# Johnson County, Missouri

Johnson County is a county located in western portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 54,013. Its county seat is Warrensburg. The county was formed December 13, 1834, from Lafayette County and named for Vice President Richard Mentor Johnson.
Johnson County comprises the Warrensburg Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS Combined Statistical Area.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 833 square miles (2,160 km$^2$), of which 829 square miles (2,150 km$^2$) is land and 3.9 square miles (10 km$^2$) (0.5%) is water.

### Adjacent counties

* Lafayette County (north)
* Pettis County (east)
* Henry County (south)
* Cass County (west)
* Jackson County (northwest)

### Major highways

* U.S. Route 50
* Route 2
* Route 13
* Route 23
* Route 58
* Route 131

## Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 48,258 people, 17,410 households, and 11,821 families residing in the county. The population density was 58 people per square mile (22 people/km$^2$). There were 18,886 housing units at an average density of 23 units per square mile (8.9/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 90.12% White, 4.33% Black or African American, 0.65% Native American, 1.43% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 1.29% from other races, and 2.05% from two or more races. Approximately 2.92% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 17,410 households, out of which 35.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.90% were married couples living together, 8.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.10% were non-families. 22.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.10% under the age of 18, 20.20% from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 17.80% from 45 to 64, and 9.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 101.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,391, and the median income for a family was $43,050. Males had a median income of $28,901 versus $21,376 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,037. About 9.50% of families and 14.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.20% of those under age 18 and 10.80% of those age 65 or over.

### 2020 Census

Johnson County Racial Composition :
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
| White (NH) | 44,415 | 82.23% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 2,309 | 4.27% |
| Native American (NH) | 259 | 0.48% |
| Asian (NH) | 821 | 1.52% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 210 | 0.39% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 3,404 | 6.3% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 2,595 | 4.8% |

## Education
### Public schools

* Chilhowee R-IV School District – Chilhowee
** Chilhowee Elementary School (P–6)
** Chilhowee High School (7–12)
* Holden R-III School District – Holden
** Holden Elementary School (P–5)
** Holden Intermediate School (3–5)
** Holden Middle School (6–8)
** Holden High School (9–12)
* Johnson County R-VII School District – Centerview
** Crest Ridge Elementary School (P–5)
** Crest Ridge Middle School (6–8)
** Crest Ridge High School (9–12)
* Kingsville R-I School District – Kingsville
** Kingsville Elementary School (K–6)
** Kingsville High School (7–12)
* Knob Noster R-VIII School District – Knob Noster
** Knob Noster Elementary School (P–5)
** Whiteman Air Force Base Elementary School (P–5) – Whiteman
** Knob Noster Middle School (6–8)
** Knob Noster High School (9–12)
* Leeton R-X School District – Leeton
** Leeton Elementary School (P–5)
** Leeton Middle School (6–8)
** Leeton High School (9–12)
* Warrensburg R-VI School District – Warrensburg
** Reese Early Childhood Education Center
** Maple Grove Elementary School (P–2)
** Ridge View Elementary School (P–2)
** Martin Warren Elementary School (3–5)
** Sterling Elementary School (3–5)
** Warrensburg Middle School (6–8)
** Warrensburg High School (9–12)
** Warrensburg Area Career Center

### Private schools

* Johnson County Christian Academy – Centerview (K–9) – Nondenominational Christian

### Post-secondary

* University of Central Missouri – Warrensburg – A public, four-year university

### Public libraries

* Holden Public Library
* Trails Regional Library

## Politics
### Local

The Republican Party predominantly controls politics at the local level in Johnson County. Republicans hold all elected offices in Johnson County.

