Christian County, Missouri
Encyclopedia
Christian County is a county located in Southwest Missouri
. The county had a population of 54,285 in 2000 census. According to the 2010 census, the county's population is 77,422 (a 42.6 percentage increase from 2000 census), making it the fastest growing county in Missouri and one of the fastest growing in the nation as the county becomes more suburban as growth continues in Springfield
. Its county seat
is Ozark
. The county was organized in 1859 and is named after William Christian, a Kentucky
soldier of the American Revolutionary War
.
Christian County is part of the Springfield
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
of 2000, there were 54,285 people, 20,425 households, and 15,645 families residing in the county. The population density
was 96 people per square mile (37/km²). There were 21,827 housing units at an average density of 39 per square mile (15/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.31% White, 0.27% Black or African American, 0.56% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.42% from other races
, and 1.13% from two or more races. Approximately 1.32% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 23.7% were of American
, 21.1% German, 12.3% English
and 11.3% Irish
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 20,425 households out of which 38.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.00% were married couples
living together, 9.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.40% were non-families. 19.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the county the population was spread out with 27.80% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 31.70% from 25 to 44, 21.80% from 45 to 64, and 10.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 94.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $50,200, and the median income for a family was $58,806. Males had a median income of $31,929 versus $21,852 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $23,873. About 7.10% of families and 9.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.20% of those under age 18 and 7.80% of those age 65 or over.
. Democrat David Stokely, was appointed County Assessor following Sandra Bryant-Littles' removal from office. Sandra Bryant-Littles' was removed from office by the Missouri Attorney General due to criminal charges relating to her position as Assessor.
Christian County is divided into two legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives
, both represented by Republicans.
Christian County is also a part of Missouri's 20th Senatorial District and is currently represented by State Senator Jay Wasson
(R-Nixa
). In 2006, Clemens defeated Democratic challenger Barbie Kreider-Adams with 64.49% of the total vote in the district while she received 35.51% in the district; the Christian County precincts backed Clemens with 63.50% and gave 36.50% to her. The 20th Senatorial District consists of Christian, Douglas
, Webster
and parts of Greene
counties in Southwest Missouri.
, Christian County is a part of Missouri's 7th Congressional District and is currently represented by Bill Long
.
Like most counties situated in Southwest Missouri, Christian County is a Republican stronghold in presidential elections. George W. Bush
carried Christian County in 2000
and 2004
by more than two-to-one margins, and like many other rural and exurban counties throughout Missouri, Christian County strongly favored John McCain
over Barack Obama
in 2008
. No Democratic presidential nominee has won Christian County in over 50 years.
Like most areas throughout the Bible Belt in Southwest Missouri, voters in Christian County traditionally adhere to socially and culturally conservative
principles which tend to strongly influence their Republican leanings. In 2004, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman
—it overwhelmingly passed Christian County with 80.46 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 Christian County with 58.98 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 Christian 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 Christian County with 73.01 percent of the vote. The proposition strongly passed every single county in Missouri with 78.99 percent voting in favor as the minimum wage was increased to $6.50 an hour in the state. During the same election, voters in five other states also strongly approved increases in the minimum wage.
was filmed entirely in Taney County and Christian County. Many locals were cast in significant roles in the film.
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...
. The county had a population of 54,285 in 2000 census. According to the 2010 census, the county's population is 77,422 (a 42.6 percentage increase from 2000 census), making it the fastest growing county in Missouri and one of the fastest growing in the nation as the county becomes more suburban as growth continues in Springfield
Springfield, Missouri
Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...
. Its county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Ozark
Ozark, Missouri
Ozark, incorporated in 1890, is a city in Christian County, Missouri, United States. As of 2009 the population has grown 18,458. It is the county seat of Christian County. Ozark is part of the Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
. The county was organized in 1859 and is named after William Christian, a 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...
soldier of 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...
.
Christian County is part of the Springfield
Springfield, Missouri
Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Area
The Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of five counties in southwestern Missouri, anchored by the city of Springfield - the state's third largest city. Other primary population centers in the metro area include Nixa, Ozark,...
.
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 564.05 square miles (1,460.9 km²), of which 563.16 square miles (1,458.6 km²) (or 99.84%) is land and 0.89 square miles (2.3 km²) (or 0.16%) is water.Adjacent counties
- Greene CountyGreene County, MissouriGreene County is a county located in Southwest Missouri. As of 2010, the population was 275,174 making it the fourth most populated county in Missouri. Its county seat is Springfield...
(north) - Webster CountyWebster County, MissouriWebster County is a county located in Southwest Missouri. As of 2000, the population was 31,045. The population in 2010 was 36,202. Its county seat is Marshfield. The county was organized in 1855 and named for U.S. Senator and U.S...
