Jackson County, Missouri | |
|---|---|
 TheJackson County Courthouse in Independence | |
 Flag | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofMissouri | |
 Missouri's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:39°01′N94°20′W / 39.01°N 94.34°W /39.01; -94.34 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Missouri |
| Founded | December 15, 1826 |
| Named after | Andrew Jackson |
| Seat | Independence andKansas City |
| Largest city | Kansas City |
| Area | |
• Total | 616 sq mi (1,600 km2) |
| • Land | 604 sq mi (1,560 km2) |
| • Water | 12 sq mi (31 km2) 1.9% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 717,204 |
• Estimate (2023) | 718,560 |
| • Density | 1,190/sq mi (458/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional districts | 4th,5th,6th |
| Website | www |
Jackson County is located in the western portion of theU.S. state ofMissouri, on the border with Kansas. As of the2020 census, the population was 717,204.[1] making it the second-most populous county in the state (afterSt. Louis County in the east).[2][3] The county seats areIndependence andKansas City,[4] making Jackson County one of 33U.S. counties with more than one county seat. The county was organized December 15, 1826, and named for formerTennessee senatorAndrew Jackson, who would becomePresident of the United States three years later in 1829.
Jackson County was long home to members of the indigenousOsage tribe, who occupied this territory at the time of European encounter. The first known European explorers wereFrenchtrappers who used theMissouri River as a highway for explorations and trading with regionalNative American tribes. Jackson County was claimed as a part of the territory ofNew France, until 1763 and theBritish victory in theFrench and Indian War. After that, France ceded this territory west of the Mississippi River to Great Britain's ally,Spain. In 1800 Spain was forced by France in theThird Treaty of San Ildefonso to return itsLouisiana Territory (of which modern Jackson County formed a part) to France. Soon abandoning its claims in North America, Napoleon of France sold the territory to the United States in theLouisiana Purchase of 1803.
Operating on behalf of PresidentThomas Jefferson, explorersMeriwether Lewis andWilliam Clark passed through Jackson County on their notableLewis and Clark Expedition in 1804, to survey peoples, property and resources of theLouisiana Territory. Among other items, their report indicated a "high, commanding position" along the river within the current boundaries of Jackson County; in 1808Fort Osage was constructed there. This stockade and trading post was one of the first U.S. military installations within the Louisiana Purchase territory, and remained active until 1822.
In 1821, Jackson County was included in the newly admitted state ofMissouri. Jackson County was organized on December 15, 1826, and named forAndrew Jackson,U.S. Senator from Tennessee and military hero of theWar of 1812, who would ascend to thePresidency shortly after, in 1829.[5][6] Its county seat was designated as Independence, then a minuscule settlement near a spring. However, the rapid increase in westward exploration and expansion ultimately resulted in Independence becoming the starting point for three of the great Westward Trails: theSanta Fe Trail, theOregon Trail, and theCalifornia Trail. Following theAmerican Civil War and construction of railroads through this area, nearby Kansas City, Missouri, ultimately eclipsed Independence, though both towns remain county seats.
In 1838, the "Town Company" bought a small piece of land along the Missouri River in northern Jackson County, establishing "Westport Landing" (today this is known as theRiver Market district). The area outside Westport Landing was renamed in 1839 as the "Town of Kansas", after the localKanza or Kaw tribe.
The town was chartered by Jackson County in 1850 and incorporated by the State of Missouri in 1853 as the "City of Kansas". In 1889, with a population of around 60,000, the city adopted a new charter and changed its name to Kansas City. In 1897, Kansas City annexed Westport.
Jackson County figures prominently in the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, also known as Mormons. The Church was formed in Palmyra,New York, in 1830, located in Western New York, north of the Finger Lakes Region. March 1831 PresidentJoseph Smith said that a location on the Missouri–Kansas border was to be thelatter-day "New Jerusalem"[7] with the "center place" located in Independence, thecounty seat.[8] Traveling to the area in the summer of 1831, Smith and some associates formally proclaimed Jackson County as the site in a ceremony in August 1831.[9]
Leadership and members of the Church began moving to Jackson County soon after but open conflict with earlier settlers ensued, driven by religious and cultural differences. Many early settlers along the Missouri River had come from the upper South: Kentucky and Tennessee, for instance, and brought their slaves andpro-slavery customs with them. They believed that the "Yankee" Mormons, from New York and northern states, wereabolitionists.[10] Mobs in the public and private sector used force to drive individual Saints from Jackson to nearby counties within Missouri and put Latter Day Saints on notice that they had until November 6, 1833, to leave the countyen masse. On November 23, 1833, the few remaining LDS residents wereordered to leave Jackson County. By mid-1839, following theMissouri Mormon War, the Mormons were driven from the state altogether. They did not return to Jackson County or Missouri in significant numbers until 1867, two years after the end of the Civil War.
