Butler County, Missouri
Encyclopedia
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 27, 1849, and is named after former U.S. Representative William O. Butler
(D
-Kentucky
), who was also an unsuccessful candidate for Vice President of the United States
. The first meeting in the Butler County Courthouse was held on June 18, 1849.
or higher while 11.6% holds 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 Butler County who adhere to a religion are Southern Baptists
(45.93%), Roman Catholics (10.09%), and Methodists
(8.23%).
of 2000, there were 40,867 people, 16,718 households, and 11,318 families residing in the county. The population density
was 59 people per square mile (23/km²). There were 18,707 housing units at an average density of 27 per square mile (10/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 92.16% White, 5.22% Black or African American, 0.56% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races
, and 1.36% from two or more races. Approximately 1.01% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Among the major first ancestries reported in Butler County were 31.7% American
, 13.8% German, 11.6% Irish
and 10.5% English
, according to Census 2000.
There were 16,718 households out of which 29.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.50% were married couples
living together, 11.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.30% were non-families. 28.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the county the population was spread out with 24.20% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 26.60% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 16.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 92.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,422, and the median income for a family was $42,713. Males had a median income of $27,449 versus $19,374 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $20,282. About 14.00% of families and 18.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.90% of those under age 18 and 16.90% of those age 65 or over.
:
. Following Election 2008, all local elected offices in Butler County are now held by Republicans.
Butler County is divided among three legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives
.
In the Missouri Senate
, all of Butler 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) by an almost two-to-one margin, 65.32-34.68 percent, in the district. The 25th Senatorial District consists of Butler, Dunklin
, New Madrid
, Pemiscot
, Ripley
, Stoddard
, and Wayne
counties.
, Butler 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, Butler County tends to be a reliably Republican stronghold. John McCain
strongly carried the county over Barack Obama
in 2008
. George W. Bush
carried Butler County by a two-to-one margin in 2000
and by an almost three-to-one margin in 2004
. The last Democratic presidential nominee to win Butler County was Bill Clinton
in Election of 1992
. Since then, Butler County has trended increasingly Republican at the presidential level.
Like most rural areas throughout Southeast Missouri, voters in Butler County generally adhere to socially and culturally conservative
principles which strongly influence their Republican leanings. In 2004, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman
—it overwhelmingly passed Butler County with 88.83 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 Butler County with 61.21 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 Butler 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 Butler County with 68.75 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 2010 U.S. Census
United States Census, 2010
The Twenty-third United States Census, known as Census 2010 or the 2010 Census, is the current national census of the United States. National Census Day was April 1, 2010 and is the reference date used in enumerating individuals...
, the county's population was 42,794. The largest city and 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 Poplar Bluff
Poplar Bluff, Missouri
Poplar Bluff is a city in Butler County located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. It is the county seat of Butler County and is known as "The Gateway to the Ozarks" among other names. As of the 2000 U.S...
. The county was officially organized from Wayne County
Wayne County, Missouri
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...
on February 27, 1849, and is named after former U.S. Representative William O. Butler
William Orlando Butler
William Orlando Butler was a U.S. political figure and U.S. Army major general from Kentucky. He served as a Democratic congressman from Kentucky from 1839 to 1843, and was the Democratic vice-presidential nominee under Lewis Cass in 1848.-Early life:Butler was born in Jessamine County, Kentucky,...
(D
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...
-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...
), who was also an unsuccessful candidate for Vice President of the United States
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
. The first meeting in the Butler County Courthouse was held on June 18, 1849.
Education
Of adults 25 years of age and older in Butler County, 70.5% 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 11.6% 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
- Neelyville R-IV School District - NeelyvilleNeelyville, MissouriNeelyville is a town in Butler County in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the town's population was 487; a 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 500, an increase of 2.70%....
- Hillview Elementary School - HarviellHarviell, MissouriHarviell is an unincorporated community in Butler County, Missouri. It is located on Route 158 about six miles southwest of Poplar Bluff. The community was founded in 1873 and is named for landowner Simeon Harviell....
- (PK-02) - Neelyville Elementary School - (03-06)
- Neelyville High School - (07-12)
- Hillview Elementary School - Harviell
- Poplar Bluff R-I School District - Poplar BluffPoplar Bluff, MissouriPoplar Bluff is a city in Butler County located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. It is the county seat of Butler County and is known as "The Gateway to the Ozarks" among other names. As of the 2000 U.S...
