Greene County, Missouri | |
|---|---|
 The Historic Greene County Courthouse in Springfield | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofMissouri | |
 Missouri's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:37°16′N93°20′W / 37.26°N 93.34°W /37.26; -93.34 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Missouri |
| Founded | January 2, 1833 |
| Named after | Nathanael Greene |
| Seat | Springfield |
| Largest city | Springfield |
| Area | |
• Total | 678 sq mi (1,760 km2) |
| • Land | 675 sq mi (1,750 km2) |
| • Water | 2.6 sq mi (6.7 km2) 0.4% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 298,915 |
• Estimate (2021) | 300,865 |
| • Density | 443/sq mi (171/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 7th |
| Website | www |
Greene County is located in the southwest part of theU.S. state ofMissouri. As of the2020 census, its population was 298,915.[1] making it the fourth most-populous county in Missouri and the most populous outside theKansas City orSaint Louis metropolitan areas.
Itscounty seat and most-populous city isSpringfield.[2] The county was organized in 1833 and is named afterAmerican Revolutionary War GeneralNathanael Greene.[3] Greene County is included in theSpringfield metropolitan area. It is in the area of the Ozark Mountains and foothills.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 678 square miles (1,760 km2), of which 675 square miles (1,750 km2) is land and 2.6 square miles (6.7 km2) (0.4%) is water.[4]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1840 | 5,372 | — | |
| 1850 | 12,785 | 138.0% | |
| 1860 | 13,186 | 3.1% | |
| 1870 | 21,549 | 63.4% | |
| 1880 | 28,801 | 33.7% | |
| 1890 | 48,616 | 68.8% | |
| 1900 | 52,713 | 8.4% | |
| 1910 | 63,831 | 21.1% | |
| 1920 | 68,698 | 7.6% | |
| 1930 | 82,929 | 20.7% | |
| 1940 | 90,541 | 9.2% | |
| 1950 | 104,923 | 15.9% | |
| 1960 | 126,276 | 20.4% | |
| 1970 | 152,929 | 21.1% | |
| 1980 | 185,302 | 21.2% | |
| 1990 | 207,949 | 12.2% | |
| 2000 | 240,391 | 15.6% | |
| 2010 | 275,174 | 14.5% | |
| 2020 | 298,915 | 8.6% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 300,865 | [5] | 0.7% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[6] 1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8] 1990-2000[9] 2010-2020[1] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[10] | Pop 1990[11] | Pop 2000[12] | Pop 2010[13] | Pop 2020[14] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 179,112 | 199,639 | 222,447 | 246,378 | 246,368 | 96.66% | 96.00% | 92.54% | 89.54% | 82.42% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 2,985 | 3,712 | 5,322 | 7,738 | 9,987 | 1.61% | 1.79% | 2.21% | 2.81% | 3.34% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 932 | 1,238 | 1,513 | 1,667 | 1,735 | 0.50% | 0.60% | 0.63% | 0.61% | 0.58% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 811 | 1,485 | 2,681 | 4,489 | 6,182 | 0.44% | 0.71% | 1.12% | 1.63% | 2.07% |
| Native Hawaiian orPacific Islander alone (NH) | x[15] | x[16] | 136 | 291 | 375 | x | x | 0.06% | 0.11% | 0.13% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 207 | 100 | 272 | 208 | 1,101 | 0.11% | 0.05% | 0.11% | 0.08% | 0.37% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x[17] | x[18] | 3,586 | 6,196 | 18,775 | x | x | 1.49% | 2.25% | 6.28% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1,255 | 1,775 | 4,434 | 8,207 | 14,392 | 0.68% | 0.85% | 1.84% | 2.98% | 4.81% |
| Total | 185,302 | 207,949 | 240,391 | 275,174 | 298,915 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of thecensus of 2000, there were 240,391 people, 97,859 households, and 61,846 families residing in the county. The population density was 356 inhabitants per square mile (137/km2). There were 104,517 housing units at an average density of 155 units per square mile (60 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.54%White, 2.26%Black orAfrican American, 0.66%Native American, 1.13%Asian, 0.06%Pacific Islander, 0.67% fromother races, and 1.68% from two or more races. Approximately 1.84% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 97,859 households, out of which 28.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.00% weremarried couples living together, 9.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.80% were non-families. 29.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.30% under the age of 18, 13.80% from 18 to 24, 28.60% from 25 to 44, 21.80% from 45 to 64, and 13.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $44,185, and the median income for a family was $56,047. Males had a median income of $30,672 versus $21,987 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $25,770. About 7.60% of families and 12.10% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 13.60% of those under age 18 and 7.50% of those age 65 or over.
There are 190,417 registered voters in Greene County.[19]
Republic and Springfield have city fire departments. Additionally, the county is served by the following fire districts:
Law enforcement is provided by the Greene County Sheriffs Office. The current sheriff is Jim C. Arnott.[20]
Like most counties situated in Southwest Missouri, Greene County has long been a Republican stronghold. In the2016 presidential election,Donald Trump carried Greene County by a margin of 60% to 33%.[21] It is exceptionally Republican for an urban and suburban county.[22]
The last Democratic presidential nominee to win Greene County wasLyndon B. Johnson in 1964.
