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Jackson County, Missouri

Jackson County is located in the western portion of the U.S. state of Missouri, on the border with Kansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 717,204.[1] making it the second-most populous county in the state (after St. Louis County in the east). It is the most populated county in the Kansas City metropolitan area.

Jackson County
Truman Courthouse in Independence, designed by Edward F. Neild at the request of Harry S. Truman
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
Missouri's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°01′N 94°20′W / 39.01°N 94.34°W / 39.01; -94.34
Country United States
State Missouri
FoundedDecember 15, 1826
Named forAndrew Jackson
SeatIndependence and Kansas City
Largest cityKansas City
Area
 • Total616 sq mi (1,600 km2)
 • Land604 sq mi (1,560 km2)
 • Water12 sq mi (30 km2)  1.9%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total717,204
 • Estimate 
(2021)
716,862
 • Density1,200/sq mi (450/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts5th, 6th
Websitewww.jacksongov.org

Although Independence retains its status as the original county seat, Kansas City, Missouri, serves as a second county seat and the center of county government.[2] The county was organized December 15, 1826, and named for President Andrew Jackson (elected 1828). Total employment in 2019 was 344,993.[3]

History

Early years

Jackson County was long home to members of the indigenous Osage tribe, who occupied this territory at the time of European encounter. The first known European explorers were French trappers who used the Missouri River as a highway for explorations and trading with regional Native American tribes. Jackson County was claimed as a part of the territory of New France, until 1763 and the British victory in the French 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 the Third Treaty of San Ildefonso to return its Louisiana 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 the Louisiana Purchase of 1803.

Operating on behalf of President Thomas Jefferson, explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark passed through Jackson County on their notable Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1804, to survey peoples, property and resources of the Louisiana Territory. Among other items, their report indicated a "high, commanding position" along the river within the current boundaries of Jackson County; in 1808 Fort 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 of Missouri. Jackson County was organized on December 15, 1826, and named for Andrew Jackson, U.S. Senator from Tennessee and military hero of the War of 1812. (He was elected President in 1828.).[4][5] 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: the Santa Fe Trail, the Oregon Trail, and the California Trail. Following the American 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 the River Market district). The area outside Westport Landing was renamed in 1839 as the "Town of Kansas", after the local Kanza 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.

Latter Day Saints

 
Community of Christ Temple in Independence, Missouri, USA. Dedicated 1994

Jackson County figures prominently in the history of the Latter Day Saint movement. Although the sect was formed in upstate New York in 1830, in March 1831 Joseph Smith said that a location on the Missouri–Kansas border was to be the latter-day "New Jerusalem"[6] with the "center place" located in Independence, the county seat.[7] 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.[8]

Leadership and members of the Latter Day Saint movement began moving to Jackson County as soon as word was published of the August 1831 dedication ceremony. 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 and pro-slavery customs with them. They believed that the "Yankee" Mormons, from New York and northern states, were abolitionists.[9] Mobs in the public and private sector used force to drive individual Saints from Jackson to nearby counties within Missouri; eventually, they put Latter Day Saints on notice that they had until the end of November 6, 1833, to leave the county en masse. On November 23, 1833, the few remaining LDS residents were ordered to leave Jackson County. By mid-1839, following the Missouri Mormon War, the LDS 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.

Civil War

During the Civil War, Jackson County was the scene of several engagements, the most notable of which was the Battle of Westport in 1864, sometimes referred to as "the Gettysburg of Missouri". The Union victory here firmly established Northern control of Missouri, and led to the failure of Confederate General Sterling Price's Missouri expedition. Other noteworthy battles were fought in Independence in 1862, Lone Jack a few days later, and again in Independence in 1864.

Jackson County was strongly affected by Union General Thomas Ewing's infamous General 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 Confederate bushwhackers 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 artist George 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.

Twentieth century

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 for Jazz and Blues music, as well as the headquarters of Hallmark Cards and the site of Walt Disney's first animation studio. The county fared better than many during the Great Depression, as local political boss Thomas Pendergast worked to implement a $50,000,000 public works project that provided thousands of jobs. One of Pendergast's political protegés was a young World 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 a U.S. Senator from Missouri, Vice President and, in 1945, following the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt, succeeded him to become the thirty-third President of the United States. Truman was also elected president in 1948 in his own right.

