Gasconade County, Missouri

County in Missouri, United States

County in Missouri

Gasconade County

County

The Gasconade County Courthouse in Hermann

Location within the U.S. state of Missouri

Missouri's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 38°26′N 91°31′W﻿ / ﻿38.44°N 91.51°W﻿ / 38.44; -91.51
Country|  United States
State|  Missouri
Founded| November 25, 1820
Named for| Gasconade River
Seat| Hermann
Largest city| Owensville
Area

• Total

| 524 sq mi (1,360 km2)
• Land| 518 sq mi (1,340 km2)
• Water| 6.6 sq mi (17 km2)  1.3%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 14,794
• Density| 28/sq mi (11/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code| 573
Congressional district| 3rd
Website| gasconadecounty.org

Gasconade County is a county located in the east-central portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,794.[1] The county seat has been Hermann since 1842.[2] The county was named after the Gasconade River.

The county is located on the south side of the Missouri River, which once served as the chief route of transportation in the state. It is located in the area known as the Missouri Rhineland. Because of its distinctive conditions, the Hermann area was designated an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in 1983. The southern part of the county is within the larger Ozark Highlands AVA, established in 1987.

## Etymology

[edit]

Gasconade County (and the Gasconade River) received its name from French-speaking settlers.[3] They came from the Gascony region in southwestern France during French colonial rule of New France (Louisiana Territory).

Per a 1916 Missouri Historical Review article, "The name is from 'Gascon', an inhabitant of Gascony,'[4] a unique, marginal maritime province in the southwest of France with Basque cultural roots.

## Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau the county has a total area of 524 square miles (1,360 km2), of which 6.6 square miles (17 km2) (1.3%) is covered by water.[5]

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Montgomery County (north)
* Warren County (northeast)
* Franklin County (east)
* Crawford County (southeast)
* Phelps County (south)
* Maries County (southwest)
* Osage County (west)
* Callaway County (northwest)

### Major highways

[edit]

* U.S. Route 50
* Route 19
* Route 28
* Route 100

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1830| 1,545| | —
1840| 5,330| | 245.0%
1850| 4,996| | −6.3%
1860| 8,727| | 74.7%
1870| 10,093| | 15.7%
1880| 11,153| | 10.5%
1890| 11,706| | 5.0%
1900| 12,298| | 5.1%
1910| 12,847| | 4.5%
1920| 12,381| | −3.6%
1930| 12,172| | −1.7%
1940| 12,414| | 2.0%
1950| 12,342| | −0.6%
1960| 12,195| | −1.2%
1970| 11,878| | −2.6%
1980| 13,181| | 11.0%
1990| 14,006| | 6.3%
2000| 15,342| | 9.5%
2010| 15,222| | −0.8%
2020| 14,794| | −2.8%
2021 (est.)| 14,791| | 0.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2015[10]

As of the census[11] of 2000, 15,342 people, 6,171 households, and 4,288 families resided in the county. The population density was 30 people per square mile (12 people/km2). The 7,813 housing units had an average density of 15 units per square mile (5.8/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.69% White, 0.12% African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.15% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. About 0.42% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 6,171 households, 31.0% had children under 18 living with them, 58.0% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were not families. About 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.44, and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the age distribution was 24.8% under 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.60 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 92.9 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,047, and for a family was $41,518. Males had a median income of $29,659 versus $20,728 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,319. About 7.00% of families and 9.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.20% of those under age 18 and 10.00% of those 65 or over.

### 2020 Census

[edit]

Gasconade County Racial Composition[12] Race  | Num.  | Perc.

|
|

White (NH)  | 13,705  | 92.64%
Black or African American (NH)  | 18  | 0.12%
Native American (NH)  | 25  | 0.17%
Asian (NH)  | 51  | 0.35%
Pacific Islander (NH)  | 9  | 0.06%
Other/mixed (NH)  | 797  | 5.4%
Hispanic or Latino  | 189  | 1.3%

## Politics

[edit]

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|

### Local

[edit]

The Republican Party in Gasconade County holds all of the elected positions.[13]