(northeast) - Douglas CountyDouglas County, MissouriDouglas County is a county located in South Central Missouri in the United States. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county's population was 13,684. The largest city and county seat is Ava. The county was officially organized on October 29, 1857, and is named after U.S. Senator Stephen A...
(east) - Taney CountyTaney County, MissouriTaney County is a county located in Southwest Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 39,703. In the 2010 census the counties population was 51,675 Its county seat is Forsyth....
(south) - Stone CountyStone County, MissouriStone County is a county located in Southwest Missouri in the United States. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county's population was 32,202. Its county seat is Galena...
(southwest) - Lawrence County (west)
Major highways
U.S. Route 60
U.S. Route 65
U.S. Route 160
Route 13
Route 14
Route 125
Public schools
- Billings R-IV School District - BillingsBillings, MissouriBillings is a city in Christian County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,143 at the 2009 census. It is part of the Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Billings is located at ....
- Billings Elementary School (PK-06)
- Billings High School (07-12)
- Chadwick R-I School District - ChadwickChadwick, MissouriChadwick is an unincorporated community in Christian County, Missouri, United States, about six miles southeast of Sparta. It is part of the Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area....
- Chadwick Elementary School (PK-06)
- Chadwick High School (07-12)
- Clever R-V School District - CleverClever, MissouriClever is a city in Christian County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,809 as of the 2009 census. It is part of the Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area. They have recently built a new high school and library. For being a small town they have some good businesses and are...
- Clever Elementary School (PK-03)
- Clever Upper Elementary School (04-05)
- Clever Middle School (06-08)
- Clever High School (09-12)
- Nixa R-II School District - NixaNixa, MissouriNixa is a city in Christian County, Missouri, United States. The population was 12,124 at the 2000 census, though a 2009 estimate places it at 19,458. It is part of the Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
- High Pointe Elementary School (K-04)
- Main Street Elementary School (PK-06)
- Mathews Elementary School (K-04)
- Nicholas A. Inman Elementary School (05-06)
- Century Elementary School (K-04)
- Espy Elementary School (K-04)
- John Thomas Elementary School (K-04)
- Nixa Jr. High School (07-08)
- Nixa High School (09-12)
- Ozark R-VI School District - OzarkOzark, MissouriOzark, incorporated in 1890, is a city in Christian County, Missouri, United States. As of 2009 the population has grown 18,458. It is the county seat of Christian County. Ozark is part of the Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
- North Elementary School (K-04)
- East Elementary School (K-04)
- West Elementary School (K-04)
- South Elementary School (K-04)
- Upper Elementary School (05-06)
- Ozark Jr. High School (07-08)
- Ozark High School (09-12)
- Sparta R-III School District - SpartaSparta, MissouriSparta is a city in Christian County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,144 at the 2000 census. In 2006 the population was estimated to be around 600...
- Sparta Elementary School (PK-05)
- Sparta Middle School (06-08)
- Sparta High School (09-12)
- Spokane R-VII School District - SpokaneSpokane, MissouriSpokane is a census-designated place in Christian County, Missouri, United States. The population was 177 at the 2009 census. It is part of the Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area...
- Highlandville Elementary School (PK-05) - HighlandvilleHighlandville, MissouriHighlandville is a city in Christian County, Missouri, United States. The population was 970 at the 2009 census. It is part of the Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Highlandville is located at ....
- Spokane Middle School (06-08)
- Spokane High School (09-12)
- Highlandville Elementary School (PK-05) - Highlandville
Colleges & Universities
- Columbia College - Ozark Campus - PrivatePrivate universityPrivate universities are universities not operated by governments, although many receive public subsidies, especially in the form of tax breaks and public student loans and grants. Depending on their location, private universities may be subject to government regulation. Private universities are...
- Nonsectarian
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 54,285 people, 20,425 households, and 15,645 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 96 people per square mile (37/km²). There were 21,827 housing units at an average density of 39 per square mile (15/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.31% White, 0.27% Black or African American, 0.56% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.42% 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 1.13% from two or more races. Approximately 1.32% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 23.7% were of American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 21.1% German, 12.3% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
and 11.3% 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...
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 20,425 households out of which 38.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.00% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 9.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.40% were non-families. 19.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the county the population was spread out with 27.80% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 31.70% from 25 to 44, 21.80% from 45 to 64, and 10.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 94.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $50,200, and the median income for a family was $58,806. Males had a median income of $31,929 versus $21,852 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 $23,873. About 7.10% of families and 9.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.20% of those under age 18 and 7.80% of those age 65 or over.