Following World 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 and Lee's Summit underwent growth during this period, which continues to the present. Kansas City, on the other hand, suffered problems of urban 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, the Kansas City Power & Light District.[10]

Some of the county's local history is presented at the Pleasant Hill Historical Society Museum, in Pleasant Hill on the southern edge of the county.

Government

 
Jackson County 16th Circuit courthouse in Kansas City

Jackson County was the second county to adopt a home-rule charter under the Missouri Constitution. The Jackson County Charter was adopted by the voters in 1970 and was amended in 1985 and 1986.[11]

Executive power of the county is vested in the county executive, which is a full-time salaried position. The county executive is elected at-large by the general population of the county for a four-year term.[12]

The County Prosecutor is a full-time salaried position elected at-large by the general population of the county for a four-year term[13]

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.[14]

Position Name Party First Elected
Executive Frank White Democratic 2016
Prosecutor Jean Peters Backer Democratic 2010
Sheriff Daryl Forte Democratic 2018
At-large Legislator Jalen Anderson Democratic 2018
At-large Legislator Crystal Williams Democratic 2010
At-large Legislator Tony Miller Democratic 2014
Legislator District 1 Scott Burnett Democratic 1998
Legislator District 2 Ronald E Finley Democratic 1998
Legislator District 3 Charlie Franklin Democratic 2018
Legislator District 4 Dan Tarwater III Democratic 1994
Legislator District 5 Jeanie Lauer Republican 2018
Legislator District 6 Theresa Cass Galvin Republican 2014

There are 244,570 registered voters.[15]

Law enforcement

The County Sheriff is a full-time salaried position elected by the general population of the county for a four-year term[16] As of 2021 the sheriff is Darryl Forté.[17] The Sheriff's Office is also responsible for the county's jail.[18]

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.[19] Sheriff Darryl Forté was then appointed. He had recently retired as the chief of the Kansas City Police Department. He was elected to a full term in November of that year.[20]

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.[21]

Courts

Jackson County is the only county that falls under the jurisdiction of the 16th Judicial Circuit of the Missouri Circuit Courts. The Court seats 19 Circuit Judges and 10 Associate Circuit Judges. All Judges of the court are appointed by the Governor of Missouri, Circuit Judges serve a term of 6 years and Associate judges serve a term of 4 years.[22]

As of February 10, 2021:

Members of the 16th Circuit Court
Judges Year Appointed Appointed by Term Ends
Presiding Judge J. Dale Youngs 2009 Jay Nixon (D) 2028
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 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 Jalilah Otto 2017 Eric Greitens (R) 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 4-year term.[23]

Geography

According to the United 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.[24]

Notable Lakes include

The Missouri River comprises Jackson County's northern border (with the exception of one small portion north of the river around the intersection of Highways 210 and 291 as well as all of the 291 bridge). The county has historically been a major traveling point for American river travel.

Adjacent counties

 
Downtown Kansas City, Missouri, at twilight

Major highways

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
18302,823
18407,612169.6%
185014,00083.9%
186022,91363.7%
187065,011183.7%
188082,82527.4%
1890160,51093.8%
1900195,19321.6%
1910283,52245.3%
1920367,84629.7%
1930470,45427.9%
1940477,8281.6%
1950541,03513.2%
1960622,73215.1%
1970654,5585.1%
1980629,266−3.9%
1990633,2320.6%
2000654,8803.4%
2010674,1582.9%
2020717,2046.4%
2021 (est.)716,862[25]0.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[26]
1790-1960[27] 1900-1990[28]
1990-2000[29] 2010-2020[1]

2020 Census

Jackson County Racial Composition[30]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 419,542 58.5%
Black or African American (NH) 156,542 22%
Native American (NH) 2,713 0.4%
Asian (NH) 14,981 2.1%
Pacific Islander (NH) 1,727 0.24%
Other/Mixed (NH) 43,914 6.12%
Hispanic or Latino 77,785 10.85%

2010 census

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.[31]

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 654,880 people, 266,294 households, and 166,167 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,083 people 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 or African American, 0.48% Native American, 1.28% Asian, 0.18% Pacific Islander, 2.43% from other races, and 2.25% from two or more races. 5.37% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 16.7% were of German, 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% were married 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. The per capita income for the county was $20,788. About 9.00% of families and 11.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.40% of those under age 18 and 8.70% of those age 65 or over.