Gasconade County, Missouri

Elected countywide officials
Assessor|  Paul Schulte|  Republican
Circuit Clerk|  Pamela R. Greunke|  Republican
County Clerk|  Lesa Lietzow|  Republican
Collector|  Shawn Schlottach|  Republican
Commissioner
(Presiding)|  Tim Schulte|  Republican
Commissioner
(District 1)|  James Holland|  Republican
Commissioner
(District 2)|  Jerry D. Lairmore|  Republican
Coroner|  Jeffrey Arnold|  Republican
Prosecuting Attorney|  Mary Weston|  Republican
Public Administrator|  Kelly Brehe-Thomas|  Republican
Recorder|  Pamela R. Greunke|  Republican
Sheriff|  Scott Eiler|  Republican
Surveyor|  Vincent Klott|  Republican
Treasurer|  Michael C. Feagan|  Republican

### State

[edit]

Past Gubernatorial Elections Results  Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third Parties

|
|
|

2020 | 78.68% 6,192 | 19.53% 1,537 | 1.79% 141
2016 | 63.04% 4,681 | 32.35% 2,402 | 4.61% 342
2012 | 53.18% 3,775 | 44.55% 3,162 | 2.27% 161
2008 | 55.78% 4,307 | 42.90% 3,313 | 1.32% 102
2004 | 65.36% 4,696 | 33.57% 2,412 | 1.07% 77
2000 | 61.83% 4,091 | 35.31% 2,336 | 2.86% 189
1996 | 50.99% 3,042 | 46.36% 2,766 | 2.65% 158

Gasconade County is entirely contained within district 61 in the Missouri House of Representatives.

* District 61 — Bruce Sassmann (R-Bland). Consists of the counties of Gasconade, Montgomery, and Osage.[14]

Missouri House of Representatives — District 61 — Gasconade County (2016)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Republican | Justin Alferman | 2,531 | 80.20% | +4.86
| Democratic | Tom Smith  | 625  | 19.80%  | −4.86
Missouri House of Representatives — District 61 — Gasconade County (2014)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Republican | Justin Alferman | 1,341 | 75.34% | +6.58
| Democratic | Tom Smith  | 439  | 24.66%  | −6.58

### State Senate

[edit]

Gasconade County is a part of Missouri's 6th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Mike Bernskoetter (R-Jefferson City).[15]

Missouri Senate — District 6 — Gasconade County (2014)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Republican | Mike Kehoe | 3,105 | 78.49% |
| Democratic | Mollie Freebairn  | 851  | 21.51%  |

### Federal

[edit]

U.S. Senate — Missouri — Gasconade County (2016)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Republican | Roy Blunt | 4,743 | 63.92% | +12.62
| Democratic | Jason Kander  | 2,319  | 31.25%  | −10.43
| Libertarian | Jonathan Dine  | 176  | 2.37%  | −4.65
| Green | Johnathan McFarland  | 90  | 1.21%  | +1.21
| Constitution | Fred Ryman  | 92  | 1.24%  | +1.24
U.S. Senate — Missouri — Gasconade County (2012)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Republican | Todd Akin  | 3,603  | 51.30%  |
| Democratic | Claire McCaskill | 2,927 | 41.68% |
| Libertarian | Jonathan Dine  | 493  | 7.02%  |

Gasconade County is included in Missouri's 3rd Congressional District and is represented by Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-St. Elizabeth) in the U.S. House of Representatives.

U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 3rd Congressional District — Gasconade County (2016)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Republican | Blaine Luetkemeyer | 5,770 | 78.61% | +1.36
| Democratic | Kevin Miller  | 1,344  | 18.31%  | −1.31
| Libertarian | Dan Hogan  | 155  | 2.11%  | −1.02
| Constitution | Doanita Simmons  | 71  | 0.97%  | +0.97
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 3rd Congressional District — Gasconade County (2014)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Republican | Blaine Luetkemeyer | 3,083 | 77.25% | +1.83
| Democratic | Courtney Denton  | 783  | 19.62%  | −2.81
| Libertarian | Steven Hedrick  | 125  | 3.13%  | +0.98
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 3rd Congressional District — Gasconade County (2012)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Republican | Blaine Luetkemeyer | 5,272 | 75.42% |
| Democratic | Eric Mayer  | 1,568  | 22.43%  |
| Libertarian | Steven Wilson  | 150  | 2.15%  |

