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Buchanan County, Missouri

Coordinates: 39°40′N 94°49′W / 39.67°N 94.81°W / 39.67; -94.81
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Buchanan County
County
The Buchanan County Courthouse in downtown St. Joseph
The Buchanan County Courthouse in downtown St. Joseph
Map of Missouri highlighting Buchanan County
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
Map of the United States highlighting Missouri
Missouri's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°40′N 94°49′W / 39.67°N 94.81°W / 39.67; -94.81
Country United States
State Missouri
FoundedDecember 31, 1838
Named forJames Buchanan
SeatSt. Joseph
Largest citySt. Joseph
Area
 • Total
415 sq mi (1,070 km2)
 • Land408 sq mi (1,060 km2)
 • Water6.6 sq mi (17 km2)  1.6%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
84,793 Decrease
 • Density200/sq mi (80/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district6th
Websitewww.co.buchanan.mo.us

Buchanan County is located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 84,793.[1] Its county seat is St. Joseph.[2] When originally formed in 1838, the county was named Roberts County, after settler Hiram Roberts. It was renamed in 1839 for James Buchanan, then a U.S. Senator and later President of the United States. The county was formed from land annexed to Missouri, as were five other counties. Buchanan County is included in the Kansas City CSA.

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 415 square miles (1,070 km2), of which 408 square miles (1,060 km2) is land and 6.6 square miles (17 km2) (1.6%) is water.[3]

Adjacent counties

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Major highways

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Transit

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18406,237—
185012,975108.0%
186023,86183.9%
187035,10947.1%
188049,79241.8%
189070,10040.8%
1900121,83873.8%
191093,020−23.7%
192093,6840.7%
193098,6335.3%
194094,067−4.6%
195096,8262.9%
196090,581−6.4%
197086,915−4.0%
198087,8881.1%
199083,083−5.5%
200085,9983.5%
201089,2013.7%
202084,793−4.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[4]
1790-1960[5] 1900-1990[6]
1990-2000[7] 2010-2015[1]

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 85,998 people, 33,557 households, and 21,912 families residing in the county. The population density was 210 inhabitants per square mile (81/km2). There were 36,574 housing units at an average density of 89 units per square mile (34/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.73% White, 4.36% Black or African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.65% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races. Approximately 2.43% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 33,557 households, out of which 30.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.30% were married couples living together, 12.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.70% were non-families. 28.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.50% 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 2.98.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.30% under the age of 18, 11.00% from 18 to 24, 28.50% from 25 to 44, 21.20% from 45 to 64, and 15.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,704, and the median income for a family was $42,408. Males had a median income of $31,697 versus $21,827 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,882. About 8.50% of families and 12.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.00% of those under age 18 and 9.60% of those age 65 or over.

Religion

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According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2010), Buchanan 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 Buchanan County who adhere to a religion are Southern Baptists (24.96%), Roman Catholics (20.35%), and nondenominational evangelical groups (15.95%).

2020 Census

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Buchanan County Racial Composition[10]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 68,391 80.7%
Black or African American (NH) 4,303 5.1%
Native American (NH) 323 0.4%
Asian (NH) 1,048 1.24%
Pacific Islander (NH) 426 0.5%
Other/Mixed (NH) 4,702 5.6%
Hispanic or Latino 5,600 6.6%

Education

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Public schools

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Private schools

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Colleges and Universities

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Public libraries

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  • Rolling Hills Consolidated Library—Belt Branch[11]
  • Saint Joseph Public Library[12]

Communities

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Cities

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Villages

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Unincorporated communities

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Townships

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Buchanan County is divided into 12 townships:

Notable people

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Politics

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Local

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The Republican Party predominantly controls politics at the local level in Buchanan County. Republicans hold all but two of the elected positions in the county.