Religion

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 are Roman Catholics (19.51%), Southern Baptists (17.96%), and non-denominational evangelical Christians (11.52%).

Politics

Jackson County is a solidly Democratic county and has remained so even as the state of Missouri has trended rightward. The last Republican presidential candidate to carry the county was Richard Nixon in 1972, the only Republican to do so since 1932. John Ashcroft was the last Republican gubernatorial candidate in 1988 and Kit Bond for the Senate in 1998. Tom Schweich is the last Statewide Republican candidate to win the county in his landslide victory for State Auditor in 2014.

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, but Barack 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. Generally, Democratic strength is concentrated south of the Missouri River, with the wealthier areas north of the river being more friendly to Republicans.

United States presidential election results for Jackson County, Missouri[32]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 126,535 37.99% 199,842 60.00% 6,686 2.01%
2016 116,211 38.14% 168,972 55.46% 19,504 6.40%
2012 122,708 39.32% 183,953 58.95% 5,400 1.73%
2008 124,687 36.75% 210,824 62.14% 3,755 1.11%
2004 130,500 41.30% 183,654 58.12% 1,839 0.58%
2000 104,418 38.38% 160,419 58.96% 7,225 2.66%
1996 85,534 34.26% 140,317 56.20% 23,807 9.54%
1992 78,611 26.96% 145,999 50.06% 67,027 22.98%
1988 107,810 42.02% 147,964 57.67% 793 0.31%
1984 132,271 49.48% 135,067 50.52% 0 0.00%
1980 106,156 41.36% 135,805 52.91% 14,726 5.74%
1976 101,401 43.07% 130,120 55.27% 3,920 1.66%
1972 129,989 58.34% 92,830 41.66% 0 0.00%
1968 91,086 39.22% 112,154 48.30% 28,980 12.48%
1964 78,766 32.81% 161,290 67.19% 0 0.00%
1960 123,589 46.38% 142,869 53.62% 0 0.00%
1956 122,182 47.78% 133,522 52.22% 0 0.00%
1952 133,093 48.88% 138,792 50.97% 412 0.15%
1948 86,471 38.17% 139,186 61.44% 870 0.38%
1944 95,406 45.51% 113,803 54.29% 423 0.20%
1940 101,568 42.46% 137,285 57.39% 366 0.15%
1936 79,119 26.79% 215,120 72.84% 1,080 0.37%
1932 83,214 32.39% 172,456 67.13% 1,215 0.47%
1928 126,589 56.59% 96,703 43.23% 385 0.17%
1924 91,141 51.79% 76,002 43.19% 8,839 5.02%
1920 79,875 50.49% 76,791 48.54% 1,548 0.98%
1916 32,943 41.68% 44,556 56.38% 1,530 1.94%
1912 5,618 8.89% 32,209 50.97% 25,367 40.14%
1908 26,998 45.18% 31,461 52.65% 1,301 2.18%
1904 25,794 53.16% 20,582 42.42% 2,145 4.42%
1900 21,581 47.74% 22,542 49.87% 1,083 2.40%
1896 18,711 46.94% 20,705 51.94% 446 1.12%
1892 11,044 39.02% 15,825 55.90% 1,438 5.08%
1888 14,350 46.64% 15,663 50.91% 752 2.44%

Education

K-12 schools

School districts include:[33]

Archives

  • Jackson County Historical Society[34]

