Benton County, Missouri | |
|---|---|
 The Benton County Courthouse in Warsaw | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofMissouri | |
 Missouri's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:38°18′N93°17′W / 38.3°N 93.29°W /38.3; -93.29 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Missouri |
| Founded | January 3, 1835 |
| Named after | Thomas Hart Benton |
| Seat | Warsaw |
| Largest city | Warsaw |
| Area | |
• Total | 753 sq mi (1,950 km2) |
| • Land | 704 sq mi (1,820 km2) |
| • Water | 48 sq mi (120 km2) 6.4% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 19,394 |
| • Density | 27.5/sq mi (10.6/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 4th |
| Website | www |
Benton County is acounty located in the west central part of theU.S. state ofMissouri. The population was 19,394 as of the2020 Census.[1] Itscounty seat isWarsaw.[2] The county was organized January 3, 1835, and named forU.S. SenatorThomas Hart Benton ofMissouri.[3]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 753 square miles (1,950 km2), of which 704 square miles (1,820 km2) is land and 48 square miles (120 km2) (6.4%) is water.[4]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1840 | 4,205 | — | |
| 1850 | 5,015 | 19.3% | |
| 1860 | 9,072 | 80.9% | |
| 1870 | 11,322 | 24.8% | |
| 1880 | 12,396 | 9.5% | |
| 1890 | 14,973 | 20.8% | |
| 1900 | 16,556 | 10.6% | |
| 1910 | 14,881 | −10.1% | |
| 1920 | 12,989 | −12.7% | |
| 1930 | 11,708 | −9.9% | |
| 1940 | 11,142 | −4.8% | |
| 1950 | 9,080 | −18.5% | |
| 1960 | 8,737 | −3.8% | |
| 1970 | 9,695 | 11.0% | |
| 1980 | 12,183 | 25.7% | |
| 1990 | 13,859 | 13.8% | |
| 2000 | 17,180 | 24.0% | |
| 2010 | 19,056 | 10.9% | |
| 2020 | 19,394 | 1.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[5] 1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7] 1990-2000[8] 2010-2015[1] 2019[9] | |||
As of thecensus[10] of 2000, there were 17,180 people, 7,420 households, and 5,179 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 24 people per square mile (9.3 people/km2). There were 12,691 housing units at an average density of 18 units per square mile (6.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.96%White, 0.15%Black orAfrican American, 0.53%Native American, 0.13%Asian, 0.01%Pacific Islander, 0.12% fromother races, and 1.10% from two or more races. Approximately 0.89% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 7,420 households, out of which 23.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.60% weremarried couples living together, 6.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.20% were non-families. 26.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.72.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 20.50% under the age of 18, 5.70% from 18 to 24, 21.80% from 25 to 44, 29.70% from 45 to 64, and 22.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 98.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $26,646, and the median income for a family was $32,459. Males had a median income of $26,203 versus $19,054 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $15,457. About 10.20% of families and 15.70% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 24.50% of those under age 18 and 9.60% of those age 65 or over.
According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2010), Benton County is a part of theBible Belt, with evangelical Protestantism being the most predominant religion. The most predominant denominations among residents in Benton County who adhere to a religion areSouthern Baptists (38.72%),Lutherans (LCMS) (19.06%), andUnited Methodists (14.49%).
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 17,934 | 92.5% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 75 | 0.4% |
| Native American (NH) | 100 | 0.52% |
| Asian (NH) | 51 | 0.26% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 0 | 0.06% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 924 | 4.8% |
| Hispanic orLatino | 310 | 1.6% |
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TheRepublican Party controls politics at the local level in Benton County. Republicans hold every elected position in the county.
