94 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 2000 U.S. Census, the population was 13,259. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 12,652. The 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 Greenville
Greenville, Missouri
Greenville is a small, fourth-class city located on U.S. Highway 67 near the intersection with Route D and E in Wayne County, Missouri in the United States along the St. Francis River. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the city's population was 451; a 2003 estimate, however, showed the population to be 444...
. The county was officially organized on December 11, 1818, and is named after General "Mad" Anthony Wayne
Anthony Wayne
Anthony Wayne was a United States Army general and statesman. Wayne adopted a military career at the outset of the American Revolutionary War, where his military exploits and fiery personality quickly earned him a promotion to the rank of brigadier general and the sobriquet of Mad Anthony.-Early...
who served in the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
.
History
Wayne County was created in December 1818 by the last Missouri Territorial Legislature out of parts of Cape GirardeauCape Girardeau County, Missouri
Cape Girardeau County is a county located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county's population was 75,764. While the largest city in the county is Cape Girardeau, the county seat is actually Jackson, which was the first city named in honor of President...
and Lawrence counties and thus predates the state of Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
being admitted to the Union. In March 1819, Congress established the Territory of 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...
and most of Lawrence County, Missouri Territory became Lawrence County, Arkansas Territory. The small strip of “Old Lawrence County” that had been orphaned in Missouri was added to Wayne County by the Missouri State Constitution of 1820. The Osage Strip along the Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
border was added in 1825. From 1825-1831, Wayne County was an enormous area larger than 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...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
, and Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
combined. All or part of 32 counties in Missouri were at one point part of Wayne County.
When Wayne County was formed, five commissioners were appointed to govern the county. They chose a small settlement known locally as Cedar Cabin located on the St. Francis River to be the county seat and named it Greenville
Greenville, Missouri
Greenville is a small, fourth-class city located on U.S. Highway 67 near the intersection with Route D and E in Wayne County, Missouri in the United States along the St. Francis River. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the city's population was 451; a 2003 estimate, however, showed the population to be 444...
. In 1900, Greenville had a population of about 1,000. By 1940, the population had declined to 572. The town was relocated by the construction of Lake Wappapello in 1941 and the new town only had a population of 270 in 1950. Today, approximately 450 people call Greenville home.
The Wayne County Courthouse burned in 1854. The records in the new courthouse were stolen in 1866 and in 1892 the courthouse burned again. In the Census of 1820, the large area of Wayne County had a population of only 1,239 Whites and 204 slaves
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
.
Education
Of all adults 25 years of age and older in Wayne County, 59.7% possessed 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 6.8% had 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
- Clearwater R-I School District - PiedmontPiedmont, MissouriPiedmont is a fourth-class city located in northwestern Wayne County in Southeast Missouri in the United States. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, the city's population was 1,992; a 2007 estimate, however, showed the population to be 1,913. A part of the Ozarks Foothills Region, Piedmont is...
- Clearwater Elementary School (PK-04)
- Clearwater Middle School (05-08)
- Clearwater High School (09-12)
- Greenville R-II School District - GreenvilleGreenville, MissouriGreenville is a small, fourth-class city located on U.S. Highway 67 near the intersection with Route D and E in Wayne County, Missouri in the United States along the St. Francis River. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the city's population was 451; a 2003 estimate, however, showed the population to be 444...
- Williamsville Elementary School (PK-06) - WilliamsvilleWilliamsville, MissouriMayor- The Honorable Angie SmithWilliamsville is a city in Wayne County, Missouri, United States, along the Black River. The population was 379 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Williamsville is located at ....
- Greenville Elementary School (PK-06)
- Greenville Jr. High School (07-08)
- Greenville High School (09-12)
- Williamsville Elementary School (PK-06) - Williamsville
Private Schools
- Victory Baptist Academy - PiedmontPiedmont, MissouriPiedmont is a fourth-class city located in northwestern Wayne County in Southeast Missouri in the United States. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, the city's population was 1,992; a 2007 estimate, however, showed the population to be 1,913. A part of the Ozarks Foothills Region, Piedmont is...
- (PK-11) - BaptistBaptistBaptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
Religion
According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2000), Wayne 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 Wayne 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...
(62.76%), Methodists
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
(10.08%), and Roman Catholics (7.07%).
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 774.09 square miles (2,004.9 km²), of which 761.03 square miles (1,971.1 km²) (or 98.31%) is land and 13.05 square miles (33.8 km²) (or 1.69%) is water.Adjacent counties
- Madison CountyMadison County, MissouriMadison County is a county located in the Lead Belt region in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 11,800. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 12,276. Its county seat and largest city is Fredericktown...
(north) - Bollinger CountyBollinger County, MissouriBollinger County is a county located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county's population was 12,363; despite a 2009 estimate that showed the population to be 11,841. The county seat is Marble Hill, which is the only city in Bollinger County...
(east) - Stoddard CountyStoddard County, MissouriStoddard County is a county located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the population was 29,705. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 29,537. The county seat is Bloomfield while the largest city in the county is Dexter...
(southeast) - Butler CountyButler County, MissouriButler County is a county located in the southeast Ozark Foothills Region in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county's population was 42,794. The largest city and county seat is Poplar Bluff. The county was officially organized from Wayne County on February...
(south) - Carter CountyCarter County, MissouriCarter County is a county located in the central western portion of the Ozark Foothills Region in Southeast Missouri in the United States. The county was officially organized on March 10, 1859, and is named after Zimri A. Carter, a pioneer settler who came to Missouri from South Carolina in 1812. ...
(southwest) - Reynolds CountyReynolds County, MissouriReynolds County is a county located in the northwestern portion of the Ozark Foothills Region in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 6,689. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 6,388. Its county seat is Centerville...
(west) - Iron CountyIron County, MissouriIron County is a county located in the Lead Belt region in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 10,697. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 9,918. The largest city and county seat is Ironton...
(northwest)
Major highways
U.S. Route 67
Route 34
Route 49
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) - Mingo National Wildlife RefugeMingo National Wildlife RefugeThe Mingo National Wildlife Refuge is a 21,676 acre National Wildlife Refuge located in northwestern Stoddard and southeastern Wayne counties in Missouri. Its southwesternmost portion lies on the shores of Lake Wappapello...
(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 13,259 people, 5,551 households, and 3,841 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 17 people per square mile (7/km²). There were 7,496 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.68% White, 0.17% Black or African American, 0.58% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.08% 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 1.36% from two or more races. 0.49% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. The most common first ancestries reported in Wayne County were 32.9% American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 15.0% German, 11.9% 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...
, 11.7% 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...
, 3.0% French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
(excluding Basque
Basque people
The Basques as an ethnic group, primarily inhabit an area traditionally known as the Basque Country , a region that is located around the western end of the Pyrenees on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and straddles parts of north-central Spain and south-western France.The Basques are known in the...
), 2.0% Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
and 2.0% Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
, according to Census 2000.
There were 5,551 households out of which 27.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.20% 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, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.80% were non-families. 27.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the county the population was spread out with 23.20% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 23.50% from 25 to 44, 26.80% from 45 to 64, and 19.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 98.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $29,166, and the median income for a family was $34,727. Males had a median income of $26,241 versus $17,232 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 $16,852. About 17.90% of families and 21.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.70% of those under age 18 and 15.60% of those age 65 or over.
As of 2008, the unemployment rate in Wayne County is 7.0%.
