Dunklin County, Missouri
Encyclopedia
Dunklin County is a county located in the Bootheel
of Southeast Missouri
in the United States
. As of the 2000 U.S. Census
, the county's population was 33,155. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 31,454. The largest city and county seat
is Kennett
. The county was officially organized on February 14, 1845, and is named in honor of Daniel Dunklin
, a former Governor of Missouri who died the year before the county was organized.
in Buffalo Township in Dunklin County, where it flows out of Missouri and into Arkansas
.
is a public-use airport
in Dunklin County. It is located one nautical mile (1.85 km) southeast of the central business district
of Kennett
, which owns the airport.
or higher while 9.1% hold a bachelor's degree
or higher as their highest educational attainment.
of 2006, there were 43,154 people, 13,411 households, and 9,159 families residing in the county. The population density
was 61 people per square mile (23/km²). There were 14,682 housing units at an average density of 27 per square mile (10/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 88.64% White, 8.68% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.03% from other races
, and 1.06% from two or more races. Approximately 2.49% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Among the major first ancestries reported in Dunklin County were 38.8% American
, 10.6% Irish
, 8.2% German, and 7.5% English
, according to Census 2000.
There were 13,411 households, of which 31.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.60% were married couples
living together, 13.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.70% were "non-families." Of all households, 28.10% consisted of individuals and 14.00% 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 2.94.
Of the county's population, 26.00% were under the age of 18, 8.10% were from 18 to 24, 26.00% were from 25 to 44, 23.50% were from 45 to 64, and 16.50% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 89.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,927, and the median income for a family was $38,439. Males had a median income of $27,288 versus $18,142 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $16,737. About 19.40% of families and 24.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.90% of those under age 18 and 21.30% of those age 65 or over.
with evangelical Protestantism being the majority religion. The most predominant denominations among residents in Dunklin County who adhere to a religion are Southern Baptists
(64.11%), Methodists
(8.66%), and Churches of Christ (6.74%).
, and all but one of its elected officeholders are Democrats.
Dunklin County is divided into two legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives
.
In the Missouri Senate
, all of Dunklin County is a part of Missouri's 25th District and is currently represented by State Senator
Rob Mayer (R-Dexter
). In 2008, Mayer defeated M. Shane Stoelting (D) 65.32-34.68 percent in the district. The 25th Senatorial District consists of Butler
, Dunklin, New Madrid
, Pemiscot
, Ripley
, Stoddard
, and Wayne
counties.
, Dunklin County is represented by Jo Ann Emerson
(R-Cape Girardeau) who represents all of Southeast Missouri as part of Missouri's 8th Congressional District.
At the presidential level, Dunklin County is a fairly independent-leaning or battleground county although, like many counties in the impoverished Bootheel with a significant African American population, it does has a slight tendency to lean Democratic. While George W. Bush
carried Dunklin County in 2000
and 2004
, Bill Clinton
also carried the county both times in 1992
and 1996
by convincing double-digit margins. And like many of the other rural counties in Missouri, Dunklin County favored John McCain
over Barack Obama
in 2008
.
Like most rural areas throughout Missouri, voters in Dunklin County generally adhere to socially and culturally conservative
principles but are more moderate or populist
on economic issues, typical of the Dixiecrat
philosophy. In 2004, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman
—it overwhelmingly passed Dunklin County with 87.57 percent of the vote. The initiative passed the state with 71 percent of support from voters as Missouri became the first state to ban same-sex marriage
. In 2006, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to fund and legalize embryonic stem cell research in the state
—it failed in Dunklin County with 53.70 percent voting against the measure. The initiative narrowly passed the state with 51 percent of support from voters as Missouri became one of the first states in the nation to approve embryonic stem cell research
. Despite Dunklin County’s longstanding tradition of supporting socially conservative platforms, voters in the county have a penchant for advancing populist
causes like increasing the minimum 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 Dunklin County with 79.42 percent of the vote. The proposition strongly passed every single county in Missouri with 78.99 percent voting in favor as the minimum wage was increased to $6.50 an hour in the state. During the same election, voters in five other states also strongly approved increases in the minimum wage.