| Benton County, Missouri | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Elected countywide officials | |||
| Assessor | Jim Hansen | Republican | |
| Circuit Clerk | Cheryl Schultz | Republican | |
| County Clerk | Susan Porterfield | Republican | |
| Collector | David Brodersen | Republican | |
| Commissioner (presiding) | Steve Daleske | Republican | |
| Commissioner (district 1) | Scott Harms | Republican | |
| Commissioner (district 2) | Larry Berry | Republican | |
| Coroner | J. Weston Miller | Republican | |
| Prosecuting Attorney | Karen Coffey Woodley | Republican | |
| Public Administrator | Lori Dunkin | Republican | |
| Recorder | Carla Brown | Republican | |
| Sheriff | Eric Knox | Republican | |
| Surveyor | Jesse Wininger | Republican | |
| Treasurer | Rick Renno | Republican | |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third Parties |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 76.64%8,151 | 20.96%2,229 | 2.40%156 |
| 2020 | 76.84%8,017 | 20.89%2,179 | 2.27%237 |
| 2016 | 63.41%6,047 | 33.55%3,199 | 3.04%290 |
| 2012 | 50.94%4,641 | 46.25%4,213 | 2.81%256 |
| 2008 | 41.57%3,967 | 56.09%5,353 | 2.34%223 |
| 2004 | 56.67%5,088 | 41.95%3,767 | 1.39%124 |
| 2000 | 52.76%3,944 | 45.58%3,407 | 1.66%124 |
| 1996 | 44.36%2,979 | 52.42%3,520 | 3.22%216 |
Benton County is split between two of Missouri's legislative districts that elect members of theMissouri House of Representatives. Both are represented by Republicans.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Rodger Reedy | 4,127 | 100.00% | +17.13 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Rodger Reedy | 2,966 | 82.87% | +9.55 | |
| Democratic | Joan Shores | 613 | 17.13% | −9.55 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jim Kalberloh | 5,010 | 100.00% | +38.24 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Warren D. Love | 2,910 | 61.76% | −38.24 | |
| Democratic | Chase Crawford | 1,802 | 38.24% | +38.24 | |
All of Benton County is a part of Missouri's 28th District in theMissouri Senate, which is represented bySandy Crawford (R-Buffalo). A previous incumbent,Mike Parson, was electedLieutenant Governor in 2016 and becameGovernor in 2018 following the resignation ofEric Greitens.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Sandy Crawford | 6,198 | 75.36% | +13.60 | |
| Democratic | Joe Poor | 2,027 | 24.64% | −13.60 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Sandy Crawford | 877 | 61.76% | −38.24 | |
| Democratic | Albert J. Skalicky | 543 | 38.24% | +38.24 | |
All of Benton County is included inMissouri's 4th Congressional District and is currently represented byVicky Hartzler (R-Harrisonville) in theU.S. House of Representatives. Hartzler was elected to a sixth term in2020 over Democratic challenger Lindsey Simmons.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Vicky Hartzler | 7,981 | 77.28% | +5.54 | |
| Democratic | Lindsey Simmons | 2,073 | 20.07% | −5.72 | |
| Libertarian | Steven K. Koonse | 273 | 2.64% | +0.17 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Vicky Hartzler | 5,966 | 71.74% | −1.99 | |
| Democratic | Renee Hoagenson | 2,145 | 25.79% | +3.91 | |
| Libertarian | Mark Bliss | 205 | 2.47% | −1.93 | |
Benton County, along with the rest of the state of Missouri, is represented in theU.S. Senate byJosh Hawley (R-Columbia) andRoy Blunt (R-Strafford).