Libraries

Museums

Communities

Cities

Villages

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  2. ^ . National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ . Archived from the original on August 6, 2018. Retrieved November 19, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ Eaton, David Wolfe (1916). How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named. The State Historical Society of Missouri. pp. 177.
  5. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 167.
  6. ^ Smith, Joseph Fielding (1956). McConkie, Bruce R. (ed.). Doctrines of Salvation: Sermons and Writings of Joseph Fielding Smith. Vol. 3. Salt Lake City: Bookcraft. p. 74. LCCN 56034495. OCLC 3188957.
  7. ^ Doctrine and Covenants 57:1–5
  8. ^ H. Michael Marquardt, "The Independence Temple of Zion", 1997. Retrieved March 28, 2008.
  9. ^ "The Manifesto of the Mob". Blacklds.org. Retrieved July 10, 2013.
  10. ^ Information for this section was obtained largely from 175 Years of Jackson County History January 23, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, Jackson County Historical Society.
  11. ^ "County Government".
  12. ^ "County Executive".
  13. ^ "County Prosecutor".
  14. ^ "County Legislature".
  15. ^ IT, Missouri Secretary of State -. "Registered Voters in Missouri". www.sos.mo.gov. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  16. ^ "County Sheriff".
  17. ^ "About Us". Jackson County Sheriffs Office. Jackson County Sheriffs Office. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
  18. ^ "129th Correction Officer Academy Graduation". Jackson County Missouri. July 1, 2019. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
  19. ^ "Jackson Co. Sheriff Mike Sharp to resign amid damaging allegations". WDAF-TV. April 18, 2018. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
  20. ^ "Darryl Forte' Named As Sheriff". Jackson County, Missouri. May 10, 2018. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
  21. ^ Reid, Cat (May 5, 2019). "Jackson County sheriff adopts 'restrictive' pursuit policy after deputy charged in May 2018 crash". KSHB. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
  22. ^ "Our Judges".
  23. ^ "County Municipal Court".
  24. ^ . United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  25. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021". Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  26. ^ . United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  27. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  28. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  29. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  30. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Jackson County, Missouri".
  31. ^ 2010 census report for Jackson County, Missouri
  32. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  33. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Jackson County, MO" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. (PDF) from the original on July 22, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022. - Text list
  34. ^ "Jackson County Historical Society|Home". JCHS. Retrieved October 1, 2018.

External links

  • Jackson County government's website
  • Jackson County Historical Society's website