#### Political culture

[edit]

United States presidential election results for Gasconade County, Missouri[16] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2024 | 6,370  | 79.65% | 1,555  | 19.44%  | 72  | 0.90%
2020 | 6,222  | 78.53% | 1,601  | 20.21%  | 100  | 1.26%
2016 | 5,670  | 76.10% | 1,520  | 20.40%  | 261  | 3.50%
2012 | 4,895  | 68.62% | 2,099  | 29.42%  | 140  | 1.96%
2008 | 4,763  | 61.29% | 2,899  | 37.31%  | 109  | 1.40%
2004 | 4,753  | 66.28% | 2,355  | 32.84%  | 63  | 0.88%
2000 | 4,190  | 63.21% | 2,257  | 34.05%  | 182  | 2.75%
1996 | 2,997  | 50.19% | 2,104  | 35.24%  | 870  | 14.57%
1992 | 2,690  | 42.47% | 1,952  | 30.82%  | 1,692  | 26.71%
1988 | 4,216  | 72.01% | 1,621  | 27.69%  | 18  | 0.31%
1984 | 4,678  | 80.54% | 1,130  | 19.46%  | 0  | 0.00%
1980 | 4,481  | 72.24% | 1,550  | 24.99%  | 172  | 2.77%
1976 | 3,925  | 69.08% | 1,702  | 29.95%  | 55  | 0.97%
1972 | 4,944  | 80.13% | 1,226  | 19.87%  | 0  | 0.00%
1968 | 4,400  | 74.64% | 1,131  | 19.19%  | 364  | 6.17%
1964 | 3,672  | 63.33% | 2,126  | 36.67%  | 0  | 0.00%
1960 | 4,854  | 74.62% | 1,651  | 25.38%  | 0  | 0.00%
1956 | 5,080  | 78.97% | 1,353  | 21.03%  | 0  | 0.00%
1952 | 5,339  | 80.49% | 1,285  | 19.37%  | 9  | 0.14%
1948 | 4,268  | 77.81% | 1,204  | 21.95%  | 13  | 0.24%
1944 | 5,007  | 83.27% | 994  | 16.53%  | 12  | 0.20%
1940 | 5,333  | 82.03% | 1,163  | 17.89%  | 5  | 0.08%
1936 | 4,202  | 73.51% | 1,492  | 26.10%  | 22  | 0.38%
1932 | 2,571  | 55.77% | 1,998  | 43.34%  | 41  | 0.89%
1928 | 4,171  | 79.57% | 1,058  | 20.18%  | 13  | 0.25%
1924 | 3,306  | 75.88% | 577  | 13.24%  | 474  | 10.88%
1920 | 4,481  | 90.02% | 454  | 9.12%  | 43  | 0.86%
1916 | 2,513  | 82.20% | 510  | 16.68%  | 34  | 1.11%
1912 | 1,539  | 58.94% | 518  | 19.84%  | 554  | 21.22%
1908 | 2,220  | 80.35% | 509  | 18.42%  | 34  | 1.23%
1904 | 2,045  | 80.20% | 469  | 18.39%  | 36  | 1.41%
1900 | 2,015  | 76.91% | 575  | 21.95%  | 30  | 1.15%
1896 | 2,185  | 80.10% | 515  | 18.88%  | 28  | 1.03%
1892 | 1,625  | 72.74% | 602  | 26.95%  | 7  | 0.31%
1888 | 1,735  | 75.14% | 556  | 24.08%  | 18  | 0.78%

At the presidential level, Gasconade County is one of the most reliably Republican strongholds in Missouri. The Republican presidential nominee has won Gasconade County in every presidential election since Abraham Lincoln was first elected in 1860, giving the county the longest active Republican voting streak for presidential elections in the United States.

