Pemiscot County, Missouri
Encyclopedia
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
. The county was officially organized on February 19, 1851, and is named for the local bayou, taken from the Fox dialect pem-eskaw, meaning "liquid mud."
or higher, while 8.4% hold a bachelor's degree
or higher as their greatest educational attainment.
with evangelical Protestantism being the majority religion. The most predominant denominations among residents in Pemiscot County who adhere to a religion are Southern Baptists
(69.98%), Methodists
(7.56%), and Churches of Christ (4.76%).
of 2000, there were 20,047 people, 7,855 households, and 5,317 families residing in the county. The population density
was 41 people per square mile (16/km²). There were 8,793 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile (7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 71.76% White, 26.23% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.62% from other races
, and 0.85% from two or more races. Approximately 1.57% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Among the major first ancestries reported in Pemiscot County were 31.9% American
, 7.8% Irish
, 5.6% English
, and 5.5% German, according to Census 2000.
There were 7,855 households out of which 33.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.00% were married couples
living together, 18.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.30% were non-families. 28.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the county the population was spread out with 30.00% under the age of 18, 9.10% from 18 to 24, 25.00% from 25 to 44, 21.10% from 45 to 64, and 14.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 88.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $26,992, and the median income for a family was $33,945. Males had a median income of $27,476 versus $17,358 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $15,599. About 24.80% of families and 30.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 43.20% of those under age 18 and 23.20% of those age 65 or over.
----
, with all of Pemiscot County's currently elected officeholders Democrats.
In the Missouri House of Representatives
, all of Pemiscot County is a part of Missouri’s 162nd District and is currently represented by Terry Swinger (D-Caruthersville
). In 2010, Swinger ran unopposed and was reelected with 100 percent of the vote.
In the Missouri Senate
, all of Pemiscot 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 percent in the district. The 25th Senatorial District consists of Butler
, Dunklin
, New Madrid
, Pemiscot, Ripley
, Stoddard
, and Wayne
counties.
, Pemiscot 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, Pemiscot County is a fairly independent-leaning or battleground county although, like many counties in the impoverished Bootheel with a large African American population, it has a significant tendency to vote Democratic. While George W. Bush
carried Pemiscot County by just 17 votes in 2004
, Al Gore
won the county in 2000
, although both times the margin of victory was significantly closer than in many other rural areas. Bill Clinton
also carried Pemiscot County in both 1992
and 1996
by double-digit margins. As was the case in many of the other rural counties in Missouri, Pemiscot County favored John McCain
over Barack Obama
in 2008
, although the margin of victory was smaller than in many of the other rural areas.
In 1968
, Pemiscot County was the only county in Missouri to be won by George Wallace
, the former Governor of Alabama who ran as a pro-segregationist presidential candidate.
As in most rural areas throughout Missouri, voters in Pemiscot County generally adhere to socially and culturally conservative
principles, but are more moderate or populist
on economic issues, typical of the Dixiecrat
philosophy. In 2004, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman
—it passed Pemiscot County with 84.73 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 Pemiscot County, with 52.41 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 Pemiscot County’s longstanding tradition of supporting socially conservative platforms, voters in the county have a penchant for advancing populist
causes, such as 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 Pemiscot County with 78.01 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 strongly approved increases in the minimum wage.
Bootheel
The Missouri Bootheel is the southeasternmost part of the state of Missouri, extending south of 36°30’ north latitude, so called because its shape in relation to the rest of the state resembles the heel of a boot. Strictly speaking, it is composed of the counties of Dunklin, New Madrid, and Pemiscot...
in Southeast 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...
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
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 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
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 Caruthersville
Caruthersville, Missouri
Caruthersville is the most populous city and county seat of Pemiscot County, located along the Mississippi River in the bootheel of southeastern Missouri in the United States. The population was 6,760 at the 2000 census.-History:...
. The county was officially organized on February 19, 1851, and is named for the local bayou, taken from the Fox dialect pem-eskaw, meaning "liquid mud."
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 512.41 square miles (1,327.1 km²), of which 493.08 square miles (1,277.1 km²) (or 96.23%) is land and 19.33 square miles (50.1 km²) (or 3.77%) is water. Fishing is a popular activity among residents in the area.Adjacent counties
- New Madrid CountyNew Madrid County, MissouriNew 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...
(north) - Lake County, Tennessee (northeast)
- Dyer County, Tennessee (southeast)
- Mississippi County, Arkansas (south)
- 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...
(west)
Major highways
Interstate 55
Interstate 155Interstate 155 (Missouri-Tennessee)Interstate 155 is an east–west spur beginning in far southeast Missouri. The western terminus is south of Hayti, Missouri at Interstate 55, exits 17A and exit 17B . The route proceeds east to the Tennessee border, where it crosses over the Mississippi River...
U.S. Route 61
U.S. Route 412
Route 84Missouri Route 84Route 84 is a highway in the Missouri bootheel. It starts at the Arkansas state line west of Kennett and ends at Interstate 155/U.S. Route 412 south of Caruthersville.-Route description:...