Coordinates: 39°01′N 94°20′W / 39.01°N 94.34°W / 39.01; -94.34

jackson, county, missouri, confused, with, jackson, missouri, jackson, county, located, western, portion, state, missouri, border, with, kansas, 2020, census, population, making, second, most, populous, county, state, after, louis, county, east, most, populate. Not to be confused with Jackson Missouri Jackson County is located in the western portion of the U S state of Missouri on the border with Kansas As of the 2020 census the population was 717 204 1 making it the second most populous county in the state after St Louis County in the east It is the most populated county in the Kansas City metropolitan area Jackson CountyU S countyTruman Courthouse in Independence designed by Edward F Neild at the request of Harry S TrumanFlagLocation within the U S state of MissouriMissouri s location within the U S Coordinates 39 01 N 94 20 W 39 01 N 94 34 W 39 01 94 34Country United StatesState MissouriFoundedDecember 15 1826Named forAndrew JacksonSeatIndependence and Kansas CityLargest cityKansas CityArea Total616 sq mi 1 600 km2 Land604 sq mi 1 560 km2 Water12 sq mi 30 km2 1 9 Population 2020 Total717 204 Estimate 2021 716 862 Density1 200 sq mi 450 km2 Time zoneUTC 6 Central Summer DST UTC 5 CDT Congressional districts5th 6thWebsitewww wbr jacksongov wbr orgAlthough Independence retains its status as the original county seat Kansas City Missouri serves as a second county seat and the center of county government 2 The county was organized December 15 1826 and named for President Andrew Jackson elected 1828 Total employment in 2019 was 344 993 3 Contents 1 History 1 1 Early years 1 2 Latter Day Saints 1 3 Civil War 1 4 Twentieth century 2 Government 2 1 Law enforcement 3 Courts 4 Geography 4 1 Adjacent counties 4 2 Major highways 4 3 National protected area 5 Demographics 5 1 2020 Census 5 2 2010 census 5 3 2000 census 5 4 Religion 6 Politics 7 Education 7 1 K 12 schools 7 2 Archives 7 3 Libraries 7 4 Museums 8 Communities 8 1 Cities 8 2 Villages 8 3 Census designated places 8 4 Unincorporated communities 9 See also 10 References 11 External linksHistory EditEarly years Edit Jackson County was long home to members of the indigenous Osage tribe who occupied this territory at the time of European encounter The first known European explorers were French trappers who used the Missouri River as a highway for explorations and trading with regional Native American tribes Jackson County was claimed as a part of the territory of New France until 1763 and the British victory in the French 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 the Third Treaty of San Ildefonso to return its Louisiana 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 the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 Operating on behalf of President Thomas Jefferson explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark passed through Jackson County on their notable Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1804 to survey peoples property and resources of the Louisiana Territory Among other items their report indicated a high commanding position along the river within the current boundaries of Jackson County in 1808 Fort 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 of Missouri Jackson County was organized on December 15 1826 and named for Andrew Jackson U S Senator from Tennessee and military hero of the War of 1812 He was elected President in 1828 4 5 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 the Santa Fe Trail the Oregon Trail and the California Trail Following the American 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 the River Market district The area outside Westport Landing was renamed in 1839 as the Town of Kansas after the local Kanza 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 Latter Day Saints Edit Community of Christ Temple in Independence Missouri USA Dedicated 1994 Jackson County figures prominently in the history of the Latter Day Saint movement Although the sect was formed in upstate New York in 1830 in March 1831 Joseph Smith said that a location on the Missouri Kansas border was to be the latter day New Jerusalem 6 with the center place located in Independence the county seat 7 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 8 Leadership and members of the Latter Day Saint movement began moving to Jackson County as soon as word was published of the August 1831 dedication ceremony 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 and pro slavery customs with them They believed that the Yankee Mormons from New York and northern states were abolitionists 9 Mobs in the public and private sector used force to drive individual Saints from Jackson to nearby counties within Missouri eventually they put Latter Day Saints on notice that they had until the end of November 6 1833 to leave the county en masse On November 23 1833 the few remaining LDS residents were ordered to leave Jackson County By mid 1839 following the Missouri Mormon War the LDS 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 Civil War Edit During the Civil War Jackson County was the scene of several engagements the most notable of which was the Battle of Westport in 1864 sometimes referred to as the Gettysburg of Missouri The Union victory here firmly established