- Eugene Field Elementary School - (01-04)
- Kinyon Early Childhood Center - (PK/Daycare)
- Lake Road Elementary School - (01-04)
- Mark Twain Kindergarten Center - (K)
- O'Neal Elementary School - (01-04)
- Oak Grove Elementary School - (01-04)
- Poplar Bluff 5th & 6th Grade Center - (05-06)
- Poplar Bluff Jr. High School (07-08)
- Poplar Bluff High School (09-12)
- Twin Rivers R-X School District - BroseleyBroseley, MissouriBroseley is an unincorporated community in eastern Butler County, Missouri. It is located on Route 51 about ten miles southeast of Poplar Bluff. The community was founded in 1915 by William N. Barron and is named after his wife's hometown of Broseley in England....
- Fisk Elementary School - FiskFisk, MissouriFisk is a town in Butler County in Southeast Missouri in the United States. It is located right along the Butler-Stoddard County line on U.S. Highway 60 along the St. Francis River. As of the 2000 U.S...
- (K-08) - Qulin Elementary School - QulinQulin, MissouriQulin is a town located in Butler County in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the town had a population of 467; a 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 479, an increase of 2.60%....
- (K-08) - Twin Rivers High School - BroseleyBroseley, MissouriBroseley is an unincorporated community in eastern Butler County, Missouri. It is located on Route 51 about ten miles southeast of Poplar Bluff. The community was founded in 1915 by William N. Barron and is named after his wife's hometown of Broseley in England....
- (09-12)
- Fisk Elementary School - Fisk
Private Schools
- Agape Christian School - Poplar BluffPoplar Bluff, MissouriPoplar Bluff is a city in Butler County located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. It is the county seat of Butler County and is known as "The Gateway to the Ozarks" among other names. As of the 2000 U.S...
- (K-12) - Non-denominational ChristianNon-denominational ChristianityIn Christianity, nondenominational institutions or churches are those not formally aligned with an established denomination, or that remain otherwise officially autonomous. This, however, does not preclude an identifiable standard among such congregations... - Sacred Heart Elementary School - Poplar BluffPoplar Bluff, MissouriPoplar Bluff is a city in Butler County located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. It is the county seat of Butler County and is known as "The Gateway to the Ozarks" among other names. As of the 2000 U.S...
- (PK-08) - Roman CatholicRoman Catholic ChurchThe Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity... - Southern Missouri Christian School - Poplar BluffPoplar Bluff, MissouriPoplar Bluff is a city in Butler County located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. It is the county seat of Butler County and is known as "The Gateway to the Ozarks" among other names. As of the 2000 U.S...
- (K-12) - Assembly of God/Pentecostal - Westwood Baptist Academy - Poplar BluffPoplar Bluff, MissouriPoplar Bluff is a city in Butler County located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. It is the county seat of Butler County and is known as "The Gateway to the Ozarks" among other names. As of the 2000 U.S...
- (PK-12) - 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... - Zion Lutheran School - Poplar BluffPoplar Bluff, MissouriPoplar Bluff is a city in Butler County located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. It is the county seat of Butler County and is known as "The Gateway to the Ozarks" among other names. As of the 2000 U.S...
- Lutheran Church - Missouri SynodLutheran Church - Missouri SynodThe Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod is a traditional, confessional Lutheran denomination in the United States. With 2.3 million members, it is both the eighth largest Protestant denomination and the second-largest Lutheran body in the U.S. after the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The Synod...
Special Education/Other Schools
- Hentz Alternative Learning Center - Poplar BluffPoplar Bluff, MissouriPoplar Bluff is a city in Butler County located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. It is the county seat of Butler County and is known as "The Gateway to the Ozarks" among other names. As of the 2000 U.S...
- Shady Grove State School - Poplar BluffPoplar Bluff, MissouriPoplar Bluff is a city in Butler County located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. It is the county seat of Butler County and is known as "The Gateway to the Ozarks" among other names. As of the 2000 U.S...
- Sierra-Osage Treatment Center - Poplar BluffPoplar Bluff, MissouriPoplar Bluff is a city in Butler County located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. It is the county seat of Butler County and is known as "The Gateway to the Ozarks" among other names. As of the 2000 U.S...
- W.E. Sears Youth Center - Poplar BluffPoplar Bluff, MissouriPoplar Bluff is a city in Butler County located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. It is the county seat of Butler County and is known as "The Gateway to the Ozarks" among other names. As of the 2000 U.S...