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Josh Hawley | 5,685 | 68.05% | +20.84 | |
| Democratic | Claire McCaskill | 2,318 | 27.75% | −17.32 | |
| Independent | Craig O'Dear | 166 | 1.99% | ||
| Libertarian | Japheth Campbell | 127 | 1.52% | −6.20 | |
| Green | Jo Crain | 58 | 0.69% | +0.69 | |
Blunt was elected to a second term in2016 over then-Missouri Secretary of StateJason Kander.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Roy Blunt | 5,891 | 61.87% | +14.66 | |
| Democratic | Jason Kander | 3,097 | 32.52% | −12.55 | |
| Libertarian | Jonathan Dine | 300 | 3.15% | −4.57 | |
| Green | Johnathan McFarland | 103 | 1.08% | +1.08 | |
| Constitution | Fred Ryman | 131 | 1.38% | +1.38 | |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1888 | 1,704 | 54.27% | 1,374 | 43.76% | 62 | 1.97% |
| 1892 | 1,570 | 51.01% | 1,058 | 34.37% | 450 | 14.62% |
| 1896 | 1,957 | 51.75% | 1,762 | 46.59% | 63 | 1.67% |
| 1900 | 1,980 | 54.40% | 1,532 | 42.09% | 128 | 3.52% |
| 1904 | 1,963 | 57.00% | 1,372 | 39.84% | 109 | 3.16% |
| 1908 | 1,924 | 59.09% | 1,280 | 39.31% | 52 | 1.60% |
| 1912 | 1,142 | 37.38% | 1,209 | 39.57% | 704 | 23.04% |
| 1916 | 1,842 | 57.87% | 1,285 | 40.37% | 56 | 1.76% |
| 1920 | 3,367 | 68.50% | 1,506 | 30.64% | 42 | 0.85% |
| 1924 | 2,693 | 60.71% | 1,588 | 35.80% | 155 | 3.49% |
| 1928 | 3,411 | 72.33% | 1,296 | 27.48% | 9 | 0.19% |
| 1932 | 2,038 | 43.62% | 2,596 | 55.57% | 38 | 0.81% |
| 1936 | 3,375 | 63.13% | 1,950 | 36.48% | 21 | 0.39% |
| 1940 | 3,912 | 68.69% | 1,765 | 30.99% | 18 | 0.32% |
| 1944 | 3,294 | 74.73% | 1,108 | 25.14% | 6 | 0.14% |
| 1948 | 2,768 | 67.01% | 1,360 | 32.92% | 3 | 0.07% |
| 1952 | 3,470 | 72.31% | 1,303 | 27.15% | 26 | 0.54% |
| 1956 | 3,145 | 66.80% | 1,563 | 33.20% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 3,484 | 69.96% | 1,496 | 30.04% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 2,477 | 54.96% | 2,030 | 45.04% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 2,899 | 61.13% | 1,345 | 28.36% | 498 | 10.50% |
| 1972 | 3,537 | 71.31% | 1,423 | 28.69% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1976 | 2,875 | 51.46% | 2,684 | 48.04% | 28 | 0.50% |
| 1980 | 3,451 | 58.97% | 2,241 | 38.29% | 160 | 2.73% |
| 1984 | 3,805 | 62.83% | 2,251 | 37.17% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1988 | 3,467 | 56.42% | 2,654 | 43.19% | 24 | 0.39% |
| 1992 | 2,511 | 34.51% | 3,195 | 43.91% | 1,570 | 21.58% |
| 1996 | 2,895 | 43.11% | 2,996 | 44.62% | 824 | 12.27% |
| 2000 | 4,218 | 55.99% | 3,150 | 41.81% | 166 | 2.20% |
| 2004 | 5,575 | 61.88% | 3,381 | 37.53% | 53 | 0.59% |
| 2008 | 5,759 | 59.92% | 3,629 | 37.76% | 223 | 2.32% |
| 2012 | 6,069 | 66.28% | 2,925 | 31.94% | 163 | 1.78% |
| 2016 | 7,213 | 75.21% | 2,025 | 21.12% | 352 | 3.67% |
| 2020 | 8,109 | 77.35% | 2,180 | 20.79% | 195 | 1.86% |
| 2024 | 8,526 | 79.17% | 2,166 | 20.11% | 77 | 0.72% |
At the presidential level, Benton County is solidly Republican. Benton County strongly favoredDonald Trump in both2016 and2020.Bill Clinton was the last Democratic presidential nominee to carry Benton County in1996 with a plurality of the vote, and a Democrat hasn't won majority support from the county's voters in a presidential election sinceFranklin Roosevelt in1932.
Like most rural areas throughout Missouri, voters in Benton County generally adhere to socially and culturallyconservative principles which tend to influence their Republican leanings. Despite Benton County's longstanding tradition of supporting socially conservative platforms, voters in the county have a penchant for advancingpopulist causes. In 2018, Missourians voted on a proposition (Proposition A) concerningright to work, the outcome of which ultimately reversed the right to work legislation passed in the state the previous year. 64.74% of Benton County voters cast their ballots to overturn the law.
