Adair County, Missouri | |
|---|---|
 Adair County Courthouse in Kirksville | |
 Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofMissouri | |
| Coordinates:40°11′N92°36′W / 40.19°N 92.6°W /40.19; -92.6 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Missouri |
| Founded | January 29, 1841 |
| Named after | Adair County, Kentucky |
| Seat | Kirksville |
| Largest city | Kirksville |
| Area | |
• Total | 569 sq mi (1,470 km2) |
| • Land | 567 sq mi (1,470 km2) |
| • Water | 2.1 sq mi (5.4 km2) 0.4% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 25,314 |
| • Density | 44.6/sq mi (17.2/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 6th |
| Website | adaircountymissouri |
Adair County is acounty located in the northeastern part of theU.S. state ofMissouri. The population census for2020 was 25,314.[1] As of July 1, 2021, the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for the county is 25,185, a -0.5% change. Thecounty seat isKirksville.[2] The county was first settled by immigrants fromKentucky and organized on January 29, 1841. Adair County comprises the Kirksville, MOMicropolitan Statistical Area.
The first permanent settlement in Adair County began in 1828. Many of the first settlers were fromAdair County inKentucky, for which the Missouri county was named.[3] The county in Kentucky was named forJohn Adair, a respected Governor of Kentucky.[4][5] This was 25 years after theLouisiana Purchase, seven years after Missouri was granted statehood, and four years after the Sac and Fox Native American tribes surrendered their claims to the land. The original settlement was called "Cabins of White Folks," or, "The Cabins," and was located six miles (9.7 km) west of present-day Kirksville along theChariton River.
The Big Neck War: In July 1829, a large party of Iowa (or Ioway) Native Americans, led by Chief Big Neck, returned to their former hunting grounds in violation of treaty. One of the Ioway's dogs killed a pig, and some tribe members threatened (or insulted, according to some sources) the white women. The settlers sent messengers south toRandolph andMacon counties asking for help. Captain William Trammell responded with a party of some two dozen men to help. By the time of their arrival, the Ioways had left the area and moved up the Chariton into what is nowSchuyler County. Trammell's force, augmented by several of the men from The Cabins, pursued and engaged the Ioway at a place called Battle Creek, killing several Native Americans including Big Neck's brother, sister-in-law, and their child.[6] The Trammell party lost three men in the skirmish, including Captain Trammell himself, and one additional casualty died of his wounds shortly afterward. The surviving whites returned to the cabins, collected the women and children, and headed south for the Randolph County settlement of Huntsville. Later, a group of militia under General John B. Clark pursued and apprehended Big Neck and his braves, capturing them in March 1830. Several of them soon escaped from jail and fled to the current state ofIowa; however, Big Neck himself and the remainder were put on trial by a grand jury convened in Randolph County. The jury found on March 31, 1830, that: "After examining all the witnesses, and maturely considering the charges for which these Iowa Indians are now in confinement, we find them not guilty, and they are at once discharged."[7] The acquittal of Big Neck seemed to have brought the war to a peaceful, if uneasy, conclusion. A few months later, white settlers returned to The Cabins in greater numbers than before, and this time to stay permanently. The outbreak of theBlackhawk War in 1832 again caused consternation among the early settlers although all fighting was hundreds of miles away in present-dayIllinois andWisconsin. To ease fears in the area, militia units were dispatched and two small forts were constructed. One, Fort Clark, was located on high ground adjacent to The Cabins. Several miles to the northeast, another detachment of troops established Fort Matson. After months of no hostile Native American activity in the Adair County area, both forts were abandoned. The site of Fort Clark is now marked by a large boulder and plaque, while the Fort Matson site was later the location for a church and its name corrupted to Fort Madison (not to be confused with the Iowa city). The Fort Matson/Madison Cemetery remains.[8]
The Adair County courthouse is a three-storyRomanesque structure in the center of the Kirksville city square that was completed in 1899. The architect was Robert G. Kirsch who would later also design the courthouses forCarroll,Polk,Vernon, andCooper counties. The county had no dedicated courthouse from 1865 until 1899, operating out of temporary rented quarters on or near the square. The county voters finally approved a $50,000bond issue in 1897 to build the current courthouse after four failed attempts between 1872 and 1896. The courthouse was placed on theNational Register of Historic Places in 1978.[9][10]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 569 square miles (1,470 km2), of which 567 square miles (1,470 km2) is land and 2.1 square miles (5.4 km2) (0.4%) is water.[11]
