# Pettis County, Missouri

Pettis County is a county located in west central U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 42,980. Its county seat is Sedalia. The county was organized on January 24, 1833, and named after former U.S. Representative Spencer Darwin Pettis.
Pettis County comprises the Sedalia, MO Micropolitan Statistical Area.
The county is home to the site of the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 686 square miles (1,780 km$^2$), of which 682 square miles (1,770 km$^2$) is land and 4.0 square miles (10 km$^2$) (0.6%) is water. It is drained by Lamine River and branches.

### Adjacent counties

* Saline County (north)
* Cooper County (east)
* Morgan County (southeast)
* Benton County (south)
* Henry County (southwest)
* Johnson County (west)
* Lafayette County (northwest)

### Major highways

* U.S. Route 50
* U.S. Route 65
* Route 52
* Route 127
* Route 135

## Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 39,403 people, 15,568 households, and 10,570 families residing in the county. The population density was 58 people per square mile (22 people/km$^2$). There were 16,963 housing units at an average density of 25 units per square mile (9.7/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 92.06% White, 3.04% Black or African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.46% from other races, and 1.62% from two or more races. Approximately 3.88% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 15,568 households, out of which 32.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.30% were married couples living together, 10.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.10% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.70% 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 3.01.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.30% under the age of 18, 9.30% from 18 to 24, 27.90% from 25 to 44, 21.10% from 45 to 64, and 15.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,822, and the median income for a family was $38,073. Males had a median income of $29,221 versus $19,554 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,251. About 10.20% of families and 12.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.60% of those under age 18 and 10.50% of those age 65 or over.

### 2020 Census

Pettis County Racial Composition :
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
| White (NH) | 34,751 | 80.9% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 1,353 | 3.15% |
| Native American (NH) | 159 | 0.37% |
| Asian (NH) | 294 | 0.7% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 120 | 0.28% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 2,287 | 5.32% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 4,016 | 9.34% |

## Education
### Public schools

* Green Ridge R-VIII School District – Green Ridge
** Green Ridge Elementary School (K-06)
** Green Ridge High School (07-12)
* La Monte R-IV School District – La Monte
** La Monte Elementary School (PK-06)
** La Monte High School (07-12)
* Pettis County R-V School District – Hughesville
** Northwest Elementary School (K-06)
** Northwest High School (07-12)
* Pettis County R-XII School District – Sedalia
** Pettis County Elementary School (PK-08)
* Sedalia School District No. 200] – Sedalia
** Sedalia Early Childhood Education Center (PK)
** Heber Hunt Elementary School (K-04)
** Skyline Elementary School (K-04)
** Parkview Elementary School (K-04)
** Horace Mann Elementary School (K-04)
** Washington Elementary School (K-04)
** Sedalia Middle School (05)
** Smith-Cotton Junior High School (06-08)
** Smith-Cotton High School (9-12)
* Smithton R-VI School District – Smithton
** Smithton Elementary School (PK-06)
** Smithton High School (07-12)

### Private schools

* St. Paul's Lutheran School – Sedalia (PK-08) – Lutheran
* Sedalia Seventh-day Adventist School – Sedalia (01-08) – Seventh-day Adventist
* Show-Me Christian School – La Monte (K-12) – Nondenominational Christian
* Applewood Christian School – Sedalia (K-12) – Nondenominational Christian
* Sacred Heart Schools – Sedalia (K-12) – Roman Catholic
** Sacred Heart Elementary School (K-06)
** Sacred Heart High School (07-12)

### Post-secondary

* State Fair Community College – Sedalia – A public, two-year/community college.

### Public libraries

* Boonslick Regional Library
* Sedalia Public Library

## Government and Politics
### Local

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

### State
#### Gubernatorial

Past Gubernatorial Elections Results :
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third Parties |
| 2020 | 71.85% 13,645 | 25.68% 4,876 | 2.47% 470 |
| 2016 | 61.95% 11,150 | 34.90% 6,281 | 3.14% 566 |
| 2012 | 47.32% 8,073 | 49.77% 8,490 | 2.91% 498 |
| 2008 | 42.55% 7,660 | 54.63% 9,834 | 2.82% 507 |
| 2004 | 57.30% 10,038 | 41.63% 7,293 | 1.06% 186 |
| 2000 | 54.65% 8,536 | 42.85% 6,692 | 2.50% 390 |
| 1996 | 44.63% 6,804 | 51.51% 7,853 | 3.86% 589 |

