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Mercer County, Missouri
Mercer County, Missouri
Elected countywide officials
Assessor	Diane Blunk
Circuit Clerk	Tammy Crouse
County Clerk	Judy Hamilton
Collector	Susan Moore
Commissioner; (Presiding)	Jerry Allen
Commissioner; (District 1)	Shane Grooms
Commissioner; (District 2)	Zachary Martin
Coroner	Douglas B. Priest
Prosecuting Attorney	Lauren Horseman
Public Administrator	Kelli Judd
Recorder	Tammy Crouse
Sheriff	Steve Stockman
Treasurer	Susan Moore

Mercer County
Mercer County
County
	Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
	Missouri's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 40°25′N 93°34′W / 40.42°N 93.57°W
Country	United States
State	Missouri
Founded	February 14, 1845
Named for	John Francis Mercer
Seat	Princeton
Largest city	Princeton
Area
• Total	455 sq mi (1,180 km2)
• Land	454 sq mi (1,180 km2)
• Water	1.3 sq mi (3 km2) 0.3%
Population (2020)
• Total	3,538
• Density	7.8/sq mi (3.0/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	6th

Mercer County is a county located in the northwestern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,538,^[1] making it the second-least populous county in Missouri. Its county seat is Princeton.^[2] The county was organized February 14, 1845, and named for General John F. Mercer of the Revolutionary War.

History

Early years

Mercer County was organized February 14, 1845, from part of Grundy County.^[3] 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.^[4] 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.^[5] 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 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.^[6] 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.^[7] 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.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 455 square miles (1,180 km²), of which 454 square miles (1,180 km²) is land and 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²) (0.3%) is water.^[8]

Adjacent counties

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

Major highways

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1850	2,691	—
1860	9,300	245.6%
1870	11,557	24.3%
1880	14,673	27.0%
1890	14,581	−0.6%
1900	14,706	0.9%
1910	12,335	−16.1%
1920	11,281	−8.5%
1930	9,350	−17.1%
1940	8,766	−6.2%
1950	7,235	−17.5%
1960	5,750	−20.5%
1970	4,910	−14.6%
1980	4,685	−4.6%
1990	3,723	−20.5%
2000	3,757	0.9%
2010	3,785	0.7%
2020	3,538	−6.5%
U.S. Decennial Census^[9] 1790-1960^[10] 1900-1990^[11] 1990-2000^[12] 2010-2015^[13]

As of the census^[14] 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.

2020 Census

Mercer County Racial Composition^[15]
Race	Num.	Perc.
White (NH)	3,291	93%
Black or African American (NH)	0	0%
Native American (NH)	8	0.23%
Asian (NH)	0	0%
Pacific Islander (NH)	0	0%
Other/Mixed (NH)	84	2.37%
Hispanic or Latino	155	4.4%

Religion

Religion in Mercer County,according to ARDA (2020) ^[16]

Evangelicals Churches (62.5%)

Anabaptist Churches (Amish and Mennonite) (9.1%)

Mainline Protestant Churches (6.2%)

None (19.6%)

Education

North Mercer County R-III School District - Mercer
- North Mercer County Elementary School (PK-06)
- Mercer High School (07-12)
Princeton R-V School District - Princeton
- Princeton Elementary School (PK-06)
- Princeton High School (07-12)

Public libraries

Mercer County Library^[17]

Communities

Cities

Mercer
Princeton (county seat)

Village

South Lineville

Census-designated place

Ravanna

Other communities

Historical communities

Source^[18]

Townships

Source^[19]

Harrison
Lindley
Madison
Marion
Medicine
Morgan
Ravanna
Somerset
Washington

Politics

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

Past Gubernatorial Elections Results
Year	Republican	Democratic	Third Parties
2020	86.86% 1,533	11.56% 204	1.58% 28
2016	71.58% 1,224	26.61% 455	1.81% 31
2012	66.26% 1,090	30.58% 503	3.16% 52
2008	60.29% 1,043	35.84% 620	3.87% 67
2004	69.69% 1,237	29.24% 519	1.07% 19
2000	64.20% 1,144	34.01% 606	1.79% 32
1996	34.10% 516	64.24% 972	1.65% 25

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).