Cities and towns
|
Leeper, Missouri Leeper is an unincorporated community in southwestern Wayne County, Missouri, United States. It is located about seven miles south of Piedmont at the intersection of Route 34 and Route 49. Its post office has closed and mail now comes from Piedmont.- History :Leeper is named after Union Captain... Lodi, Missouri Lodi is an unincorporated community in Wayne County, Missouri, United States. It is located on U.S. Route 67 about thirteen miles northeast of Piedmont. The community was founded in 1893 and is named after Lodi, Italy.-Attractions:... Lowndes, Missouri Lowndes is an unincorporated community in eastern Wayne County, Missouri, United States. It is located about twenty miles southeast of Marble Hill along State Highway E. The ZIP Code is 63951.-Notable residents:... McGee, Missouri McGee is an unincorporated community in eastern Wayne County, Missouri, United States. It is located twenty-three miles northeast of Poplar Bluff in the Mark Twain National Forest. The zip code is 63763. The elevation is .... |
Mill Spring, Missouri Mill Spring is a village in Wayne County, Missouri, United States, along the Black River. The population was 219 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Mill Spring is located at .... Patterson, Missouri Patterson is an unincorporated community in Wayne County, Missouri, United States. It is located about seven miles east of Piedmont on Route 34.... Piedmont, Missouri Piedmont is a fourth-class city located in northwestern Wayne County in Southeast Missouri in the United States. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, the city's population was 1,992; a 2007 estimate, however, showed the population to be 1,913. A part of the Ozarks Foothills Region, Piedmont is... Shook, Missouri Shook is an unincorporated community in Wayne County, Missouri, United States named for George Shook in the year 1900. It is located about sixteen miles north of Poplar Bluff.... |
Silva, Missouri Silva is an unincorporated community in Wayne County, Missouri, United States. It is located on U.S. Route 67 about thirteen miles east of Piedmont. The community was founded in 1909 and was named after a woman named 'Sylvia', a friend of the postmistress... Wappapello, Missouri Wappapello is an unincorporated community in southeastern Wayne County, Missouri, United States. It is located about thirteen miles northeast of Poplar Bluff next to Lake Wappapello. The community was founded in 1884 and named for a Native American chieftain.... Williamsville, Missouri Mayor- The Honorable Angie SmithWilliamsville is a city in Wayne County, Missouri, United States, along the Black River. The population was 379 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Williamsville is located at .... |
Local
Politics at the local level in Wayne County is mostly controlled by the Democratic PartyDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. In fact, all but four of Wayne County's elected officeholders are Democrats.
| Office | Incumbent | Party |
|---|---|---|
| Assessor | Frances K. Huitt | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
| Circuit Clerk | Darren T. Garrison | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
| Clerk | Alan R. Lutes | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
| Collector | Mary VanNoy-Hampton | 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 – Eastern District | Bill Hovis | 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 – Western District | Chad Henson | 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 | Gary Umfleet | 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 | Brian M. Polk | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
| Prosecuting Attorney | Robert M. Ramshur | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
| Public Administrator | Donna Eads | 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 | Charity Barks | 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 | Phillip P. Burton | 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 | Carol Hale | 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... |
44.62% 2,727 | 53.49% 3,269 | 1.88% 115 |
| 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... |
58.84% 3,649 | 39.86% 2,472 | 1.31% 81 |
| 2000 | 51.84% 3,008 | 46.25% 2,684 | 1.92% 111 |
| 1996 | 42.84% 2,421 | 55.11% 3,114 | 2.05% 116 |
Wayne County is divided among three 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...
.
- District 153 – Currently represented by Mike Dethrow (R-AltonAlton, MissouriAlton is the county seat of Oregon County, Missouri, United States. The population was 668 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Alton is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land....
) and consists of the southwestern corner of Wayne County south of Piedmont and includes Mill Spring and Williamsville. Dethrow is term limited and is finishing out his last term. He will be succeeded by fellow Republican Steve Cookson in the next legislative session in January 2011.
- District 156 – Currently represented by Shelley Keeney (R-Marble HillMarble Hill, MissouriMarble Hill is a fourth-class city in central Bollinger County in Southeast Missouri in the United States. Located at the intersection of State Highway 34 and State Highway 51, it is the largest city in Bollinger and serves as the county seat . The population was 1,502 at the 2000 census...
) and consists of most of the northern parts of the county and includes Greenville, Lowndes, and Piedmont. In 2010, Keeney ran unopposed and was reelected with 100 percent of the vote.