Buchanan County, Missouri
Elected countywide officials
Assessor Dean Wilson Republican
Auditor Tara Horn Republican
Circuit Clerk Ashley Thrasher Republican
County Clerk Mary Baack-Garvey Republican
Collector Peggy Campbell Democratic
Commissioner
(Presiding)		 Lee Sawyer Republican
Commissioner
(Eastern District)		 Scott Burnham Republican
Commissioner
(Western District)		 Ron Hook Democratic
Prosecuting Attorney Michelle Davidson Republican
Public Administrator Annette Bertelsen Republican
Recorder Becky Dunlap Republican
Sheriff Bill Puett Republican
Treasurer David Gall Republican

State

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Past Gubernatorial Elections Results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2020 60.85% 22,147 36.34% 13,225 2.81% 1,022
2016 52.60% 18,714 43.92% 15,628 3.48% 1,238
2012 39.61% 13,810 56.46% 19,685 3.92% 1,368
2008 37.39% 14,442 59.94% 23,151 2.67% 1,028
2004 50.03% 18,967 48.31% 18,317 1.66% 629
2000 45.18% 15,602 52.12% 17,998 2.70% 930
1996 29.76% 9,731 67.41% 22,045 2.83% 925

Buchanan County is split between three legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives, all of which are held by Republicans.

Missouri House of Representatives - District 9 – Buchanan County (2020)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Dean Van Schoiack 6,598 65.10% +4.41
Democratic Karen Planalp 3,537 34.90% −4.41
Missouri House of Representatives — District 9 — Buchanan County (2018)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Shelia Solon 5,154 60.69% −39.31
Democratic Bob Bergland 3,338 39.31% +39.31
Missouri House of Representatives - District 10 – Buchanan County (2020)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Bill Falkner 7,110 61.03% +2.89
Democratic Colby Murphy 4,541 38.98% −2.89
Missouri House of Representatives — District 10 — Buchanan County (2018)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Bill Falkner 5,753 58.13% +58.13
Democratic Shane R. Thompson 4,144 41.87% −58.13
Missouri House of Representatives — District 11 — Buchanan County (2020)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Brenda Shields 9,737 70.29% +5.42
Democratic Brady Lee O'Dell 4,115 29.71% −5.42
Missouri House of Representatives — District 11 — Buchanan County (2018)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Brenda Shields 7,275 64.87% −35.13
Democratic Brady Lee O'Dell 3,940 35.13% +35.13

All of Buchanan County is a part of Missouri's 34th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Tony Luetkemeyer (R-Parkville).

Missouri Senate - District 34 – Buchanan County (2018)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Tony Luetkemeyer 15,903 53.34% −0.35
Democratic Martin T. Rucker II 13,913 46.66% +0.35
Missouri Senate - District 34 – Buchanan County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Rob Schaaf 11,068 53.69%
Democratic Robert Stuber 9,936 46.31%

Federal

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All of Buchanan County is included in Missouri's 6th Congressional District and is currently represented by Sam Graves (R-Tarkio) in the U.S. House of Representatives. Graves was elected to an eleventh term in 2020 over Democratic challenger Gena Ross.

U.S. House of Representatives – Missouri’s 6th Congressional District – Buchanan County (2020)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sam Graves 23,523 65.00% +3.33
Democratic Gena L. Ross 11,659 32.22% −2.58
Libertarian Jim Higgins 1,008 2.79% −0.75
U.S. House of Representatives – Missouri's 6th Congressional District – Buchanan County (2018)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sam Graves 18,471 61.67% −2.59
Democratic Henry Robert Martin 10,422 34.80% +2.97
Libertarian Dan Hogan 1,060 3.54% +1.04

Buchanan County, along with the rest of the state of Missouri, is represented in the U.S. Senate by Josh Hawley (R-Columbia) and Roy Blunt (R-Strafford).

U.S. Senate – Class I – Buchanan County (2018)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Josh Hawley 15,912 52.83% +18.59
Democratic Claire McCaskill 12,889 42.80% −15.93
Independent Craig O'Dear 617 2.05%
Libertarian Japheth Campbell 519 1.72% −5.31
Green Jo Crain 180 0.60% +0.60

Blunt was elected to a second term in 2016 over then-Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander.