Bootheel
The Missouri Bootheel is the southeasternmost part of the state of Missouri, extending south of 36°30’ north latitude, so called because its shape in relation to the rest of the state resembles the heel of a boot. Strictly speaking, it is composed of the counties of Dunklin, New Madrid, and Pemiscot...
of Southeast Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As of the 2000 U.S. Census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
, the county's population was 33,155. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 31,454. The largest city and county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Kennett
Kennett, Missouri
Kennett is a city in Dunklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 11,260 at the 2000 census, but a 2008 estimate indicates a 4.9% decrease in population to 10,707. Kennett is the county seat of Dunklin County...
. The county was officially organized on February 14, 1845, and is named in honor of Daniel Dunklin
Daniel Dunklin
Daniel Dunklin was the fifth Governor of Missouri from 1832 to 1836. He was born in 1790 in Greenville, South Carolina, and died in 1844 near Herculaneum, Missouri, where he is buried. His grave is a state historic site and interprets Dunklin's role as the Father of Public Schools, as well as...
, a former Governor of Missouri who died the year before the county was organized.
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 547.11 square miles (1,417 km²), of which 545.62 square miles (1,413.1 km²) (or 99.73%) is land and 1.49 square miles (3.9 km²) (or 0.27%) is water. The lowest point in the state of Missouri is located on the St. Francis RiverSt. Francis River
The Saint Francis River is a tributary of the Mississippi River, about long, in southeastern Missouri and northeastern Arkansas in the United States...
in Buffalo Township in Dunklin County, where it flows out of Missouri and into Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
.
Adjacent counties
- Stoddard CountyStoddard County, MissouriStoddard County is a county located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the population was 29,705. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 29,537. The county seat is Bloomfield while the largest city in the county is Dexter...
(north) - New Madrid CountyNew Madrid County, MissouriNew Madrid County is a county located in the Bootheel of southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 Census, the county's population was 19,760. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 17,589. The largest city and county seat is New Madrid...
(northeast) - Pemiscot CountyPemiscot County, MissouriPemiscot County is a county located in the Bootheel in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 20,047. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 18,515. The largest city and county seat is Caruthersville...
(east) - Mississippi County, Arkansas (southeast)
- Craighead County, ArkansasCraighead County, ArkansasCraighead County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2010 census, the population was 96,443. It is included in the Jonesboro, Arkansas Metropolitan Statistical Area. Craighead County is Arkansas's 58th county, formed on February 19, 1859, and named for state Senator Thomas...
(south) - Greene County, Arkansas (southwest)
- Clay County, ArkansasClay County, ArkansasClay County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2010, the population was 16,083. The county has two county seats, Corning and Piggott...
(west) - Butler CountyButler County, MissouriButler County is a county located in the southeast Ozark Foothills Region in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county's population was 42,794. The largest city and county seat is Poplar Bluff. The county was officially organized from Wayne County on February...
(northwest)
Major highways
U.S. Route 62
U.S. Route 412
Route 25
Route 53
Route 84Missouri Route 84Route 84 is a highway in the Missouri bootheel. It starts at the Arkansas state line west of Kennett and ends at Interstate 155/U.S. Route 412 south of Caruthersville.-Route description:...
Route 153
Route 164
Airports
Kennett Memorial AirportKennett Memorial Airport
Kennett Memorial Airport is a city-owned, public-use airport located one nautical mile southeast of the central business district of Kennett, a city in Dunklin County, Missouri, United States. This airport is included in the FAA's National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2009–2013, which...
is a public-use airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
in Dunklin County. It is located one nautical mile (1.85 km) southeast of the central business district
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
of Kennett
Kennett, Missouri
Kennett is a city in Dunklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 11,260 at the 2000 census, but a 2008 estimate indicates a 4.9% decrease in population to 10,707. Kennett is the county seat of Dunklin County...
, which owns the airport.
