Mercer County, Missouri

Early years

Mercer County was organized February 14, 1845, from part of Grundy County.^[4] It is named in honor of General Hugh Mercer, who fought and died in the American Revolutionary War. The first permanent settlements in what is now Mercer County were in 1837, when a few families from other parts of Missouri moved to the area. James Parsons, a Tennessee native, is generally considered to be the first permanent settler, in the spring of 1837.^[5] The land was still included as part of Livingston County at that time and would remain so until 1841 when it would become part of the newly created Grundy County. Prior to 1837, the land was used by Native American tribes, primarily the Sac/Fox and Potawatomi, as prime hunting grounds. The occasional temporary hunting village would be established by the tribes; otherwise, the land was devoid of humans. The town of Princeton, named for the battle where General Mercer was killed, was established as the county seat in 1847.^[6] The northern boundary of the county was in dispute for the first six years of its existence due to the Honey War, a bloodless territorial dispute between Missouri and Iowa. The boundary was 9.5 miles farther north than present day prior to an 1851 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Civil War

Mercer County, like its neighbor to the east Putnam County, was a staunch supporter of the Union. Most county residents had roots in northern U.S. states "back east" like New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana, and did not have the strong slave-holding tradition of other northern Missouri counties like Macon, Audrain, and Monroe (commonly referred to as Little Dixie), whose population largely emigrated from Southern states. In the 1860 U.S. Census, only 12 Mercer County families were listed as slave owners, with a combined total of 24 slaves.^[7] Fewer than 20 Mercer County men fought for the Confederacy, while well over 1,000 volunteered for Union service. Among the units containing men from Mercer County were the 23rd, 27th and 35th Regiments, the 2nd and 12th Cavalry, the 5th Kansas Cavalry, and various smaller units of the Missouri State Militia.^[8] The 44th Missouri Infantry (USA), consisting of men from Mercer, Grundy, Sullivan, and other northwest Missouri counties, served a pivotal role in the Union victory at the Battle of Franklin, Tennessee, on November 30, 1864.

Adjacent counties

• Decatur County, Iowa (northwest)
• Wayne County, Iowa (north)
• Putnam County (east)
• Sullivan County (southeast)
• Grundy County (south)
• Harrison County (west)

Major highways^[10]

• U.S. Route 65
• U.S. Route 136
• Route 145

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 3,538. The median age was 43.7 years. 22.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 103.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 101.3 males age 18 and over.^[17]

The racial makeup of the county was 93.4% White, 0.0% Black or African American, 1.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.2% from some other race, and 3.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.4% of the population.^[18]

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.^[19]

There were 1,454 households in the county, of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 22.2% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[17]

There were 1,911 housing units, of which 23.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 75.0% were owner-occupied and 25.0% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.4%.^[17]

Racial and ethnic composition

2010 census

As of the census^[29] of 2010, there were 3,785 people, 1,600 households, and 1,089 families residing in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile (3.1 people/km²). There were 2,125 housing units at an average density of 5 units per square mile (1.9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.72% White, 0.19% Black or African American, 0.56% Native American, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.03% from other races, and 0.45% from two or more races. Approximately 0.29% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,600 households, out of which 28.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.60% were married couples living together, 6.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.90% were non-families. 29.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.83.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.00% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 24.20% from 25 to 44, 24.00% from 45 to 64, and 22.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 95.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,640, and the median income for a family was $35,313. Males had a median income of $26,690 versus $19,814 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,140. About 10.20% of families and 13.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.30% of those under age 18 and 14.50% of those age 65 or over.

Religion

Public libraries

• Mercer County Library^[31]

Cities

• Mercer
• Princeton (county seat)

Village

• South Lineville

Census-designated place

• Ravanna

Other communities

• Mill Grove
• Modena

Historical communities

Source^[32]

Townships

Local

The Republican Party predominantly controls politics at the local level in Mercer County. Republicans hold all of the elected positions in the county. In the 2020 presidential election, Mercer County had the highest Republican turnout in the state of Missouri with greater than 86% of the population voting for Donald Trump.

State

All of Mercer County is a part of Missouri's 3rd District in the Missouri House of Representatives and is represented by Danny Busick (R-Newtown).

All of Mercer County is a part of Missouri's 12th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Dan Hegeman (R-Cosby).

Federal

All of Mercer 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.