U.S. Senate — Class III — Buchanan County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Roy Blunt 17,658 49.60% +15.36
Democratic Jason Kander 16,103 45.23% −13.50
Libertarian Jonathan Dine 1,043 2.93% −4.10
Green Johnathan McFarland 515 1.45% +1.45
Constitution Fred Ryman 282 0.79% +0.79

Political culture

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United States presidential election results for Buchanan County, Missouri[19]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 22,585 63.26% 12,584 35.25% 532 1.49%
2020 22,450 61.15% 13,445 36.62% 818 2.23%
2016 21,320 59.28% 12,013 33.40% 2,631 7.32%
2012 18,660 53.15% 15,594 44.42% 852 2.43%
2008 19,110 48.68% 19,164 48.81% 986 2.51%
2004 19,812 52.21% 17,799 46.90% 339 0.89%
2000 16,423 47.26% 17,085 49.16% 1,243 3.58%
1996 12,610 38.19% 15,848 48.00% 4,560 13.81%
1992 11,275 30.18% 16,570 44.35% 9,520 25.48%
1988 15,336 44.99% 18,601 54.57% 152 0.45%
1984 19,735 56.22% 15,369 43.78% 0 0.00%
1980 16,551 47.09% 16,967 48.27% 1,632 4.64%
1976 16,446 48.19% 17,427 51.07% 251 0.74%
1972 21,850 65.72% 11,395 34.28% 0 0.00%
1968 16,101 46.38% 15,860 45.69% 2,752 7.93%
1964 11,501 32.25% 24,164 67.75% 0 0.00%
1960 21,448 52.57% 19,348 47.43% 0 0.00%
1956 20,311 52.49% 18,384 47.51% 0 0.00%
1952 22,087 52.61% 19,854 47.29% 44 0.10%
1948 13,002 36.08% 22,975 63.76% 57 0.16%
1944 15,113 42.91% 20,091 57.04% 20 0.06%
1940 17,484 41.63% 24,482 58.30% 29 0.07%
1936 15,912 35.41% 28,825 64.15% 196 0.44%
1932 14,602 35.68% 26,060 63.68% 260 0.64%
1928 20,459 62.71% 12,110 37.12% 55 0.17%
1924 17,509 50.13% 14,759 42.26% 2,658 7.61%
1920 17,191 50.99% 16,188 48.02% 335 0.99%
1916 7,761 40.56% 10,973 57.35% 400 2.09%
1912 4,412 26.46% 8,869 53.18% 3,395 20.36%
1908 8,394 45.34% 9,836 53.13% 283 1.53%
1904 8,703 51.62% 7,736 45.89% 420 2.49%
1900 8,329 47.51% 8,925 50.91% 278 1.59%
1896 6,854 47.81% 7,336 51.17% 147 1.03%
1892 5,522 42.90% 6,949 53.99% 401 3.12%
1888 5,011 43.20% 6,369 54.91% 219 1.89%

At the presidential level, Buchanan County was a swing county that has become increasingly Republican in recent years. Buchanan County strongly favored Republican Donald Trump in 2016, 2020, and 2024. Barack Obama was the last Democratic presidential nominee to carry Buchanan County in 2008 with a plurality of the vote, but a Democrat hasn't won majority support from the county's voters in a presidential election since Michael Dukakis in 1988.

Buchanan County did vote to legalize abortion in Missouri, voting for 2024 Missouri Amendment 3.

Missouri presidential preference primaries

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2020

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The 2020 presidential primaries for both the Democratic and Republican parties were held in Missouri on March 10. On the Democratic side, former Vice President Joe Biden (D-Delaware) both won statewide and carried Buchanan County by a wide margin. Biden went on to defeat President Donald Trump in the general election.

