# Cole County, Missouri

Cole County is located in the central part of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, its population was 77,279. Its county seat and largest city is Jefferson City, the state capital. The county was organized November 16, 1820, and named after pioneer William Temple Cole who built Cole's Fort in Boonville.
Cole County is in the Jefferson City, MO Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is south of the Missouri River.
In 2010, the center of the population of Missouri was in Cole County, near the village of Wardsville.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 402 square miles (1,040 km$^2$), of which 394 square miles (1,020 km$^2$) is land and 8.2 square miles (21 km$^2$) (2.0%) is water. It is the third-smallest county in Missouri by area.

### Adjacent counties

* Boone County (north)
* Callaway County (northeast)
* Osage County (southeast)
* Miller County (southwest)
* Moniteau County (northwest)

### Major highways

* U.S. Route 50
* U.S. Route 54
* U.S. Route 63
* Route 17
* Route 179

## Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 71,397 people, 27,040 households, and 17,927 families residing in the county. The population density was 182 inhabitants per square mile (70/km$^2$). There were 28,915 housing units at an average density of 74 units per square mile (29/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 87.06% White, 9.92% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.88% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.54% from other races, and 1.23% from two or more races. Approximately 1.28% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 40.1% were of German, 13.6% American, 7.8% English and 6.9% Irish ancestry.
There were 27,040 households, out of which 33.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.00% were married couples living together, 10.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.70% were non-families. 28.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.20% under the age of 18, 9.80% from 18 to 24, 32.30% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 11.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $42,924, and the median income for a family was $53,416. Males had a median income of $33,769 versus $25,189 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,739. About 5.80% of families and 8.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.50% of those under age 18 and 7.30% of those age 65 or over.

### 2020 Census

Cole County Racial Composition :
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
| White (NH) | 61,474 | 79.54% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 8,041 | 10.4% |
| Native American (NH) | 175 | 0.23% |
| Asian (NH) | 965 | 1.3% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 56 | 0.07% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 3,907 | 5.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 2,661 | 3.44% |

## Infrastructure

The Missouri Department of Corrections (MDOC) operates the Jefferson City Correctional Center in Jefferson City. The current JCCC was opened on September 15, 2004, replacing the Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City.

## Education
### Public schools

* Blair Oaks R-II School District – Jefferson City
** Blair Oaks Elementary School (K-02)
** Blair Oaks Intermediate School (03-05)
** Blair Oaks Middle School (06-08)
** Blair Oaks High School (09-12)
* Cole County R-I School District – Russellville
** Cole County R-I Elementary School (PK-06)
** Russellville Junior/Senior High School (07-12)
* Cole County R-V School District – Eugene
** Eugene Elementary School (PK-06)
** Eugene High School (07-12)
* Jefferson City Public School District – Jefferson City
** Southwest Early Childhood Education Center (PK)
** Callaway Hills Elementary School (K-05) – Holts Summit
** South Elementary School (K-05)
** Thorpe J. Gordon STEM Elementary School (K-05)
** East Elementary School (K-05)
** North Elementary School (K-05) – Holts Summit
** Cedar Hill Elementary School (K-05)
** West Elementary School (K-05)
** Moreau Heights Elementary School (K-05)
** Belair Elementary School (K-05)
** Pioneer Trail Elementary School (K-05)
** Clarence Lawson Elementary School (K-05)
** Thomas Jefferson Middle School (06-08)
** Lewis & Clark Middle School (06-08)
** Jefferson City High School (09-12)
** Capital City High School (09-12)

### Private schools

* Immaculate Conception School – Jefferson City (PK-08) – Roman Catholic
* Immanuel Lutheran School – Jefferson City (PK-08) – Lutheran
* Moreau Montessori School – Jefferson City (PK-03) – Nonsectarian
* River Oak Christian Academy– Jefferson City (PK-08) – Nondenominational Christian
* St. Francis Xavier School – Taos (K-08) – Roman Catholic
* St. Joseph Cathedral School – Jefferson City (PK-08) – Roman Catholic
* St. Martin School – St. Martins (K-08) – Roman Catholic
* St. Peter Interparish School – Jefferson City (PK-08) – Roman Catholic
* St. Stanislaus Catholic School – Wardsville (K-08) – Roman Catholic
* St. Thomas The Apostle School – Saint Thomas (PK-08) – Roman Catholic
* Trinity Lutheran School – Jefferson City (PK-08) – Lutheran
* Calvary Lutheran High School – Jefferson City (09-12) – Lutheran
* Helias Catholic High School – Jefferson City (09-12) – Roman Catholic
* Lighthouse Preparatory Academy – Jefferson City (PK-12) – Nondenominational Christian

### Post-secondary education

* Lincoln University – Jefferson City – A public, four-year historically black university.