 | This section needs to beupdated. The reason given is:New information is available from the 2010 and 2020 census reports.. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(August 2021) |
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 2,283 | — | |
| 1860 | 8,436 | 269.5% | |
| 1870 | 11,448 | 35.7% | |
| 1880 | 15,190 | 32.7% | |
| 1890 | 17,417 | 14.7% | |
| 1900 | 21,728 | 24.8% | |
| 1910 | 22,700 | 4.5% | |
| 1920 | 21,404 | −5.7% | |
| 1930 | 19,436 | −9.2% | |
| 1940 | 20,246 | 4.2% | |
| 1950 | 19,689 | −2.8% | |
| 1960 | 20,105 | 2.1% | |
| 1970 | 22,472 | 11.8% | |
| 1980 | 24,870 | 10.7% | |
| 1990 | 24,577 | −1.2% | |
| 2000 | 24,977 | 1.6% | |
| 2010 | 25,607 | 2.5% | |
| 2020 | 25,314 | −1.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[12] 1790-1960[13] 1900-1990[14] 1990-2000[15] 2010-2015[1] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[16] | Pop 1990[17] | Pop 2000[18] | Pop 2010[19] | Pop 2020[20] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 24,083 | 23,919 | 23,738 | 23,751 | 21,590 | 96.84% | 97.32% | 95.04% | 92.75% | 85.29% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 310 | 213 | 291 | 392 | 1,265 | 1.25% | 0.87% | 1.17% | 1.53% | 5.00% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 30 | 39 | 57 | 72 | 41 | 0.12% | 0.16% | 0.23% | 0.28% | 0.16% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 212 | 218 | 347 | 453 | 685 | 0.85% | 0.89% | 1.39% | 1.77% | 2.71% |
| Native Hawaiian orPacific Islander alone (NH) | x[21] | x[22] | 11 | 12 | 13 | x | x | 0.04% | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 99 | 6 | 13 | 14 | 50 | 0.40% | 0.02% | 0.05% | 0.05% | 0.20% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x[23] | x[24] | 205 | 390 | 1,009 | x | x | 0.82% | 1.52% | 3.99% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 136 | 182 | 315 | 523 | 661 | 0.55% | 0.74% | 1.26% | 2.04% | 2.61% |
| Total | 24,870 | 24,577 | 24,977 | 25,607 | 25,314 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 25,314. The median age was 30.5 years, 19.2% of residents were under the age of 18, and 15.8% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.9 males age 18 and over.[25]
66.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 33.5% lived in rural areas.[26]
The racial makeup of the county was 86.3% White, 5.1%Black or African American, 0.2%American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.7%Asian, 0.1%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 0.9% from some other race, and 4.8% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.6% of the population. The table above summarizes the county's 2020 racial and ethnic data.[27]
There were 9,886 households in the county, of which 25.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 30.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 34.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[25]
There were 11,338 housing units, of which 12.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 56.9% were owner-occupied and 43.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.8%.[25]
As of thecensus[28] of 2000, there were 24,977 people, 9,669 households, and 5,346 families residing in the county. The population density was 44 inhabitants per square mile (17/km2). There were 10,826 housing units at an average density of 19 units per square mile (7.3 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.82%White, 1.20%Black orAfrican American, 0.26%Native American, 1.39%Asian, 0.05%Pacific Islander, 0.41% fromother races, and 0.88% from two or more races. Approximately 1.26% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 9,669 households, out of which 25.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.50% weremarried couples living together, 7.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.70% were non-families. 31.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 19.20% under the age of 18, 27.40% from 18 to 24, 22.80% from 25 to 44, 18.40% from 45 to 64, and 12.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $26,677, and the median income for a family was $38,085. Males had a median income of $26,323 versus $21,837 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $15,484. About 11.90% of families and 23.30% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 16.80% of those under age 18 and 12.00% of those age 65 or over.
According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2010), Adair County is sometimes regarded as being on the northern edge of theBible Belt, with evangelical Protestantism being the most predominant religion. The most predominant denominations among residents in Adair County who adhere to a religion areSouthern Baptists (19.73%),United Methodists (14.27%), andRoman Catholics (12.72%).
School districts covering sections of Adair County include:Adair County R-I School District,Adair County R-II School District,Kirksville R-III School District, andLa Plata R-II School District.[29]
− ** La Plata R-2 Elementary School (K-06)− ** La Plata R-2 High School (07-12)−** The La Plata R-2 facilities are located inLa Plata, Missouri, in northernMacon County, Missouri, however, the district boundaries encompass part of southern Adair County as well.