Route 164
Education
Of adults 25 years of age and older in Pemiscot County, 58.2% possess 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 8.4% hold 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 greatest educational attainment.
Public Schools
- Caruthersville School District 18 - CaruthersvilleCaruthersville, MissouriCaruthersville is the most populous city and county seat of Pemiscot County, located along the Mississippi River in the bootheel of southeastern Missouri in the United States. The population was 6,760 at the 2000 census.-History:...
- Caruthersville Elementary School (PK-05)
- Caruthersville Middle School (06-08)
- Caruthersville High School (09-12)
- Cooter R-IV School District - CooterCooter, MissouriCooter is a city in Pemiscot County, Missouri, United States. The population was 440 at the 2000 census.-History:According to Houck's History of Missouri the town of Cooter was named in 1854 for the Coutre family, early settlers to the area. The Coutres are believed to have emigrated from France in...
- Cooter Elementary School (K-06)
- Cooter High School (07-12)
- Delta C-7 School District - DeeringDeering, MissouriDeering is an unincorporated community in Pemiscot County, Missouri. It is located eight miles west of Caruthersville.Deering began as a lumber town in the early 1900s. After the Wisconsin Lumber Company ceased operations in Deering, the town's population began to dwindle. The town is now so...
- Delta Elementary School (K-06)
- Delta High School (07-12)
- Hayti R-II School District - HaytiHayti, MissouriHayti is a city in Pemiscot County, Missouri, United States. The population was 3,207 at the 2000 census.In 1955, a small earthquake broke windows in the village.- Geography :Hayti is located at ....
- Mathis Elementary School (PK-03)
- Wallace Elementary School (04-06)
- Hayti High School (07-12)
- North Pemiscot County R-I School District - WardellWardell, MissouriWardell is a city in Pemiscot County, Missouri, United States. The population was 278 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Wardell is located at ....
- Ross Elementary School - PortagevillePortageville, MissouriPortageville is a city in New Madrid and Pemiscot counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population was 3,295 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Portageville is located at , primarily in New Madrid County....
- (K-05) - North Pemiscot County High School - (06-12)
- Ross Elementary School - Portageville
- South Pemiscot County R-V School District - SteeleSteele, MissouriSteele is a city in Pemiscot County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2,263 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Steele is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land....
- South Pemiscot County Elementary School (K-06)
- South Pemiscot County High School (07-12)
Alternative/Vocational Schools
- Diagnostic Center - HaytiHayti, MissouriHayti is a city in Pemiscot County, Missouri, United States. The population was 3,207 at the 2000 census.In 1955, a small earthquake broke windows in the village.- Geography :Hayti is located at ....
- (K-12) - Special education - External Locations - HaytiHayti, MissouriHayti is a city in Pemiscot County, Missouri, United States. The population was 3,207 at the 2000 census.In 1955, a small earthquake broke windows in the village.- Geography :Hayti is located at ....
- (K-12) - Special education - Oak View Learning Center - HaytiHayti, MissouriHayti is a city in Pemiscot County, Missouri, United States. The population was 3,207 at the 2000 census.In 1955, a small earthquake broke windows in the village.- Geography :Hayti is located at ....
- (K-12) - Special education - Pemiscot County Vocational School - HaytiHayti, MissouriHayti is a city in Pemiscot County, Missouri, United States. The population was 3,207 at the 2000 census.In 1955, a small earthquake broke windows in the village.- Geography :Hayti is located at ....
- (11-12) - Vocational/technical
Religion
According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2000), Pemiscot 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 Pemiscot 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...
(69.98%), 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...
(7.56%), and Churches of Christ (4.76%).
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 20,047 people, 7,855 households, and 5,317 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 41 people per square mile (16/km²). There were 8,793 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile (7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 71.76% White, 26.23% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.62% 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 0.85% from two or more races. Approximately 1.57% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Among the major first ancestries reported in Pemiscot County were 31.9% American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 7.8% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
, 5.6% 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 5.5% German, according to Census 2000.
There were 7,855 households out of which 33.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.00% 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, 18.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.30% were non-families. 28.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the county the population was spread out with 30.00% under the age of 18, 9.10% from 18 to 24, 25.00% from 25 to 44, 21.10% from 45 to 64, and 14.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 88.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $26,992, and the median income for a family was $33,945. Males had a median income of $27,476 versus $17,358 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 $15,599. About 24.80% of families and 30.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 43.20% of those under age 18 and 23.20% of those age 65 or over.
