Grundy County, Missouri

Coordinates: 40°07′N 93°34′W / 40.11°N 93.57°W / 40.11; -93.57
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Grundy County
Grundy County Courthouse in Trenton
Grundy County Courthouse in Trenton
Map of Missouri highlighting Grundy County
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
Map of the United States highlighting Missouri
Missouri's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°07′N 93°34′W / 40.11°N 93.57°W / 40.11; -93.57
Country United States
State Missouri
FoundedJanuary 2, 1841
Named forFelix Grundy
SeatTrenton
Largest cityTrenton
Area
 • Total438 sq mi (1,130 km2)
 • Land435 sq mi (1,130 km2)
 • Water2.8 sq mi (7 km2)  0.6%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total9,808
 • Density22/sq mi (8.6/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district6th
Websitewww.grundycountymo.com

Grundy County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 9,808.[1] Its county seat is Trenton.[2] The county was organized January 2, 1841, from part of Livingston County, Missouri and named after U.S. Attorney General Felix Grundy.[3][4]

Geography[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 438 square miles (1,130 km2), of which 435 square miles (1,130 km2) is land and 2.8 square miles (7.3 km2) (0.6%) is water.[5]

Adjacent counties[edit]

Major highways[edit]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18503,006
18607,887162.4%
187010,56734.0%
188015,18543.7%
189017,87617.7%
190017,832−0.2%
191016,744−6.1%
192017,5544.8%
193016,135−8.1%
194015,716−2.6%
195013,220−15.9%
196012,220−7.6%
197011,819−3.3%
198011,9591.2%
199010,536−11.9%
200010,432−1.0%
201010,261−1.6%
20209,808−4.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2015[1]

As of the 2010 census, there were 10,261 people, 4,204 households, and 2,694 families residing in the county. The population density was 23.43 people per square mile (9.05 people/km2). There were 5,023 housing units at an average density of 11.47 units per square mile (4.43 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.94% White, 0.57% Black or African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 6.53% from other races, and 1.02% from two or more races. Approximately 1.73% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,204 households, out of which 28.28% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.05% were married couples living together, 8.68% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.92% were non-families. 31.14% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.37% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.04% under the age of 18, 9.27% from 18 to 24, 20.29% from 25 to 44, 25.93% from 45 to 64, and 20.47% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.6 years. For every 100 females there were 91.22 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.03 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,239, and the median income for a family was $45,959. Males had a median income of $31,843 versus $25,231 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,148. About 10.2% of families and 13.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.4% of those under age 18 and 16.7% of those age 65 or over.

Religion[edit]

According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2010), Grundy County is sometimes regarded as being on the northern edge of the Bible Belt, with evangelical Protestantism being the majority religion. The most predominant denominations among residents in Grundy County who adhere to a religion are Southern Baptists (49.86%), United Methodists (13.51%), and Disciples of Christ (6.95%).

2020 Census[edit]

Grundy County Racial Composition[11]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 9,121 93%
Black or African American (NH) 50 0.5%
Native American (NH) 33 0.34%
Asian (NH) 54 0.55%
Pacific Islander (NH) 8 0.08%
Other/Mixed (NH) 301 3.07%
Hispanic or Latino 241 2.5%

Education[edit]

Public schools[edit]

  • Grundy County R-V School District – Galt
    • Grundy County Elementary School (K-06)
    • Grundy County High School (07-12)
  • Laredo R-VII School District – Laredo
    • Laredo Elementary School (K-08)
  • Pleasant View R-VI School DistrictTrenton
    • Pleasant View Elementary School (PK-08)
  • Spickard R-II School District – Spickard
    • Spickard Elementary School (PK-06)
  • Trenton R-IX School DistrictTrenton
    • Rissler Elementary School (PK-04)
    • Trenton Middle School (05-08)
    • Trenton High School (09-12)

Private schools[edit]

Public libraries[edit]

  • Grundy County Jewett Norris Library[12]

Communities[edit]

Cities[edit]

Village[edit]

Census-designated places[edit]

Unincorporated communities[edit]

Townships[edit]

Source[13]

  • Franklin
  • Harrison
  • Jackson
  • Jefferson
  • Liberty
  • Lincoln
  • Madison
  • Marion
  • Myers
  • Taylor
  • Trenton
  • Washington
  • Wilson

Notable people[edit]

Politics[edit]

Local[edit]