Education
Of adults 25 years of age and older in Dunklin County, 63.7% possesses a high school diplomaHigh school diploma
A high school diploma is a diploma awarded for the completion of high school. In the United States and Canada, it is considered the minimum education required for government jobs and higher education. An equivalent is the GED.-Past diploma styles:...
or higher while 9.1% hold a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
or higher as their highest educational attainment.
Public Schools
- Campbell R-II School District - CampbellCampbell, MissouriCampbell is a city in Dunklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,883 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Campbell is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land....
- Campbell Elementary School (PK-06)
- Campbell High School (07-12)
- Clarkton C-4 School District - ClarktonClarkton, MissouriClarkton is a city in Dunklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,330 at the 2000 census. The local Clarkton public school was founded in 1871, and the school mascot is the reindeer...
- Clarkton Elementary School (PK-06)
- Clarkton High School (07-12)
- Holcomb R-III School District - HolcombHolcomb, MissouriHolcomb is a city in Dunklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 696 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Holcomb is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land....
- Holcomb Elementary School (PK-06)
- Holcomb High School (07-12)
- Kennett School District 39 - KennettKennett, MissouriKennett is a city in Dunklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 11,260 at the 2000 census, but a 2008 estimate indicates a 4.9% decrease in population to 10,707. Kennett is the county seat of Dunklin County...
- Early Childhood Center - (PK) - Primary School
- H. Byron Masterson Elementary School (K-02)
- South Elementary School (03-05)
- Kennett Middle School (06-08)
- Kennett High School (09-12)
- Malden R-I School District - MaldenMalden, MissouriMalden is a city in Dunklin County, Missouri, United States, located near the intersection of Missouri Route 25 and U.S. Route 62. The population is 5,123 at the 2010 census.Malden is within Missouri's 8th congressional district.-Geography:...
- Malden Elementary School (PK-06)
- Malden High School (07-12)
- Senath-Hornersville C-8 School District - SenathSenath, MissouriSenath is a city in Dunklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,650 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Senath is located at ....
- Senath Elementary School (PK-04)
- Hornersville Middle School (05-08)
- Senath-Hornersville High School (09-12)
- Southland C-9 School District - CardwellCardwell, MissouriCardwell is a city in Dunklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 789 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Cardwell is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land....
- Southland Elementary School (K-06)
- Southland High School (07-12)
Private Schools
- Kennett Christian Academy - KennettKennett, MissouriKennett is a city in Dunklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 11,260 at the 2000 census, but a 2008 estimate indicates a 4.9% decrease in population to 10,707. Kennett is the county seat of Dunklin County...
- (K-12) - Assemblies of GodAssemblies of GodThe Assemblies of God , officially the World Assemblies of God Fellowship, is a group of over 140 autonomous but loosely-associated national groupings of churches which together form the world's largest Pentecostal denomination...
/Pentecostal - St. Teresa School - CampbellCampbell, MissouriCampbell is a city in Dunklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,883 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Campbell is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land....
- (PK-08) - Roman CatholicRoman Catholic ChurchThe Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
Alternative & Vocational Schools
- Bootheel State School - ClarktonClarkton, MissouriClarkton is a city in Dunklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,330 at the 2000 census. The local Clarkton public school was founded in 1871, and the school mascot is the reindeer...
- (K-12) - A school for handicapped students and/or those with special needs. - Diagnostic Center - KennettKennett, MissouriKennett is a city in Dunklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 11,260 at the 2000 census, but a 2008 estimate indicates a 4.9% decrease in population to 10,707. Kennett is the county seat of Dunklin County...
- (PK-12) - Special Education - Dreamers High School - KennettKennett, MissouriKennett is a city in Dunklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 11,260 at the 2000 census, but a 2008 estimate indicates a 4.9% decrease in population to 10,707. Kennett is the county seat of Dunklin County...
- (08-12) - Kennett Area Vocational School - KennettKennett, MissouriKennett is a city in Dunklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 11,260 at the 2000 census, but a 2008 estimate indicates a 4.9% decrease in population to 10,707. Kennett is the county seat of Dunklin County...
