# Platte County, Missouri

Platte County is a county located in the northwestern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri and is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, the population was 106,718. Its county seat is Platte City. The county was organized December 31, 1838, from the Platte Purchase, named for the Platte River. (Platte is derived from the French word for a low, shallow, or intermittent stream.) The Kansas City International Airport is located in the county, approximately one mile west of Interstate 29 between mile markers 12 and 15. The land for the airport was originally in an unincorporated portion of Platte County before being annexed by Platte City, and eventually Kansas City.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 427 square miles (1,110 km$^2$), of which 420 square miles (1,100 km$^2$) is land and 6.6 square miles (17 km$^2$) (1.5%) is water. The county's southwestern border with Kansas is formed by the Missouri River.

### Adjacent counties

* Buchanan County (north)
* Clinton County (northeast)
* Clay County (east)
* Wyandotte County, Kansas (south)
* Leavenworth County, Kansas (southwest)
* Atchison County, Kansas (northwest)

### Major highways

* Interstate 29
* Interstate 435
* Interstate 635
* U.S. Route 71
* Route 9
* Route 45
* Route 92
* Route 152
* Route 273
* Route 371

## Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 73,781 people, 29,278 households, and 20,231 families residing in the county. The population density was 176 people per square mile (68 people/km$^2$). There were 30,902 housing units at an average density of 74 units per square mile (29/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 91.45% White, 3.49% Black or African American, 0.46% Native American, 1.48% Asian, 0.20% Pacific Islander, 1.05% from other races, and 1.87% from two or more races. Approximately 3.00% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 23.4% were of German, 12.5% Irish, 12.2% American and 11.4% English ancestry.
There were 29,278 households, out of which 34.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.00% were married couples living together, 8.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.90% were non-families. 24.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.80% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 32.60% from 25 to 44, 24.50% from 45 to 64, and 8.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $55,849, and the median income for a family was $65,236. Males had a median income of $44,310 versus $31,005 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,356. About 3.30% of families and 4.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.70% of those under age 18 and 5.70% of those age 65 or over.

### 2020 Census

Platte County Racial Composition :
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
| White (NH) | 81,426 | 76.3% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 8,135 | 7.62% |
| Native American (NH) | 391 | 0.36% |
| Asian (NH) | 2,721 | 2.55% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 695 | 0.65% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 6,189 | 5.8% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 7,161 | 6.71% |

## Education
### School districts

School districts (all full K-12) include:
* East Buchanan County C-1 School District
* North Kansas City 74 School District
* North Platte County R-I School District
* Park Hill School District
* Platte County R-III School District
* Smithville R-II School District
* West Platte County R-II School District

### Public schools

* North Platte R-I School District – Dearborn
** North Platte Elementary School (PK-03)
** North Platte Intermediate School (04-06)
** North Platte Junior High School (07-08)
** North Platte High School (09-12)
* Park Hill School District – Kansas City
** Russell Jones Education Center (K-12) – (Special Education)
** Hopewell Elementary School (K-05)
** Alfred L. Renner Elementary School (K-05)
** Thomas B. Chinn Elementary School (K-05)
** English Landing Elementary School (K-05)
** Graden Elementary School (K-05)
** Hawthorn Elementary School (K-05)
** Line Creek Elementary School (K-05)
** Gerner Family Early Education Center (PK)
** Prairie Point Elementary School (K-05)
** Southeast Elementary School (K-05)
** Tiffany Ridge Elementary School (K-05)
** Union Chapel Elementary School (K-05)
** Congress Middle School (06-08)
** Lakeview Middle School (06-08)
** Plaza Middle School (06-08)
** Walden Middle School (06-08)
** Park Hill High School (09-12) -- within Kansas City city limits
** Park Hill South High School (09-12) – Riverside
** LEAD Innovation Studio (09-12)
* Platte County R-III School District – Platte City
** Donald D. Siegrist Elementary School (K-5)
** Pathfinder Elementary School (PK-5)
** Compass Elementary School (PK-5)
** Barry Elementary School (PK-5)
** Platte Purchase Middle School (06-08)
** Platte City Middle School (06-08)
** Platte County High School (09-12)
* West Platte County R-II School District – Weston
** Central Elementary School (PK-06)
** West Platte County High School (07-12)