#### Missouri House of Representatives

Pettis County is divided into four legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives, all of which are held by Republicans.
* District 48 — Dave Muntzel (R-Boonville). Consists of the community of Smithton and the northeast section of the county.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 48 — Pettis County (2016) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Dave Muntzel | 1,327 | 84.74% | −15.26 |
| | Independent | Debra Dilks | 239 | 15.26% | +15.26 |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 48 — Pettis County (2014) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Dave Muntzel | 751 | 100.00% | +23.18 |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 48 — Pettis County (2012) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Dave Muntzel | 1,160 | 76.82% | |
| | Democratic | Ron Monnig | 350 | 23.18% | |
* District 51 — Dean Dohrman (R-La Monte). Consists of the communities of Houstonia, Hughesville, and La Monte and the northwest portion of the county.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 51 — Pettis County (2016) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Dean Dohrman | 1,345 | 81.86% | +3.76 |
| | Democratic | John Cozort | 298 | 18.14% | +0.94 |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 51 — Pettis County (2014) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | Dean Dorhman | 781 | 78.10% | +3.91 |
| Democratic | Gary L. Grigsby | 172 | 17.20% | −5.31 |
| Libertarian | Bill Wayne | 47 | 4.70% | |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 51 — Pettis County (2012) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Dean Dohrman | 1,190 | 74.19% |
| Democratic | Gary L. Grigsby | 361 | 22.51% |
| Libertarian | Bill Wayne | 53 | 3.30% |
* District 52 — Nathan Beard (R-Sedalia). Consists of the community of Sedalia.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 52 — Pettis County (2016) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Nathan Beard | 8,449 | 70.58% | −29.42 |
| | Democratic | Kyle Garner | 3,521 | 29.42% | +29.42 |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 52 — Pettis County (2014) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Nathan Beard | 5,200 | 100.00% | +38.24 |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 52 — Pettis County (2012) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Stanley Cox | 7,012 | 61.76% | |
| | Democratic | Phyllis Sue Domann | 4,342 | 38.24% | |
* District 54 — Dan Houx (R-Warrensburg). Consists of the community of Green Ridge and the southern portion of the county.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 54 — Pettis County (2016) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | Dan Houx | 1,784 | 71.62% | −15.22 |
| Democratic | Bob Gregory | 549 | 22.04% | +22.04 |
| Libertarian | Steve Daugherty | 158 | 6.34% | +6.34 |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 54 — Pettis County (2014) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Denny Hoskins | 1,142 | 86.84% | +17.33 |
| | Constitution | Daniel Plemmons | 173 | 13.16% | +13.16 |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 54 — Pettis County (2012) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Denny Hoskins | 1,589 | 69.51% |
| Democratic | Nancy Maxwell | 626 | 27.38% |
| Independent | Eddie Osobrne | 71 | 3.11% |

#### Missouri Senate

All of Pettis County is a part of Missouri's 28th District in the Missouri Senate and was previously represented by Mike Parson but the seat is currently vacant.
Missouri Senate — District 28 — Pettis County (2014) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Mike Parson | 7,943 | 100.00% | |

### Federal
#### US Senate

U.S. President — Missouri — Pettis County (2016) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Donald J. Trump | 12,792 | 70.9% |
| Democratic | Hillary Clinton | 4,322 | 24.0% |
| Libertarian | Gary Johnson | 733 | 4.1% |
| Green | Jill Stein | 112 | 0.6% |
U.S. Senate — Missouri — Pettis County (2016) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | Roy Blunt | 10,361 | 57.59% | +15.12 |
| Democratic | Jason Kander | 6,657 | 37.00% | −11.67 |
| Libertarian | Jonathan Dine | 538 | 2.99% | −5.86 |
| Green | Johnathan McFarland | 251 | 1.40% | +1.40 |
| Constitution | Fred Ryman | 184 | 1.02% | +1.02 |
U.S. Senate — Missouri — Pettis County (2012) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Todd Akin | 7,196 | 42.47% |
| Democratic | Claire McCaskill | 8,246 | 48.67% |
| Libertarian | Jonathan Dine | 1,500 | 8.85% |