In 2004, state residents voted ona constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman. This passed Greene County with 72.04 percent of the vote. The initiative passed the state with 71 percent of support from voters; Missouri became the first state to bansame-sex marriage.[citation needed] In 2006, Missourians voted ona constitutional amendment to fund and legalize embryonic stem cell research in the state—it narrowly failed in Greene County with 51.62 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 approveembryonic stem cell research.
Despite Greene County's longstanding tradition of supporting socially conservative platforms, voters in the county have a penchant for advancingpopulist causes, such as increasing theminimum 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 Greene County with 74.41 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.[citation needed] In 2020, Greene County was one of only eight counties in Missouri and the only one outsideSt. Louis,Kansas City, andColumbia to vote yes on Amendment 2 to expand Medicaid. Its voters recognized they could be helped by such expansion; the measure passed Greene County with 52.3 percent of the vote and statewide with 53.3 percent.[23]
Republicans hold all county-level elected offices. However, the county has been known to support Democrats in statewide races.Mel Carnahan carried the county in both of his runs for governor, as didJay Nixon. In 2000,Bob Holden's victory in the county provided the margin that allowed him to defeatJim Talent statewide.
TheRepublican Party predominantly controls politics at the local level in Greene County.
| Greene County, Missouri | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Elected countywide officials | |||
| Assessor | Brent Johnson | Republican | |
| Auditor | Cindy Stein | Republican | |
| Circuit Clerk | Bryan Feemster | Republican | |
| County Clerk | Shane Schoeller | Republican | |
| Collector | Allen Icet | Republican | |
| Commissioner (presiding) | Bob Dixon | Republican | |
| Commissioner (district 1) | Rusty MacLachlan | Republican | |
| Commissioner (district 2) | John Russell | Republican | |
| Prosecuting Attorney | Dan Patterson | Republican | |
| Public Administrator | Sherri Martin | Republican | |
| Recorder | Cheryl Dawson-Spaulding | Republican | |
| Sheriff | Jim Arnott | Republican | |
| Treasurer | Justin Hill | Republican | |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third Parties |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 58.96%84,418 | 39.07%55,938 | 1.97%2,833 |
| 2020 | 59.72%84,582 | 37.79%53,519 | 2.49%3,523 |
| 2016 | 56.77%73,601 | 37.76%51,201 | 3.72%4,841 |
| 2012 | 47.62%59,660 | 49.46%61,970 | 2.92%3,659 |
| 2008 | 42.84%57,565 | 54.45%73,164 | 2.71%3,641 |
| 2004 | 61.45%76,645 | 37.25%46,470 | 1.30%1,621 |
| 2000 | 53.57%54,770 | 44.61%45,612 | 1.82%1,861 |
| 1996 | 51.63%49,991 | 45.08%43,646 | 3.29%3,189 |
Greene County is divided into eight legislative districts in theMissouri House of Representatives; six of which are held by Republicans and two Democratic seats.[24]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Bishop Davidson | 15,609 | 76.83% | +5.61 | |
| Democratic | Dave Gragg | 4,665 | 22.96% | −5.75 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Bill Owen | 10,827 | 65.64% | −1.59 | |
| Democratic | Allison Schoolcraft | 5,642 | 34.21% | +1.63 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Crystal Quade | 6,289 | 59.17% | −5.0 | |
| Republican | Sara Semple | 4,320 | 40.64% | +5.09 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Curtis D. Trent | 13,037 | 64.94% | +.67 | |
| Democratic | Cindy Slimp | 7,005 | 34.90% | −.69 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Alex Riley | 10,469 | 55.72% | 1.17 | |
| Democratic | Derrick Nowlin | 8,291 | 44.13% | +1.15 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Betsy Fogle | 8,555 | 48.20% | +1.17 | |
| Republican | Steve Helms | 8,476 | 47.75% | −4.91 | |
| Green | Vicke Kepling | 696 | 3.92% | +3.92 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Craig Fishel | 13,739 | 58.53% | +1.39 | |
| Democratic | Jeff Munzinger | 9,709 | 41.36% | −1.39 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | John Black | 9,307 | 76.70% | +29.12 | |
| Democratic | Raymond Lampert | 2,817 | 23.22% | −2.13 | |
| Libertarian | Bill Boone | 255 | 4.60% | −14.97 | |
Greene County is divided into two districts in theMissouri Senate, both of which represented by Republicans: District 20, representing large parts of Greene andChristian County, and District 30, representing mostly the city of Springfield.[27]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Eric Burlison | 35,411 | 72.95% | N/A | |
