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.[1] Its county seat and largest city is Jefferson City, the state capital.[2] The county was organized November 16, 1820, and named after pioneer William Temple Cole who built Cole's Fort in Boonville.[3]
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.[4]
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 402 square miles (1,040 km2), of which 394 square miles (1,020 km2) is land and 8.2 square miles (21 km2) (2.0%) is water.[5] It is the third-smallest county in Missouri by area.
Adjacent counties
Major highways
Demographics
Historical population
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|
| 1830 | 3,023 | | — |
|---|
| 1840 | 9,286 | | 207.2% |
|---|
| 1850 | 6,696 | | −27.9% |
|---|
| 1860 | 9,697 | | 44.8% |
|---|
| 1870 | 10,292 | | 6.1% |
|---|
| 1880 | 15,515 | | 50.7% |
|---|
| 1890 | 17,281 | | 11.4% |
|---|
| 1900 | 20,578 | | 19.1% |
|---|
| 1910 | 21,957 | | 6.7% |
|---|
| 1920 | 24,680 | | 12.4% |
|---|
| 1930 | 30,848 | | 25.0% |
|---|
| 1940 | 34,912 | | 13.2% |
|---|
| 1950 | 35,464 | | 1.6% |
|---|
| 1960 | 40,761 | | 14.9% |
|---|
| 1970 | 46,228 | | 13.4% |
|---|
| 1980 | 56,663 | | 22.6% |
|---|
| 1990 | 63,579 | | 12.2% |
|---|
| 2000 | 71,397 | | 12.3% |
|---|
| 2010 | 75,990 | | 6.4% |
|---|
| 2020 | 77,279 | | 1.7% |
|---|
|
As of the census[11] 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/km2). There were 28,915 housing units at an average density of 74 units per square mile (29/km2). 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
Infrastructure
The Missouri Department of Corrections (MDOC) operates the Jefferson City Correctional Center in Jefferson City.[13][14] The current JCCC was opened on September 15, 2004, replacing the Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City.[13]
Education
School districts including sections of the county, no matter how slight, even if the relevant schools and/or administration buildings in another county:[15]
- Blair Oaks R-II School District
- Cole County R-I School District
- Cole County R-V School District
- Jamestown C-1 School District
- Jefferson City Public Schools
Public schools
- Blair Oaks R-II School District – Jefferson City[16]
- 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[17]
- Cole County R-I Elementary School (PK-06)
- Russellville Junior/Senior High School (07-12)
- Cole County R-V School District – Eugene[18]
- Eugene Elementary School (PK-06)
- Eugene High School (07-12)
- Jefferson City Public School District – Jefferson City[19]
- 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
Post-secondary education
Public libraries
- Missouri River Regional Library[22]
Communities
Cities
Villages
Census-designated place
Unincorporated communities
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.[23] The initiative passed the state with 71 percent of support from voters;[24] 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.[25][26]
State
Gubernatorial
Past Gubernatorial Elections Results
| Year
|
Republican
|
Democratic
|
Third Parties
|
| 2024
|
71.03% 28,418
|
26.67% 10,671
|
2.39% 917
|
| 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.
- District 50 — Sara Walsh. Consists of unincorporated areas in the northwest corner of the county.
- District 59 — Rudy Veit (R-Jefferson City). Consists of the communities of Centertown, Eugene, Lohman, Russellville, St. Martins, Taos, and Wardsville.
- District 60 — Dave Griffith (R-Jefferson City) Consists of the city of Jefferson City.
- District 62 — Tom Hurst (R-Meta) Consists of the community of St. Thomas.
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).
Federal
US Senate
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.
Presidential
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.
See also
References
- ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Archived from the original on January 13, 2022. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ "The Cole of Cole County: Who was he?". www.newstribune.com. Archived from the original on August 15, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
- ^ "Centers of Population by State:2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 3, 2014. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
- ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 17, 2022. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
- ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on December 3, 2014. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
- ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
- ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Cole County, Missouri". Archived from the original on September 24, 2022. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
- ^ a b "Jefferson City Correctional Center." Missouri Department of Corrections. May 7, 2006. Retrieved on September 18, 2010.
- ^ "MidMoGIS Mapping Website Archived 2011-07-18 at the Wayback Machine." City of Jefferson. Retrieved on September 18, 2010.
- ^ Geography Division (January 12, 2021). 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Cole County, MO (PDF) (Map). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved May 31, 2025. - Text list
- ^ "Blair Oaks R-II Schools". www.blairoaks.k12.mo.us. Archived from the original on October 4, 2023. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
- ^ "Cole R1 School District". coler1indians.socs.net. Archived from the original on September 26, 2023. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
- ^ "Welcome to Cole County R-V School District". www.coler-v.k12.mo.us. Archived from the original on September 26, 2023. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
- ^ "Jefferson City School District / Homepage". www.jcschools.us. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
- ^ "River Oak Christian Academy". Retrieved June 21, 2024.
- ^ admin. "Calvary Lutheran High School | Jefferson City, MO". Calvary Lutheran High School. Archived from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
- ^ Breeding, Marshall. "Missouri River Regional Library". Libraries.org. Archived from the original on October 30, 2020. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
- ^ https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/statesub.php?off=51&year=2004&elect=5&evt=0&f=0&fips=29051&submit=Retrieve
- ^ https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?fips=29&year=2004&f=0&off=51&elect=5
- ^ a b c d e f g "Cole County Final Cumulative Election Summary 2020". Cole County Board of Elections. Archived from the original on October 23, 2021. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Cole County Final Cumulative Election Summary 2018". Cole County Board of Elections. Archived from the original on October 23, 2021. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Cole County, Missouri, General Election". Cole County Clerk. November 8, 2016. Archived from the original on April 8, 2017. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Cole County, Missouri, General Election". Cole County Clerk. November 7, 2014. Archived from the original on April 22, 2016. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Cole County, Missouri, General Election". Cole County Clerk. November 8, 2012. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
- ^ a b c d https://colecounty.org/DocumentCenter/View/8358/Nov-8-2022-Cumulative
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Archived from the original on March 23, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
Further reading
- History of Cole, Moniteau, Morgan, Benton, Miller, Maries and Osage counties, Missouri: from the earliest time to the present, including a department devoted to the preservation of sundry personal, business, professional and the private records; besides a valuable fund of notes, original observations, etc. etc. (1889) online
External links
Places adjacent to Cole County, Missouri |
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38°31′N 92°17′W / 38.51°N 92.28°W / 38.51; -92.28