Post-Secondary
- Three Rivers Community College (TRCC) - Poplar BluffPoplar Bluff, MissouriPoplar Bluff is a city in Butler County located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. It is the county seat of Butler County and is known as "The Gateway to the Ozarks" among other names. As of the 2000 U.S...
- A public, two-year community college.
Religion
According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2000), Butler 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 Butler 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...
(45.93%), Roman Catholics (10.09%), and 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...
(8.23%).
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 698.97 square miles (1,810.3 km²), of which 697.54 square miles (1,806.6 km²) (or 99.80%) is land and 1.43 square miles (3.7 km²) (or 0.20%) is water.Adjacent counties
- Wayne CountyWayne County, MissouriWayne 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...
(north) - 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...
(east) - 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...
(southeast) - Clay County, ArkansasClay County, ArkansasClay County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2010, the population was 16,083. The county has two county seats, Corning and Piggott...
(south) - Ripley CountyRipley County, MissouriRipley 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...
(west) - 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. ...
(northwest)
Major highways
U.S. Route 60
U.S. Route 67
U.S. Route 160
Route 51
Route 53
Route 142
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 40,867 people, 16,718 households, and 11,318 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 59 people per square mile (23/km²). There were 18,707 housing units at an average density of 27 per square mile (10/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 92.16% White, 5.22% Black or African American, 0.56% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.26% 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. Approximately 1.01% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Among the major first ancestries reported in Butler County were 31.7% American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 13.8% German, 11.6% 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...
and 10.5% 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...
, according to Census 2000.
There were 16,718 households out of which 29.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.50% 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, 11.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.30% were non-families. 28.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the county the population was spread out with 24.20% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 26.60% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 16.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 92.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,422, and the median income for a family was $42,713. Males had a median income of $27,449 versus $19,374 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 $20,282. About 14.00% of families and 18.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.90% of those under age 18 and 16.90% of those age 65 or over.
Cities
- FiskFisk, MissouriFisk is a town in Butler County in Southeast Missouri in the United States. It is located right along the Butler-Stoddard County line on U.S. Highway 60 along the St. Francis River. As of the 2000 U.S...
- NeelyvilleNeelyville, MissouriNeelyville is a town in Butler County in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the town's population was 487; a 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 500, an increase of 2.70%....
- Poplar BluffPoplar Bluff, MissouriPoplar Bluff is a city in Butler County located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. It is the county seat of Butler County and is known as "The Gateway to the Ozarks" among other names. As of the 2000 U.S...
- QulinQulin, MissouriQulin is a town located in Butler County in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the town had a population of 467; a 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 479, an increase of 2.60%....
Unincorporated towns
- BroseleyBroseley, MissouriBroseley is an unincorporated community in eastern Butler County, Missouri. It is located on Route 51 about ten miles southeast of Poplar Bluff. The community was founded in 1915 by William N. Barron and is named after his wife's hometown of Broseley in England....
- FagusFagus, MissouriFagus is an unincorporated community in southeastern Butler County, Missouri. It is located on Route 51 about eighteen miles southeast of Poplar Bluff near the Arkansas state line. The community was founded by lumberman William N. Barron after the Latin word for "beech tree"...
- HarviellHarviell, MissouriHarviell is an unincorporated community in Butler County, Missouri. It is located on Route 158 about six miles southwest of Poplar Bluff. The community was founded in 1873 and is named for landowner Simeon Harviell....
- HendricksonHendrickson, MissouriHendrickson is an unincorporated community in northern Butler County, Missouri. It is located near U.S. Route 67 about seven miles north of Poplar Bluff. It is in the Mark Twain National Forest. Its post office has closed, and its mail now comes from Williamsville The current population is...
- RombauerRombauer, MissouriRombauer is an unincorporated community in eastern Butler County, Missouri. It is located about seven miles northeast of Poplar Bluff on the edge of the Mark Twain National Forest....
Townships
Butler County is divided into ten townshipsTownship (United States)
A township in the United States is a small geographic area. Townships range in size from 6 to 54 square miles , with being the norm.The term is used in three ways....