### Public libraries

* Missouri River Regional Library

## Communities
### Cities

* Jefferson City (county seat and state capital; a small portion extends into Callaway County)
* Lohman
* Russellville
* St. Martins
* St. Thomas
* Taos

### Villages

* Centertown
* Wardsville

### Unincorporated communities

* Apache Flats
* Bass
* Brazito
* Elston
* Eugene
* Henley
* Hickory Hill
* Honey Creek
* Marion
* Millbrook
* Osage Bend
* Osage Bluff
* Osage City
* Schubert
* Scott
* Scrivner
* Stringtown

## Government and politics
### Political culture

Like many other counties in Mid-Missouri, Cole County is mostly Republican. The last Democratic to win the county in a presidential election was Harry S Truman in 1948.
In 2004, state residents voted on a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman. This passed Cole County with 74.24% of the vote. The initiative passed the state with 71 percent of support from voters; Missouri became the first state to ban same-sex marriage.

### Local

The Republican Party controls politics at the local level in Cole County. Republicans hold all but one of the elected positions in the county. The Democratic Party do not hold any elected positions on the county level.

### State
#### Gubernatorial

Past Gubernatorial Elections Results :
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third Parties |
| 2020 | 67.94% 26,886 | 29.63% 11,726 | 2.43% 961 |
| 2016 | 55.58% 20,872 | 42.09% 15,806 | 2.33% 877 |
| 2012 | 51.85% 19,099 | 45.64% 16,810 | 2.51% 926 |
| 2008 | 49.87% 19,285 | 48.98% 18,941 | 1.15% 447 |
| 2004 | 63.13% 23,147 | 36.08% 13,229 | 0.80% 292 |
| 2000 | 51.14% 16,673 | 47.23% 15,397 | 1.63% 532 |
| 1996 | 33.77% 9,902 | 63.80% 18,708 | 2.43% 713 |

#### Missouri House of Representatives

Cole County is divided into five legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives, all of which elected Republicans.
* District 49 — Travis Fitzwater (R-Holts Summit). Consists of a small unincorporated area of the county just west of the city of Jefferson City.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 49 — Cole County (2020) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Travis Fitzwater | 963 | 96.59% | |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 49 — Cole County (2016) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Travis Fitzwater | 918 | 100.00% | +35.66 |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 49 — Cole County (2018) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Travis Fitzwater | 692 | 69.69% | |
| | Democratic | Lisa Buhr | 300 | 30.21% | |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 49 — Cole County (2014) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Travis Fitzwater | 442 | 64.34% | −5.57 |
| | Democratic | Gracia Yancey Backer | 245 | 35.66% | +5.57 |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 49 — Cole County (2012) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Jeanie Riddle | 704 | 69.91% | |
| | Democratic | Pam Murray | 303 | 30.09% | |
* District 50 — Sara Walsh. Consists of unincorporated areas in the northwest corner of the county.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 50 — Cole County (2020) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Sara Walsh | 691 | 81.29% | |
| | Democratic | Kari Chesney | 159 | 18.71% | |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 50 — Cole County (2018) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Sara Walsh | 536 | 76.90% | |
| | Democratic | Michela Skelton | 161 | 23.10% | |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 50 — Cole County (2016) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Caleb Jones | 684 | 100.00% | |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 50 — Cole County (2014) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Caleb Jones | 426 | 100.00% | 0.00 |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 50 — Cole County (2012) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Caleb Jones | 611 | 100.00% | |
* District 59 — Rudy Veit (R-Jefferson City). Consists of the communities of Centertown, Eugene, Lohman, Russellville, St. Martins, Taos, and Wardsville.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 59 — Cole County (2022) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Rudy Viet | 13,613 | 100.00% | |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 59 — Cole County (2020) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Rudy Veit | 15,592 | 98.27% | |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 59 — Cole County (2018) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Rudy Veit | 11,226 | 76.05% | |
| | Democratic | Linda Ellen Greeson | 3,518 | 23.83% | |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 59 — Cole County (2016) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Mike Bernskoetter | 14,923 | 100.00% | |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 59 — Cole County (2014) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Mike Bernskoetter | 8,396 | 88.59% | +7.84 |
| | Constitution | Michael Eberle | 1,081 | 11.41% | +11.41 |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 59 — Cole County (2012) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Mike Bernskoetter | 12,604 | 80.75% | |
| | Democratic | Vonnieta Trickey | 3,005 | 19.25% | |
* District 60 — Dave Griffith (R-Jefferson City) Consists of the city of Jefferson City.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 60 — Cole County (2022) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Dave Griffith | 7,577 | 62.20% | |
| | Democratic | J. Don Salcedo | 4,605 | 37.80% | |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 60 — Cole County (2020) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Dave Griffith | 11,404 | 63.66% | |
| | Democratic | Joshua Dunne | 6,483 | 36.19% | |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 60 — Cole County (2018) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Dave Griffith | 8,944 | 57.57% | |
| | Democratic | Sara Michael | 6,572 | 42.30% | |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 60 — Cole County (2016) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Jason (Jay) Barnes | 11,139 | 64.24% | −35.76 |
| | Democratic | Kevin Nelson | 6,202 | 35.76% | |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 60 — Cole County (2014) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Jason (Jay) Barnes | 9,041 | 100.00% | −39.89 |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 60 — Cole County (2012) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Jason (Jay) Barnes | 10,674 | 60.11% | |
| | Democratic | Thomas Minihan | 7.084 | 39.89% | |
* District 62 — Tom Hurst (R-Meta) Consists of the community of St. Thomas.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 62 — Cole County (2020) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Bruce Sassmann | 955 | 83.63% | |
| | Democratic | Nancy Ragan | 187 | 16.37% | |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 62 — Cole County (2018) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Tom Hurst | 774 | 83.50% | |
| | Democratic | Ashley Fajkowski | 153 | 16.50% | |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 62 — Cole County (2016) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Tom Hurst | 991 | 100.00% | |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 62 — Cole County (2014) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Tom Hurst | 592 | 100.00% | −25.51 |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 62 — Cole County (2012) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Tom Hurst | 765 | 74.49% | |
| | Democratic | Greg Stratman | 262 | 25.51% | |