### Private schools

* Clay-Platte Children's House Montessori School – Kansas City (PK-08) – Nonsectarian
* Martin Luther Academy – Kansas City (K-08) – Lutheran
* Northland Christian Education System – Kansas City (PK-12) – Nondenominational Christian
* St. Therese School – Kansas City (K-08) – Roman Catholic
* Prairie View KinderCare – Kansas City (NS/PK) – Nonsectarian
* Christ Lutheran Pre-Kindergarten School – Platte Woods (NS/PK) – Lutheran
* Our Savior Christian Academy - Platte City and Smithville (PK-12)

### Public libraries

* Mid-Continent Public Library

## Communities
### Cities

* Camden Point
* Dearborn
* Edgerton
* Houston Lake
* Kansas City (partly in Jackson and Clay counties and a small part in Cass County)
* Lake Waukomis
* Northmoor
* Parkville
* Platte City (county seat)
* Platte Woods
* Riverside
* Smithville (mostly in Clay County)
* Tracy
* Weatherby Lake
* Weston

### Villages

* Farley
* Ferrelview
* Iatan
* Ridgely

### Civil townships

* Carroll
* Fair
* Fox
* Green
* Kickapoo
* Lee
* Marshall
* May
* Pawnee
* Pettis
* Preston
* Sioux
* Waldron
* Weston

### Unincorporated communities

* Beverly
* Dye
* East Leavenworth
* Edgerton Junction
* Hoover
* Kerrville
* New Market
* Stillings
* Stubbs
* Waldron
* West Platte
* Woodruff

## Politics
### Local

The Republican Party controls politics at the local level in Platte County. Republicans hold all of the elected positions in the county. However, Governor Jay Nixon carried the county in his two successful elections, and in 2004, Claire McCaskill of Jackson County narrowly won a majority of the county's votes over Republican victor Matt Blunt. While the county has swung to the Republican party, the presence of Kansas City has helped keep the county competitive into the 21st century.

### State

Past Gubernatorial Elections Results :
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third Parties |
| 2020 | 51.84% 29,616 | 46.02% 26,293 | 2.14% 1,222 |
| 2016 | 50.20% 24,738 | 46.62% 22,973 | 2.58% 1,269 |
| 2012 | 44.64% '20,154 | 52.39% 23,654 | 2.97% 1,339 |
| 2008 | 42.51% 19,417 | 55.23% 25,228 | 2.26% 1,032 |
| 2004 | 48.31% 20,137 | 50.31% 20,970 | 1.32% 577 |
| 2000 | 50.23% 16,971 | 47.69% 16,115 | 2.08% 703 |
| 1996 | 36.40% 10,581 | 61.37% 17,840 | 2.23% 647 |
Platte County is divided into three legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives, one held by a Republican and two held by Democrats.
* District 12 — Jamie Johnson (D-Kansas City). Consists of Parkville, Riverside, and Platte Woods.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 12 — Platte County (2022) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Jamie Johnson | 7,399 | 52.16% | |
| | Republican | Tom Hutsler | 6,785 | 47.84% | |
* District 13 — Sean Pouche (R-Kansas City). Consists of the communities of Platte City, Weston, Farley, Ferrelview, and a part of the city of Kansas City. District 13 also consists of portions of Buchannan County.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 13 — Platte County (2022) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Sean Pouche | 9,323 | 100% | +43.39% |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 13 — Platte County (2020) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Sean Pouche | 14,054 | 56.61% | |
| | Democratic | Vic Abundis | 10,774 | 43.39% | |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 13 — Platte County (2020) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Vic Allred | 10,575 | 54.34% | |
| | Democratic | Mitch Weber | 8,864 | 45.55% | |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 13 — Platte County (2016) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Nick Marshall | 12,440 | 59.02% | −40.98 |
| | Democratic | Tyler McCall | 8,636 | 40.98% | +40.98 |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 13 — Platte County (2014) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Nick Marshall | 7,539 | 100.00% | +38.04 |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 13 — Platte County (2012) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Nick Marshall | 11,712 | 61.96% | |
| | Democratic | Gerry Byrne | 7,192 | 38.04 | |
* District 14 – Ashley Aune (D-Kansas City). Consists of the communities of Houston Lake, Lake Waukomis, Weatherby Lake, Northmoor, and part of the city of Kansas City.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 14 — Platte County (2022) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Ashley Aune | 7,859 | 53.22% | +0.22% |
| | Republican | Eric Holmes | 6,907 | 46.78% | −0.22% |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 14 — Platte County (2020) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Ashley Aune | 12,076 | 53.00% | |
| | Republican | Eric Holmes | 10,707 | 47.00% | |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 14 — Platte County (2018) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Kevin Corlew | 8,716 | 50.17% | −2.49 |
| | Democratic | Matt Sain | 8,656 | 49.83% | +2.49 |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 14 — Platte County (2016) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Kevin Corlew | 10,084 | 52.66% | −3.55 |
| | Democratic | Martin T. Rucker II | 9,067 | 47.34% | +3.55 |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 14 — Platte County (2014) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Kevin Corlew | 4,812 | 56.21% | +1.40 |
| | Democratic | Stephanie Isaacson | 3,749 | 43.79 | −1.40 |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 14 — Platte County (2012) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Ron Schieber | 9,459 | 54.81% | |
| | Democratic | Eric Pendell | 7,799 | 45.19% | |
All of Platte County is a part of Missouri's 34th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Tony Luetkemeyer (R-Parkville).
Missouri Senate — District 34 — Platte County (2022) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Tony Luetkemeyer | 22,503 | 55.07% | +3.30% |
| | Democratic | Sarah Shorter | 18,356 | 44.93% | −3.11% |
Missouri Senate — District 34 — Platte County (2018) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Tony Luetkemeyer | 22,751 | 51.77% | |
| | Democratic | Martin T. Rucker II | 21,113 | 48.04% | |
Missouri Senate — District 34 — Platte County (2014) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Rob Schaaf | 13,071 | 59.26% | |
| | Democratic | Martin T. Rucker | 8,987 | 40.74% | |