:
|
Epps Township, Butler County, Missouri Epps Township is one of ten townships in Butler County, Missouri, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 2,598.-Geography:Epps Township covers an area of and contains no incorporated settlements... Gillis Bluff Township, Butler County, Missouri Gillis Bluff Township is one of ten townships in Butler County, Missouri, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 764.-Geography:Gillis Bluff Township covers an area of and contains no incorporated settlements. It contains one cemetery, Carola.... Neely Township, Butler County, Missouri Neely Township is one of ten townships in Butler County, Missouri, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 1,259.-Geography:Neely Township covers an area of and contains one incorporated settlement, Neelyville... Poplar Bluff Township, Butler County, Missouri Poplar Bluff Township is one of ten townships in Butler County, Missouri, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 24,929.-Geography:Poplar Bluff Township covers an area of and contains one incorporated settlement, Poplar Bluff... St. Francois Township, Butler County, Missouri Saint Francois Township is one of ten townships in Butler County, Missouri, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 1,628.-Geography:Saint Francois Township covers an area of and contains no incorporated settlements.-References:*... |
Local
Politics at the local level in Butler County is completely controlled by the Republican PartyRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. Following Election 2008, all local elected offices in Butler County are now held by Republicans.
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... |
54.12% 9,205 | 43.86% 7,459 | 2.02% 343 |
| 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... |
66.12% 10,796 | 32.85% 5,364 | 1.03% 168 |
| 2000 | 58.40% 8,301 | 39.80% 5,657 | 1.80% 257 |
| 1996 | 47.71% 6,793 | 50.63% 7,208 | 1.66% 237 |
Butler 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 some of the western parts of the county. 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 154 – Currently represented by http://house.mo.gov/member.aspx?district=154Gayle KingeryGayle KingeryGayle Kingery is an American, former teacher, and former Republican member of the Missouri House of Representatives. He represented the 154th district, which includes part of Butler County, from 2003 to 2011...
(R-Poplar Bluff) and consists of most of the entire county, including all of the city of Poplar Bluff and Fisk. Kingery is term limited and is finishing out his last term. He will be succeeded by fellow Republican Todd Richardson in the next legislative session in January 2011.
- District 163 – Currently represented by Tom Todd (D-CampbellCampbell, MissouriCampbell is a city in Dunklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,883 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Campbell is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land....
) and consists of the southern and southeastern parts of the county, including the towns of Neelyville and Qulin. Incumbent Todd was defeated by Republican challenger Kent Hampton in 2010.
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 Butler 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
Dexter, 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...
). In 2008, Mayer defeated M. Shane Stoelting (D) by an almost two-to-one margin, 65.32-34.68 percent, in the district. The 25th Senatorial District consists of Butler, 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
Wayne County, Missouri
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...
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...
, Butler 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 | 68.09% 11,805 | 30.66% 5,316 | 1.25% 217 |
| 2004 | 71.14% 11,696 | 28.38% 4,666 | 0.48% 79 |
| 2000 | 63.28% 9,111 | 34.70% 4,996 | 2.02% 290 |
| 1996 | 48.78% 6,996 | 40.30% 5,780 | 10.93% 1,567 |
At the presidential level, Butler County tends to be a reliably Republican stronghold. 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....
strongly carried the county 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...
. 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 Butler County by a two-to-one margin 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 by an almost three-to-one margin in 2004
United States presidential election, 2004
The United States presidential election of 2004 was the United States' 55th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. Republican Party candidate and incumbent President George W. Bush defeated Democratic Party candidate John Kerry, the then-junior U.S. Senator...
. The last Democratic presidential nominee to win Butler County was 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...
in Election of 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....
. Since then, Butler County has trended increasingly Republican at the presidential level.
Like most rural areas throughout Southeast Missouri, voters in Butler 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 strongly influence their Republican leanings. In 2004, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman
Missouri Constitutional Amendment 2 (2004)
Constitutional Amendment 2 of 2004 is an amendment to the Missouri Constitution that prohibited same-sex marriages from being conducted or recognized in Missouri. The Amendment passed via public referendum on August 3, 2004 with 71% of voters supporting and 29% opposing. Every county voted in...
—it overwhelmingly passed Butler County with 88.83 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 Butler County with 61.21 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 Butler 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 Butler County with 68.75 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)
Voters in Butler County from both political parties supported candidates who finished in second place in the state at large and nationally.- Hillary Rodham Clinton received more votes, a total of 2,490, than any candidate from either party in Butler County during the 2008 Missouri presidential preference primary.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Butler County, Missouri
External links
- Digitized 1930 Plat Book of Butler 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