#### Missouri Senate

Cole County is a part of Missouri's 6th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Mike Bernskoetter (R-Jefferson City).
Missouri Senate — District 6 — Cole County (2022) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Mike Bernskoetter | 23,302 | 100.00% | |
Missouri Senate — District 6 — Cole County (2018) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Mike Bernskoetter | 23,058 | 69.49% |
| Democratic | Nicole Thompson | 9,473 | 28.55% |
| Libertarian | Steven Wilson | 625 | 1.88% |
Missouri Senate — District 6 — Cole County (2014) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Mike Kehoe | 17,157 | 75.64% | |
| | Democratic | Mollie Kristen Freebairn | 5,526 | 24.36% | |

### Federal
#### US Senate

U.S. Senate — Missouri — (2018) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Josh Hawley | 20,738 | 61.95% |
| Democratic | Claire McCaskill | 11,718 | 35.01% |
| Independent | Craig O'Dear | 448 | 1.34% |
| Libertarian | Japheth Campbell | 380 | 1.14% |
| Green | Jo Crain | 158 | 0.47% |
U.S. Senate — Missouri — (2016) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | Roy Blunt | 21,940 | 58.54% | +6.77 |
| Democratic | Jason Kander | 14,216 | 37.93% | −4.19 |
| Libertarian | Jonathan Dine | 800 | 2.13% | −3.98 |
| Green | Johnathan McFarland | 311 | 0.83% | +0.83 |
| Constitution | Fred Ryman | 206 | 0.55% | +0.55 |
| Write-In | Patrick Lee | 3 | 0.01% | +0.01 |
U.S. Senate — Missouri — (2012) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Todd Akin | 18,918 | 51.77 |
| Democratic | Claire McCaskill | 15,394 | 42.12 |
| Libertarian | Jonathan Dine | 2,233 | 6.11 |

#### US House of Representatives

All of Cole County is included in Missouri's 3rd congressional district and is currently represented by Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-Saint Elizabeth) in the U.S. House of Representatives.
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 3rd Congressional District — Cole County (2022) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Blaine Luetkemeyer | 20,116 | 70.79% | |
| | Democratic | Bethany Mann | 8,203 | 29.21% | |
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 3rd Congressional District — Cole County (2020) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Blaine Luetkemeyer | 27,676 | 70.78% |
| Democratic | Megan Rezabek | 10,385 | 26.56% |
| Libertarian | Leonard J Steinman II | 1,002 | 2.56% |
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 3rd Congressional District — Cole County (2018) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Blaine Luetkemeyer | 23,049 | 69.29% |
| Democratic | Katy Geppert | 9,649 | 29.00% |
| Libertarian | Donald Stolle | 549 | 1.65% |
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 3rd Congressional District — Cole County (2016) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | Blaine Luetkemeyer | 26,481 | 71.61% | −0.51 |
| Democratic | Kevin Miller | 9,368 | 25.33% | +1.19 |
| Libertarian | Dan Hogan | 815 | 2.20% | −1.54 |
| Constitution | Doanita Simmons | 314 | 0.85% | +0.85 |
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 3rd Congressional District — Cole County (2014) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | Blaine Luetkemeyer | 16,401 | 72.12% | +1.77 |
| Democratic | Courtney Denton | 5,491 | 24.14% | −3.10 |
| Libertarian | Steven Hedrick | 851 | 3.74% | +1.33 |
| Write-In | Harold Davis | 1 | >0.00% | |
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri’s 3rd Congressional District — Cole County (2012) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Blaine Luetkemeyer | 25,576 | 70.35% |
| Democratic | Eric C. Mayer | 9,901 | 27.24% |
| Libertarian | Steven Wilson | 877 | 2.41% |