### Federal

U.S. Senate — Missouri — Platte County (2022) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | Eric Schmitt | 20,304 | 49.38% | +0.79% |
| Democratic | Trudy Busch Valentine | 19,918 | 48.44% | +0.17% |
| Libertarian | Jonathan Dine | 683 | 1.66% | +0.54% |
| Constitution | Paul Venable | 215 | 0.52% | +0.52% |
U.S. Senate — Missouri — Platte County (2018) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Josh Hawley | 21,618 | 48.59% |
| Democratic | Claire McCaskill | 21,477 | 48.27% |
| Independent | Craig O'Dear | 670 | 1.51% |
| Libertarian | Japheth Campbell | 499 | 1.12% |
| Green | Jo Crain | 200 | 0.45% |
U.S. Senate — Missouri — Platte County (2016) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | Roy Blunt | 22,929 | 46.76% | +6.99 |
| Democratic | Jason Kander | 23,795 | 48.52% | −3.96 |
| Libertarian | Jonathan Dine | 1,413 | 2.88% | −4.87 |
| Green | Johnathan McFarland | 530 | 1.08% | +1.08 |
| Constitution | Fred Ryman | 371 | 0.76% | +0.76 |
U.S. Senate — Missouri — Platte County (2012) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Todd Akin | 17,870 | 39.77% |
| Democratic | Claire McCaskill | 23,578 | 52.48% |
| Libertarian | Jonathan Dine | 3,480 | 7.75% |
All of Platte 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.
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 6th Congressional District — Platte County (2022) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | Sam Graves | 22,310 | 54.41% | −0.97% |
| Democratic | Henry Martin | 17,827 | 43.37% | +0.92% |
| Independent | Edward A (Andy) Maidment | 870 | 2.12% | |
U.S. House of Representatives – Missouri’s 6th Congressional District – Platte County (2020) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Sam Graves | 31,344 | 55.38% |
| Democratic | Gena Ross | 24,026 | 42.45% |
| Libertarian | Jim Higgins | 1,225 | 2.16% |
U.S. House of Representatives – Missouri’s 6th Congressional District – Platte County (2018) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Sam Graves | 24,518 | 55.45% |
| Democratic | Henry Robert Martin | 18,583 | 42.03% |
| Libertarian | Dan Hogan | 1,088 | 2.46% |
U.S. House of Representatives – Missouri’s 6th Congressional District – Platte County (2016) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | Sam Graves | 29,596 | 60.91% | −1.12 |
| Democratic | David M. Blackwell | 17,016 | 35.02% | +1.33 |
| Libertarian | Russ Lee Monchil | 1,321 | 2.72% | −1.56 |
| Green | Mike Diel | 653 | 1.34% | +1.34 |
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 6th Congressional District — Platte County (2014) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | Sam Graves | 13,780 | 62.03% | −0.01 |
| Democratic | Bill Hedge | 7,483 | 33.69% | −1.66 |
| Libertarian | Russ Lee Monchil | 951 | 4.28% | +1.67 |