#### Missouri House of Representatives

All of Pettis 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 — Pettis County (2016) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | Vicky Hartzler | 12,636 | 71.05% | −0.94 |
| Democratic | Gordon Christensen | 4,211 | 23.68% | +1.26 |
| Libertarian | Mark Bliss | 938 | 5.27% | −0.32 |
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 4th Congressional District — Pettis County (2014) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | Vicky Hartzler | 6,718 | 71.99% | +7.71 |
| Democratic | Nate Irvin | 2,092 | 22.42% | −9.12 |
| Libertarian | Herschel L. Young | 522 | 5.59% | +2.39 |
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri’s 4th Congressional District — Pettis County (2012) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Vicky Hartzler | 10,781 | 64.28% |
| Democratic | Teresa Hensley | 5,290 | 31.54% |
| Libertarian | Thomas Holbrook | 537 | 3.20% |
| Constitution | Greg Cowan | 164 | 0.98% |

#### Presidential

United States presidential election results for Pettis County, Missouri :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 13,907 | 73.45% | 4,703 | 24.84% | 325 | 1.72% |
| 2020 | 13,854 | 72.55% | 4,783 | 25.05% | 460 | 2.41% |
| 2016 | 12,810 | 70.37% | 4,324 | 23.75% | 1,070 | 5.88% |
| 2012 | 10,842 | 63.13% | 5,904 | 34.38% | 429 | 2.50% |
| 2008 | 11,018 | 60.32% | 6,932 | 37.95% | 315 | 1.72% |
| 2004 | 11,603 | 66.32% | 5,801 | 33.16% | 92 | 0.53% |
| 2000 | 9,533 | 60.51% | 5,855 | 37.16% | 367 | 2.33% |
| 1996 | 7,336 | 48.06% | 6,057 | 39.68% | 1,872 | 12.26% |
| 1992 | 6,823 | 41.43% | 5,314 | 32.26% | 4,333 | 26.31% |
| 1988 | 9,648 | 63.47% | 5,486 | 36.09% | 66 | 0.43% |
| 1984 | 10,991 | 67.00% | 5,413 | 33.00% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1980 | 8,833 | 55.76% | 6,475 | 40.87% | 533 | 3.36% |
| 1976 | 7,344 | 48.01% | 7,887 | 51.56% | 65 | 0.42% |
| 1972 | 10,065 | 66.74% | 5,016 | 33.26% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 6,738 | 46.08% | 6,334 | 43.32% | 1,549 | 10.59% |
| 1964 | 5,409 | 37.57% | 8,987 | 62.43% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 9,066 | 56.44% | 6,997 | 43.56% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 8,766 | 55.30% | 7,086 | 44.70% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 9,261 | 55.67% | 7,363 | 44.26% | 12 | 0.07% |
| 1948 | 6,657 | 44.18% | 8,388 | 55.66% | 24 | 0.16% |
| 1944 | 7,696 | 51.67% | 7,176 | 48.18% | 22 | 0.15% |
| 1940 | 8,905 | 50.91% | 8,570 | 48.99% | 17 | 0.10% |
| 1936 | 7,435 | 44.20% | 9,265 | 55.08% | 121 | 0.72% |
| 1932 | 5,982 | 38.48% | 9,474 | 60.95% | 89 | 0.57% |
| 1928 | 10,346 | 64.91% | 5,554 | 34.85% | 39 | 0.24% |
| 1924 | 2,656 | 55.67% | 1,826 | 38.27% | 289 | 6.06% |
| 1920 | 8,595 | 55.98% | 6,561 | 42.73% | 199 | 1.30% |
| 1916 | 4,319 | 46.42% | 4,665 | 50.13% | 321 | 3.45% |
| 1912 | 2,423 | 30.28% | 3,771 | 47.12% | 1,809 | 22.60% |
| 1908 | 3,983 | 49.39% | 3,791 | 47.01% | 290 | 3.60% |
| 1904 | 3,820 | 51.38% | 3,346 | 45.00% | 269 | 3.62% |
| 1900 | 3,824 | 48.88% | 3,820 | 48.82% | 180 | 2.30% |
| 1896 | 4,119 | 48.65% | 4,267 | 50.40% | 81 | 0.96% |
| 1892 | 3,610 | 48.02% | 3,680 | 48.95% | 228 | 3.03% |
| 1888 | 3,393 | 48.90% | 3,369 | 48.56% | 176 | 2.54% |

## Communities
### Cities and Towns

* Green Ridge
* Houstonia
* Hughesville
* Ionia
* La Monte
* Sedalia (county seat)
* Smithton
* Windsor

### Unincorporated Communities

* Bahner
* Beaman
* Bryson
* Dresden
* Dunksburg
* Georgetown
* Longwood
* Manila
* Newland
* Postal
* Spring Fork
* Stokley
* Tedieville