Dunklin County, Missouri

Dunklin County is located in the Bootheel of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 28,283.[1] The largest city and county seat is Kennett.[2] The county was officially organized on February 14, 1845,[3] and is named in honor of Daniel Dunklin,[4] a Governor of Missouri who died the year before the county was organized.

Dunklin County
County
Dunklin County Courthouse in Kennett
Dunklin County Courthouse in Kennett
Map of Missouri highlighting Dunklin County
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
Map of the United States highlighting Missouri
Missouri's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 36°16′N 90°05′W
Country United States
State Missouri
FoundedFebruary 14, 1845
Named forDaniel Dunklin
SeatKennett
Largest cityKennett
Area
 • Total547 sq mi (1,420 km2)
 • Land541 sq mi (1,400 km2)
 • Water6.1 sq mi (16 km2)  1.1%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total28,283
 • Density52/sq mi (20/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district8th
Websitedunklincounty.org

Dunklin County comprises the Kennett, MO Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 547 square miles (1,420 km2), of which 541 square miles (1,400 km2) is land and 6.1 square miles (16 km2) (1.1%) is water.[5] The lowest point in the state of Missouri is located on the St. Francis River in Buffalo Township in Dunklin County, where it flows out of Missouri and into Arkansas.

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18501,229—
18605,026309.0%
18705,98219.0%
18809,60460.5%
189015,08557.1%
190021,70643.9%
191030,32839.7%
192032,7738.1%
193035,7999.2%
194044,95725.6%
195045,3290.8%
196039,139−13.7%
197033,742−13.8%
198036,3247.7%
199033,112−8.8%
200033,1550.1%
201031,953−3.6%
202028,283−11.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2015[10] 2020[1]

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 33,155 people, 13,411 households, and 9,159 families residing in the county. The population density was 61 people per square mile (24 people/km2). There were 14,682 housing units at an average density of 27 units per square mile (10/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 88.64% White, 8.68% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.03% from other races, and 1.06% from two or more races. Approximately 2.49% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Among the major first ancestries reported in Dunklin County were 38.8% American, 10.6% Irish, 8.2% German, and 7.5% English ancestry.

There were 13,411 households, of which 31.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.60% were married couples living together, 13.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.70% were "non-families." Of all households, 28.10% consisted of individuals and 14.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.94.

Of the county's population, 26.00% were under the age of 18, 8.10% were from 18 to 24, 26.00% were from 25 to 44, 23.50% were from 45 to 64, and 16.50% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 89.60 males. For every 100 women age 18 and over, there were 85.10 men.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,927, and the median income for a family was $38,439. Males had a median income of $27,288 versus $18,142 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,737. About 19.40% of families and 24.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.90% of those under age 18 and 21.30% of those age 65 or over. Of the state's 115 counties, in 2010 Dunklin ranked 105th in terms of poverty.[12][13]

Religion

According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2000), Dunklin County is a part of the Bible Belt with evangelical Protestantism being the majority religion. The most predominant denominations among residents in Dunklin County who adhere to a religion are Southern Baptists (64.11%), Methodists (8.66%), and Churches of Christ (6.74%).

2020 Census
Dunklin County Racial Composition[14]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 21,629 76.47%
Black or African American (NH) 3,176 11.23%
Native American (NH) 70 0.25%
Asian (NH) 78 0.28%
Pacific Islander (NH) 4 0.01%
Other/Mixed (NH) 1,284 4.54%
Hispanic or Latino 2,042 7.22%

Education

Of adults 25 years of age and older in Dunklin County, 63.7% possess a high school diploma or higher while 9.1% hold a bachelor's degree or higher as their highest educational attainment.

Public schools

Private schools

Alternative and vocational schools
  • Bootheel State School - Clarkton - (K-12) - A school for handicapped and special need students.
  • Diagnostic Center - Kennett - (PK-12) - Special Education
  • Kennett Area Vocational School - Kennett - (09-12) - Vocational/technical

Public libraries
  • Dunklin County Library
  • Arbyrd Community Library[15]

Transportation

Major highways

Airports

Kennett Memorial Airport is a public-use airport in Dunklin County. It is located one nautical mile (1.85 km) southeast of the central business district of Kennett, which owns the airport.[16]

Health care

The county no longer has a hospital as the Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center closed on June 11, 2018. The nearest hospital is now Pemiscot County Hospital in Hayti. The region suffers from high infant and maternal mortality rates.[17]

Media

Radio

FM

  • FM 89.9 KAUF Kennett
  • FM 92.9 KLSC Malden
  • LPFM 102.5 KCJS Kennett
  • FM 104.3 KXOQ Kennett
  • FM 105.5 KBOA-FM Piggott, AR-Kennett
  • FM 106.5 KTMO New Madrid-Kennett
  • FM 107.5 KFEB Campbell

AM

Print

Television

There are no television stations in Dunklin County, Missouri. Dunklin County, Missouri is placed in the Paducah, KY, Cape Girardeau, MO, & Harrisburg, Illinois Television Market. Those stations include:

However some residents in the south end of the county watch stations from the Memphis, TN and Jonesboro, AR Television Markets.