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 6th Congressional District — Platte County (2012) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Sam Graves | 27,641 | 62.04% |
| Democratic | Kyle Yarber | 15,753 | 35.35% |
| Libertarian | Russ Lee Monchil | 1,162 | 2.61% |
United States presidential election results for Platte County, Missouri :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 29,381 | 50.49% | 27,566 | 47.37% | 1,242 | 2.13% |
| 2020 | 28,917 | 50.49% | 27,179 | 47.46% | 1,174 | 2.05% |
| 2016 | 25,933 | 52.28% | 20,057 | 40.43% | 3,618 | 7.29% |
| 2012 | 25,618 | 56.04% | 19,175 | 41.95% | 917 | 2.01% |
| 2008 | 24,460 | 52.44% | 21,459 | 46.01% | 721 | 1.55% |
| 2004 | 23,302 | 55.52% | 18,412 | 43.87% | 256 | 0.61% |
| 2000 | 17,785 | 52.23% | 15,325 | 45.00% | 944 | 2.77% |
| 1996 | 13,332 | 45.36% | 12,705 | 43.23% | 3,352 | 11.41% |
| 1992 | 9,380 | 31.82% | 10,920 | 37.04% | 9,178 | 31.14% |
| 1988 | 11,838 | 51.18% | 11,225 | 48.53% | 66 | 0.29% |
| 1984 | 12,859 | 62.64% | 7,668 | 37.36% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1980 | 10,092 | 53.81% | 7,342 | 39.14% | 1,322 | 7.05% |
| 1976 | 8,103 | 47.51% | 8,651 | 50.73% | 300 | 1.76% |
| 1972 | 8,764 | 67.69% | 4,183 | 32.31% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 4,836 | 42.74% | 4,665 | 41.22% | 1,815 | 16.04% |
| 1964 | 3,059 | 33.24% | 6,143 | 66.76% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 4,771 | 44.88% | 5,860 | 55.12% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 3,596 | 40.55% | 5,271 | 59.45% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 3,390 | 42.36% | 4,604 | 57.53% | 9 | 0.11% |
| 1948 | 1,644 | 27.34% | 4,354 | 72.40% | 16 | 0.27% |
| 1944 | 2,344 | 38.47% | 3,741 | 61.40% | 8 | 0.13% |
| 1940 | 2,545 | 35.38% | 4,635 | 64.44% | 13 | 0.18% |
| 1936 | 1,787 | 26.71% | 4,884 | 72.99% | 20 | 0.30% |
| 1932 | 1,160 | 18.24% | 5,179 | 81.46% | 19 | 0.30% |
| 1928 | 2,423 | 41.94% | 3,344 | 57.88% | 10 | 0.17% |
| 1924 | 1,999 | 34.80% | 3,674 | 63.96% | 71 | 1.24% |
| 1920 | 1,724 | 28.25% | 4,361 | 71.47% | 17 | 0.28% |
| 1916 | 921 | 23.52% | 2,974 | 75.96% | 20 | 0.51% |
| 1912 | 510 | 14.80% | 2,535 | 73.58% | 400 | 11.61% |
| 1908 | 982 | 25.84% | 2,795 | 73.53% | 24 | 0.63% |
| 1904 | 953 | 27.06% | 2,537 | 72.03% | 32 | 0.91% |
| 1900 | 997 | 24.45% | 3,052 | 74.86% | 28 | 0.69% |
| 1896 | 1,044 | 24.47% | 3,191 | 74.80% | 31 | 0.73% |
| 1892 | 885 | 23.71% | 2,664 | 71.38% | 183 | 4.90% |
| 1888 | 1,010 | 26.75% | 2,727 | 72.24% | 38 | 1.01% |

### Missouri presidential preference primary (2008)

Former U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York) received more votes, a total of 5,434, than any candidate from either party in Platte County during the 2008 presidential primary.