- (09-12) - Vocational/technical
History
Dunklin County was formed on February 14, 1845 from portions of Stoddard County. It was named for Daniel Dunklin, a governor of Missouri.Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2006, there were 43,154 people, 13,411 households, and 9,159 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 61 people per square mile (23/km²). There were 14,682 housing units at an average density of 27 per square mile (10/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 88.64% White, 8.68% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.03% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.06% from two or more races. Approximately 2.49% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Among the major first ancestries reported in Dunklin County were 38.8% American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 10.6% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
, 8.2% German, and 7.5% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
, according to Census 2000.
There were 13,411 households, of which 31.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.60% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 13.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.70% were "non-families." Of all households, 28.10% consisted of individuals and 14.00% 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 2.94.
Of the county's population, 26.00% were under the age of 18, 8.10% were from 18 to 24, 26.00% were from 25 to 44, 23.50% were from 45 to 64, and 16.50% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 89.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,927, and the median income for a family was $38,439. Males had a median income of $27,288 versus $18,142 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $16,737. About 19.40% of families and 24.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.90% of those under age 18 and 21.30% of those age 65 or over.
Religion
According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2000), Dunklin County is a part of the Bible BeltBible Belt
Bible Belt is an informal term for a region in the southeastern and south-central United States in which socially conservative evangelical Protestantism is a significant part of the culture and Christian church attendance across the denominations is generally higher than the nation's average.The...
with evangelical Protestantism being the majority religion. The most predominant denominations among residents in Dunklin County who adhere to a religion are Southern Baptists
Southern Baptist Convention
The Southern Baptist Convention is a United States-based Christian denomination. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 16 million members...
(64.11%), Methodists
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
(8.66%), and Churches of Christ (6.74%).
Cities and towns
|
Clarkton, Missouri Clarkton is a city in Dunklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,330 at the 2000 census. The local Clarkton public school was founded in 1871, and the school mascot is the reindeer... Gibson, Missouri Gibson is an unincorporated community in northern Dunklin County, Missouri. It is located thirteen miles north of Kennett on Route 53.... Gobler, Missouri Gobler is an unincorporated community on the border between Dunklin and Pemiscot Counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. It is located sixteen miles west of Caruthersville.... |
Holcomb, Missouri Holcomb is a city in Dunklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 696 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Holcomb is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.... Hollywood, Missouri Hollywood is an unincorporated community in southern Dunklin County, Missouri, United States.-Demographics:It is located less than a mile from Route 164 about twelve miles south of Kennett.-History:... Hornersville, Missouri Hornersville is a city in Dunklin County, Missouri, United States founded in 1840. The population was 647 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Hornersville is located at... |
Kennett, Missouri Kennett is a city in Dunklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 11,260 at the 2000 census, but a 2008 estimate indicates a 4.9% decrease in population to 10,707. Kennett is the county seat of Dunklin County... Malden, Missouri Malden is a city in Dunklin County, Missouri, United States, located near the intersection of Missouri Route 25 and U.S. Route 62. The population is 5,123 at the 2010 census.Malden is within Missouri's 8th congressional district.-Geography:... Rives, Missouri Rives is a village in Dunklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 88 at the 2000 census, at which time it was a town. The community was founded in 1894 and is named after a railroad superintendent, Col. H. W... |
Senath, Missouri Senath is a city in Dunklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,650 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Senath is located at .... White Oak, Missouri White Oak is an unincorporated community in Dunklin County, Missouri, United States. It is located on Route 25 about five miles north of Kennett.... |
Notable people
- Sheryl CrowSheryl CrowSheryl Suzanne Crow is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, musician, and actress. Her music incorporates elements of rock, folk, hip hop, country and pop...
, Grammy-winning singer/songwriter, was born in Kennett and grew up there. - Trent TomlinsonTrent TomlinsonTrent Tomlinson is an American country music artist. After several failed attempts at finding a record deal, Tomlinson was signed to Lyric Street Records in 2005, with his debut album Country Is My Rock, released in early 2006. This album produced three Top 40 singles on the U.S...