Missouri House of Representatives — District 3 — Mercer County (2016)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Nate Walker	1,510	100.00%

Missouri House of Representatives — District 3 — Mercer County (2014)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Nate Walker	1,018	100.00%	+24.34

Missouri House of Representatives — District 3 — Mercer County (2012)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Nate Walker	1,220	74.66%
	Democratic	Rebecca McClanahan	414	25.34%

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).

Missouri Senate — District 12 — Mercer County (2014)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Dan Hegeman	986	100.00%

Federal

U.S. Senate — Missouri — Mercer County (2016)
	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
Republican	Roy Blunt	1,231	72.37%	+22.34
Democratic	Jason Kander	396	23.28%	−17.58
Libertarian	Jonathan Dine	28	1.65%	−7.46
Green	Johnathan McFarland	18	1.06%	+1.06
Constitution	Fred Ryman	28	1.65%	+1.65

U.S. Senate — Missouri — Mercer County (2012)
	Candidate	Votes	%
Republican	Todd Akin	813	50.03%
Democratic	Claire McCaskill	664	40.86%
Libertarian	Jonathan Dine	148	9.11%

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.

U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 6th Congressional District — Mercer County (2016)
	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
Republican	Sam Graves	1,444	86.00%	+4.89
Democratic	David M. Blackwell	197	11.73%	−2.66
Libertarian	Russ Lee Monchil	30	1.79%	−2.71
Green	Mike Diel	8	0.48%	+0.48

U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri’s 6th Congressional District — Mercer County (2014)
	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
Republican	Sam Graves	992	81.11%	+0.03
Democratic	Bill Hedge	176	14.39%	−2.24
Libertarian	Russ Lee Monchil	55	4.50%	+2.21

U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 6th Congressional District — Mercer County (2012)
	Candidate	Votes	%
Republican	Sam Graves	1,311	81.08%
Democratic	Kyle Yarber	269	16.63%
Libertarian	Russ Lee Monchil	37	2.29%

United States presidential election results for Mercer County, Missouri^[20]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	1,545	86.22%	235	13.11%	12	0.67%
2020	1,541	86.48%	222	12.46%	19	1.07%
2016	1,486	85.16%	216	12.38%	43	2.46%
2012	1,255	75.83%	353	21.33%	47	2.84%
2008	1,169	66.88%	519	29.69%	60	3.43%
2004	1,207	66.43%	582	32.03%	28	1.54%
2000	1,250	67.86%	555	30.13%	37	2.01%
1996	660	41.75%	700	44.28%	221	13.98%
1992	626	33.86%	843	45.59%	380	20.55%
1988	875	49.89%	877	50.00%	2	0.11%
1984	1,229	58.41%	875	41.59%	0	0.00%
1980	1,266	58.67%	821	38.04%	71	3.29%
1976	1,025	46.44%	1,177	53.33%	5	0.23%
1972	1,592	72.40%	607	27.60%	0	0.00%
1968	1,406	60.76%	783	33.84%	125	5.40%
1964	1,040	44.75%	1,284	55.25%	0	0.00%
1960	2,354	67.26%	1,146	32.74%	0	0.00%
1956	2,035	64.73%	1,109	35.27%	0	0.00%
1952	2,482	72.40%	936	27.30%	10	0.29%
1948	1,595	61.23%	1,008	38.69%	2	0.08%
1944	2,249	68.40%	1,035	31.48%	4	0.12%
1940	2,787	66.98%	1,364	32.78%	10	0.24%
1936	2,757	59.87%	1,834	39.83%	14	0.30%
1932	1,357	46.78%	1,520	52.40%	24	0.83%
1928	2,869	75.54%	925	24.35%	4	0.11%
1924	2,508	62.54%	1,209	30.15%	293	7.31%
1920	3,170	74.17%	1,044	24.43%	60	1.40%
1916	1,733	61.13%	1,042	36.75%	60	2.12%
1912	995	34.88%	780	27.34%	1,078	37.78%
1908	1,909	68.13%	852	30.41%	41	1.46%
1904	1,896	68.18%	819	29.45%	66	2.37%
1900	1,973	62.79%	1,106	35.20%	63	2.01%
1896	1,958	57.72%	1,405	41.42%	29	0.85%
1892	1,643	55.75%	809	27.45%	495	16.80%
1888	1,921	62.92%	1,097	35.93%	35	1.15%