Gasconade County, Missouri

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Template:Infobox U.S. county

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 was organized on 25 November 1820 and the county seat has been Hermann since 1842.[2][3] 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

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Gasconade County (and the Gasconade River) received its name from French-speaking settlers.[4] 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,'[5] a unique, marginal maritime province in the southwest of France with Basque cultural roots.

Geography

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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.[6]

Adjacent counties

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Major highways

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Demographics

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Template:US Census population

2020 census

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As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 14,794. The median age was 46.7 years, 21.0% 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 101.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.3 males.[7] About 0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[8]

The racial makeup of the county was 93.0% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.4% from some other race, and 5.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.3% of the population.[9]

There were 6,111 households in the county, of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 22.5% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[7] There were 7,577 housing units, of which 19.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 77.5% were owner-occupied and 22.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.8%.[7]

Gasconade 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[10] Pop 1990[11] Pop 2000[12] Pop 2010[13] Pop 2020[14] % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 13,079 13,924 15,101 14,801 13,705 99.23% 99.41% 98.43% 97.23% 92.64%
Black or African American alone (NH) 6 10 17 26 18 0.05% 0.07% 0.11% 0.17% 0.12%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 9 20 27 26 25 0.07% 0.14% 0.18% 0.17% 0.17%
Asian alone (NH) 24 17 24 53 51 0.18% 0.12% 0.16% 0.35% 0.34%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) x [15] x [16] 1 6 9 x x 0.01% 0.04% 0.06%
Other race alone (NH) 16 0 3 6 24 0.12% 0.00% 0.02% 0.04% 0.16%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) x [17] x [18] 105 152 773 x x 0.68% 1.00% 5.23%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 47 35 64 152 189 0.36% 0.25% 0.42% 1.00% 1.28%
Total 13,181 14,006 15,342 15,222 14,794 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2000 census

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As of the census[19] 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.

Politics

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Local

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The Republican Party in Gasconade County holds all of the elected positions.[20]

Template:Missouri county elected officials

State

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Past Gubernatorial Elections Results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2024 80.38% 6,354 17.87% 1,413 1.74% 138
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.

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State Senate

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Gasconade County is a part of Missouri's 6th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Mike Bernskoetter (R-Jefferson City).[22] 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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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 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 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. 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 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

Political culture

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United States presidential election results for Gasconade County, Missouri[23]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
1888 1,735 75.14% 556 24.08% 18 0.78%
1892 1,625 72.74% 602 26.95% 7 0.31%
1896 2,185 80.10% 515 18.88% 28 1.03%
1900 2,015 76.91% 575 21.95% 30 1.15%
1904 2,045 80.20% 469 18.39% 36 1.41%
1908 2,220 80.35% 509 18.42% 34 1.23%
1912 1,539 58.94% 518 19.84% 554 21.22%
1916 2,513 82.20% 510 16.68% 34 1.11%
1920 4,481 90.02% 454 9.12% 43 0.86%
1924 3,306 75.88% 577 13.24% 474 10.88%
1928 4,171 79.57% 1,058 20.18% 13 0.25%
1932 2,571 55.77% 1,998 43.34% 41 0.89%
1936 4,202 73.51% 1,492 26.10% 22 0.38%
1940 5,333 82.03% 1,163 17.89% 5 0.08%
1944 5,007 83.27% 994 16.53% 12 0.20%
1948 4,268 77.81% 1,204 21.95% 13 0.24%
1952 5,339 80.49% 1,285 19.37% 9 0.14%
1956 5,080 78.97% 1,353 21.03% 0 0.00%
1960 4,854 74.62% 1,651 25.38% 0 0.00%
1964 3,672 63.33% 2,126 36.67% 0 0.00%
1968 4,400 74.64% 1,131 19.19% 364 6.17%
1972 4,944 80.13% 1,226 19.87% 0 0.00%
1976 3,925 69.08% 1,702 29.95% 55 0.97%
1980 4,481 72.24% 1,550 24.99% 172 2.77%
1984 4,678 80.54% 1,130 19.46% 0 0.00%
1988 4,216 72.01% 1,621 27.69% 18 0.31%
1992 2,690 42.47% 1,952 30.82% 1,692 26.71%
1996 2,997 50.19% 2,104 35.24% 870 14.57%
2000 4,190 63.21% 2,257 34.05% 182 2.75%
2004 4,753 66.28% 2,355 32.84% 63 0.88%
2008 4,763 61.29% 2,899 37.31% 109 1.40%
2012 4,895 68.62% 2,099 29.42% 140 1.96%
2016 5,670 76.10% 1,520 20.40% 261 3.50%
2020 6,222 78.53% 1,601 20.21% 100 1.26%
2024 6,370 79.65% 1,555 19.44% 72 0.90%
2016 1 33.33% 1 33.33% 1 33.33%


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. In fact, no Democrat has even managed to break 40% of the vote in the county since Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932.

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)

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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

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K-12 school districts with any amount of territory in the county, no matter how slight, include:[24]

There is one elementary school district with a piece of the county: Strain-Japan R-XVI School District.[24]

Public schools

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Private schools

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Public libraries

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  • Hermann Branch Library[25]
  • Owensville Branch Library[26]

Communities

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Cities and towns

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Unincorporated communities

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See also

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References

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  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. ↑ Eaton, David W. (David Wolfe) (1916). How Missouri counties, towns and streams were named . Harvard University. Columbia, Mo., The State historical society. p. 65.
  4. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 135.
  5. ↑ Eaton, David Wolfe (1916). How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named. The State Historical Society of Missouri. pp. 168–169.
  6. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  8. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  9. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  10. ↑ "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.
  11. ↑ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Missouri: Table 5 - Race and Hispanic Origin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. pp. 13–63.
  12. ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Gasconade County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau.
  13. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Gasconade County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau.
  14. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Gasconade County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau.
  15. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  16. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  17. ↑ not an option in the 1980 Census
  18. ↑ not an option in the 1990 Census
  19. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  20. ↑ "Gasconade County Officials". Gasconade County. September 5, 2019. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
  21. ↑ "Missouri House of Representatives District 61". Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  22. ↑ "Missouri State Senate District 6". Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  23. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Geography Division (January 12, 2021). 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Gasconade County, MO (PDF) (Map). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 12, 2025. - Text list
  25. ↑ Breeding, Marshall. "Hermann Branch Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  26. ↑ Breeding, Marshall. "Owensville Branch Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
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Template:Geographic Location

Template:Gasconade County, Missouri Template:Missouri

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

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