The 2020 presidential primaries for both the Democratic and Republican parties were held in Missouri on March 10. On the Democratic side, formerVice PresidentJoe Biden (D-Delaware) both won statewide and carried Benton County by a wide margin. Biden went on to defeatPresidentDonald Trump in the general election.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Joe Biden | 843 | 69.50 | ||
| Democratic | Bernie Sanders | 280 | 23.08 | ||
| Democratic | Tulsi Gabbard | 10 | 0.82 | ||
| Democratic | Others/Uncommitted | 80 | 6.60 | ||
IncumbentPresidentDonald Trump (R-Florida) faced a primary challenge from formerMassachusetts GovernorBill Weld, but won both Benton County and statewide by overwhelming margins.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Donald Trump | 1,520 | 98.45 | ||
| Republican | Bill Weld | 3 | 0.19 | ||
| Republican | Others/Uncommitted | 21 | 1.36 | ||
The 2016 presidential primaries for both the Republican and Democratic parties were held in Missouri on March 15. BusinessmanDonald Trump (R-New York) narrowly won the state overall but carried a majority of the vote in Benton County. He went on to win the presidency.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Donald Trump | 2,278 | 55.40 | ||
| Republican | Ted Cruz | 1,314 | 31.96 | ||
| Republican | John Kasich | 287 | 6.98 | ||
| Republican | Marco Rubio | 138 | 3.36 | ||
| Republican | Others/Uncommitted | 95 | 2.31 | ||
On the Democratic side, formerSecretary of StateHillary Clinton (D-New York) narrowly won statewide and carried a majority in Benton County.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Hillary Clinton | 669 | 53.31 | ||
| Democratic | Bernie Sanders | 568 | 45.26 | ||
| Democratic | Others/Uncommitted | 18 | 1.43 | ||
The 2012 Missouri Republican Presidential Primary's results were nonbinding on the state's national convention delegates. Voters in Benton County supported formerU.S. SenatorRick Santorum (R-Pennsylvania), who finished first in the state at large, but eventually lost the nomination to formerGovernorMitt Romney (R-Massachusetts). Delegates to the congressional district and state conventions were chosen at a county caucus, which selected a delegation favoring Santorum. IncumbentPresidentBarack Obama easily won the Missouri Democratic Primary and renomination. He defeated Romney in the general election.
In 2008, the Missouri Republican Presidential Primary was closely contested, withSenatorJohn McCain (R-Arizona) prevailing and eventually winning the nomination. However, formerGovernorMike Huckabee (R-Arkansas) won a slim plurality in Benton County.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mike Huckabee | 824 | 35.58 | ||
| Republican | John McCain | 803 | 34.67 | ||
| Republican | Mitt Romney | 580 | 25.04 | ||
| Republican | Ron Paul | 75 | 3.24 | ||
| Republican | Others/Uncommitted | 34 | 1.46 | ||
Then-SenatorHillary Clinton (D-New York) received more votes than any candidate from either party in Benton County during the 2008 presidential primary. Despite initial reports that Clinton had won Missouri,Barack Obama (D-Illinois), also aSenator at the time, narrowly defeated her statewide and later became that year's Democratic nominee, going on to win the presidency.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Hillary Clinton | 1,753 | 68.77 | ||
| Democratic | Barack Obama | 687 | 26.95 | ||
| Democratic | Others/Uncommitted | 109 | 4.28 | ||
Martin Heinrich -U.S. Senator (D-New Mexico) (2013–present),U.S. Representative (D-New Mexico) (2009-2013)
Stan Kroenke- owner ofLos Angeles Rams,Denver Nuggets,Colorado Avalanche, and majority owner ofArsenal
Carol Junge Loomis -Journalist and retired senior editor-at-large at Fortune.She retired from Time/Fortune magazine in July 2014 after a tenure of over 60 years with the company.
Places adjacent to Benton County, Missouri | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofBenton County, Missouri,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Village | ||
| Townships | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Former settlements | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
