Andrew County, Missouri
County in Missouri, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Andrew County is a county located in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 18,135.[1] Its county seat is Savannah.[2] The county was organized on January 29, 1841, and named for Andrew Jackson Davis, a lawyer and prominent citizen of St. Louis.[3]
Andrew County, Missouri | |
|---|---|
Andrew County Courthouse | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Missouri | |
| Coordinates: 39°59′N 94°48′W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Missouri |
| Founded | January 29, 1841 |
| Named after | Andrew Jackson Davis |
| Seat | Savannah |
| Largest city | Savannah |
| Area | |
• Total | 436 sq mi (1,130 km2) |
| • Land | 433 sq mi (1,120 km2) |
| • Water | 3.7 sq mi (9.6 km2) 0.9% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 18,135 |
• Estimate (2025) | 18,241  |
| • Density | 41.9/sq mi (16.2/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 6th |
| Website | www |
Andrew County is part of the St. Joseph, MO–KS Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Kansas City, MO–KS Combined statistical area.
History
The following material is inscribed on a plaque erected by the State Historical Society of Missouri and State Highway Commission in 1960, now located by the Andrew County Courthouse:[4]
Andrew County, organized 1841, is one of six counties in the Indian Platte Purchase Territory annexed to Missouri in 1837. Named for Andrew Jackson Davis, a St. Louis editor, the county was first settled in the middle 1830s. Pioneers were from Ohio, Ind., Tenn., Ky., VA., and other parts of Missouri. Savannah, the county seat, was laid out in 1841. First briefly called Union, it was renamed for Savannah, Georgia. The Platte County Railroad (CB&Q) reached there in 1860, and today's Chicago, Great Western in the late 1880s. The town grew as a shipping point and trading center.
A divided county during the Civil War, Andrew sent troops to both sides. In Aug., 1861 come 1500 from Andrew and other counties joined the pro-Southern Mo. State Guard at Camp Highly in eastern Andrew County while others joined a large Union cap in adjacent Gentry County. In 1861, Union troops seized “Northwest Democrat,” a pro-Southern newspaper, in Savannah and troops from Camp Highly seized the “Plain Dealer,” Union newspaper. Raiding Guerrilla bands overran the county through 1863.
Andrew County's glacial plains support fertile livestock, grain, and fruit farms. The One Hundred and Two River, along with the Platte River, are located in the county. Its western border is formed by the Nodaway and Missouri rivers. In 1804 the Lewis and Clark Expedition camped on an island at the mouth of the Nodaway River. Members of fur trader W. Price Hunt's 1811 Astorian expedition wintered near the river's mouth as well.
Among the towns located in Andrew County are Amazonia, once on the Missouri River, now inland, laid out in 1857 near the site of Nodaway City, an early river port; Fillmore, established in 1845; Whitesville, established in 1848; Rochester, established in 1848; Bolckow, established in 1868; Rosendale, established in 1869; Rea, established in 1877; Helena, established in 1878; and Cosby, established in 1882.
The Andrew County Museum & Historical Society celebrates the history of Andrew County through exhibits, programs, publications, and special events. The museum and society collects, preserves, researches, and interprets documents and artifacts to promote the appreciation and preservation of the county's history and bring history to life in Andrew County.[5]
During the American Civil War, local residents served in various Union regiments, including the 18th and 33rd Missouri Infantry. The wartime experiences and local conditions in Andrew County during this period were documented in the wartime correspondence of local soldiers James Calaway Hale and Benjamin Petree of the Savannah area, which was later compiled and published in 2024.[6]
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 436 square miles (1,130 km2), of which 433 square miles (1,120 km2) is land and 3.7 square miles (9.6 km2) (0.9%) is water.[7]
Adjacent counties
- Nodaway County (north)
- Gentry County (northeast)
- DeKalb County (east)
- Buchanan County (south)
- Doniphan County, Kansas (southwest)
- Holt County (west)
Major highways
Source:[8]
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Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 9,433 | — | |
| 1860 | 11,850 | 25.6% | |
| 1870 | 15,137 | 27.7% | |
| 1880 | 16,318 | 7.8% | |
| 1890 | 16,000 | −1.9% | |
| 1900 | 17,332 | 8.3% | |
| 1910 | 15,282 | −11.8% | |
| 1920 | 14,075 | −7.9% | |
| 1930 | 13,469 | −4.3% | |
| 1940 | 13,015 | −3.4% | |
| 1950 | 11,727 | −9.9% | |
| 1960 | 11,062 | −5.7% | |
| 1970 | 11,913 | 7.7% | |
| 1980 | 13,908 | 16.7% | |
| 1990 | 14,632 | 5.2% | |
| 2000 | 16,492 | 12.7% | |
| 2010 | 17,291 | 4.8% | |
| 2020 | 18,135 | 4.9% | |
| 2025 (est.) | 18,241 | [9] | 0.6% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[10] 1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12] 1990-2000[13] 2010-2015[1] | |||