, country music singer/songwriter, was born and raised in Kennett - Arlie MethenyArlie MethenyCaptain Arlie Metheny was a United States Army officer during World War II and the Cold War, who served as public information spokesman at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, at the time Elvis Presley was inducted into the military.Metheny was the eldest of seven children born to a cotton farmer in Silverdale...
(1918-2008), United States ArmyUnited States ArmyThe United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
officer who coordinated Elvis PresleyElvis PresleyElvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
's induction at Fort ChaffeeFort ChaffeeFort Chaffee Maneuver Training Center is in the northwest Arkansas region adjacent to the city of Fort Smith, located one mile southeast of Fort Smith Regional Airport. The Arkansas River flows eastward along the northern border of the post. Interstate 40 is five miles to the north on the...
, ArkansasArkansasArkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, was born and reared in Dunklin County. - David NailDavid NailDavid Brent Nail is an American country music artist. In 2002, he debuted the single "Memphis," a cut from an unreleased album for Mercury Records Nashville. Five years later, he signed to MCA Nashville , and released the album I'm About to Come Alive in August 2009...
, country music singer, was born and raised in Kennett.
Local
Politics at the local level in Dunklin County is predominantly controlled by the Democratic PartyDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, and all but one of its elected officeholders are Democrats.
| Office | Incumbent | Party |
|---|---|---|
| Assessor | Karen Vandeventer | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
| Circuit Clerk | Paula Gargus | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
| Clerk | Carol Hinesly | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
| Commissioner – District 1 | Jeanie Moore Herbst | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
| Commissioner – District 2 | Patrick McHaney | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
| Coroner | Jack Adkins | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
| Presiding Commissioner | Don Collins | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
| Prosecuting Attorney | Stephen P. Sokoloff | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
| Public Administrator | Shawnee L. Trowbridge | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
| Recorder | Susan Luce | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
| Sheriff | Bob Holder | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
| Treasurer & Ex Officio Collector | Kathy Rasberry | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
State
| Year | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
Third Parties Third party (United States) The term third party is used in the United States for any and all political parties in the United States other than one of the two major parties . The term can also refer to independent politicians not affiliated with any party at all and to write-in candidates.The United States has had a... |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 Missouri gubernatorial election, 2008 -Polling:-Results:-See also:* U.S. gubernatorial elections, 2008* Missouri gubernatorial election, 2004* Missouri Lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2008-External links:* from the Missouri Secretary of State* at Project Vote Smart... |
41.65% 4,792 | 56.13% 6,458 | 2.22% 255 |
| 2004 Missouri gubernatorial election, 2004 The 2004 Missouri gubernatorial election took place on 2 November 2004 for the post of Governor of Missouri. Missouri Secretary of State Republican Matt Blunt defeated State Auditor Democrat Claire McCaskill... |
52.46% 6,015 | 46.25% 5,302 | 1.29% 148 |
| 2000 | 42.70% 4,471 | 56.11% 5,875 | 1.19% 125 |
| 1996 | 31.51% 3,232 | 66.86% 6,858 | 1.63% 167 |
Dunklin County is divided into two legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives
Missouri House of Representatives
The Missouri House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 163 members, representing districts with an average size of 31,000 residents. House members are elected for two-year terms during general elections held in even-numbered years.In 1992 Missouri...
.
- District 162 - Rep. Terry Swinger (D-CaruthersvilleCaruthersville, MissouriCaruthersville is the most populous city and county seat of Pemiscot County, located along the Mississippi River in the bootheel of southeastern Missouri in the United States. The population was 6,760 at the 2000 census.-History:...
). Consists of the southern and eastern parts of the county and includes the towns of Arbyrd, Cardwell, Hornersville, Rives, and Senath. In 2010, Swinger ran unopposed and was reelected with 100 percent of the vote.
- District 163 – Currently represented by Tom Todd (D-CampbellCampbell, MissouriCampbell is a city in Dunklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,883 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Campbell is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land....