Northern control of Missouri and led to the failure of Confederate General Sterling Price s Missouri expedition Other noteworthy battles were fought in Independence in 1862 Lone Jack a few days later and again in Independence in 1864 Jackson County was strongly affected by Union General Thomas Ewing s infamous General 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 Confederate bushwhackers 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 artist George 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 Twentieth century Edit Harry S Truman statue in Independence Missouri 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 for Jazz and Blues music as well as the headquarters of Hallmark Cards and the site of Walt Disney s first animation studio The county fared better than many during the Great Depression as local political boss Thomas Pendergast worked to implement a 50 000 000 public works project that provided thousands of jobs One of Pendergast s political proteges was a young World 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 a U S Senator from Missouri Vice President and in 1945 following the death of Franklin D Roosevelt succeeded him to become the thirty third President of the United States Truman was also elected president in 1948 in his own right Following World 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 and Lee s Summit underwent growth during this period which continues to the present Kansas City on the other hand suffered problems of urban 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 the Kansas City Power amp Light District 10 Some of the county s local history is presented at the Pleasant Hill Historical Society Museum in Pleasant Hill on the southern edge of the county Government Edit Jackson County 16th Circuit courthouse in Kansas City Jackson County was the second county to adopt a home rule charter under the Missouri Constitution The Jackson County Charter was adopted by the voters in 1970 and was amended in 1985 and 1986 11 Executive power of the county is vested in the county executive which is a full time salaried position The county executive is elected at large by the general population of the county for a four year term 12 The County Prosecutor is a full time salaried position elected at large by the general population of the county for a four year term 13 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 14 Position Name Party First ElectedExecutive Frank White Democratic 2016Prosecutor Jean Peters Backer Democratic 2010Sheriff Daryl Forte Democratic 2018At large Legislator Jalen Anderson Democratic 2018At large Legislator Crystal Williams Democratic 2010At large Legislator Tony Miller Democratic 2014Legislator District 1 Scott Burnett Democratic 1998Legislator District 2 Ronald E Finley Democratic 1998Legislator District 3 Charlie Franklin Democratic 2018Legislator District 4 Dan Tarwater III Democratic 1994Legislator District 5 Jeanie Lauer Republican 2018Legislator District 6 Theresa Cass Galvin Republican 2014There are 244 570 registered voters 15 Law enforcement Edit The County Sheriff is a full time salaried position elected by the general population of the county for a four year term 16 As of 2021 update the sheriff is Darryl Forte 17 The Sheriff s Office is also responsible for the county s jail 18 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 19 Sheriff Darryl Forte was then appointed He had recently retired as the chief of the Kansas City Police Department He was elected to a full term in November of that year 20 In mid 2019 Sheriff Forte 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 21 Courts EditJackson County is the only county that falls under the jurisdiction of the 16th Judicial Circuit of the Missouri Circuit Courts The Court seats 19 Circuit Judges and 10 Associate Circuit Judges All Judges of the court are appointed by the Governor of Missouri Circuit Judges serve a term of 6 years and Associate judges serve a term of 4 years 22 As of February 10 2021 update Members of the 16th Circuit CourtJudges Year Appointed Appointed by Term EndsPresiding Judge J Dale Youngs 2009 Jay Nixon D 2028Judge Justine E Del Muro 1993 Mel Carnahan D 2024Judge Marco A Roldan 1999 Mel Carnahan D 2024Judge John M Torrence 2001 Bob Holden D 2026Judge Joel P Fahnestock 2009 Matt Blunt R 2028Judge James F Kanatzar 2011 Jay Nixon D 2024Judge Charles H McKenzie 2011 Jay Nixon D 2024Judge Kevin D Harrell 2012 Jay Nixon D 2026Judge Patrick W Campbell 2013 Jay Nixon D 2026Judge Kenneth R Garrett III 2013 Jay Nixon D 2026Judge S Margene Burnett 2013 Jay Nixon D 2028Judge Bryan E Round 2014 Jay Nixon D 2028Judge Jennifer M Phillips 2015 Jay Nixon D 2028Judge Mark A Styles Jr 2016 Jay Nixon D 2024Judge Jalilah Otto 2017 Eric Greitens R 2024Judge Cory L Atkins 2019 Mike Parson R 2026Judge Adam L Caine 2020 Mike Parson R 2028Judge Sarah A Castle 2020 Mike Parson R 2028Judge Jerri J Zhang 2021 Mike Parson R 2028Associate Judge Twila K Rigby 1997 Mel Carnahan D 2026Associate Judge Jeffrey L Bushur 2000 Mel Carnahan D 2026Associate Judge Mary F Weir 2013 Jay Nixon D 2026Associate Judge Jeffrey C Keal 2013 Jay Nixon D 2024Associate Judge Janette K Rodecap 2014 Jay Nixon D 2024Associate Judge Susan E Long 2015 Jay Nixon D 2026Associate Judge Kyndra J Stockdale 2019 Mike