Cities and towns
|
Deering, Missouri Deering is an unincorporated community in Pemiscot County, Missouri. It is located eight miles west of Caruthersville.Deering began as a lumber town in the early 1900s. After the Wisconsin Lumber Company ceased operations in Deering, the town's population began to dwindle. The town is now so... Gobler, Missouri Gobler is an unincorporated community on the border between Dunklin and Pemiscot Counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. It is located sixteen miles west of Caruthersville.... Hayti, Missouri Hayti is a city in Pemiscot County, Missouri, United States. The population was 3,207 at the 2000 census.In 1955, a small earthquake broke windows in the village.- Geography :Hayti is located at .... Hayti Heights, Missouri Hayti Heights is a city in Pemiscot County, Missouri, United States. The population was 771 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hayti Heights is located at .... |
Hayward, Missouri Hayward is a village in Pemiscot County, Missouri, United States. The population was 123 at the 2000 census, at which time it was a town.-Geography:Hayward is located at .... Holland, Missouri Holland is a city in Pemiscot County, Missouri, United States. The population was 246 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Holland is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all land.... Homestown, Missouri Homestown is a city in Pemiscot County, Missouri, United States. The population was 181 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Homestown is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.... North Wardell, Missouri North Wardell is a village in Pemiscot County, Missouri, United States. The population was 170 at the 2000 census.-Geography:North Wardell is located at .... |
Pascola, Missouri Pascola is a village in Pemiscot County, Missouri, United States. The population was 138 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Pascola is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all land.... Peach Orchard, Missouri Peach Orchard is an unincorporated community in northwest Pemiscot County, Missouri. It is located on Route 153 about twenty miles northwest of Caruthersville. Its post office closed in 1973 when it burned down in a mysterious fire and mail now comes from Gideon.... Steele, Missouri Steele is a city in Pemiscot County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2,263 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Steele is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.... Wardell, Missouri Wardell is a city in Pemiscot County, Missouri, United States. The population was 278 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Wardell is located at .... |
----
Local
Politics at the local level in Pemiscot County are dominated 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...
, with all of Pemiscot County's currently elected officeholders Democrats.
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... |
37.26% 2,491 | 60.50% 4,045 | 2.24% 150 |
| 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... |
44.93% 2,965 | 53.46% 3,528 | 1.61% 106 |
| 2000 | 34.61% 2,053 | 63.80% 3,784 | 1.59% 94 |
| 1996 | 26.24% 1,461 | 72.31% 4,026 | 1.45% 81 |
In the Missouri House of Representatives
Missouri House of Representatives
The Missouri House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 163 members, representing districts with an average size of 31,000 residents. House members are elected for two-year terms during general elections held in even-numbered years.In 1992 Missouri...
, all of Pemiscot County is a part of Missouri’s 162nd District and is currently represented by Terry Swinger (D-Caruthersville
Caruthersville, Missouri
Caruthersville is the most populous city and county seat of Pemiscot County, located along the Mississippi River in the bootheel of southeastern Missouri in the United States. The population was 6,760 at the 2000 census.-History:...
). In 2010, Swinger ran unopposed and was reelected with 100 percent of the vote.
In the Missouri Senate
Missouri Senate
The Missouri State Senate is the upper chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 34 members, representing districts with an average population of 160,000...
, all of Pemiscot 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) 65.32-34.68 percent 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, 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...
, Pemiscot 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 | 56.11% 3,954 | 42.98% 3,029 | 0.91% 64 |
| 2004 | 49.93% 3,398 | 49.68% 3,381 | 0.39% 27 |
| 2000 | 45.38% 2,750 | 53.55% 3,245 | 1.07% 65 |
| 1996 | 32.06% 1,820 | 59.38% 3,371 | 8.56% 486 |
At the presidential level, Pemiscot County is a fairly independent-leaning or battleground county although, like many counties in the impoverished Bootheel with a large African American population, it has a significant tendency to vote Democratic. 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 Pemiscot County by just 17 votes 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...
, Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
won the 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....
, although both times the margin of victory was significantly closer than in many other rural areas. 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 Pemiscot County in both 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...
by double-digit margins. As was the case in many of the other rural counties in Missouri, Pemiscot 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...
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...
, although the margin of victory was smaller than in many of the other rural areas.
In 1968
United States presidential election, 1968
The United States presidential election of 1968 was the 46th quadrennial United States presidential election. Coming four years after Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson won in a historic landslide, it saw Johnson forced out of the race and Republican Richard Nixon elected...
, Pemiscot County was the only county in Missouri to be won by George Wallace
George Wallace
George Corley Wallace, Jr. was the 45th Governor of Alabama, serving four terms: 1963–1967, 1971–1979 and 1983–1987. "The most influential loser" in 20th-century U.S. politics, according to biographers Dan T. Carter and Stephan Lesher, he ran for U.S...
, the former Governor of Alabama who ran as a pro-segregationist presidential candidate.
As in most rural areas throughout Missouri, voters in Pemiscot 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, but are more moderate or 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...
on economic issues, typical of the Dixiecrat
Dixiecrat
The States' Rights Democratic Party was a short-lived segregationist political party in the United States in 1948...
philosophy. 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 passed Pemiscot County with 84.73 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 Pemiscot County, with 52.41 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 Pemiscot 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, such as 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 Pemiscot County with 78.01 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 strongly approved increases in the minimum wage.
Missouri Presidential Preference Primary (2008)
In the 2008 Missouri Presidential Preference Primary, voters in Pemiscot 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 1,270, than any candidate from either party in Pemiscot County during the 2008 Missouri Presidential Preference Primary. She also received more votes than the total number of votes cast in the entire Republican Primary in Pemiscot County.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Pemiscot County, Missouri
External links
- Digitized 1930 Plat Book of Pemiscot 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