Platte County Courthouse inPlatte City was built after the original courthouse was burned with the rest of Platte City during theAmerican Civil War.Blanche Barrow was held at the adjoining jail following aBonnie & Clyde shootout just south of Platte City.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 427 square miles (1,110 km2), of which 420 square miles (1,100 km2) is land and 6.6 square miles (17 km2) (1.5%) is water.[4] The county's southwestern border withKansas is formed by theMissouri River.
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 106,718. The median age was 38.3 years. 23.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 15.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.2 males age 18 and over.[10]
86.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 13.6% lived in rural areas.[12]
There were 42,452 households in the county, of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 24.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[10]
There were 45,307 housing units, of which 6.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 65.0% were owner-occupied and 35.0% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.2%.[10]
Platte County, Missouri – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
As of thecensus[22] of 2000, there were 73,781 people, 29,278 households, and 20,231 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 176 people per square mile (68 people/km2). There were 30,902 housing units at an average density of 74 units per square mile (29/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 91.45%White, 3.49%Black orAfrican American, 0.46%Native American, 1.48%Asian, 0.20%Pacific Islander, 1.05% fromother races, and 1.87% from two or more races. Approximately 3.00% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 23.4% were ofGerman, 12.5%Irish, 12.2%American and 11.4%English ancestry.
There were 29,278 households, out of which 34.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.00% weremarried couples living together, 8.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.90% were non-families. 24.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.80% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 32.60% from 25 to 44, 24.50% from 45 to 64, and 8.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $55,849, and the median income for a family was $65,236. Males had a median income of $44,310 versus $31,005 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $26,356. About 3.30% of families and 4.80% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 5.70% of those under age 18 and 5.70% of those age 65 or over.
Metropolitan Community College has a service area that includes all of the county, though only the portion in the Park Hill school district is in the community college district's in-district taxation zone.[24]
TheRepublican Party controls politics at the local level in Platte County. Republicans hold all of the elected positions in the county. However,GovernorJay Nixon carried the county in his two successful elections, and in 2004,Claire McCaskill of Jackson County narrowly won a majority of the county's votes over Republican victorMatt Blunt. While the county has swung to the Republican party, the presence ofKansas City has helped keep the county competitive into the 21st century.
District 13 —Sean Pouche (R-Kansas City). Consists of the communities of Platte City, Weston, Farley, Ferrelview, and a part of the city of Kansas City. District 13 also consists of portions ofBuchanan County.
Missouri House of Representatives - District 13 - Platte County (2024)[27]
District 14 –Ashley Aune (D-Kansas City). Consists of the communities of Houston Lake, Lake Waukomis, Weatherby Lake, Northmoor, and part of the city of Kansas City.
Missouri House of Representatives - District 14 - Platte County (2024)[27]
Along with Buchanan County, all of Platte County is a part of Missouri's 34th District in theMissouri Senate and is currently represented byTony Luetkemeyer (R-Parkville).
Missouri Senate — District 34 — Platte County (2022)[28]
FormerU.S. SenatorHillary Clinton (D-New York) received more votes, a total of 5,434, than any candidate from either party in Platte County during the 2008 presidential primary.
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