Cedar County, Missouri

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Template:Infobox U.S. county

Cedar County is a county located in the southwest portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,188.[1] The county seat is Stockton.[2] The county was founded February 14, 1845, and named after Cedar Creek, a tributary of the Sac River, which in turn is named from the Eastern red cedar, a common tree of the area.[3]

Geography

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According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 499 square miles (1,290 km2), of which 474 square miles (1,230 km2) is land and 24 square miles (62 km2) (4.8%) is water.[4] The water area includes various rivers and Stockton Lake.

Adjacent counties

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Major highways

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Demographics

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Template:US Census population

Racial and ethnic composition

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Cedar County, Missouri – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 1980[5] Pop 1990[6] Pop 2000[7] Pop 2010[8] Pop 2020[9] % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 11,721 11,935 13,180 13,432 12,899 98.55% 98.69% 95.97% 96.07% 90.91%
Black or African American alone (NH) 1 3 44 14 57 0.01% 0.02% 0.32% 0.10% 0.40%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 69 76 88 72 100 0.58% 0.63% 0.64% 0.51% 0.70%
Asian alone (NH) 21 20 63 44 42 0.18% 0.17% 0.46% 0.31% 0.30%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) x [10] x [11] 5 3 7 x x 0.04% 0.02% 0.05%
Other race alone (NH) 1 1 20 0 34 0.01% 0.01% 0.15% 0.00% 0.24%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) x [12] x [13] 180 213 788 x x 1.31% 1.52% 5.55%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 81 58 153 204 261 0.68% 0.48% 1.11% 1.46% 1.84%
Total 11,894 12,093 13,733 13,982 14,188 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2020 census

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As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 14,188. The median age was 43.5 years, 25.0% of residents were under the age of 18, and 23.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 100.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.3 males age 18 and over.[14]

The racial makeup of the county was 91.6% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.7% from some other race, and 6.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.8% of the population.[15]

There were 5,609 households in the county, of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 23.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 29.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 6,930 housing units, of which 19.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 75.3% were owner-occupied and 24.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.2%.[14]

None of the residents lived in urban areas while 100.0% lived in rural areas as classified by the Census Bureau.[16]

Racial composition in Cedar County[17]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 12,899 91%
Black or African American (NH) 57 0.4%
Native American (NH) 100 0.7%
Asian (NH) 42 0.3%
Pacific Islander (NH) 7 0.05%
Other/Mixed (NH) 822 5.8%
Hispanic or Latino 261 1.83%

2000 census

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As of the 2000 census, there were 13,733 people, 5,685 households, and 3,894 families residing in the county.[18] The population density was 29 people per square mile (11 people/km2). There were 6,813 housing units at an average density of 14 units per square mile (5.4/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.58% White, 0.32% Black or African American, 0.66% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.50% from other races, and 1.43% from two or more races. Approximately 1.11% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,685 households, out of which 27.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.50% were married couples living together, 7.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.50% were non-families. 28.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.60% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 22.80% from 25 to 44, 25.40% from 45 to 64, and 20.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,694, and the median income for a family was $32,710. Males had a median income of $25,017 versus $17,594 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,356. 17.40% of the population and 11.60% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 24.80% of those under the age of 18 and 14.20% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Education

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Public schools

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Private schools

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Source:[19]

Agape Baptist Academy was closed in 2023. Affiliated with the Independent Fundamental Baptist Church, the school's stated aim was working with troubled boys to turn their life around. Claims of abuse had swirled around the school for many years, yet local leaders ignored all calls for investigation. Since closure, the school and its "owners" have been the object of numerous lawsuits for forced beating, sexual assault, and forced confinement. Jason Britt was a young man who, after being rescued by his parents, died of heart and kidney failure shortly thereafter. His parents' suit, among dozens of others, calls the "school" a "concentration camp or torture colony cloaked in the guise of religion” and names six defendants, including two local sheriffs who worked at Agape. Local law enforcement routinely rounded up kids who had run away after suffering abuse but allegedly did nothing to investigate or stop the brutal practices. The suit claims workers at the academy confined Jason Britt in a padded room, forced him to strip naked for strip searches in front of others, repeatedly beat him, causing injuries requiring stitches, forced him to stand up against a wall for hours at a time while reciting Bible passages, and gang raped him.[20]

Agape was accredited by the Association of Christian Teachers and Schools, a nonprofit that promotes “Christ-centered academic excellence” and “the highest level of educational credibility.” The association did nothing to stop abusive practices that had been the norm at Agape for decades.[20]

Steve Robert Wukmer, a former children's minister who worked at Agape and three other now-closed boarding schools, was indicted in March for 215 counts of possessing child pornography.

Agape's closing was the fourth closing of unlicensed "christian" boarding schools in Cedar County.[20][21]

Public libraries

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  • Cedar County Library District[22]

Communities

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Cities and towns

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Unincorporated communities

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Notable people

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Politics

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Local

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The Republican Party completely controls politics at the local level in Cedar County. Republicans hold all of the elected positions in the county.