### State

Past Gubernatorial Elections Results :
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third Parties |
| 2020 | 66.53% 15,321 | 29.94% 6,895 | 3.52% 811 |
| 2016 | 56.88% 12,040 | 39.38% 8,335 | 3.74% 793 |
| 2012 | 45.67% 9,484 | 50.22% 10,428 | 4.11% 853 |
| 2008 | 43.29% 9,367 | 53.88% 11,658 | 2.82% 613 |
| 2004 | 53.54% 10,767 | 44.55% 8,958 | 1.91% 384 |
| 2000 | 49.27% 8,219 | 47.75% 7,964 | 2.98% 497 |
| 1996 | 34.65% 5,024 | 62.63% 9,082 | 2.72% 394 |
Johnson County is divided into four legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives, all of which are held by Republicans.
* District 51 — Dean Dohrman (R-La Monte). Consists of the eastern half of the city of Warrensburg.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 51 — Johnson County (2016) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Dean Dohrman | 3,713 | 67.39% | +13.82 |
| | Democratic | John Cozort | 1,797 | 32.61% | −7.99 |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 51 — Johnson County (2014) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | Dean Dohrman | 1,792 | 53.57% | +4.43 |
| Democratic | Gary L. Grigsby | 1,358 | 40.60% | −5.70 |
| Libertarian | Bill Wayne | 195 | 5.83% | +1.27 |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 51 — Johnson County (2012) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Dean Dohrman | 2,611 | 49.14% |
| Democratic | Gary L. Grigsby | 2,460 | 46.30% |
| Libertarian | Bill Wayne | 242 | 4.56% |
* District 52 — Nathan Beard (R-Sedalia). Consists of the community of Knob Noster, and Whiteman Air Force Base.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 52 — Johnson County (2016) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Nathan Beard | 1,189 | 69.74% | −30.26 |
| | Democratic | Kyle Garner | 516 | 30.26% | +30.26 |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 52 — Johnson County (2014) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Nathan Beard | 711 | 100.00% | +34.18 |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 52 — Johnson County (2012) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Stanley Cox | 986 | 65.82% | |
| | Democratic | Phyllis Sue Domann | 512 | 34.18% | |
* District 53 — Glen Kolkmeyer (R-Odessa). Consists of the northern section of the county.
Missouri House of Representatives – District 122 – Johnson County (2016) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Glen Kolkmeyer | 582 | 100.00% | +34.36 |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 53 — Johnson County (2014) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Glen Kolkmeyer | 235 | 65.64% | +5.33 |
| | Democratic | Henry Grubb | 123 | 34.36% | −5.33 |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 53 — Johnson County (2012) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Glen Kolkmeyer | 383 | 60.31% | |
| | Democratic | Holmes Osborne | 252 | 39.69% | |
* District 54 — Dan Houx (R- Warrensburg). Consists of western half of the city of Warrensburg and the communities of Centerview, Chilhowee, Holden, Kingsville, La Tour, and Leeton.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 54 — Johnson County (2016) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | Dan Houx | 8,316 | 65.41% | −12.70 |
| Democratic | Bob Gregory | 3,549 | 27.92% | +27.92 |
| Libertarian | Steve Daugherty | 848 | 6.67% | +6.67 |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 54 — Johnson County (2014) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Denny Hoskins | 5,279 | 78.11% | +17.44 |
| | Constitution | Daniel Plemons | 1,479 | 21.89% | +21.89 |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 54 — Johnson County (2012) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Denny Hoskins | 7,753 | 60.67% |
| Democratic | Nancy Maxwell | 3,885 | 30.40% |
| Independent | Eddie Osborne | 1,140 | 8.92% |
All of Johnson County is a part of Missouri's 21st District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Denny Hoskins (R-Warrensburg).
Missouri Senate — District 21 — Johnson County (2016) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | Denny Hoskins | 14,641 | 70.46% | −2.70 |
| Democratic | ElGene Ver Dught | 5,028 | 24.20% | +1.64 |
| Libertarian | Bill Wayne | 1,110 | 5.34% | +1.07 |
Missouri Senate — District 21 — Johnson County (2012) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | David Pearce | 14,983 | 73.16% |
| Democratic | ElGene Ver Dught | 4,621 | 22.56% |
| Libertarian | Steven Hedrick | 875 | 4.27% |

### Federal

U.S. Senate — Missouri — Johnson County (2016) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | Roy Blunt | 11,611 | 54.88% | +13.41 |
| Democratic | Jason Kander | 8,315 | 39.30% | −9.80 |
| Libertarian | Jonathan Dine | 714 | 3.37% | −6.06 |
| Green | Johnathan McFarland | 268 | 1.27% | +1.27 |
| Constitution | Fred Ryman | 248 | 1.17% | +1.17 |
U.S. Senate — Missouri — Johnson County (2012) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Todd Akin | 8,613 | 41.47% |
| Democratic | Claire McCaskill | 10,197 | 49.10% |
| Libertarian | Jonathan Dine | 1,959 | 9.43% |
All of Johnson County is included in Missouri's 4th Congressional District and is currently represented by Vicky Hartzler (R-Harrisonville) in the U.S. House of Representatives.
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 4th Congressional District — Johnson County (2016) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | Vicky Hartzler | 14,102 | 67.63% | −0.14 |
| Democratic | Gordon Christensen | 5,584 | 26.78% | +1.05 |
| Libertarian | Mark Bliss | 1,167 | 5.59% | −0.91 |
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 4th Congressional District — Johnson County (2014) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | Vicky Hartzler | 7,770 | 67.77% | +7.59 |
| Democratic | Nate Irvin | 2,950 | 25.73% | −9.05 |
| Libertarian | Herschel L. Young | 745 | 6.50% | +2.48 |
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri’s 4th Congressional District — Johnson County (2012) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Vicky Hartzler | 12,356 | 60.18% |
| Democratic | Teresa Hensley | 7,140 | 34.78% |
| Libertarian | Thomas Holbrook | 825 | 4.02% |
| Constitution | Greg Cowan | 209 | 1.02% |