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

Grundy County, Missouri
Elected countywide officials
Assessor Nathanial Curtis Republican
Circuit Clerk Becky Stanturf Republican
County Clerk Courtney Campbell Republican
Commissioner
(Presiding)
Phillip Ray Republican
Commissioner
(District 1)
Don Sager Republican
Commissioner
(District 2)
Brad Chumbley Republican
Coroner Dewayne Slater Republican
Prosecuting Attorney Kelly Puckett Republican
Public Administrator Adria Moore Republican
Sheriff Rodney Herring Republican
Treasurer Barbara Harris Republican

State[edit]

Past Gubernatorial Elections Results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2020 79.91% 3,537 18.55% 821 1.54% 68
2016 68.59% 3,046 28.57% 1,269 2.84% 126
2012 53.86% 2,352 42.41% 1,852 3.73% 163
2008 53.65% 2,512 43.61% 2,042 2.73% 128
2004 58.87% 2,836 39.24% 1,890 1.89% 91
2000 64.50% 3,029 32.37% 1,520 3.14% 147
1996 32.82% 1,528 64.83% 3,018 2.34% 109

All of Grundy County is a part of Missouri's 2nd District in the Missouri House of Representatives.

Missouri House of Representatives — District 2 — Grundy County (2022)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Mazzie Christensen 10,606 100.00% +17.62

All of Grundy County is a part of Missouri's 12th District in the Missouri Senate

Missouri Senate — District 12 — Grundy County (2022)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Rusty Black 51,470 80.8%
Democratic Michael J. Baumli 12,254 19.2%

Federal[edit]

All of Grundy 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 – Grundy County (2020)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sam Graves 3,662 83.28% +2.68
Democratic Gena L. Ross 661 15.03% -1.39
Libertarian Jim Higgins 74 1.68% -1.30
U.S. House of Representatives – Missouri's 6th Congressional District – Grundy County (2018)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sam Graves 2,921 80.60% +0.42
Democratic Henry Robert Martin 595 16.42% -0.54
Libertarian Dan Hogan 108 2.98% +1.03

Grundy 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 – Grundy County (2018)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Josh Hawley 2,641 72.68% +28.65
Democratic Claire McCaskill 871 23.97% -22.82
Independent Craig O'Dear 65 1.79%
Libertarian Japheth Campbell 39 1.07% -8.12
Green Jo Crain 18 0.50% +0.50

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

U.S. Senate — Class III — Grundy County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Roy Blunt 2,898 65.34% +21.32
Democratic Jason Kander 1,325 29.88% -16.91
Libertarian Jonathan Dine 91 2.05% -7.14
Green Johnathan McFarland 57 1.29% +1.29
Constitution Fred Ryman 64 1.44% +1.44

Political culture[edit]

United States presidential election results for Grundy County, Missouri[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 3,585 80.80% 799 18.01% 53 1.19%
2016 3,462 78.18% 780 17.62% 186 4.20%
2012 3,030 69.27% 1,212 27.71% 132 3.02%
2008 3,006 63.42% 1,580 33.33% 154 3.25%
2004 3,172 65.97% 1,561 32.47% 75 1.56%
2000 2,976 63.21% 1,563 33.20% 169 3.59%
1996 1,883 40.08% 2,073 44.13% 742 15.79%
1992 1,749 34.26% 1,968 38.55% 1,388 27.19%
1988 2,668 56.38% 2,052 43.36% 12 0.25%
1984 3,156 62.91% 1,861 37.09% 0 0.00%
1980 2,890 56.60% 2,064 40.42% 152 2.98%
1976 2,646 50.18% 2,597 49.25% 30 0.57%
1972 3,969 73.54% 1,428 26.46% 0 0.00%
1968 3,213 57.29% 1,976 35.24% 419 7.47%
1964 2,411 41.76% 3,363 58.24% 0 0.00%
1960 4,422 64.68% 2,415 35.32% 0 0.00%
1956 4,139 60.06% 2,752 39.94% 0 0.00%
1952 4,790 63.40% 2,747 36.36% 18 0.24%
1948 3,331 51.15% 3,177 48.79% 4 0.06%
1944 4,158 58.02% 2,997 41.82% 12 0.17%
1940 4,558 54.24% 3,813 45.37% 33 0.39%
1936 4,521 51.59% 4,187 47.78% 55 0.63%
1932 2,953 42.07% 4,006 57.07% 61 0.87%
1928 5,226 68.73% 2,332 30.67% 46 0.60%
1924 3,782 50.65% 2,367 31.70% 1,318 17.65%
1920 5,123 64.25% 2,721 34.13% 129 1.62%
1916 2,481 56.72% 1,789 40.90% 104 2.38%
1912 1,051 26.83% 1,310 33.44% 1,556 39.72%
1908 2,407 62.71% 1,359 35.41% 72 1.88%
1904 2,596 67.15% 1,195 30.91% 75 1.94%
1900 2,576 61.61% 1,532 36.64% 73 1.75%
1896 2,778 62.05% 1,675 37.41% 24 0.54%
1892 2,468 60.71% 1,375 33.83% 222 5.46%
1888 2,344 62.04% 1,363 36.08% 71 1.88%