State

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Past gubernatorial elections results
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2024 81.68% 5,774 16.16% 1,142 2.16% 153
2020 82.10% 5,771 15.71% 1,104 2.19% 154
2016 70.26% 4,415 26.53% 1,667 3.21% 202
2012 56.43% 3,383 40.92% 2,453 2.65% 159
2008 47.17% 2,970 48.22% 3,036 4.61% 290
2004 66.31% 4,096 32.04% 1,979 1.65% 102
2000 58.42% 3,297 39.69% 2,240 1.89% 107
1996 54.31% 2,827 42.50% 2,212 3.19% 166

Cedar County is split between two of Missouri's legislative districts that elect members of the Missouri House of Representatives. Both are represented by Republicans.

  • District 125 — Dane Diehl (R-Butler). The district includes El Dorado Springs and the rest of the northern part of the county.

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  • District 127 — Ann Kelley (R-Lamar). Consists of Stockton, Jerico Springs, Umber View Heights, and the rest of the southern part of the county.

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All of Cedar County is a part of Missouri's 28th district in the Missouri Senate. The seat is currently represented by Sandy Crawford (R-Buffalo). The previous incumbent, Mike Parson, was elected Lieutenant Governor in 2016, and became Governor upon the resignation of Eric Greitens in 2018. Parson was elected to a full term as governor in 2020. Template:Election box begin Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box end Template:Election box begin Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box end Template:Election box begin Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box end

Federal

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All of Cedar County is included in Missouri's 4th congressional district and is currently represented by Mark Alford (R-Lake Winnebago) in the U.S. House of Representatives. Alford was elected to a second term in 2024 over Democratic challenger Jeanette Cass. Template:Election box begin Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box end Template:Election box begin Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box end Template:Election box begin Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box end Template:Election box begin Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box end

Cedar County, along with the rest of the state of Missouri, is represented in the U.S. Senate by Josh Hawley (R-Ozark) and Eric Schmitt (R-Glendale). Hawley was elected to a second term in 2024 over marine veteran Lucas Kunce. Template:Election box begin Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate Template:Election box end Template:Election box begin Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box end

Schmitt was elected to the senate in 2022 over nurse and businesswoman Trudy Busch Valentine. Template:Election box begin Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box end

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Political culture

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Source:[23][24]

United States presidential election results for Cedar County, Missouri[25]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
1848 116 29.97% 271 70.03% 0 0.00%
1852 65 28.63% 162 71.37% 0 0.00%
1856 0 0.00% 391 70.58% 163 29.42%
1860 4 0.46% 324 37.20% 543 62.34%
1864 297 100.00% 0 0.00% 0 0.00%
1868 630 68.18% 294 31.82% 0 0.00%
1872 772 50.96% 743 49.04% 0 0.00%
1876 921 50.47% 904 49.53% 0 0.00%
1880 926 44.43% 900 43.19% 258 12.38%
1884 1,449 47.98% 1,563 51.75% 8 0.26%
1888 1,424 43.07% 1,434 43.38% 448 13.55%
1892 1,354 41.50% 1,246 38.19% 663 20.32%
1896 1,881 43.78% 2,400 55.87% 15 0.35%
1900 1,845 48.53% 1,820 47.87% 137 3.60%
1904 1,885 52.90% 1,533 43.03% 145 4.07%
1908 1,933 54.87% 1,483 42.09% 107 3.04%
1912 1,242 36.06% 1,392 40.42% 810 23.52%
1916 1,874 55.28% 1,410 41.59% 106 3.13%
1920 3,488 63.48% 1,936 35.23% 71 1.29%
1924 2,802 55.83% 2,007 39.99% 210 4.18%
1928 3,340 65.75% 1,728 34.02% 12 0.24%
1932 2,515 46.47% 2,834 52.37% 63 1.16%
1936 3,535 58.80% 2,443 40.64% 34 0.57%
1940 4,068 66.99% 1,973 32.49% 32 0.53%
1944 3,576 70.69% 1,478 29.22% 5 0.10%
1948 2,928 58.56% 2,062 41.24% 10 0.20%
1952 3,814 71.71% 1,483 27.88% 22 0.41%
1956 3,276 65.57% 1,720 34.43% 0 0.00%
1960 3,730 70.68% 1,547 29.32% 0 0.00%
1964 2,478 52.44% 2,247 47.56% 0 0.00%
1968 2,940 64.08% 1,218 26.55% 430 9.37%
1972 3,520 75.34% 1,152 24.66% 0 0.00%
1976 2,752 55.43% 2,192 44.15% 21 0.42%
1980 3,469 65.66% 1,703 32.24% 111 2.10%
1984 3,539 71.08% 1,440 28.92% 0 0.00%
1988 2,966 62.52% 1,774 37.39% 4 0.08%
1992 2,085 39.05% 2,064 38.66% 1,190 22.29%
1996 2,484 47.57% 2,027 38.82% 711 13.62%
2000 3,530 62.33% 1,979 34.95% 154 2.72%
2004 4,238 68.32% 1,910 30.79% 55 0.89%
2008 4,194 66.01% 2,060 32.42% 100 1.57%
2012 4,376 72.39% 1,537 25.43% 132 2.18%
2016 5,021 79.36% 1,011 15.98% 295 4.66%
2020 5,788 82.17% 1,145 16.25% 111 1.58%
2024 6,064 84.36% 1,060 14.75% 64 0.89%
2016 1 33.33% 1 33.33% 1 33.33%