Politics

Local

Dunklin County was once a Democratic stronghold. However, like the rest of Southeast Missouri and the Bootheel in particular, the county has swung Republican. In 2020 alone, three formerly Democratic officials switched their registration to Republican, and Republicans now control a majority of elected offices.

Dunklin County, Missouri
Elected countywide officials
Assessor Rena Ingram Republican
Circuit Clerk Paula Gargus Democratic
County Clerk Kent Hampton Republican
Commissioner
(Presiding)		 Don Collins Republican
Commissioner
(District 1)		 Ron Huber Republican
Commissioner
(District 2)		 Patrick McHaney Republican
Coroner James Powell Republican
Prosecuting Attorney Nicholas Jain Republican
Public Administrator Matt Jackson Republican
Recorder Connie Green Republican
Sheriff Bob Holder Republican
Surveyor Metz Skelton Democratic
Treasurer/Collector Kathy Rasberry Democratic

State
Past Gubernatorial Elections Results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2020 76.40% 7,880 22.10% 2,281 1.10% 118
2016 69.40% 7,253 28.90% 3,014 0.80% 84
2012 43.55% 4,560 54.03% 5,657 2.43% 254
2008 41.65% 4,792 56.13% 6,458 2.22% 255
2004 52.46% 6,015 46.25% 5,302 1.29% 148
2000 42.70% 4,471 56.11% 5,875 1.19% 125
1996 31.51% 3,232 66.86% 6,858 1.63% 167
1992 39.36% 4,309 60.64% 6,640 0.00% 0
1988 58.16% 5,822 41.74% 4,178 0.10% 10
1984 51.01% 5,407 48.99% 5,193 0.00% 0
1980 46.29% 5,203 53.62% 6,026 0.09% 10
1976 40.86% 4,131 59.08% 5,974 0.06% 6
1972 49.07% 4,239 50.85% 4,393 0.09% 7
1968 25.16% 2,879 74.84% 8,566 0.00% 0
1964 24.32% 2,804 75.68% 8,724 0.00% 0
1960 30.71% 3,938 69.29% 8,884 0.00% 0

In the Missouri House of Representatives, Dunklin County is divided into two legislative districts, both of which are represented by Republicans.[19]

Missouri House – District 150 – Dunklin County (2020)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Andrew McDaniel 100.00%
Missouri House – District 150 – Dunklin County (2018)[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Andrew McDaniel 4,521 79.14%
Democratic Josh Rittenberry 1,192 20.86%
Missouri House – District 150 – Dunklin County (2016)[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Andrew McDaniel 5,226 69.10%
Democratic Lena Samford 2,337 30.90%
Missouri House – District 150 – Dunklin County (2014)[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Andrew McDaniel 1,934 47.62%
Democratic Walter Dearing 2,127 52.48%
Missouri House – District 152 – Dunklin County (2020)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Hardy Billington 100.00%
Missouri House – District 152 – Dunklin County (2018)[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Hardy Billington 1,483 68.44%
Democratic Robert L. Smith 684 31.56%
Missouri House – District 152 – Dunklin County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Todd Richardson 100.00%
Missouri House – District 152 – Dunklin County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Todd Richardson 100.00%

In the Missouri Senate, all of Dunklin County is a part of Missouri's 25th District and is currently represented by Republican Jason Bean of Poplar Bluff.[24]

Missouri Senate – District 25 – Dunklin County (2020)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jason Bean 100.00%
Missouri Senate – District 25 – Dunklin County (2016)[25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Doug Libla 6,952 68.51%
Democratic William D. "Bill" Burlison 3,195 31.49%
Missouri Senate – District 25 – Dunklin County (2012)[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Doug Libla 5,056 48.65%
Democratic Terry Swinger 5,337 51.35%

Federal

Missouri's two U.S. Senators are Republican Josh Hawley of Columbia and Republican Roy Blunt of Strafford.

McCaskill was reelected to her second term in 2012 with 54.81 percent of the statewide vote over former Republican U.S. Representative W. Todd Akin of Town & Country and Libertarian Jonathan Dine of Riverside; Dunklin County gave McCaskill just over 50 and a half percent of the vote.

