Daviess County, Missouri | |
|---|---|
 Daviess County Courthouse in Gallatin | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofMissouri | |
 Missouri's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:39°58′N93°59′W / 39.96°N 93.99°W /39.96; -93.99 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Missouri |
| Founded | December 29, 1836 |
| Named after | MajorJoseph Hamilton Daviess |
| Seat | Gallatin |
| Largest city | Gallatin |
| Area | |
• Total | 569 sq mi (1,470 km2) |
| • Land | 563 sq mi (1,460 km2) |
| • Water | 5.8 sq mi (15 km2) 1.0% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 8,430 |
• Estimate (2024)[1] | 8,541 |
| • Density | 15/sq mi (5.8/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 6th |
| Website | www |
Daviess County is acounty located in theU.S. state ofMissouri. As of the2020 census, the population was 8,430.[2] Itscounty seat isGallatin.[3] The county was organized December 29, 1836, fromRay County and named for MajorJoseph Hamilton Daveiss, a soldier fromKentucky who was killed in 1811 at theBattle of Tippecanoe.[4]
The county includes the town ofJamesport, which has the largestAmish community in Missouri.
According toLatter Day Saint movement founderJoseph Smith,Adam-ondi-Ahman, situated in the central part of the county, was whereAdam and Eve relocated after being banished from theGarden of Eden. According toLDS tradition, the site is to be a gathering spot prior to theSecond Coming ofJesus Christ.
In 1838, two years after the county was organized, Joseph Smith's claims about the history of the area spurred in an influx of Mormon settlers. Non-Mormon residents feared they were going to lose control of the county and attempted to prevent Mormons from voting in theGallatin Election Day Battle. This was to be the first skirmish in theMormon War. Later, in retaliation for violence to their families and destruction of their property, someMormons burned and sacked Gallatin, Grindstone Fork, Millport and other smaller settlements. The plundered goods were deposited in theBishop's storehouse at Diahman.[5] Millport, which at the time was the largest city in the county and the center for trade, never recovered, and became a ghost town.[6] Missouri GovernorLilburn Boggs issued anExtermination Order to drive the Mormons from the state after arresting Joseph Smith and other leaders of the church.
Daviess County played a major role in the history of the outlawJames-Younger Gang. The first confirmed bank robbery involvingJesse James occurred on December 7, 1869, at the Daviess County Savings Association in Gallatin. John W. Sheets, the bank cashier, was killed in the process by Jesse James, who believed Sheets wasSamuel P. Cox, who had killed James's bushwhacker colleagueBloody Bill Anderson during theAmerican Civil War. On July 15, 1881, the gang was believed to have been responsible for the robbery of theRock Island Line at Winston in which a conductor and passenger were killed.
After Jesse James was murdered inSt. Joseph,Frank James surrendered in 1882 to face Daviess County charges in connection with the train robbery/murder as well as murder charges in the 1869 bank robbery. Frank James was tried from August 20 – September 6, 1883. Interest was so intense that the trial was moved to the Gallatin Opera House to accommodate the crowds. James was found not guilty of involvement in both crimes. Charges were made that the jury was filled with Southern sympathizers who refused to convict one of their own.[7]
The Daviess County Savings Association and the Gallatin Opera House have since been torn down, although the Winston Rock Island Line train station still stands and is operated by the local historical society as a museum.