During theCivil War, Jackson County was the scene of several engagements, the most notable of which was theBattle of Westport in 1864, sometimes referred to as "theGettysburg of Missouri". The Union victory here firmly established Northern control of Missouri, and led to the failure of Confederate GeneralSterling Price'sMissouri expedition. Other noteworthy battles were fought inIndependence in 1862,Lone Jack a few days later, and again inIndependence in 1864.
Jackson County was strongly affected by Union GeneralThomas Ewing's infamousGeneral Order No. 11 (1863). With large numbers of Confederate sympathizers living within its boundaries, and active Confederate operations in the area a frequent occurrence, the Union command was determined to deprive Confederatebushwhackers of all local support. Ewing's decree practically emptied the rural portions of the county, and resulted in the burning of large portions of Jackson and adjacent counties. According to American artistGeorge Caleb Bingham, who described the order as "imbecilic" and was a resident of Kansas City at the time, one could see the "dense columns of smoke arising in every direction", symbolic of what he termed "a ruthless military despotism which spared neither age, sex, character, nor condition". Because of the destruction carried out under the order, its legacy haunted Jackson County for decades after the war.
The coming of the railroads and the building of stockyards led to the rapid expansion of Kansas City in the late 19th century. During the 1920s and '30s, the city became a noted center forJazz andBlues music, as well as the headquarters ofHallmark Cards and the site ofWalt Disney's first animation studio. The county fared better than many during theGreat Depression, as local political bossThomas Pendergast worked to implement a $50,000,000 public works project that provided thousands of jobs. One of Pendergast's political protegés was a youngWorld War I veteran from Independence,Harry S. Truman, who had been his nephew's commanding officer in the war. Truman was elected Presiding Judge (equivalent to a County Executive) of Jackson County with Pendergast support in 1926. He later was elected as aU.S. Senator from Missouri,Vice President and, in 1945, following the death ofFranklin D. Roosevelt, succeeded him to become the thirty-thirdPresident of the United States. Truman was also elected president in 1948 in his own right.
FollowingWorld War II, developers followed new highways and created subdivisions for new housing, which increasingly encroached on rural portions of the county. They provided housing for the nation's returning veterans and their young families. Independence,Blue Springs andLee's Summit underwent growth during this period, which continues to the present. Kansas City, on the other hand, suffered problems ofurban decay as jobs and families left the industrial city, problems common to many large American cities in the late 20th century.
Recent building projects have sought to reverse this trend, including work on the city's famous City Market,Westport district,18th and Vine Historic District, and most recently, theKansas City Power & Light District.[11]
In 2024, the statues of Andrew Jackson were voted about whether to remove as to not idolize a slave owner or not. The plaques added in 2021 to the statues to hopefully add context and support for keeping the statues,[12] wording it acknowledge Jackson was a slave owner and also supported theIndian Removal Act.[13]
Some of the county's local history is presented at thePleasant Hill Historical Society Museum, inPleasant Hill on the southern edge of the county.