- District 159 – Currently represented by http://www.house.missouri.gov/member.aspx?year=2009&district=159Billy Pat WrightBilly Pat WrightBilly Pat Wright is an American, former real estate agent, former rancher, and a Republican member of the Missouri House of Representatives. He has represented the 159th district, which includes parts of Stoddard County, Cape Girardeau County, and Wayne County, since 2005...
(R-DexterDexter, Missouri-Government:* Mayor: Joe Weber* City Administrator: Mark Stidham* Aldermen:* Ward 1: Jerry Corder, Terry Battles* Ward 2: Kent Essner, Rick Hux* Ward 3: Ray Pixley, John "Kirby" Taylor-Notable residents:* George K. Sisler, Medal of Honor recipient...
) and consists of the southeastern corner of Wayne County, mostly bordering neighboring Stoddard CountyStoddard County, MissouriStoddard County is a county located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the population was 29,705. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 29,537. The county seat is Bloomfield while the largest city in the county is Dexter...
. In 2010, in a rematch of 2008, Wright again defeated former U.S. Representative Bill Burlison (D) by an even larger margin of victory.
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 Wayne County is a part of Missouri's 25th 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...
Rob Mayer (R-Dexter). In 2008, Mayer defeated M. Shane Stoelting (D) 65.32%-34.68% in the district. The 25th Senatorial District consists of Butler
Butler County, Missouri
Butler County is a county located in the southeast Ozark Foothills Region in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county's population was 42,794. The largest city and county seat is Poplar Bluff. The county was officially organized from Wayne County on February...
, Dunklin
Dunklin County, Missouri
Dunklin County is a county located in the Bootheel of Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 33,155. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 31,454. The largest city and county seat is Kennett...
, New Madrid
New Madrid County, Missouri
New Madrid County is a county located in the Bootheel of southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 Census, the county's population was 19,760. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 17,589. The largest city and county seat is New Madrid...
, Pemiscot
Pemiscot County, Missouri
Pemiscot County is a county located in the Bootheel in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 20,047. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 18,515. The largest city and county seat is Caruthersville...
, Ripley
Ripley County, Missouri
Ripley County is a county located in the Ozarks of Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 13,509. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 13,485. The largest city and county seat is Doniphan...
, Stoddard
Stoddard County, Missouri
Stoddard County is a county located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the population was 29,705. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 29,537. The county seat is Bloomfield while the largest city in the county is Dexter...
, and Wayne 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...
, Wayne 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 | 61.49% 3,784 | 36.45% 2,243 | 2.06% 127 |
| 2004 | 63.17% 3,919 | 36.27% 2,250 | 0.57% 35 |
| 2000 | 57.22% 3,346 | 40.82% 2,387 | 1.97% 115 |
| 1996 | 38.45% 2,172 | 48.75% 2,754 | 12.73% 719 |
At the presidential level, Wayne County is a fairly independent county or battleground. Unlike many rural counties which are Republican strongholds, voters in Wayne County have seldom been lockstep in their tendencies. While 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 Wayne County both times 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...
also carried the county both times 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 1996
United States presidential election, 1996
The United States presidential election of 1996 was a contest between the Democratic national ticket of President Bill Clinton of Arkansas and Vice President Al Gore of Tennessee and the Republican national ticket of former Senator Bob Dole of Kansas for President and former Housing Secretary Jack...
. Like many rural counties in Missouri 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...
, voters in Wayne County 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...
.
However, like most rural areas, voters in Wayne 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 and therefore have a slight tendency to vote Republican. 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 Wayne County with 87.75 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 Wayne County with 55.15 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 Wayne 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 Wayne County with 77.36 percent of the vote. The proposition strongly passed every single county in Missouri with 75.94 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 Wayne 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 1,458, than any candidate from either party in Wayne County during the 2008 Missouri Presidential Preference Primary. Wayne County was Clinton's second best county in Missouri; she only did better in Dunklin CountyDunklin County, MissouriDunklin County is a county located in the Bootheel of Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 33,155. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 31,454. The largest city and county seat is Kennett...
.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Wayne County, Missouri
External links
- Digitized 1930 Plat Book of Wayne 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