| Democratic | Jim Billedo | 13,098 | 26.96% | N/A | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Lincoln Hough | 34,987 | 53.16% | N/A | |
| Democratic | Charlie Norr | 30,690 | 46.63% | N/A | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Roy Blunt | 72,993 | 56.22% | +11.79 | |
| Democratic | Jason Kander | 50,967 | 39.26% | −8.92 | |
| Libertarian | Jonathan Dine | 3,626 | 2.79% | −4.60 | |
| Green | Johnathan McFarland | 1,256 | 0.97% | +0.97 | |
| Constitution | Fred Ryman | 978 | 0.75% | +0.75 | |
| Write-In | Write-ins | 7 | 0.01% | +0.01 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Todd Akin | 55,304 | 44.43% | ||
| Democratic | Claire McCaskill | 59,979 | 48.18% | ||
| Libertarian | Jonathan Dine | 9,197 | 7.39% | ||
All of Greene County is included inMissouri's 7th Congressional District and is currently represented byBilly Long (R-Springfield) in theU.S. House of Representatives.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Billy Long | 74,876 | 58.57% | +4.75 | |
| Democratic | Genevieve Williams | 45,382 | 35.50% | −2.19 | |
| Libertarian | Benjamin T. Brixey | 7,580 | 5.93% | −2.56 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Billy Long | 33,738 | 53.82% | −3.08 | |
| Democratic | Jim Evans | 23,624 | 37.69% | +0.14 | |
| Libertarian | Kevin Craig | 5,323 | 8.49% | +2.94 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Billy Long | 70,212 | 56.90% | ||
| Democratic | Jim Evans | 46,331 | 37.55% | ||
| Libertarian | Kevin Craig | 6,850 | 5.55% | ||
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1888 | 4,934 | 50.68% | 3,984 | 40.92% | 818 | 8.40% |
| 1892 | 4,839 | 45.81% | 4,051 | 38.35% | 1,673 | 15.84% |
| 1896 | 5,808 | 47.58% | 6,327 | 51.83% | 72 | 0.59% |
| 1900 | 6,009 | 50.65% | 5,519 | 46.52% | 336 | 2.83% |
| 1904 | 6,570 | 54.98% | 4,540 | 37.99% | 839 | 7.02% |
| 1908 | 6,439 | 49.81% | 5,830 | 45.10% | 659 | 5.10% |
| 1912 | 4,350 | 34.63% | 5,089 | 40.52% | 3,121 | 24.85% |
| 1916 | 7,543 | 48.95% | 7,191 | 46.66% | 676 | 4.39% |
| 1920 | 15,755 | 56.02% | 11,514 | 40.94% | 857 | 3.05% |
| 1924 | 13,618 | 45.74% | 13,084 | 43.95% | 3,069 | 10.31% |
| 1928 | 22,166 | 66.86% | 10,901 | 32.88% | 84 | 0.25% |
| 1932 | 13,943 | 42.52% | 18,255 | 55.67% | 596 | 1.82% |
| 1936 | 17,298 | 44.46% | 21,489 | 55.23% | 119 | 0.31% |
| 1940 | 21,456 | 49.10% | 22,130 | 50.65% | 109 | 0.25% |
| 1944 | 21,531 | 55.37% | 17,287 | 44.46% | 68 | 0.17% |
| 1948 | 18,836 | 47.49% | 20,762 | 52.34% | 66 | 0.17% |
| 1952 | 29,673 | 60.57% | 19,234 | 39.26% | 81 | 0.17% |
| 1956 | 29,944 | 59.71% | 20,206 | 40.29% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 36,943 | 64.36% | 20,457 | 35.64% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 23,989 | 44.33% | 30,130 | 55.67% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 32,638 | 55.27% | 19,659 | 33.29% | 6,751 | 11.43% |
| 1972 | 48,348 | 70.58% | 20,155 | 29.42% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1976 | 37,691 | 52.20% | 33,824 | 46.84% | 690 | 0.96% |
| 1980 | 43,116 | 55.69% | 30,498 | 39.39% | 3,811 | 4.92% |
| 1984 | 57,250 | 67.18% | 27,965 | 32.82% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1988 | 52,211 | 59.36% | 35,475 | 40.33% | 267 | 0.30% |
| 1992 | 46,457 | 43.95% | 41,137 | 38.91% | 18,119 | 17.14% |
| 1996 | 48,193 | 49.60% | 39,300 | 40.45% | 9,671 | 9.95% |
| 2000 | 59,178 | 57.50% | 41,091 | 39.92% | 2,657 | 2.58% |
| 2004 | 77,885 | 62.18% | 46,657 | 37.25% | 724 | 0.58% |
| 2008 | 77,683 | 57.06% | 56,181 | 41.26% | 2,283 | 1.68% |
| 2012 | 76,900 | 60.83% | 46,219 | 36.56% | 3,300 | 2.61% |
| 2016 | 78,035 | 59.79% | 42,728 | 32.74% | 9,760 | 7.48% |
| 2020 | 83,630 | 58.78% | 55,068 | 38.71% | 3,574 | 2.51% |
| 2024 | 85,956 | 59.33% | 55,971 | 38.63% | 2,949 | 2.04% |
Voters in Greene County from both political parties supported candidates who finished in second place in the state at large and nationally. During the 2008 presidential primary,U.S. SenatorHillary Clinton (D-New York) received more votes, a total of 18,322, in Greene County than any other candidate from either party.
School districts include:[31]
Places adjacent to Greene County, Missouri | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofGreene County, Missouri,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Townships | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Former settlement | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