#### Political culture

Johnson is a solidly Republican county. The last Democrat to carry Johnson County was Bill Clinton in 1992.
United States presidential election results for Johnson County, Missouri :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 16,298 | 68.80% | 6,960 | 29.38% | 430 | 1.82% |
| 2020 | 15,489 | 66.84% | 6,974 | 30.10% | 709 | 3.06% |
| 2016 | 13,719 | 64.22% | 5,930 | 27.76% | 1,713 | 8.02% |
| 2012 | 12,763 | 60.72% | 7,667 | 36.47% | 591 | 2.81% |
| 2008 | 12,183 | 55.18% | 9,480 | 42.93% | 417 | 1.89% |
| 2004 | 12,257 | 60.57% | 7,790 | 38.50% | 189 | 0.93% |
| 2000 | 9,339 | 55.63% | 6,926 | 41.26% | 522 | 3.11% |
| 1996 | 6,276 | 43.06% | 6,220 | 42.68% | 2,078 | 14.26% |
| 1992 | 5,032 | 33.10% | 5,546 | 36.48% | 4,625 | 30.42% |
| 1988 | 7,512 | 58.14% | 5,373 | 41.58% | 36 | 0.28% |
| 1984 | 8,413 | 66.50% | 4,238 | 33.50% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1980 | 6,449 | 51.24% | 5,441 | 43.23% | 695 | 5.52% |
| 1976 | 5,513 | 49.14% | 5,551 | 49.47% | 156 | 1.39% |
| 1972 | 7,228 | 70.37% | 3,044 | 29.63% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 4,834 | 51.78% | 3,484 | 37.32% | 1,018 | 10.90% |
| 1964 | 4,348 | 40.41% | 6,412 | 59.59% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 6,970 | 59.66% | 4,712 | 40.34% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 6,599 | 59.30% | 4,530 | 40.70% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 6,990 | 61.82% | 4,294 | 37.98% | 23 | 0.20% |
| 1948 | 4,903 | 50.01% | 4,888 | 49.85% | 14 | 0.14% |
| 1944 | 5,949 | 57.32% | 4,419 | 42.58% | 10 | 0.10% |
| 1940 | 6,468 | 54.23% | 5,441 | 45.62% | 19 | 0.16% |
| 1936 | 5,797 | 47.86% | 6,294 | 51.96% | 22 | 0.18% |
| 1932 | 4,088 | 38.40% | 6,481 | 60.88% | 76 | 0.71% |
| 1928 | 7,032 | 61.86% | 4,316 | 37.97% | 19 | 0.17% |
| 1924 | 5,248 | 47.68% | 5,526 | 50.21% | 232 | 2.11% |
| 1920 | 5,700 | 50.66% | 5,444 | 48.38% | 108 | 0.96% |
| 1916 | 2,966 | 43.83% | 3,701 | 54.69% | 100 | 1.48% |
| 1912 | 1,772 | 27.02% | 3,468 | 52.87% | 1,319 | 20.11% |
| 1908 | 2,997 | 45.44% | 3,483 | 52.81% | 115 | 1.74% |
| 1904 | 2,989 | 46.56% | 3,277 | 51.05% | 153 | 2.38% |
| 1900 | 3,051 | 44.76% | 3,612 | 52.99% | 153 | 2.24% |
| 1896 | 3,219 | 42.88% | 4,240 | 56.48% | 48 | 0.64% |
| 1892 | 2,667 | 41.28% | 3,109 | 48.12% | 685 | 10.60% |
| 1888 | 2,895 | 46.33% | 3,183 | 50.94% | 171 | 2.74% |

## Communities
### Cities

* Holden
* Knob Noster
* Warrensburg (county seat)

### Villages

* Centerview
* Leeton
* Chilhowee
* Kingsville

### Census-designated places

* La Tour
* Whiteman AFB

### Other unincorporated places

* Bowen
* Bowmansville
* Burtville
* Columbus
* Cornelia
* Denton
* Dunksburg
* Elm
* Fayetteville
* Fulkerson
* Greendoor
* Henrietta
* Hoffman
* Magnolia
* Medford
* Montserrat
* Mount Olive
* Owsley
* Pittsville
* Post Oak
* Quick City
* Robbins
* Rose Hill
* Sutherland
* Valley City