The total employment as of September 2024 is 1,142,105.[14]
Jackson County was the second county to adopt a home-rulecharter under theMissouri Constitution. The Jackson County Charter was adopted by the voters in 1970 and was amended in 1985 and 1986.[15]
Executive power of the county is vested in thecounty executive, which is a full-time salaried position. The county executive is electedat-large by the general population of the county for a four-year term,[16] but may berecalled by referendum.[17]
TheCounty Prosecutor is a full-time salaried position electedat-large by the general population of the county for a four-year term[18]
Ordinances are passed by a county legislature. The legislature is made up of nine members: six are elected from smaller,single-member districts within the county. Three are elected "at large" from larger districts, each by voters of the whole county. Member terms are 4 years, beginning on January 1 following the election.[19]
| Position | Name | Party | First Elected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Executive | Phil LeVota[20] | — | 2025[17] |
| Prosecutor | Melesa Johnson | Democratic | 2025 |
| Sheriff | Darryl Forté | Democratic | 2018 |
| At-large Legislator | Jalen Anderson | Democratic | 2018 |
| At-large Legislator | Donna Peyton | Democratic | 2022 |
| At-large Legislator | Megan Marshall | Democratic | 2022 |
| Legislator District 1 | Manny Abarca IV | Democratic | 2022 |
| Legislator District 2 | Venessa Huskey | Democratic | 2022 |
| Legislator District 3 | Charlie Franklin | Democratic | 2018 |
| Legislator District 4 | DaRon McGee | Democratic | 2022 |
| Legislator District 5 | Jeanie Lauer | Republican | 2018 |
| Legislator District 6 | Sean Smith | Republican | 2022 |
There are 244,570 registered voters.[21]
TheCounty Sheriff is a full-time salaried position elected by the general population of the county for a four-year term[22] As of 2021[update] the sheriff is Darryl Forté.[23] The Sheriff's Office is also responsible for the county's jail.[24]
Sheriff Mike Sharp resigned in April 2018 amidst scandal. He was the subject of a lawsuit that alleged sexual misconduct, personal use of public funds and sexual harassment.[25] Sheriff Darryl Forté was then appointed. He had recently retired as the chief of theKansas City Police Department. He was elected to a full term in November of that year.[26]
In mid-2019, Sheriff Forté directed a more-restrictive policy on high-speed pursuits the day after one of his deputies was charged with injuring a bystander during such a chase in May 2018.[27]
Jackson County is the only county that falls under the jurisdiction of the 16th Judicial Circuit of theMissouri Circuit Courts. The Court seats 19 Circuit Judges and 10 Associate Circuit Judges. All Judges of the court are appointed by theGovernor of Missouri, Circuit Judges serve a term of six years and Associate judges serve a term of four years.[28]
As of February 10, 2021[update]:
| Judges | Year Appointed | Appointed by | Term ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presiding Judge Jalilah Otto | 2017 | Eric Greitens (R) | 2024 |
| Judge Justine E. Del Muro | 1993 | Mel Carnahan (D) | 2024 |
| Judge Marco A. Roldan | 1999 | Mel Carnahan (D) | 2024 |
| Judge John M. Torrence | 2001 | Bob Holden (D) | 2026 |
| Judge Joel P. Fahnestock | 2009 | Matt Blunt (R) | 2028 |
| Judge J. Dale Youngs | 2009 | Jay Nixon (D) | 2028 |
| Judge James F. Kanatzar | 2011 | Jay Nixon (D) | 2024 |
| Judge Charles H. McKenzie | 2011 | Jay Nixon (D) | 2024 |
| Judge Kevin D. Harrell | 2012 | Jay Nixon (D) | 2026 |
| Judge Patrick W. Campbell | 2013 | Jay Nixon (D) | 2026 |
| Judge Kenneth R. Garrett III | 2013 | Jay Nixon (D) | 2026 |
| Judge S. Margene Burnett | 2013 | Jay Nixon (D) | 2028 |
| Judge Bryan E. Round | 2014 | Jay Nixon (D) | 2028 |
| Judge Jennifer M. Phillips | 2015 | Jay Nixon (D) | 2028 |
| Judge Mark A. Styles, Jr. | 2016 | Jay Nixon (D) | 2024 |
| Judge Cory L. Atkins | 2019 | Mike Parson (R) | 2026 |
| Judge Adam L. Caine | 2020 | Mike Parson (R) | 2028 |
| Judge Sarah A. Castle | 2020 | Mike Parson (R) | 2028 |
| Judge Jerri J. Zhang | 2021 | Mike Parson (R) | 2028 |
| Associate Judge Twila K. Rigby | 1997 | Mel Carnahan (D) | 2026 |
| Associate Judge Jeffrey L. Bushur | 2000 | Mel Carnahan (D) | 2026 |
| Associate Judge Mary F. Weir | 2013 | Jay Nixon (D) | 2026 |
| Associate Judge Jeffrey C. Keal | 2013 | Jay Nixon (D) | 2024 |
| Associate Judge Janette K. Rodecap | 2014 | Jay Nixon (D) | 2024 |
| Associate Judge Susan E. Long | 2015 | Jay Nixon (D) | 2026 |
| Associate Judge Kyndra J. Stockdale | 2019 | Mike Parson (R) | 2024 |
| Associate Judge R. Travis Willingham | 2019 | Mike Parson (R) | 2026 |
| Associate Judge Jessica Agnelly | 2020 | Mike Parson (R) | 2026 |
| Associate Judge Kea S. Bird-Riley | 2020 | Mike Parson (R) | 2026 |
Jackson County also has a municipal court with one judge. The Municipal Judge is appointed by the County Executive with approval by the County Legislature and they serve a four-year term.[29]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 616 square miles (1,600 km2), of which 604 square miles (1,560 km2) is land and 12 square miles (31 km2) (1.9%) is water.[30]
Notable Lakes include
TheMissouri River comprises Jackson County's northern border (with the exception of one small portion north of the river around the intersection of Highways 210 and291 as well as all of the 291 bridge). The county has historically been a major traveling point for American river travel.