Parson R 2024Associate Judge R Travis Willingham 2019 Mike Parson R 2026Associate Judge Jessica Agnelly 2020 Mike Parson R 2026Associate 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 4 year term 23 Geography Edit Lake Jacomo According to the United 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 24 Notable Lakes include Longview Lake Lake Jacomo Blue Springs Lake Lake Lotawana Prairie Lee Lake Lake TapawingoThe Missouri River comprises Jackson County s northern border with the exception of one small portion north of the river around the intersection of Highways 210 and 291 as well as all of the 291 bridge The county has historically been a major traveling point for American river travel Adjacent counties Edit Downtown Kansas City Missouri at twilight Johnson County Kansas west southwest Clay County Missouri north Wyandotte County Kansas west northwest Cass County Missouri south Lafayette County Missouri east Ray County northeast Johnson County Missouri southeast not part of the Kansas City metropolitan areaMajor highways Edit Interstate 29 Interstate 35 Interstate 49 Interstate 70 Interstate 70 Alternate Interstate 435 Interstate 470 Interstate 670 U S Route 24 U S Route 24 Bus U S Route 40 U S Route 50 U S Route 56 U S Route 71 U S Route 169 Route 7 Route 150 Route 291 Route 350 National protected area Edit Harry S Truman National Historic SiteDemographics EditHistorical populationCensus Pop 18302 823 18407 612169 6 185014 00083 9 186022 91363 7 187065 011183 7 188082 82527 4 1890160 51093 8 1900195 19321 6 1910283 52245 3 1920367 84629 7 1930470 45427 9 1940477 8281 6 1950541 03513 2 1960622 73215 1 1970654 5585 1 1980629 266 3 9 1990633 2320 6 2000654 8803 4 2010674 1582 9 2020717 2046 4 2021 est 716 862 25 0 0 U S Decennial Census 26 1790 1960 27 1900 1990 28 1990 2000 29 2010 2020 1 2020 Census Edit Jackson County Racial Composition 30 Race Num Perc White NH 419 542 58 5 Black or African American NH 156 542 22 Native American NH 2 713 0 4 Asian NH 14 981 2 1 Pacific Islander NH 1 727 0 24 Other Mixed NH 43 914 6 12 Hispanic or Latino 77 785 10 85 2010 census Edit 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 31 2000 census Edit As of the census of 2000 there were 654 880 people 266 294 households and 166 167 families residing in the county The population density was 1 083 people 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 or African American 0 48 Native American 1 28 Asian 0 18 Pacific Islander 2 43 from other races and 2 25 from two or more races 5 37 of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race 16 7 were of German 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 were married 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 The per capita income for the county was 20 788 About 9 00 of families and 11 90 of the population were below the poverty line including 16 40 of those under age 18 and 8 70 of those age 65 or over Religion Edit 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 are Roman Catholics 19 51 Southern Baptists 17 96 and non denominational evangelical Christians 11 52 Politics EditJackson County is a solidly Democratic county and has remained so even as the state of Missouri has trended rightward The last Republican presidential candidate to carry the county was Richard Nixon in 1972 the only Republican to do so since 1932 John Ashcroft was the last Republican gubernatorial candidate in 1988 and Kit Bond for the Senate in 1998 Tom Schweich is the last Statewide Republican candidate to win the county in his landslide victory for State Auditor in 2014 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 but Barack 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 Generally Democratic strength is concentrated south of the Missouri River with the wealthier areas north of the river being more friendly to Republicans United States presidential election results for Jackson County Missouri 32 Year Republican Democratic Third partyNo No No 2020 126 535 37 99 199 842 60 00 6 686 2 01 2016 116 211 38 14 168 972 55 46 19 504 6 40 2012 122 708 39 32 183 953 58 95 5 400 1 73 2008 124 687 36 75 210 824 62 14 3 755 1 11 2004 130 500 41 30 183 654 58 12 1 839 0 58 2000 104 418 38 38 160 419 58 96 7 225 2 66 1996 85 534 34 26 140 317 56 20 23 807 9 54 1992 78 611 26 96 145 999 50 06 67 027 22 98 1988 107 810 42 02 147 964 57 67 793 0 31 1984 132 271 49 48 135 067 50 52 0 0 00 1980 106 156 41 36 135 805 52 91 14 726 5 74 1976 101 401 43 07 130 120 55 27 3 920 1 66 1972 129 989 58 34 92 830 41 66 0 0 00 1968 91 086 39 22 112 154 48 30 28 980 12 48 1964 78 766 32 81 161 290 67 19 0 0 00 1960 123 589 46 38 142 869 53 62 0 0 00 1956 122 182 47 78 133 522 52 22 0 0 00 1952 133 093 48 88 138 792 50 97 412 0 15 1948 86 471 38 17 139 186 61 44 870 0 38 1944 95 406 45 51 113 803 54 29 423 0 20 1940 101 568 42 46 137 285 57 39 366 0 15 1936 79 119 26 79 215 120 72 84 1 080 0 37 1932 83 214 32 39 172 456 67 13 1 215 0 47 1928 126 589 56 59 96 703 43 23 385 0 17 1924 91 141 51 79 76 002 43 19 8 839 5 02 1920 79 875 50 49 76 791 48 54 1 548 0 98 1916 32 943 41 68 44 556 56 38 1 530 1 94 1912 5 618 8 89 32 209 50 97 25 367 40 14 1908 26 998 45 18 31 461 52 65 1 301 2 18 1904 25 794 53 16 20 582 42 42 2 145 4 42 1900 21 581 47 74 22 542 49 87 1 083 2 40 1896 18 711 46 94 20 705 51 94 446 1 