2020 census
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[14] | Pop 1990[15] | Pop 2000[16] | Pop 2010[17] | Pop 2020[18] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 13,849 | 14,437 | 16,129 | 16,641 | 16,756 | 99.06% | 98.67% | 97.80% | 96.24% | 92.40% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 9 | 30 | 67 | 70 | 138 | 0.06% | 0.21% | 0.41% | 0.40% | 0.76% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 16 | 39 | 51 | 46 | 40 | 0.11% | 0.27% | 0.31% | 0.27% | 0.22% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 21 | 23 | 37 | 75 | 89 | 0.15% | 0.16% | 0.22% | 0.43% | 0.49% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | x [19] | x [20] | 1 | 0 | 0 | x | x | 0.01% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 15 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 44 | 0.11% | 0.00% | 0.02% | 0.02% | 0.24% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x [21] | x [22] | 66 | 165 | 677 | x | x | 0.40% | 0.95% | 3.73% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 70 | 103 | 138 | 290 | 391 | 0.50% | 0.70% | 0.84% | 1.68% | 2.16% |
| Total | 13,980 | 14,632 | 16,492 | 17,291 | 18,135 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 18,135. The median age was 41.1 years, 24.4% of residents were under the age of 18, and 19.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.9 males age 18 and over.[23]
According to the 2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC) data, 39.6% of residents lived in urban areas while 60.4% lived in rural areas.[24]
The racial makeup of the county was 93.2% White, 0.9% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.5% from some other race, and 4.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.2% of the population.[25]
There were 7,065 households in the county, of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 20.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 23.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[23]
There were 7,551 housing units, of which 6.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 78.5% were owner-occupied and 21.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.9%.[23]
2000 census
As of the census[26] of 2000, there were 16,492 people, 6,273 households, and 4,635 families residing in the county. The population density was 38 inhabitants per square mile (15/km2). There were 6,662 housing units at an average density of 15 units per square mile (5.8 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.38% White, 0.42% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races, and 0.45% from two or more races. Approximately 0.84% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 6,273 households, out of which 34.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.70% were married couples living together, 7.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.10% were non-families. 22.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.40% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 14.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $40,688, and the median income for a family was $46,067. Males had a median income of $32,955 versus $22,586 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,375. About 6.40% of families and 8.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.50% of those under age 18 and 8.00% of those age 65 or over.
Religion
According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2010), Andrew 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 Andrew County who adhere to a religion are Southern Baptists (38.62%), United Methodists (21.14%), and Disciples of Christ (9.86%).
Education
K-12 school districts with territory in the county, no matter how slight, even if the relevant schools/administration buildings are in other counties, include:[27]
- King City R-I School District
- Nodaway-Holt R-VII School District
- North Andrew County R-VI School District
- Savannah R-III School District
- South Nodaway County R-IV School District
- Union Star R-II School District
There is also one elementary school district, Avenue City R-IX School District.[27]
Public schools
- Avenue City R-IX School District – Cosby
- Avenue City Elementary School (PK-08)
- North Andrew County R-VI School District – Rosendale
- North Andrew County Elementary School (K-05)
- North Andrew County Middle School (06-08)
- North Andrew High School (09-12)
- Savannah R-III School District – Savannah
- Savannah Early Learning Center (PK)
- Amazonia Elementary School (K-05)
- Helena Elementary School (K-05)
- John Glenn Elementary School (K-05)
- Minnie Cline Elementary School (K-05)
- Savannah Middle School (06-08)
- Savannah High School (09-12)
Public libraries
- Rolling Hills Consolidated Library—Savannah Branch[28]
Communities
Cities
Villages
Unincorporated communities
Extinct Hamlets
Townships
Andrew County is divided into 10 townships:
Population ranking
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 US census of Andrew County.[29]
† County seat
Politics
Local
Republicans control politics at the local level in Andrew County. They hold every elected position in the county.