#### Presidential

United States presidential election results for Cole County, Missouri :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 26,686 | 66.46% | 12,874 | 32.06% | 592 | 1.47% |
| 2020 | 26,086 | 65.80% | 12,694 | 32.02% | 865 | 2.18% |
| 2016 | 24,616 | 65.37% | 10,913 | 28.98% | 2,127 | 5.65% |
| 2012 | 24,490 | 65.85% | 12,005 | 32.28% | 695 | 1.87% |
| 2008 | 24,385 | 62.79% | 13,959 | 35.95% | 490 | 1.26% |
| 2004 | 24,752 | 67.44% | 11,753 | 32.02% | 196 | 0.53% |
| 2000 | 20,167 | 61.53% | 12,056 | 36.78% | 552 | 1.68% |
| 1996 | 16,140 | 55.01% | 10,857 | 37.00% | 2,345 | 7.99% |
| 1992 | 15,270 | 48.78% | 10,201 | 32.59% | 5,833 | 18.63% |
| 1988 | 18,023 | 68.16% | 8,359 | 31.61% | 59 | 0.22% |
| 1984 | 20,366 | 75.24% | 6,702 | 24.76% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1980 | 16,373 | 61.96% | 9,210 | 34.86% | 840 | 3.18% |
| 1976 | 14,370 | 63.86% | 7,949 | 35.32% | 184 | 0.82% |
| 1972 | 16,685 | 77.83% | 4,754 | 22.17% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 11,575 | 60.55% | 5,916 | 30.95% | 1,625 | 8.50% |
| 1964 | 10,068 | 55.33% | 8,127 | 44.67% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 9,763 | 53.36% | 8,532 | 46.64% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 9,323 | 55.79% | 7,388 | 44.21% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 9,700 | 56.36% | 7,507 | 43.62% | 3 | 0.02% |
| 1948 | 6,909 | 46.60% | 7,891 | 53.23% | 25 | 0.17% |
| 1944 | 7,364 | 50.76% | 7,139 | 49.21% | 4 | 0.03% |
| 1940 | 7,664 | 48.23% | 8,219 | 51.72% | 9 | 0.06% |
| 1936 | 6,180 | 40.91% | 8,831 | 58.46% | 95 | 0.63% |
| 1932 | 5,636 | 38.26% | 9,068 | 61.56% | 27 | 0.18% |
| 1928 | 6,637 | 50.54% | 6,481 | 49.35% | 15 | 0.11% |
| 1924 | 6,205 | 52.49% | 5,033 | 42.58% | 583 | 4.93% |
| 1920 | 5,878 | 58.31% | 4,167 | 41.34% | 36 | 0.36% |
| 1916 | 2,746 | 48.15% | 2,915 | 51.11% | 42 | 0.74% |
| 1912 | 2,103 | 43.22% | 2,447 | 50.29% | 316 | 6.49% |
| 1908 | 2,402 | 48.58% | 2,494 | 50.44% | 48 | 0.97% |
| 1904 | 2,081 | 47.48% | 2,244 | 51.20% | 58 | 1.32% |
| 1900 | 2,157 | 47.84% | 2,320 | 51.45% | 32 | 0.71% |
| 1896 | 2,033 | 47.53% | 2,198 | 51.39% | 46 | 1.08% |
| 1892 | 1,752 | 47.82% | 1,844 | 50.33% | 68 | 1.86% |
| 1888 | 1,708 | 48.13% | 1,824 | 51.39% | 17 | 0.48% |

### Missouri presidential preference primary (2008)

Former U.S. Senator and President Barack Obama (D-Illinois) received more votes, a total of 4,642, than any candidate from either party in Cole County during the 2008 presidential primary. Cole County was one of only six counties (including the independent city of St. Louis) that backed Obama in Missouri.