Cities and towns
|
Chestnutridge, Missouri Chestnutridge is an unincorporated community in southern Christian County, Missouri and is located about fourteen miles south of Ozark. It is located on Route 176 about two miles west of U.S. Route 65.... Clever, Missouri Clever is a city in Christian County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,809 as of the 2009 census. It is part of the Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area. They have recently built a new high school and library. For being a small town they have some good businesses and are... Elkhead, Missouri Elkhead is an unincorporated community in eastern Christian County, Missouri . It is located on Route 14 about sixteen miles east of Ozark. It formerly had a post office with a ZIP code 65643, but mail is now served by the post office in Sparta.... Fremont Hills, Missouri Fremont Hills is a city in Christian County, Missouri, United States. The population was 662 at the 2009 census. It is part of the Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Fremont Hills is located at .... |
Garrison, Missouri Garrison is an unincorporated community in southeast Christian County, Missouri . It is located on Route 125 about 15 miles southeast of Sparta.Garrison is part of the Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.... Highlandville, Missouri Highlandville is a city in Christian County, Missouri, United States. The population was 970 at the 2009 census. It is part of the Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Highlandville is located at .... Keltner, Missouri Keltner, Missouri, is an unincorporated community in eastern Christian County, Missouri . It is located about seventeen miles east of Ozark on Missouri Supplemental Route T. It formerly had a post office, with ZIP code 65678, but mail is now served by the post office in Oldfield.Keltner is part... Linden, Missouri Linden is an unincorporated community in northern Christian County, Missouri . It is located about five miles northeast of Ozark on Route 125 where the highway crosses the Finley River. The river has been dammed here and a small lake, Lake Lindenlure, has been created. Mail is via... |
Nixa, Missouri Nixa is a city in Christian County, Missouri, United States. The population was 12,124 at the 2000 census, though a 2009 estimate places it at 19,458. It is part of the Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:... Oldfield, Missouri Oldfield is an unincorporated community in Christian County, Missouri . It is located about ten miles southeast of Ozark on Route 125 at latitude 36.978 and longitude -93.04. The elevation is 1,381 feet... Ozark, Missouri Ozark, incorporated in 1890, is a city in Christian County, Missouri, United States. As of 2009 the population has grown 18,458. It is the county seat of Christian County. Ozark is part of the Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:... Saddlebrooke, Missouri Saddlebrooke is a village located in extreme southern Christian County, Missouri, United States on U.S. Route 65. A small portion of the village extends into Taney County... |
Sparta, Missouri Sparta is a city in Christian County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,144 at the 2000 census. In 2006 the population was estimated to be around 600... Spokane, Missouri Spokane is a census-designated place in Christian County, Missouri, United States. The population was 177 at the 2009 census. It is part of the Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area... Springfield, Missouri Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of... |
Local
Politics at the local level in Christian County is mostly 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...
. Democrat David Stokely, was appointed County Assessor following Sandra Bryant-Littles' removal from office. Sandra Bryant-Littles' was removed from office by the Missouri Attorney General due to criminal charges relating to her position as Assessor.
State
| Year | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
Third Parties Third party (United States) The term third party is used in the United States for any and all political parties in the United States other than one of the two major parties . The term can also refer to independent politicians not affiliated with any party at all and to write-in candidates.The United States has had a... |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 Missouri gubernatorial election, 2008 -Polling:-Results:-See also:* U.S. gubernatorial elections, 2008* Missouri gubernatorial election, 2004* Missouri Lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2008-External links:* from the Missouri Secretary of State* at Project Vote Smart... |
49.65% 18,556 | 47.73% 17,840 | 2.61% 977 |
| 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... |
68.61% 21,400 | 30.27% 9,443 | 1.12% 348 |
| 2000 | 58.90% 13,646 | 39.49% 9,148 | 1.61% 373 |
| 1996 | 56.69% 10,559 | 40.22% 7,491 | 3.10% 577 |
Christian County is divided into two legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives
Missouri House of Representatives
The Missouri House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 163 members, representing districts with an average size of 31,000 residents. House members are elected for two-year terms during general elections held in even-numbered years.In 1992 Missouri...
, both represented by Republicans.
- District 141 - Rep. Kevin Elmer (R-Nixa). In 2008, Wasson defeated Democratic challenger Ron Shawgo with 72.77% of the vote in the district to Shawgo's 27.23%; the Christian County precincts backed Wasson with 71.77% and gave 28.23% to Shawgo.
- District 142 – Rep. Raymond Weter (R-NixaNixa, MissouriNixa is a city in Christian County, Missouri, United States. The population was 12,124 at the 2000 census, though a 2009 estimate places it at 19,458. It is part of the Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
). In 2008, Weter ran unopposed and was reelected with 99.78% of the total vote in the district, with the remainder of the vote going to Richard Green, a write-in candidate.
Christian County is also a part of Missouri's 20th Senatorial District and is currently represented by State Senator Jay Wasson
Jay Wasson
Jay Wasson is a first-term Republican member of the Missouri Senate representing the 20th district. Previously, Wasson served four terms in the Missouri House of Representatives .-Personal history:...