) and consists of the northern and western parts of the county and includes the cities of Kennett and Malden as well as the towns of Campbell, Clarkton, and Holcomb. Incumbent Todd was defeated by Republican challenger Kent Hampton in 2010.
In the Missouri Senate
Missouri Senate
The Missouri State Senate is the upper chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 34 members, representing districts with an average population of 160,000...
, all of Dunklin County is a part of Missouri's 25th District and is currently represented by State Senator
Missouri Senate
The Missouri State Senate is the upper chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 34 members, representing districts with an average population of 160,000...
Rob Mayer (R-Dexter
Dexter, Missouri
-Government:* Mayor: Joe Weber* City Administrator: Mark Stidham* Aldermen:* Ward 1: Jerry Corder, Terry Battles* Ward 2: Kent Essner, Rick Hux* Ward 3: Ray Pixley, John "Kirby" Taylor-Notable residents:* George K. Sisler, Medal of Honor recipient...
). In 2008, Mayer defeated M. Shane Stoelting (D) 65.32-34.68 percent in the district. The 25th Senatorial District consists of Butler
Butler County, Missouri
Butler County is a county located in the southeast Ozark Foothills Region in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county's population was 42,794. The largest city and county seat is Poplar Bluff. The county was officially organized from Wayne County on February...
, Dunklin, New Madrid
New Madrid County, Missouri
New Madrid County is a county located in the Bootheel of southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 Census, the county's population was 19,760. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 17,589. The largest city and county seat is New Madrid...
, Pemiscot
Pemiscot County, Missouri
Pemiscot County is a county located in the Bootheel in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 20,047. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 18,515. The largest city and county seat is Caruthersville...
, Ripley
Ripley County, Missouri
Ripley County is a county located in the Ozarks of Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 13,509. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 13,485. The largest city and county seat is Doniphan...
, Stoddard
Stoddard County, Missouri
Stoddard County is a county located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the population was 29,705. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 29,537. The county seat is Bloomfield while the largest city in the county is Dexter...
, and Wayne
Wayne County, Missouri
Wayne County is a county located in the Ozark Foothills Region of Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the population was 13,259. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 12,652. The county seat is Greenville...
counties.
Federal
In the U.S. House of RepresentativesUnited States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, Dunklin County is represented by Jo Ann Emerson
Jo Ann Emerson
Jo Ann Emerson is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1996. The district consists of Southeast and South Central Missouri and includes the Bootheel, the Lead Belt and the Ozarks. Emerson is a member of the Republican Party....
(R-Cape Girardeau) who represents all of Southeast Missouri as part of Missouri's 8th Congressional District.
Political Culture
| Year | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
Third Parties Third party (United States) The term third party is used in the United States for any and all political parties in the United States other than one of the two major parties . The term can also refer to independent politicians not affiliated with any party at all and to write-in candidates.The United States has had a... |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 59.88% 7,044 | 38.59% 4,540 | 1.53% 180 |
| 2004 | 57.55% 6,720 | 41.97% 4,901 | 0.48% 56 |
| 2000 | 51.55% 5,426 | 47.00% 4,947 | 1.45% 152 |
| 1996 | 37.02% 3,766 | 53.36% 5,428 | 9.62% 979 |
At the presidential level, Dunklin County is a fairly independent-leaning or battleground county although, like many counties in the impoverished Bootheel with a significant African American population, it does has a slight tendency to lean Democratic. While George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
carried Dunklin County in 2000
United States presidential election, 2000
The United States presidential election of 2000 was a contest between Republican candidate George W. Bush, then-governor of Texas and son of former president George H. W. Bush , and Democratic candidate Al Gore, then-Vice President....
and 2004
United States presidential election, 2004
The United States presidential election of 2004 was the United States' 55th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. Republican Party candidate and incumbent President George W. Bush defeated Democratic Party candidate John Kerry, the then-junior U.S. Senator...
, Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
also carried the county both times in 1992
United States presidential election, 1992
The United States presidential election of 1992 had three major candidates: Incumbent Republican President George Bush; Democratic Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton, and independent Texas businessman Ross Perot....
and 1996
United States presidential election, 1996
The United States presidential election of 1996 was a contest between the Democratic national ticket of President Bill Clinton of Arkansas and Vice President Al Gore of Tennessee and the Republican national ticket of former Senator Bob Dole of Kansas for President and former Housing Secretary Jack...
by convincing double-digit margins. And like many of the other rural counties in Missouri, Dunklin County favored John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
over Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
in 2008
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
.
Like most rural areas throughout Missouri, voters in Dunklin County generally adhere to socially and culturally conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
principles but are more moderate or populist
Populism
Populism can be defined as an ideology, political philosophy, or type of discourse. Generally, a common theme compares "the people" against "the elite", and urges social and political system changes. It can also be defined as a rhetorical style employed by members of various political or social...
on economic issues, typical of the Dixiecrat
Dixiecrat
The States' Rights Democratic Party was a short-lived segregationist political party in the United States in 1948...
philosophy. In 2004, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman
Missouri Constitutional Amendment 2 (2004)
Constitutional Amendment 2 of 2004 is an amendment to the Missouri Constitution that prohibited same-sex marriages from being conducted or recognized in Missouri. The Amendment passed via public referendum on August 3, 2004 with 71% of voters supporting and 29% opposing. Every county voted in...
—it overwhelmingly passed Dunklin County with 87.57 percent of the vote. The initiative passed the state with 71 percent of support from voters as Missouri became the first state to ban same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage typically refer to such recognition as marriage equality....
. In 2006, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to fund and legalize embryonic stem cell research in the state
Missouri Constitutional Amendment 2 (2006)
Missouri Constitutional Amendment 2 is a state constitutional amendment initiative that concerns stem cell research and human cloning in Missouri...
—it failed in Dunklin County with 53.70 percent voting against the measure. The initiative narrowly passed the state with 51 percent of support from voters as Missouri became one of the first states in the nation to approve embryonic stem cell research
Embryonic stem cell
Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent stem cells derived from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst, an early-stage embryo. Human embryos reach the blastocyst stage 4–5 days post fertilization, at which time they consist of 50–150 cells...
. Despite Dunklin County’s longstanding tradition of supporting socially conservative platforms, voters in the county have a penchant for advancing populist
Populism
Populism can be defined as an ideology, political philosophy, or type of discourse. Generally, a common theme compares "the people" against "the elite", and urges social and political system changes. It can also be defined as a rhetorical style employed by members of various political or social...
causes like increasing the minimum wage
Minimum wage
A minimum wage is the lowest hourly, daily or monthly remuneration that employers may legally pay to workers. Equivalently, it is the lowest wage at which workers may sell their labour. Although minimum wage laws are in effect in a great many jurisdictions, there are differences of opinion about...
. In 2006, Missourians voted on a proposition (Proposition B) to increase the minimum wage in the state to $6.50 an hour—it passed Dunklin County with 79.42 percent of the vote. The proposition strongly passed every single county in Missouri with 78.99 percent voting in favor as the minimum wage was increased to $6.50 an hour in the state. During the same election, voters in five other states also strongly approved increases in the minimum wage.
Missouri Presidential Preference Primary (2008)
In the 2008 Missouri Presidential Preference Primary, voters in Dunklin County from both political parties supported candidates who finished in second place in the state at large and nationally.- Former U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham ClintonHillary Rodham ClintonHillary Diane Rodham Clinton is the 67th United States Secretary of State, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama. She was a United States Senator for New York from 2001 to 2009. As the wife of the 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton, she was the First Lady of the...
(D-New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
) received more votes, a total of 2,587, than any candidate from either party in Dunklin County during the 2008 Missouri Presidential Preference Primary. She also received more votes altogether than the total number of votes cast in the entire Republican Primary in Dunklin County. Dunklin County was also her strongest county in Missouri.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Dunklin County, Missouri
External links
- Digitized 1930 Plat Book of Dunklin County from University of MissouriUniversity of MissouriThe University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
Division of Special Collections, Archives, and Rare Books