Daviess County has one of only threeRotary Jails still in existence. Also known as the "Squirrel Cage Jail,"[8] it is now a museum and is on theNational Register of Historic Places.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 569 square miles (1,470 km2), of which 563 square miles (1,460 km2) is land and 5.8 square miles (15 km2) (1.0%) is water.[9]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1840 | 2,736 | — | |
| 1850 | 5,298 | 93.6% | |
| 1860 | 9,606 | 81.3% | |
| 1870 | 14,410 | 50.0% | |
| 1880 | 19,145 | 32.9% | |
| 1890 | 20,456 | 6.8% | |
| 1900 | 21,325 | 4.2% | |
| 1910 | 17,605 | −17.4% | |
| 1920 | 16,641 | −5.5% | |
| 1930 | 14,424 | −13.3% | |
| 1940 | 13,398 | −7.1% | |
| 1950 | 11,180 | −16.6% | |
| 1960 | 9,502 | −15.0% | |
| 1970 | 8,420 | −11.4% | |
| 1980 | 8,905 | 5.8% | |
| 1990 | 7,865 | −11.7% | |
| 2000 | 8,016 | 1.9% | |
| 2010 | 8,433 | 5.2% | |
| 2020 | 8,430 | 0.0% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 8,541 | 1.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[10] 1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12] 1990-2000[13] 2010-2020[2] 2024[1] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[14] | Pop 1990[15] | Pop 2000[16] | Pop 2010[17] | Pop 2020[18] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 8,832 | 7,781 | 7,877 | 8,211 | 7,924 | 99.18% | 98.93% | 98.27% | 97.37% | 94.00% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 6 | 2 | 4 | 23 | 31 | 0.07% | 0.03% | 0.05% | 0.27% | 0.37% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 10 | 24 | 28 | 23 | 27 | 0.11% | 0.31% | 0.35% | 0.27% | 0.32% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 5 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 16 | 0.06% | 0.15% | 0.07% | 0.06% | 0.19% |
| Native Hawaiian orPacific Islander alone (NH) | x[19] | x[20] | 15 | 2 | 10 | x | x | 0.19% | 0.02% | 0.12% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0.07% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x[21] | x[22] | 31 | 82 | 302 | x | x | 0.39% | 0.97% | 3.58% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 46 | 46 | 55 | 87 | 113 | 0.52% | 0.58% | 0.69% | 1.03% | 1.34% |
| Total | 8,905 | 7,865 | 8,016 | 8,433 | 8,430 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the2010 census,[23] there were 8,433 people, 3,214 households, and 2,489 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 15 people per square mile (5.8 people/km2). There were 4,199 housing units at an average density of 7 units per square mile (2.7/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.02%White, 0.27%Black orAfrican American, 0.38%Native American, 0.06%Asian, 0.02%Pacific Islander, 0.08% fromother races, and 1.16% from two or more races. Approximately 1.03% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 3,214 households, out of which 31.92% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.81% weremarried couples living together, 8.06% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.34% were non-families. 24.64% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.89% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.70% under the age of 18, 7.02% from 18 to 24, 21.81% from 25 to 44, 27.38% from 45 to 64, and 17.09% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 98.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $39,925, and the median income for a family was $48,839. Males had a median income of $33,882 versus $28,891 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $19,900. About 9.80% of families and 13.80% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 18.50% of those under age 18 and 11.60% of those age 65 or over.
Of adults 25 years of age and older in Daviess County, 84.0% possess a high school diploma or higher, while 14.4% hold a bachelor's degree or higher as their highest educational attainment.
School districts in the county include:[25]
Politics are predominantly controlled by theRepublican Party at the local level in Daviess County.
| Daviess County, Missouri | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Elected countywide officials | |||
| Assessor | Aaron Piburn | Republican | |
| Circuit Clerk | Sandy Dustman | Republican | |
| County Clerk | Rachel Taylor | Republican | |
| Collector | Lacey Corwin | Republican | |
| Commissioner (presiding) | Jim Ruse | Republican | |
| Commissioner (district 1) | David Cox | Republican | |
| Commissioner (district 2) | Wayne Uthe | Republican | |
| Coroner | Jason Smith | Republican | |
| Prosecuting Attorney | Andrea (Annie) Gibson | Democratic | |
| Public Administrator | Tammy Huffman | Republican | |
| Recorder | Tiffany Tadlock | Republican | |
| Sheriff | Larry Adams | Republican | |
| Treasurer | Lacey Corwin | Republican | |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third Parties |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 78.96%3,074 | 18.39%716 | 2.65%103 |
| 2020 | 77.21%2,975 | 20.11%775 | 2.67%103 |
| 2016 | 61.65%2,300 | 34.87%1,301 | 3.48%130 |