At the presidential level, Cedar County has been solidly Republican for much of its history. Cedar County strongly favored Donald Trump in 2016, 2020, and 2024. A Democrat hasn't carried the county in a presidential election since Franklin Roosevelt's landslide victory in 1932.

Like most rural areas throughout Missouri, voters in Cedar County generally adhere to socially and culturally conservative principles which tend to influence their Republican leanings. Despite Cedar County's longstanding tradition of supporting socially conservative platforms, voters in the county have a penchant for advancing populist causes. In 2018, Missourians voted on a proposition (Proposition A) concerning right to work, the outcome of which ultimately reversed the right to work legislation passed in the state the previous year. 51.58% of Cedar County voters cast their ballots to overturn the law.

Missouri presidential preference primaries

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The 2020 presidential primaries for both the Democratic and Republican parties were held in Missouri on March 10. On the Democratic side, former Vice President Joe Biden (D-Delaware) both won statewide and carried Cedar County by a wide margin. Biden went on to defeat President Donald Trump in the general election. Template:Election box begin Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box end

Incumbent President Donald Trump (R-Florida) faced a primary challenge from former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld, but won both Cedar County and statewide by overwhelming margins. Template:Election box begin Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box end

The 2016 presidential primaries for both the Republican and Democratic parties were held in Missouri on March 15. Businessman Donald Trump (R-New York) narrowly won the state overall, but Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) carried a plurality of the vote in Cedar County. Trump went on to win the nomination and the presidency. Template:Election box begin Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box end

On the Democratic side, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D-New York) narrowly won statewide, but Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) carried Cedar County by a small margin. Template:Election box begin Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box end

The 2012 Missouri Republican presidential primary's results were nonbinding on the state's national convention delegates. Voters in Cedar County supported former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum (R-Pennsylvania), who finished first in the state at large, but eventually lost the nomination to former Governor Mitt Romney (R-Massachusetts). Delegates to the congressional district and state conventions were chosen at a county caucus, which selected a delegation favoring Santorum. Incumbent President Barack Obama easily won the Missouri Democratic Primary and renomination. He defeated Romney in the general election.

In 2008, the Missouri Republican presidential primary was closely contested, with Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) prevailing and eventually winning the nomination. Former Governor Mike Huckabee (R-Arkansas) won a plurality in Cedar County, receiving more votes than any other candidate of either major party. Template:Election box begin Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box end

Then-Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York) decisively won the vote in Cedar County on the Democratic side. Despite initial reports that Clinton had won Missouri, Barack Obama (D-Illinois), also a Senator at the time, narrowly defeated her statewide and later became that year's Democratic nominee, going on to win the presidency. Template:Election box begin Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box end

See also

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References

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  1. "2020 Population and Housing State Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Eaton, David Wolfe (1916). How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named. The State Historical Society of Missouri. p. 273.
  4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
  5. "1980 Census of Population - General Social and Economic Characteristics - Missouri- Table 16 - Persons by Spanish Origin, Race, and Sex: 1980" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. pp. 20–25. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 13, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  6. "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Missouri: Table 5 - Race and Hispanic Origin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. pp. 13–63. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 13, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  7. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Cedar County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau.
  8. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Cedar County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau.
  9. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Cedar County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau.
  10. included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  11. included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  12. not an option in the 1980 Census
  13. not an option in the 1990 Census
  14. 14.0 14.1 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  15. "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  16. "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Counts (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  17. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Cedar County, Missouri".
  18. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  19. Rabey (November 15, 2023). "Wrongful death suit is latest challenge for former Agape Boarding School". Baptist News Global. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  20. 20.0 20.1 20.2 Rabey, Steve (November 15, 2023). "Wrongful death suit is latest challenge for former Agape Boarding School". Baptist News Global. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  21. "Agape Boarding School". KCUR - Kansas City news and NPR. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  22. Breeding, Marshall. "Cedar County Library District". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  23. Dublin, Michael (2002). United States Presidential Elections, 1788-1860 : The Official Results by County and State. Jefferson, N.C. : McFarland and Company. ISBN 9780786410170.
  24. "Our Campaigns Home Page". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
  25. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
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Template:Adjacent communities

Template:Cedar County, Missouri Template:Missouri

Coordinates: 37°43′N 93°52′W / 37.72°N 93.86°W / 37.72; -93.86