Jackson County is one of the few counties in the US to border two counties of the same name in different states (Johnson County in Kansas and Missouri).
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1830 | 2,823 | — | |
| 1840 | 7,612 | 169.6% | |
| 1850 | 14,000 | 83.9% | |
| 1860 | 22,913 | 63.7% | |
| 1870 | 65,011 | 183.7% | |
| 1880 | 82,825 | 27.4% | |
| 1890 | 160,510 | 93.8% | |
| 1900 | 195,193 | 21.6% | |
| 1910 | 283,522 | 45.3% | |
| 1920 | 367,846 | 29.7% | |
| 1930 | 470,454 | 27.9% | |
| 1940 | 477,828 | 1.6% | |
| 1950 | 541,035 | 13.2% | |
| 1960 | 622,732 | 15.1% | |
| 1970 | 654,558 | 5.1% | |
| 1980 | 629,266 | −3.9% | |
| 1990 | 633,232 | 0.6% | |
| 2000 | 654,880 | 3.4% | |
| 2010 | 674,158 | 2.9% | |
| 2020 | 717,204 | 6.4% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 718,560 | [31] | 0.2% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[32] 1790-1960[33] 1900-1990[34] 1990-2000[35] 2010-2020[1] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[36] | Pop 1990[37] | Pop 2000[38] | Pop 2010[39] | Pop 2020[40] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 479,663 | 470,011 | 443,427 | 426,574 | 419,542 | 76.23% | 74.22% | 67.71% | 63.28% | 58.50% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 125,077 | 134,828 | 151,333 | 159,442 | 156,542 | 19.88% | 21.29% | 23.11% | 23.65% | 21.83% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 2,273 | 2,825 | 2,775 | 2,668 | 2,713 | 0.36% | 0.45% | 0.42% | 0.40% | 0.38% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 4,476 | 6,145 | 8,307 | 10,621 | 14,981 | 0.71% | 0.97% | 1.27% | 1.58% | 2.09% |
| Native Hawaiian orPacific Islander alone (NH) | x[41] | x[42] | 1,093 | 1,492 | 1,727 | x | x | 0.17% | 0.22% | 0.24% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 1,285 | 533 | 894 | 846 | 3,083 | 0.20% | 0.08% | 0.14% | 0.13% | 0.43% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x[43] | x[44] | 11,891 | 16,081 | 40,831 | x | x | 1.82% | 2.39% | 5.69% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 16,492 | 18,890 | 35,160 | 56,434 | 77,785 | 2.62% | 2.98% | 5.37% | 8.37% | 10.85% |
| Total | 629,266 | 633,232 | 654,880 | 674,158 | 717,204 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
The most reported ancestries in2020 were:[45]
As of the 2010 census Jackson County had a population of 674,158. The racial and ethnic makeup of the population was 63.3% non-Hispanic white, 23.7% non-Hispanic black, 0.5% Native American, 1.6% Asian, 0.4% Pacific Islander alone or in combination with one or more other races, 0.1% non-Hispanic from some other race, 3.8% reporting two or more races and 8.4% Hispanic or Latino.[46]
As of thecensus of 2000, there were 654,880 people, 266,294 households, and 166,167 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,083 inhabitants per square mile (418/km2). There were 288,231 housing units at an average density of 476 per square mile (184/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 70.10%White, 23.27%Black orAfrican American, 0.48%Native American, 1.28%Asian, 0.18%Pacific Islander, 2.43% fromother races, and 2.25% from two or more races. 5.37% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 16.7% were ofGerman, 9.1%American, 8.9%Irish and 8.8%English ancestry.
There were 266,294 households, out of which 29.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.40% weremarried couples living together, 14.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.60% were non-families. 31.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.80% under the age of 18, 9.10% from 18 to 24, 31.10% from 25 to 44, 21.50% from 45 to 64, and 12.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $39,277, and the median income for a family was $48,435. Males had a median income of $35,798 versus $27,403 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $20,788. About 9.00% of families and 11.90% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 16.40% of those under age 18 and 8.70% of those age 65 or over.
According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2010), Jackson County is sometimes regarded as being on the northern edge of the Bible Belt, with evangelical Protestantism being the most predominant religion. The most predominant denominations among residents in Jackson County who adhere to a religion areRoman Catholics (19.51%),Southern Baptists (17.96%), andnon-denominational evangelical Christians (11.52%).