(R-Nixa
Nixa, Missouri
Nixa is a city in Christian County, Missouri, United States. The population was 12,124 at the 2000 census, though a 2009 estimate places it at 19,458. It is part of the Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
). In 2006, Clemens defeated Democratic challenger Barbie Kreider-Adams with 64.49% of the total vote in the district while she received 35.51% in the district; the Christian County precincts backed Clemens with 63.50% and gave 36.50% to her. The 20th Senatorial District consists of Christian, Douglas
Douglas County, Missouri
Douglas County is a county located in South Central Missouri in the United States. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county's population was 13,684. The largest city and county seat is Ava. The county was officially organized on October 29, 1857, and is named after U.S. Senator Stephen A...
, Webster
Webster County, Missouri
Webster County is a county located in Southwest Missouri. As of 2000, the population was 31,045. The population in 2010 was 36,202. Its county seat is Marshfield. The county was organized in 1855 and named for U.S. Senator and U.S...
and parts of Greene
Greene County, Missouri
Greene County is a county located in Southwest Missouri. As of 2010, the population was 275,174 making it the fourth most populated county in Missouri. Its county seat is Springfield...
counties in Southwest Missouri.
Federal
In the U.S. House of RepresentativesUnited States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, Christian County is a part of Missouri's 7th Congressional District and is currently represented by Bill Long
Bill Long
William Douglas Long is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball. From through , Long played for the Chicago White Sox , Chicago Cubs and Montreal Expos...
.
Political Culture
| Year | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
Third Parties Third party (United States) The term third party is used in the United States for any and all political parties in the United States other than one of the two major parties . The term can also refer to independent politicians not affiliated with any party at all and to write-in candidates.The United States has had a... |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 67.08% 25,382 | 31.41% 11,883 | 1.51% 572 |
| 2004 | 70.51% 22,102 | 28.90% 9,059 | 0.60% 187 |
| 2000 | 63.82% 14,824 | 33.99% 7,896 | 2.19% 508 |
| 1996 | 50.97% 9,477 | 35.64% 6,627 | 13.40% 2,491 |
Like most counties situated in Southwest Missouri, Christian County is a Republican stronghold in presidential elections. George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
carried Christian County in 2000
United States presidential election, 2000
The United States presidential election of 2000 was a contest between Republican candidate George W. Bush, then-governor of Texas and son of former president George H. W. Bush , and Democratic candidate Al Gore, then-Vice President....
and 2004
United States presidential election, 2004
The United States presidential election of 2004 was the United States' 55th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. Republican Party candidate and incumbent President George W. Bush defeated Democratic Party candidate John Kerry, the then-junior U.S. Senator...
by more than two-to-one margins, and like many other rural and exurban counties throughout Missouri, Christian County strongly favored John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
over Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
in 2008
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
. No Democratic presidential nominee has won Christian County in over 50 years.
Like most areas throughout the Bible Belt in Southwest Missouri, voters in Christian County traditionally adhere to socially and culturally conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
principles which tend to strongly influence their Republican leanings. In 2004, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman
Missouri Constitutional Amendment 2 (2004)
Constitutional Amendment 2 of 2004 is an amendment to the Missouri Constitution that prohibited same-sex marriages from being conducted or recognized in Missouri. The Amendment passed via public referendum on August 3, 2004 with 71% of voters supporting and 29% opposing. Every county voted in...
—it overwhelmingly passed Christian County with 80.46 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 Christian County with 58.98 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 Christian 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 Christian County with 73.01 percent of the vote. The proposition strongly passed every single county in Missouri with 78.99 percent voting in favor as the minimum wage was increased to $6.50 an hour in the state. During the same election, voters in five other states also strongly approved increases in the minimum wage.
Missouri Presidential Preference Primary (2008)
Voters in Christian County from both political parties supported candidates who finished in second place in the state at large and nationally.- Former Governor Mike HuckabeeMike HuckabeeMichael "Mike" Dale Huckabee is an American politician who served as the 44th Governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007. He was a candidate in the 2008 United States Republican presidential primaries, finishing second in delegate count and third in both popular vote and number of states won . He won...
(R-ArkansasArkansasArkansas 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...
) received more votes, a total of 5,852, than any candidate from either party in Christian County during the 2008 Missouri Presidential Preference Primary.
In Film
The 2010 film Winter's BoneWinter's Bone
Winter's Bone is a 2010 American independent drama film, an adaptation of Daniel Woodrell's 2006 novel of the same name. The film was written and directed by Debra Granik and stars Jennifer Lawrence...
was filmed entirely in Taney County and Christian County. Many locals were cast in significant roles in the film.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Christian County, Missouri
External links
- Digitized 1930 Plat Book of Christian 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