| Andrew County, Missouri | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Elected countywide officials | |||
| Assessor | Paul Garrison | Republican | |
| Circuit Clerk | Christy Porter | Republican | |
| County Clerk | Sarah Miller | Republican | |
| Collector | Phil Rogers | Republican | |
| Commissioner (presiding) | Bob Caldwell | Republican | |
| Commissioner (district 1) | Fritz Hegeman | Republican | |
| Commissioner (district 2) | Gary Baumann | Republican | |
| Coroner | Doug Johnson | Republican | |
| Prosecuting Attorney | Steven Stevenson | Republican | |
| Public Administrator | Gary Chambers | Republican | |
| Recorder | Chanler Williams | Republican | |
| Sheriff | Grant Gillett | Republican | |
| Surveyor | F. Shane Terhune | Republican | |
| Treasurer | Cindy Esely | Republican | |
State
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third Parties |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 75.54% 7,311 | 22.09% 2,138 | 2.36% 229 |
| 2020 | 73.92% 7,195 | 24.21% 2,356 | 1.50% 146 |
| 2016 | 63.22% 5,771 | 34.79% 3,176 | 1.98% 181 |
| 2012 | 51.99% 4,301 | 44.63% 3,692 | 3.38% 280 |
| 2008 | 48.09% 4,174 | 49.69% 4,313 | 2.22% 192 |
| 2004 | 60.70% 5,001 | 38.15% 3,143 | 1.15% 95 |
| 2000 | 54.55% 3,943 | 43.47% 3,142 | 1.98% 143 |
| 1996 | 37.24% 2,607 | 60.33% 4,223 | 2.43% 170 |
| 1992 | 50.00% 3,657 | 50.00% 3,657 | 0.00% 0 |
All of Andrew County is a part of Missouri's 9th District in the Missouri House of Representatives and is represented by Dean Van Schoiack (R-Savannah).
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Dean Van Schoiack | 7,449 | 77.77% | +8.35 | |
| Democratic | Karen Planalp | 2,129 | 22.23 | −8.35 | |
All of Andrew County is a part of Missouri's 12th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Dan Hegemen (R-Cosby).
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Dan Hegeman | 5,775 | 77.09% | −22.91 | |
| Democratic | Terry Richard | 1,716 | 22.91% | +22.91 | |
Federal
All of Andrew 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. Graves was elected to an eleventh term in 2020 over Democratic challenger Gena Ross.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Sam Graves | 7,420 | 76.98% | +3.89 | |
| Democratic | Gena L. Ross | 2,002 | 20.77% | −2.39 | |
| Libertarian | Jim Higgins | 217 | 2.25% | −1.50 | |
Andrew County, along with the rest of the state of Missouri, is represented in the U.S. Senate by Josh Hawley (R-Columbia) and Roy Blunt (R-Strafford).
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Josh Hawley | 4,919 | 64.81% | +20.26 | |
| Democratic | Claire McCaskill | 2,372 | 31.25% | −16.80 | |
| Independent | Craig O'Dear | 143 | 1.88% | ||
| Libertarian | Japheth Campbell | 120 | 1.58% | −5.81 | |
| Green | Jo Crain | 36 | 0.47% | +0.47 | |
Blunt was elected to a second term in 2016 over then-Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Roy Blunt | 5,610 | 61.63% | +17.08 | |
| Democratic | Jason Kander | 3,122 | 34.30% | −13.75 | |
| Libertarian | Jonathan Dine | 213 | 2.34% | −5.05 | |
| Green | Johnathan McFarland | 83 | 0.91% | +0.91 | |
| Constitution | Fred Ryman | 74 | 0.81% | +0.81 | |
Political culture
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1888 | 1,976 | 52.88% | 1,691 | 45.25% | 70 | 1.87% |
| 1892 | 1,834 | 48.54% | 1,505 | 39.84% | 439 | 11.62% |
| 1896 | 2,252 | 50.26% | 2,191 | 48.90% | 38 | 0.85% |
| 1900 | 2,356 | 53.05% | 2,022 | 45.53% | 63 | 1.42% |
| 1904 | 2,306 | 56.45% | 1,691 | 41.40% | 88 | 2.15% |
| 1908 | 2,169 | 54.09% | 1,782 | 44.44% | 59 | 1.47% |
| 1912 | 1,634 | 42.02% | 1,750 | 45.00% | 505 | 12.99% |
| 1916 | 2,087 | 52.49% | 1,853 | 46.60% | 36 | 0.91% |
| 1920 | 3,913 | 60.86% | 2,466 | 38.36% | 50 | 0.78% |
| 1924 | 3,535 | 55.36% | 2,648 | 41.47% | 202 | 3.16% |
| 1928 | 4,243 | 66.58% | 2,118 | 33.23% | 12 | 0.19% |
| 1932 | 2,826 | 46.04% | 3,280 | 53.44% | 32 | 0.52% |