Jackson County is a solidly Democratic county and has remained so even as most other parts of the state of Missouri have trended rightward. The last Republican presidential candidate to carry the county wasRichard Nixon in1972, the only Republican to do so since 1932.John Ashcroft was the last Republican gubernatorial candidate in1988 andKit Bond for the Senate in1998.Tom Schweich is the last Statewide Republican candidate to win the county in his landslide victory for State Auditor in2014.
The county's Democratic lean is due almost entirely to the presence of Kansas City. In 2008, for example,John McCain barely carried the areas of the county outside Kansas City, butBarack Obama carried Kansas City by a nearly 3-to-1 margin, enough for him to carry the county as a whole with 62 percent of the vote.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1888 | 14,350 | 46.64% | 15,663 | 50.91% | 752 | 2.44% |
| 1892 | 11,044 | 39.02% | 15,825 | 55.90% | 1,438 | 5.08% |
| 1896 | 18,711 | 46.94% | 20,705 | 51.94% | 446 | 1.12% |
| 1900 | 21,581 | 47.74% | 22,542 | 49.87% | 1,083 | 2.40% |
| 1904 | 25,794 | 53.16% | 20,582 | 42.42% | 2,145 | 4.42% |
| 1908 | 26,998 | 45.18% | 31,461 | 52.65% | 1,301 | 2.18% |
| 1912 | 5,618 | 8.89% | 32,209 | 50.97% | 25,367 | 40.14% |
| 1916 | 32,943 | 41.68% | 44,556 | 56.38% | 1,530 | 1.94% |
| 1920 | 79,875 | 50.49% | 76,791 | 48.54% | 1,548 | 0.98% |
| 1924 | 91,141 | 51.79% | 76,002 | 43.19% | 8,839 | 5.02% |
| 1928 | 126,589 | 56.59% | 96,703 | 43.23% | 385 | 0.17% |
| 1932 | 83,214 | 32.39% | 172,456 | 67.13% | 1,215 | 0.47% |
| 1936 | 79,119 | 26.79% | 215,120 | 72.84% | 1,080 | 0.37% |
| 1940 | 101,568 | 42.46% | 137,285 | 57.39% | 366 | 0.15% |
| 1944 | 95,406 | 45.51% | 113,803 | 54.29% | 423 | 0.20% |
| 1948 | 86,471 | 38.17% | 139,186 | 61.44% | 870 | 0.38% |
| 1952 | 133,093 | 48.88% | 138,792 | 50.97% | 412 | 0.15% |
| 1956 | 122,182 | 47.78% | 133,522 | 52.22% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 123,589 | 46.38% | 142,869 | 53.62% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 78,766 | 32.81% | 161,290 | 67.19% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 91,086 | 39.22% | 112,154 | 48.30% | 28,980 | 12.48% |
| 1972 | 129,989 | 58.34% | 92,830 | 41.66% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1976 | 101,401 | 43.07% | 130,120 | 55.27% | 3,920 | 1.66% |
| 1980 | 106,156 | 41.36% | 135,805 | 52.91% | 14,726 | 5.74% |
| 1984 | 132,271 | 49.48% | 135,067 | 50.52% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1988 | 107,810 | 42.02% | 147,964 | 57.67% | 793 | 0.31% |
| 1992 | 78,611 | 26.96% | 145,999 | 50.06% | 67,027 | 22.98% |
| 1996 | 85,534 | 34.26% | 140,317 | 56.20% | 23,807 | 9.54% |
| 2000 | 104,418 | 38.38% | 160,419 | 58.96% | 7,225 | 2.66% |
| 2004 | 130,500 | 41.30% | 183,654 | 58.12% | 1,839 | 0.58% |
| 2008 | 124,687 | 36.75% | 210,824 | 62.14% | 3,755 | 1.11% |
| 2012 | 122,708 | 39.32% | 183,953 | 58.95% | 5,400 | 1.73% |
| 2016 | 116,211 | 38.14% | 168,972 | 55.46% | 19,504 | 6.40% |
| 2020 | 126,535 | 37.88% | 199,842 | 59.82% | 7,678 | 2.30% |
| 2024 | 125,610 | 39.29% | 187,026 | 58.50% | 7,092 | 2.22% |
School districts include:[48]
Metropolitan Community College has its taxation area in all parts of the county except for the one in the Lone Jack C-6 school district; in that portion, it is in the college's service area, but not the in-district taxation zone.[49]
Places adjacent to Jackson County, Missouri | |
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Municipalities and communities ofJackson County, Missouri,United States | ||
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| Other communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
39°01′N94°20′W / 39.01°N 94.34°W /39.01; -94.34
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