Like most rural areas throughout Northeast Missouri, voters in Gasconade County generally adhere to socially and culturally conservative principles, which tend to influence their Republican leanings. In 2004, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman—it overwhelmingly passed Gasconade County with 76.48% of the vote. The initiative passed the state with 71% of support from voters as Missouri became the first state to ban same-sex marriage. In 2006, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to fund and legalize embryonic stem cell research in the state—it failed in Gasconade County with 58.61% voting against the measure. The initiative narrowly passed the state with 51% of support from voters as Missouri became one of the first states in the nation to approve embryonic stem cell research. Despite Gasconade County's longstanding tradition of supporting socially conservative platforms, voters in the county have a penchant for advancing populist causes like increasing the minimum wage. In 2006, Missourians voted on a proposition (Proposition B) to increase the minimum wage in the state to $6.50 an hour—it passed Gasconade County with 74.74% of the vote. The proposition strongly passed every single county in Missouri with 78.99% voting in favor. (During the same election, voters in five other states also strongly approved increases in the minimum wage.)

### Missouri presidential preference primary (2008)

[edit]

Main articles: 2008 Missouri Democratic presidential primary and 2008 Missouri Republican presidential primary

Former U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-New York) received more votes, a total of 848, than any candidate from either party in Gasconade County during the 2008 Missouri Presidential Preference Primary.

## Education

[edit]

### Public schools

[edit]

* Gasconade County R-I School District \- Hermann
* Hermann Elementary School (K-03)
* Hermann Middle School (04-08)
* Hermann High School (09-12)
* Gasconade County R-II School District \- Owensville
* Owensville Elementary School (K-05)
* Owensville Middle School (06-08)
* Owensville High School (09-12)

### Private schools

[edit]

* St. George School[usurped] – Hermann (PS-08) – Roman Catholic
* Immanuel Lutheran School – Rosebud (PK-08) – Lutheran

### Public libraries

[edit]

* Hermann Branch Library[17]
* Owensville Branch Library[18]

## Communities

[edit]

### Cities and towns

[edit]

* Bland (partly in Osage County)
* Gasconade
* Hermann (county seat)
* Morrison
* Owensville (largest city)
* Rosebud

### Unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Bay
* Bem
* Cleavesville
* Drake
* Fredericksburg
* Little Berger
* Mount Sterling
* New Woollam
* Redbird
* Swiss

## See also

[edit]

* National Register of Historic Places listings in Gasconade County, Missouri

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 135.
4. ^ Eaton, David Wolfe (1916). How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named. The State Historical Society of Missouri. pp. 168–169.168-169&rft.pub=The+State+Historical+Society+of+Missouri&rft.date=1916&rft.au=Eaton,+David+Wolfe&rft_id=https://books.google.com/books?id=RfAuAAAAYAAJ&pg;=PA168&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Gasconade+County,+Missouri" class="Z3988">
5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
8. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
9. ^ "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 15, 2014.
10. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
12. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Gasconade County, Missouri".
13. ^ "Gasconade County Officials". Gasconade County. September 5, 2019. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
14. ^ "Missouri House of Representatives District 61". Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
15. ^ "Missouri State Senate District 6". Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
16. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
17. ^ Breeding, Marshall. "Hermann Branch Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
18. ^ Breeding, Marshall. "Owensville Branch Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.

## External links

[edit]

Gasconade County, Missouri at Wikipedia's sister projects

* Media from Commons
* Data from Wikidata

* CountyNewsLIVE.com (Hermann)
* Gasconade County Republican (Owensville)
* Digitized 1930 Plat Book of Gasconade County Archived August 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine from University of Missouri Division of Special Collections, Archives, and Rare Books
* Gasconade County Sheriff's Office

* v
* t
* e

Places adjacent to Gasconade County, Missouri

|  | Montgomery County | Warren County

|
|

|  |
Osage County |

Gasconade County, Missouri

| Franklin County
|  |
Maries County | Phelps County | Crawford County

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Gasconade County, Missouri, United States

County seat: Hermann

Cities|

* Bland‡
* Gasconade
* Hermann
* Morrison
* Owensville
* Rosebud

Map of Missouri highlighting Gasconade County

Townships|

* Boeuf
* Boulware
* Bourbois
* Brush Creek
* Canaan
* Clay
* Richland
* Roark
* Third Creek

Unincorporated
community|

* Bay
* Bem
* Cleavesville
* Drake
* Fredericksburg
* Little Berger
* Mount Sterling
* New Woollam
* Redbird
* Swiss

Ghost towns|

* Leduc
* Manda

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

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* t
* e

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38°26′N 91°31′W﻿ / ﻿38.44°N 91.51°W﻿ / 38.44; -91.51
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