12 1892 11 044 39 02 15 825 55 90 1 438 5 08 1888 14 350 46 64 15 663 50 91 752 2 44 Education EditK 12 schools Edit School districts include 33 Blue Springs R IV School District Center 58 School District Fort Osage R I School District Grain Valley R V School District Grandview C 4 School District Hickman Mills C 1 School District Independence 30 School District Kansas City 33 School District Lee s Summit R VII School District Lone Jack C 6 School District Oak Grove R VI School District Raytown C 2 School District Archives Edit Jackson County Historical Society 34 Libraries Edit Kansas City Public Library Linda Hall Library Mid Continent Public LibraryMuseums Edit American Jazz Museum National World War I Museum and Memorial Nelson Atkins Museum of Art Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Harry S Truman Library and Museum Harry S Truman National Historic Site Jackson County Jail and Marshal s House National Toy and Miniature Museum Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art Kansas City Museum Missouri Town 1855 Vaile Mansion Fort Osage National Historic Landmark Owens Rogers MuseumCommunities EditCities Edit Blue Springs Buckner Grain Valley Grandview Greenwood Independence co county seat Kansas City partly in Platte and Clay counties and a small part in Cass County co county seat Lake Lotawana Lake Tapawingo Lee s Summit Levasy Lone Jack Oak Grove Pleasant Hill Mostly Cass County but partly in Jackson County Raytown Sugar Creek Villages Edit River Bend Sibley Unity VillageCensus designated places Edit Blue Summit Tarsney LakesUnincorporated communities Edit Atherton Blue Mills Blue Summit Cockrell Courtney Hiler Hicks City Oakland Pink Hill Sni Mills TarsneySee also EditKaw Township Jackson County Missouri List of counties in Missouri National Register of Historic Places listings in Jackson County MissouriReferences Edit a b State amp County QuickFacts United States Census Bureau Retrieved October 7 2022 Find a County National Association of Counties Archived from the original on May 31 2011 Retrieved June 7 2011 Archived copy Archived from the original on August 6 2018 Retrieved November 19 2019 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link Eaton David Wolfe 1916 How Missouri Counties Towns and Streams Were Named The State Historical Society of Missouri pp 177 Gannett Henry 1905 The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States Govt Print Off pp 167 Smith Joseph Fielding 1956 McConkie Bruce R ed Doctrines of Salvation Sermons and Writings of Joseph Fielding Smith Vol 3 Salt Lake City Bookcraft p 74 LCCN 56034495 OCLC 3188957 Doctrine and Covenants 57 1 5 H Michael Marquardt The Independence Temple of Zion 1997 Retrieved March 28 2008 The Manifesto of the Mob Blacklds org Retrieved July 10 2013 Information for this section was obtained largely from 175 Years of Jackson County History Archived January 23 2009 at the Wayback Machine Jackson County Historical Society County Government County Executive County Prosecutor County Legislature IT Missouri Secretary of State Registered Voters in Missouri www sos mo gov Retrieved March 25 2018 County Sheriff About Us Jackson County Sheriffs Office Jackson County Sheriffs Office Retrieved July 6 2019 129th Correction Officer Academy Graduation Jackson County Missouri July 1 2019 Retrieved July 6 2019 Jackson Co Sheriff Mike Sharp to resign amid damaging allegations WDAF TV April 18 2018 Retrieved July 6 2019 Darryl Forte Named As Sheriff Jackson County Missouri May 10 2018 Retrieved July 6 2019 Reid Cat May 5 2019 Jackson County sheriff adopts restrictive pursuit policy after deputy charged in May 2018 crash KSHB Retrieved July 6 2019 Our Judges County Municipal Court 2010 Census Gazetteer Files United States Census Bureau August 22 2012 Archived from the original on October 21 2013 Retrieved November 16 2014 Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties April 1 2020 to July 1 2021 Retrieved October 7 2022 U S Decennial Census United States Census Bureau Archived from the original on April 26 2015 Retrieved November 16 2014 Historical Census Browser University of Virginia Library Retrieved November 16 2014 Population of Counties by Decennial Census 1900 to 1990 United States Census Bureau Retrieved November 16 2014 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 16 2014 P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE 2020 DEC Redistricting Data PL 94 171 Jackson County Missouri 2010 census report for Jackson County Missouri Leip David Dave Leip s Atlas of U S Presidential Elections uselectionatlas org Retrieved March 25 2018 2020 CENSUS SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP Jackson County MO PDF U S Census Bureau Archived PDF from the original on July 22 2022 Retrieved July 22 2022 Text list Jackson County Historical Society Home JCHS Retrieved October 1 2018 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jackson County Missouri Jackson County government s website Jackson County Historical Society s website Jackson County Plat book circa 1930 Coordinates 39 01 N 94 20 W 39 01 N 94 34 W 39 01 94 34 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jackson County Missouri amp oldid 1131840935, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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