| 2012 | 48.28%1,697 | 48.11%1,691 | 3.61%127 |
| 2008 | 44.81%1,683 | 52.42%1,969 | 2.77%104 |
| 2004 | 55.52%2,091 | 42.96%1,618 | 1.51%57 |
| 2000 | 50.91%1,768 | 46.18%1,604 | 2.90%101 |
All of Daviess County is a part of Missouri's 2nd District in theMissouri House of Representatives and is currently represented byJ. Eggleston (R-Maysville). Eggleston was reelected to a fourth term in 2020.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | J. Eggleston | 3,087 | 81.86% | −16.83 | |
| Democratic | Mindi Smith | 684 | 18.14% | +18.14 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | J. Eggleston | 2,633 | 98.69% | −1.31 | |
| Write-ins | 35 | 1.31% | |||
All of Daviess County is a part of Missouri's 12th District in theMissouri Senate and is currently represented byDan Hegeman (R-Cosby). Hegeman won a second term in 2018.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Dan Hegeman | 2,216 | 75.37% | −24.63 | |
| Democratic | Terry Richard | 723 | 24.59% | +24.59% | |
| Write-ins | 1 | 0.03%% | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Dan Hegeman | 1,460 | 100.00% | ||
All of Daviess County is included inMissouri's 6th Congressional District and is currently represented bySam Graves (R-Tarkio) in theU.S. House of Representatives. Graves was elected to an eleventh term in2020 over Democratic challenger Gena Ross.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Sam Graves | 3,098 | 81.25% | +3.91 | |
| Democratic | Gena L. Ross | 633 | 16.60% | −2.96 | |
| Libertarian | Jim Higgins | 82 | 2.15% | −0.92 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Sam Graves | 2,321 | 77.34% | +0.83 | |
| Democratic | Henry Robert Martin | 587 | 19.56% | −0.48 | |
| Libertarian | Dan Hogan | 92 | 3.07% | +0.66 | |
| Write-ins | 1 | 0.03% | |||
Daviess 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 | 2,063 | 68.65% | 25.04 | |
| Democratic | Claire McCaskill | 815 | 27.12% | −19.96 | |
| Independent | Craig O'Dear | 58 | 1.86% | ||
| Libertarian | Japheth Campbell | 45 | 1.50% | −7.81 | |
| Green | Jo Crain | 23 | 0.77% | +0.77 | |
| Write-Ins | 3 | 0.10% | |||
Blunt was elected to a second term in2016 over then-Missouri Secretary of StateJason Kander.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Roy Blunt | 2,213 | 59.31% | +15.70 | |
| Democratic | Jason Kander | 1,266 | 33.93% | −13.15 | |
| Libertarian | Jonathan Dine | 149 | 3.99% | −5.32 | |
| Constitution | Fred Ryman | 55 | 1.47% | +1.47 | |
| Green | Johnathan McFarland | 48 | 1.29% | +1.29 | |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1888 | 2,049 | 44.21% | 2,320 | 50.05% | 266 | 5.74% |
| 1892 | 2,019 | 42.57% | 2,257 | 47.59% | 467 | 9.85% |
| 1896 | 2,330 | 42.33% | 3,125 | 56.77% | 50 | 0.91% |
| 1900 | 2,373 | 45.29% | 2,670 | 50.95% | 197 | 3.76% |
| 1904 | 2,568 | 50.31% | 2,344 | 45.92% | 192 | 3.76% |
| 1908 | 2,388 | 50.14% | 2,294 | 48.16% | 81 | 1.70% |
| 1912 | 1,099 | 23.72% | 2,284 | 49.29% | 1,251 | 27.00% |
| 1916 | 2,342 | 49.06% | 2,375 | 49.75% | 57 | 1.19% |
| 1920 | 4,458 | 54.92% | 3,560 | 43.85% | 100 | 1.23% |
| 1924 | 3,869 | 51.42% | 3,520 | 46.78% | 135 | 1.79% |
| 1928 | 4,254 | 60.28% | 2,789 | 39.52% | 14 | 0.20% |
| 1932 | 2,351 | 39.81% | 3,523 | 59.65% | 32 | 0.54% |
| 1936 | 3,924 | 49.66% | 3,953 | 50.03% | 25 | 0.32% |
| 1940 | 4,289 | 56.25% | 3,325 | 43.61% | 11 | 0.14% |
| 1944 | 3,597 | 58.31% | 2,567 | 41.61% | 5 | 0.08% |
| 1948 | 2,823 | 49.59% | 2,868 | 50.38% | 2 | 0.04% |
| 1952 | 3,845 | 61.21% | 2,424 | 38.59% | 13 | 0.21% |
| 1956 | 3,326 | 56.02% | 2,611 | 43.98% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 3,191 | 58.97% | 2,220 | 41.03% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 1,874 | 40.62% | 2,739 | 59.38% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 2,288 | 53.23% | 1,676 | 38.99% | 334 | 7.77% |
| 1972 | 2,840 | 66.51% | 1,430 | 33.49% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1976 | 1,919 | 45.79% | 2,250 | 53.69% | 22 | 0.52% |
| 1980 | 2,125 | 53.34% | 1,770 | 44.43% | 89 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | 2,414 | 61.27% | 1,526 | 38.73% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1988 | 1,765 | 50.17% | 1,743 | 49.55% | 10 | 0.28% |
| 1992 | 1,107 | 29.66% | 1,477 | 39.58% | 1,148 | 30.76% |
| 1996 | 1,321 | 39.40% | 1,534 | 45.75% | 498 | 14.85% |
| 2000 | 2,011 | 57.56% | 1,367 | 39.12% | 116 | 3.32% |
| 2004 | 2,351 | 61.97% | 1,402 | 36.95% | 41 | 1.08% |
| 2008 | 2,263 | 59.77% | 1,400 | 36.98% | 123 | 3.25% |
| 2012 | 2,290 | 65.04% | 1,125 | 31.95% | 106 | 3.01% |
| 2016 | 2,767 | 74.02% | 730 | 19.53% | 241 | 6.45% |
| 2020 | 3,102 | 79.31% | 746 | 19.07% | 63 | 1.61% |
| 2024 | 3,185 | 81.15% | 701 | 17.86% | 39 | 0.99% |
At the presidential level, Daviess County has become solidly Republican in recent years. Daviess County strongly favoredDonald Trump in both2016 and2020.Bill Clinton was the last Democratic presidential nominee to carry Daviess 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 sinceJimmy Carter in1976.