| 1936 | 3,987 | 51.83% | 3,702 | 48.12% | 4 | 0.05% |
| 1940 | 4,384 | 58.81% | 3,059 | 41.04% | 11 | 0.15% |
| 1944 | 3,734 | 62.29% | 2,254 | 37.60% | 7 | 0.12% |
| 1948 | 3,142 | 54.84% | 2,576 | 44.96% | 11 | 0.19% |
| 1952 | 4,452 | 67.85% | 2,104 | 32.06% | 6 | 0.09% |
| 1956 | 3,609 | 60.13% | 2,393 | 39.87% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 3,716 | 63.13% | 2,170 | 36.87% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 2,594 | 44.69% | 3,211 | 55.31% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 3,398 | 58.97% | 2,005 | 34.80% | 359 | 6.23% |
| 1972 | 4,180 | 71.26% | 1,686 | 28.74% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1976 | 3,130 | 50.38% | 3,042 | 48.96% | 41 | 0.66% |
| 1980 | 3,690 | 56.14% | 2,575 | 39.18% | 308 | 4.69% |
| 1984 | 4,252 | 63.38% | 2,457 | 36.62% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1988 | 3,407 | 52.08% | 3,108 | 47.51% | 27 | 0.41% |
| 1992 | 2,652 | 35.41% | 2,675 | 35.72% | 2,162 | 28.87% |
| 1996 | 3,281 | 46.20% | 2,807 | 39.53% | 1,013 | 14.27% |
| 2000 | 4,257 | 58.52% | 2,795 | 38.42% | 222 | 3.05% |
| 2004 | 5,135 | 62.12% | 3,069 | 37.13% | 62 | 0.75% |
| 2008 | 5,279 | 60.06% | 3,345 | 38.05% | 166 | 1.89% |
| 2012 | 5,457 | 65.42% | 2,649 | 31.76% | 235 | 2.82% |
| 2016 | 6,665 | 72.49% | 2,045 | 22.24% | 484 | 5.26% |
| 2020 | 7,255 | 74.23% | 2,351 | 24.05% | 168 | 1.72% |
| 2024 | 7,407 | 75.22% | 2,312 | 23.48% | 128 | 1.30% |
At the presidential level, Andrew County is solidly Republican. Andrew County strongly favored Donald Trump in both 2016 and 2020. Bill Clinton was the last Democratic presidential nominee to carry Andrew County in 1992 with a plurality of the vote, and a Democrat hasn't won majority support from the county's voters in a presidential election since Lyndon Johnson in 1964.
Like most rural areas throughout northwest Missouri, voters in Andrew County generally adhere to socially and culturally conservative principles which tend to influence their Republican leanings. Despite Andrew County's longstanding tradition of supporting socially conservative platforms, voters in the county have a penchant for advancing populist causes. In 2018, Missourians voted on a proposition (Proposition A) concerning right to work, the outcome of which ultimately reversed the right to work legislation passed in the state the previous year. 67.18% of Andrew County voters cast their ballots to overturn the law.
Missouri presidential preference primaries
2020
The 2020 presidential primaries for both the Democratic and Republican parties were held in Missouri on March 10. On the Democratic side, former Vice President Joe Biden (D-Delaware) both won statewide and carried Andrew County by a wide margin. Biden went on to defeat President Donald Trump in the general election.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Joe Biden | 818 | 62.35 | ||
| Democratic | Bernie Sanders | 415 | 31.63 | ||
| Democratic | Tulsi Gabbard | 18 | 1.37 | ||
| Democratic | Others/Uncommitted | 61 | 4.65 | ||
Incumbent President Donald Trump (R-Florida) faced a primary challenge from former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld, but won both Andrew County and statewide by large margins.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Donald Trump | 1,220 | 97.52 | ||
| Republican | Bill Weld | 3 | 0.24 | ||
| Republican | Others/Uncommitted | 28 | 2.24 | ||
Notable people
- John P. Altgeld, Governor of Illinois from 1893 to 1897, lived in Savannah
- Eminem, American rapper, lived in Savannah and attended middle school there
- Nellie Tayloe Ross, the first female Governor of Wyoming (1925-1927) and first elected female Governor of any state in the United States, as well as the first female director of the U.S. Mint
- Joseph K. Toole (1851-1929), the first Governor of Montana and member of the Democratic Party