U.S. Senate - Class I – Dunklin County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Claire McCaskill 5,347 50.69
Republican W. Todd Akin 4,806 45.56
Libertarian Jonathan Dine 395 3.74
U.S. Senate - Class I – Dunklin County (2018)[27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Claire McCaskill 1,988 24.90
Republican Josh Hawley 5,802 72.70
Independent Craig O'Dear 82 1.00

Blunt was elected to his first term in 2010 with 54.23 percent of the statewide vote over former Democratic Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, Libertarian Jonathan Dine of Riverside, and Constitutionalist Jerry Beck of Novelty; Dunklin County voters backed Blunt with just under 62 and a half percent of the vote.

U.S. Senate - Class III – Dunklin County (2010)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Roy Blunt 4,306 62.48
Democratic Robin Carnahan 2,363 34.29
Libertarian Jonathan Dine 121 1.76
Constitution Jerry Beck 102 1.48
U.S. Senate - Class III – Dunklin County (2016)[28]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Roy Blunt 6,536 63.00
Democratic Jason Kander 3,433 33.10
Libertarian Jonathan Dine 172 1.70

All of Dunklin County is included in Missouri's 8th Congressional District and is currently represented by Republican Jason T. Smith of Salem in the U.S. House of Representatives. Smith won a special election on Tuesday, June 4, 2013, to complete the remaining term of former Republican U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson of Cape Girardeau. Emerson announced her resignation a month after being reelected with over 70 percent of the vote in the district. She resigned to become CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative.

U.S. House of Representatives - District 8 – Dunklin County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jo Ann Emerson 7,416 70.66 +4.06
Democratic Jack Rushin 2,884 27.48 -3.34
Libertarian Rick Vandeven 196 1.87 +0.87
U.S. House of Representatives - District 8 - Special Election – Dunklin County (2013)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jason T. Smith 1,407 67.22
Democratic Steve Hodges 618 29.53
Constitution Doug Enyart 37 1.77
Libertarian Bill Slantz 30 1.43
Write-In Thomas Brown 1 0.05
U.S. House of Representatives - District 8 – Dunklin County (2018)[29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jason T. Smith 5,978 75.50
Democratic Kathy Ellis 1,857 23.50
Libertarian Jonathan Shell 81 1.00
U.S. House of Representatives - District 8 – Dunklin County (2020)[30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jason T. Smith 7,978 78.40
Democratic Kathy Ellis 2,074 20.40
Libertarian Tom Schmitz 129 1.30

Political culture
United States presidential election results for Dunklin County, Missouri[31]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 8,135 78.08% 2,200 21.12% 84 0.81%
2016 8,026 75.87% 2,360 22.31% 192 1.82%
2012 6,850 64.31% 3,636 34.14% 165 1.55%
2008 7,044 59.88% 4,540 38.59% 180 1.53%
2004 6,720 57.55% 4,901 41.97% 56 0.48%
2000 5,426 51.55% 4,947 47.00% 152 1.44%
1996 3,766 37.02% 5,428 53.36% 979 9.62%
1992 4,024 35.06% 6,277 54.68% 1,178 10.26%
1988 5,026 48.70% 5,281 51.17% 13 0.13%
1984 6,092 55.09% 4,967 44.91% 0 0.00%
1980 5,253 45.56% 6,120 53.08% 157 1.36%
1976 3,314 31.73% 7,107 68.06% 22 0.21%
1972 5,926 68.10% 2,776 31.90% 0 0.00%
1968 4,366 35.40% 5,063 41.06% 2,903 23.54%
1964 3,465 29.04% 8,467 70.96% 0 0.00%
1960 6,708 50.53% 6,568 49.47% 0 0.00%
1956 4,943 36.24% 8,698 63.76% 0 0.00%
1952 5,400 36.18% 9,515 63.76% 9 0.06%
1948 2,466 18.32% 10,979 81.56% 16 0.12%
1944 4,274 33.57% 8,431 66.22% 27 0.21%
1940 5,516 33.07% 11,132 66.74% 32 0.19%
1936 3,775 26.84% 10,233 72.75% 58 0.41%
1932 1,977 17.63% 9,141 81.54% 93 0.83%
1928 3,602 42.37% 4,879 57.39% 20 0.24%
1924 3,436 42.67% 4,357 54.11% 259 3.22%
1920 4,455 44.72% 5,199 52.18% 309 3.10%
1916 1,924 31.89% 3,723 61.71% 386 6.40%
1912 987 18.81% 2,723 51.89% 1,538 29.31%
1908 1,638 35.17% 2,734 58.69% 286 6.14%
1904 1,461 38.47% 2,229 58.69% 108 2.84%
1900 1,276 31.43% 2,711 66.77% 73 1.80%
1896 961 24.38% 2,975 75.47% 6 0.15%
1892 659 22.00% 2,167 72.33% 170 5.67%
1888 719 28.12% 1,838 71.88% 0 0.00%