Like most rural areas throughout northwest Missouri, voters in Daviess County generally adhere to socially and culturallyconservative principles which tend to influence their Republican leanings, at least on the state and national levels. In 2004, Missourians voted ona constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman—it overwhelmingly passed in Daviess County with 79.58% of the vote. The initiative passed with 71% support from voters statewide. In 2006, Missourians voted ona constitutional amendment to fund and legalize embryonic stem cell research in the state—it failed in Daviess County with 50.96% voting against the measure. The initiative narrowly passed the state with 51% of support from voters as Missouri became one of the first states in the nation to approveembryonic stem cell research. Despite Daviess County's longstanding tradition of supporting socially conservative platforms, voters in the county have a penchant for advancingpopulist causes like 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 Daviess County with 68.25% of the vote. The proposition strongly passed every single county in Missouri with 78.99% voting in favor. (During the same election, voters in five other states also strongly approved increases in the minimum wage.) 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. 62.93% of Daviess 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 Daviess County by a wide margin. Biden went on to defeatPresidentDonald Trump in the general election.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Joe Biden | 302 | 70.73 | ||
| Democratic | Bernie Sanders | 94 | 22.01 | ||
| Democratic | Tulsi Gabbard | 5 | 1.17 | ||
| Democratic | Others/Uncommitted | 26 | 6.09 | ||
IncumbentPresidentDonald Trump (R-Florida) faced a primary challenge from formerMassachusetts GovernorBill Weld, but won both Daviess County and statewide by overwhelming margins.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Donald Trump | 486 | 96.24 | ||
| Republican | Bill Weld | 6 | 1.19 | ||
| Republican | Others/Uncommitted | 13 | 2.57 | ||
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 Daviess County. He went on to win the presidency.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Donald Trump | 634 | 50.32 | ||
| Republican | Ted Cruz | 410 | 32.54 | ||
| Republican | John Kasich | 105 | 8.33 | ||
| Republican | Marco Rubio | 74 | 5.87 | ||
| Republican | Others/Uncommitted | 37 | 2.94 | ||
On the Democratic side, formerSecretary of StateHillary Clinton (D-New York) both won statewide and carried Daviess County by a small margin.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Hillary Clinton | 239 | 51.07 | ||
| Democratic | Bernie Sanders | 221 | 47.22 | ||
| Democratic | Others/Uncommitted | 8 | 1.71 | ||
The 2012 Missouri Republican Presidential Primary's results were nonbinding on the state's national convention delegates. Voters in Daviess 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.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | John McCain | 236 | 29.99 | ||
| Republican | Mitt Romney | 220 | 27.95 | ||
| Republican | Mike Huckabee | 216 | 27.45 | ||
| Republican | Ron Paul | 95 | 12.07 | ||
| Republican | Others/Uncommitted | 20 | 2.54 | ||
Then-SenatorHillary Clinton (D-New York) received more votes than any candidate from either party in Daviess 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 | 534 | 62.75 | ||
| Democratic | Barack Obama | 283 | 33.25 | ||
| Democratic | Others/Uncommitted | 34 | 4.00 | ||
Places adjacent to Daviess County, Missouri | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||||||
Municipalities and communities ofDaviess County, Missouri,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| Villages | ||
| Townships | ||
| CDP | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
39°58′N93°59′W / 39.96°N 93.99°W /39.96; -93.99
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
.svg)