Missouri Democratic Presidential Primary – Buchanan County (2020)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Joe Biden 4,322 57.99
Democratic Bernie Sanders 2,645 35.49
Democratic Tulsi Gabbard 81 1.09
Democratic Others/Uncommitted 405 5.43

Incumbent President Donald Trump (R-Florida) faced a primary challenge from former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld, but won both Buchanan County and statewide by overwhelming margins.

Missouri Republican Presidential Primary – Buchanan County (2020)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Donald Trump 3,528 96.24
Republican Bill Weld 23 0.63
Republican Others/Uncommitted 115 3.14

2016

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The 2016 presidential primaries for both the Republican and Democratic parties were held in Missouri on March 15. Businessman Donald Trump (R-New York) narrowly won the state overall and carried a plurality in Buchanan County. He went on to win the presidency.

Missouri Republican Presidential Primary – Buchanan County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Donald Trump 4,691 41.65
Republican Ted Cruz 3,879 34.44
Republican John Kasich 1,478 13.12
Republican Marco Rubio 847 7.52
Republican Others/Uncommitted 369 3.28

On the Democratic side, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D-New York) narrowly won statewide, but Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) carried Buchanan County.

Missouri Democratic Presidential Primary – Buchanan County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Bernie Sanders 4,148 53.65
Democratic Hillary Clinton 3,443 44.54
Democratic Others/Uncommitted 140 1.81

2012

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The 2012 Missouri Republican Presidential Primary's results were nonbinding on the state's national convention delegates. Voters in Buchanan County supported former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum (R-Pennsylvania), who finished first in the state at large, but eventually lost the nomination to former Governor Mitt Romney (R-Massachusetts). Delegates to the congressional district and state conventions were chosen at a county caucus, which selected a delegation favoring Romney. Incumbent President Barack Obama easily won the Missouri Democratic Primary and renomination. He defeated Romney in the general election.

2008

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In 2008, the Missouri Republican Presidential Primary was closely contested, with Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) prevailing and eventually winning the nomination. However, former Governor Mitt Romney (R-Massachusetts) narrowly carried Buchanan County.

Missouri Republican Presidential Primary – Buchanan County (2008)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Mitt Romney 2,216 31.94
Republican John McCain 2,194 31.63
Republican Mike Huckabee 1,825 26.31
Republican Ron Paul 521 7.51
Republican Others/Uncommitted 181 2.60

Then-Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York) received more votes than any candidate from either party in Buchanan County during the 2008 presidential primary. Despite initial reports that Clinton had won Missouri, Barack Obama (D-Illinois), also a Senator at the time, narrowly defeated her statewide and later became that year's Democratic nominee, going on to win the presidency.

Missouri Democratic Presidential Primary – Buchanan County (2008)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Hillary Clinton 6,689 57.09
Democratic Barack Obama 4,427 37.78
Democratic Others/Uncommitted 601 5.13

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "2020 Population and Housing State Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  4. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  5. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  6. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  7. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  8. ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  9. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  10. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Buchanan County, Missouri".
  11. ^ Breeding, Marshall. "Rolling Hills Consolidated Library – Belt Branc". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  12. ^ Breeding, Marshall. "Saint Joseph Public Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  13. ^ "Dwayne Blakley". databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on May 30, 2012. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  14. ^ Coleman Hawkins Biography, biography.com Retrieved October 27, 2012
  15. ^ Dribben, Melissa (July 30, 2008). "Edie Huggins 1935-2008: A versatile, dogged, endearing NBC10 face". Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on August 1, 2008. Retrieved August 18, 2008.
  16. ^ a b Christensen, Lawrence O.; Foley, William E.; Kramer, Gary R.; Winn, Kenneth H. (1999). Dictionary of Missouri Biography. Columbia, MO: University of Missouri Press. p. 813. ISBN 9780826212221.
  17. ^ "Interview with Brian McDonald, part 1". Adelaide Screenwriter. February 10, 2012. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
  18. ^ "Wyoming Governor Nellie Tayloe Ross". National Governors Association. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
  19. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
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39°40′N 94°49′W / 39.67°N 94.81°W / 39.67; -94.81

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