Adair County is divided into tentownships:
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1888 | 2,228 | 57.87% | 1,531 | 39.77% | 91 | 2.36% |
| 1892 | 1,953 | 50.05% | 1,039 | 26.63% | 910 | 23.32% |
| 1896 | 2,402 | 50.63% | 2,311 | 48.71% | 31 | 0.65% |
| 1900 | 2,673 | 52.91% | 2,180 | 43.15% | 199 | 3.94% |
| 1904 | 2,791 | 57.76% | 1,687 | 34.91% | 354 | 7.33% |
| 1908 | 2,514 | 51.38% | 1,992 | 40.71% | 387 | 7.91% |
| 1912 | 1,427 | 29.16% | 1,784 | 36.46% | 1,682 | 34.38% |
| 1916 | 2,681 | 51.10% | 2,275 | 43.36% | 291 | 5.55% |
| 1920 | 4,861 | 61.70% | 2,534 | 32.17% | 483 | 6.13% |
| 1924 | 4,383 | 53.56% | 2,800 | 34.22% | 1,000 | 12.22% |
| 1928 | 5,538 | 65.70% | 2,841 | 33.71% | 50 | 0.59% |
| 1932 | 2,991 | 38.54% | 4,623 | 59.57% | 146 | 1.88% |
| 1936 | 4,685 | 46.26% | 5,315 | 52.48% | 127 | 1.25% |
| 1940 | 5,688 | 53.83% | 4,813 | 45.55% | 65 | 0.62% |
| 1944 | 4,909 | 57.48% | 3,606 | 42.22% | 26 | 0.30% |
| 1948 | 4,024 | 49.07% | 4,136 | 50.43% | 41 | 0.50% |
| 1952 | 5,748 | 63.03% | 3,339 | 36.61% | 33 | 0.36% |
| 1956 | 5,322 | 60.89% | 3,418 | 39.11% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 5,469 | 63.38% | 3,160 | 36.62% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 3,573 | 45.76% | 4,235 | 54.24% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 4,624 | 58.82% | 2,645 | 33.65% | 592 | 7.53% |
| 1972 | 6,157 | 72.92% | 2,286 | 27.08% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1976 | 5,249 | 57.47% | 3,684 | 40.34% | 200 | 2.19% |
| 1980 | 5,513 | 57.90% | 3,507 | 36.83% | 502 | 5.27% |
| 1984 | 6,430 | 67.34% | 3,119 | 32.66% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1988 | 5,721 | 61.29% | 3,571 | 38.26% | 42 | 0.45% |
| 1992 | 4,141 | 38.92% | 4,232 | 39.77% | 2,267 | 21.31% |
| 1996 | 4,656 | 44.78% | 4,441 | 42.71% | 1,300 | 12.50% |
| 2000 | 6,050 | 57.34% | 4,101 | 38.86% | 401 | 3.80% |
| 2004 | 6,367 | 55.83% | 4,938 | 43.30% | 99 | 0.87% |
| 2008 | 5,891 | 49.63% | 5,735 | 48.31% | 245 | 2.06% |
| 2012 | 5,651 | 55.81% | 4,219 | 41.67% | 256 | 2.53% |
| 2016 | 6,030 | 58.97% | 3,500 | 34.23% | 696 | 6.81% |
| 2020 | 6,413 | 62.05% | 3,710 | 35.89% | 213 | 2.06% |
| 2024 | 6,771 | 65.80% | 3,334 | 32.40% | 186 | 1.81% |
Adair County is governed by a three-member commission. The presiding commissioner is elected by the county voters at large. The first district and second district commissioners are voted on by the residents living in the eastern half of the county, and western half of the county respectively. Each commissioner has an equal vote in all county business. Most offices are housed in the Adair County Courthouse, a structure dating from 1896 and listed on theNational Register of Historic Places. The Adair County Sheriff's Office is located in the Adair County Detention Center one block north of the courthouse, while the Prosecuting Attorney's office resides in the County Annex building across from the detention center.
TheRepublican Party controls politics at the local level in Adair County. Republicans hold all but three of the elected positions in the county.
Adair County is split between two legislative districts in theMissouri House of Representatives, both of which are held by Republicans.
All of Adair County is a part of Missouri's 18th District in theMissouri Senate and is currently represented by Cindy O'Laughlin (R-Shelbina).
Media related toAdair County, Missouri at Wikimedia CommonsPlaces adjacent to Adair County, Missouri | |
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Municipalities and communities ofAdair County, Missouri,United States | ||
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| Townships | ||
| Other communities | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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