Historically, Dunklin County has tended to support Democrats at the presidential level. A predominantly rural county in the heavily impoverished Bootheel with a fairly substantial African American population, Democrats at all levels have historically performed quite well in Dunklin County. Bill Clinton of neighboring Arkansas was the last Democratic presidential nominee to carry the county in 1996; since then, Dunklin County has, like virtually all counties throughout the state, experienced a rapid trend rightward, as Republicans have been surging at the presidential level. Voters in Dunklin County still maintain their historically Democratic roots as Democrats hold all the local elected offices in the county, and statewide elections are much more competitive and still have a tendency to lean Democratic. Case in point: Incumbent U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill, a Democrat, carried Dunklin County by approximately five percentage points in her reelection bid for U.S. Senate in 2012 at the same time as former Governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney, a Republican, trounced incumbent President Barack Obama by 30 points in the county.

Like most rural areas throughout Missouri, voters in Dunklin County generally adhere to socially and culturally conservative principles but are more moderate or populist on economic issues, typical of the Dixiecrat philosophy. In 2004, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman—it overwhelmingly passed Dunklin County with 87.57 percent of the vote. The initiative passed the state with 71 percent 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 Dunklin County with 53.70 percent voting against the measure. The initiative narrowly passed the state with 51 percent of support from voters as Missouri became one of the first states in the nation to approve embryonic stem cell research. Despite Dunklin 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 Dunklin County with 79.42 percent of the vote. The proposition strongly passed every single county in Missouri with 78.99 percent voting in favor as the minimum wage was increased to $6.50 an hour in the state. During the same election, voters in five other states also strongly approved increases in the minimum wage.

Missouri presidential preference primary (2008)
Main articles: 2008 Missouri Democratic presidential primary and 2008 Missouri Republican presidential primary

In the 2008 Missouri Presidential Preference Primary, voters in Dunklin County from both political parties supported candidates who finished in second place in the state at large and nationally.

Former U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York) received more votes in Dunklin County, 2,587, than any candidate from either party during the 2008 Missouri Democratic presidential preference primary. The 2,587 is more votes than the total number cast in the entire Republican primary in Dunklin County.

Communities

Notable people
  • Sheryl Crow, Grammy-winning singer/songwriter, was born in Kennett and grew up there.
  • David Nail, country music singer, was born and raised in Kennett.
  • Trent Tomlinson, country music singer/songwriter, was born and raised in Kennett
  • Onie Wheeler, country music and bluegrass musician [32]

See also

References
  1. "Explore Census Data". Data.census.gov. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Eaton, David Wolfe (1916). How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named. The State Historical Society of Missouri. p. 165.
  4. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 110.
  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. "SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  13. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  14. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Dunklin County, Missouri".
  15. Breeding, Marshall. "Dunklin County Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  16. FAA Airport Form 5010 for TKX PDF. Federal Aviation Administration. Effective 11 February 2010.
  17. Healy, Jack (July 17, 2018). "It's 4 a.m. The Baby's Coming. But the Hospital Is 100 Miles Away". New York Times. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  18. "Delta Dunklin Democrat | Newspaper serving Kennett, Missouri". Delta Dunklin Democrat. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  19. "Missouri House of Representative - Members". www.house.mo.gov.
  20. "Our Campaigns - MO State House 150 Race - Nov 06, 2018". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  21. "Our Campaigns - MO State House 150 Race - Nov 08, 2016". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  22. "Our Campaigns - MO State House 150 Race - Nov 04, 2014". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  23. "Our Campaigns - MO State House 152 Race - Nov 06, 2018". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  24. "Missouri Senate – One Hundred First General Assembly – Missouri Senate".
  25. "Our Campaigns - MO State Senate 25 Race - Nov 08, 2016". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  26. "Our Campaigns - MO State Senate 25 Race - Nov 06, 2012". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  27. "Missouri Election Results". The New York Times. May 15, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  28. "Missouri Election Results 2016". The New York Times. August 1, 2017. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  29. "Missouri Election Results: Eighth House District – Election Results 2018". The New York Times. January 28, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  30. "Missouri Eighth Congressional District Results: Jason Smith vs. Kathy Ellis". The New York Times. June 1, 2021 [2020-12-10]. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  31. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  32. http://www.dddnews.com/story/1991176.html

36.27°N 90.09°W / 36.27; -90.09

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