At the presidential level, Grundy County is reliably Republican. Like many of the rural counties throughout Missouri, Donald Trump carried the county easily in 2016 and 2020. Bill Clinton was the last Democratic presidential nominee to carry Grundy County in 1996 with a plurality of the vote, and a Democrat hasn't won majority support from the county's voters in a presidential election since Lyndon Johnson in 1964.

Like most rural areas throughout northern Missouri, voters in Grundy County generally adhere to socially and culturally conservative principles which tend to influence their Republican leanings. In 2004, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman—it overwhelmingly won in Grundy County with 77% of the vote. The initiative passed the state with 71% support from voters. In 2006, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to fund and legalize embryonic stem cell research in the state—it failed in Grundy County with 55% voting against the measure. The initiative narrowly passed the state with 51% of support from voters as Missouri became one of the first states in the nation to approve embryonic stem cell research. Despite Grundy 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 Grundy County with 61% of the vote. The proposition strongly passed every single county in Missouri with 79% voting in favor. (During the same election, voters in five other states also strongly approved increases in the minimum wage.) In 2018, Missourians voted on a proposition (Proposition A) concerning right to work, the outcome of which ultimately reversed the right to work legislation passed in the state the previous year. 63.53% of Grundy County voters cast their ballots to overturn the law.

Missouri presidential preference primaries[edit]

2020[edit]

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 Grundy County by a wide margin. Biden went on to defeat President Donald Trump in the general election.

Missouri Democratic Presidential Primary – Grundy County (2020)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Joe Biden 305 66.89
Democratic Bernie Sanders 116 25.44
Democratic Tulsi Gabbard 6 1.32
Democratic Others/Uncommitted 29 6.36

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

Missouri Republican Presidential Primary – Grundy County (2020)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Donald Trump 886 98.66
Republican Bill Weld 5 0.56
Republican Others/Uncommitted 7 0.78

2016[edit]

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, but received majority support in Grundy County.

Missouri Republican Presidential Primary – Grundy County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Donald Trump 978 50.10
Republican Ted Cruz 673 34.48
Republican John Kasich 163 8.35
Republican Marco Rubio 79 4.05
Republican Others/Uncommitted 59 3.02

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

Missouri Democratic Presidential Primary – Grundy County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Bernie Sanders 262 53.36
Democratic Hillary Clinton 219 44.60
Democratic Others/Uncommitted 10 2.03

2012[edit]

The 2012 Missouri Republican Presidential Primary's results were nonbinding on the state's national convention delegates. Voters in Grundy 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 delegations favoring U.S. Representative Ron Paul (R-Texas). Incumbent President Barack Obama easily won the Missouri Democratic Primary and renomination. He defeated Romney in the general election.

2008[edit]

In 2008, the Missouri Republican Presidential Primary was closely contested, with Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) prevailing and eventually winning the nomination.

Missouri Republican Presidential Primary – Grundy County (2008)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican John McCain 377 34.46
Republican Mike Huckabee 361 33.00
Republican Ron Paul 210 19.20
Republican Mitt Romney 122 11.15
Republican Others/Uncommitted 24 2.19

Then-Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York) received more votes than any candidate from either party in Grundy 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 – Grundy County (2008)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Hillary Clinton 485 57.95
Democratic Barack Obama 323 38.59
Democratic Others/Uncommitted 29 3.47

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "2020 Population and Housing State Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Eaton, David Wolfe (1916). How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named. The State Historical Society of Missouri. pp. 170.
  4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 145.
  5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  8. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  9. ^ "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 15, 2014.
  10. ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  11. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Grundy County, Missouri".
  12. ^ Breeding, Marshall. "Grundy County Jewett Norris Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  13. ^ Grundy County, Missouri (official site), Township
  14. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 25, 2018.

Further reading[edit]

  • Shoemaker, Floyd C. "Grundy County: Home of Experimentation and Progressive Education Trends." Missouri Historical Review 52 (April 1958): 235-245. online

External links[edit]

40°07′N 93°34′W / 40.11°N 93.57°W / 40.11; -93.57