Editing Webster County, Missouri

{{short description|County in Missouri, United States}}
{{other uses|Webster County (disambiguation){{!}}Webster County}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Webster County
 | state                = Missouri 
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = 1854
 | founded date         = March 3
 | seat wl              = Marshfield
 | largest city wl      = Marshfield
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 594
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 593
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 1.2
 | area percentage      = 0.2
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 39085
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2024
 | pop_est_footnotes    = <ref name=qf>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/webstercountymissouri/PST045223|title=QuickFacts: Webster County, Missouri|website=Census.gov|access-date= }}</ref>
 | population_est       = 42041 {{increase}}
 | population_density_sq_mi = 71
 | web                  = http://www.webstercountymo.gov/
 | named for            = [[Daniel Webster]]
 | ex image             = Webster County Missouri Courthouse 2017.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Webster County Courthouse in Marshfield
 | district             = 4th
 | district2            = 7th
 | time zone            = Central
}}

'''Webster County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Missouri]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 39,085.<ref>{{cite web|title=Webster County, Missouri|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Webster_County,_Missouri?g=050XX00US29225|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=June 14, 2023}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Marshfield, Missouri|Marshfield]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The county was organized in 1855 and named for [[U.S. Senator]] and [[United States Secretary of State|U.S. Secretary of State]] [[Daniel Webster]].<ref name="About Webster County">{{cite web |title=About Webster County |url=https://webstercountymo.gov/about-webster-county/ |website=Webster County Missouri |access-date=February 25, 2021}}</ref>

Webster County is part of the [[Springfield, Missouri|Springfield]], MO [[Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

==History==
{{More citations needed section|date=December 2022}}
Webster County was organized on March 3, 1855, and encompasses some of the highest extensive upland area of Missouri's Ozarks. The judicial seat is Marshfield, which lies 1,490 feet above sea level. Webster County is the highest county seat in the state of Missouri. Pioneer Legislator John F. McMahan named the county and county seat for Daniel Webster, and his [[Marshfield, Massachusetts]] home.<ref name="About Webster County" />

Marshfield was laid out in 1856 by R.H. Pitts, on land that was given by C.F. Dryden and W.T. and B.F.T. Burford. Until a courthouse was built, the county business was conducted at Hazelwood where Joseph W. McClurg, later [[Governor of Missouri]], operated a general store. Today's Carthage Marble courthouse was built in 1939-1941 and is the county's third.<ref name="About Webster County" />

During the [[American Civil War|U.S. Civil War]], a small force of pro-Southern troops was driven out of Marshfield in February 1862, and ten months later a body of Confederates was routed east of town. On January 9, 1863, General [[Joseph O. Shelby]]’s troops burned the stoutly built Union fortification at Marshfield and at Sand Springs, evacuated earlier.  During Marmaduke's First Raid, on January 9, 1863, Confederate Troops under the command of Col. Joseph C. Porter, led by Lt. Colonel John M. Wimer, burned the Fort at Hazelwood.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924077699704&view=1up&seq=215 | title=The War of the Rebellion : A compilation of the official records of the Union and Confederate armies. / Pub. Under the direction of the ... Secretary of War ... Ser.1:v.22:pt.1:Reports. }}</ref> By 1862, the telegraph line passed near Marshfield on a route later called the "Old Wire Road".<ref name="About Webster County" />

A part of the 1808 Osage Native American land cession, the county was settled in the early 1830s by pioneers from [[Kentucky]] and [[Tennessee]]. A [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] trail crossed southern Webster County and many prehistoric mounds are in the area.

The railroad-building boom of the post Civil War period stimulated the county's growth as a dairy, poultry, and livestock producer. The Atlantic & Pacific (Frisco) Railroad was built through Marshfield in 1872, and by 1883 the Kansas City, Springfield, and Memphis (Frisco) crossed the county. Seymour, Rogersville, Fordland and Niangua grew up along the railroad routes.

Early schools in the county were Marshfield Academy, chartered in 1860; Mt. Dale Academy, opened in 1873; and Henderson Academy, chartered in 1879.

On [[April 1880 tornado outbreak|April 18, 1880]], an intense [[tornado]] measuring F4 on the [[Fujita scale]] struck Marshfield. Its damage path was {{convert|800|yd}} wide and {{convert|64|mi|km}} long. The tornado killed 99 people and injured 100, and it is said that 10% of Marshfield's residents were killed and all but 15 of its buildings were destroyed. The composition “Marshfield Cyclone” by the African-American musician John W. (Blind) Boone gave wide publicity to the cyclone, which is still listed as one of the top ten natural disasters in the history of the nation.

Astronomer [[Edwin Hubble|Edwin P. Hubble]] (1889–1953) was born in Marshfield and attended through the third grade in the public school system. A replica of the Hubble telescope sits in the courthouse yard and the Marshfield stretch of [[Interstate 44|I-44]] was named in his honor.

Marshfield holds claim to the oldest [[Independence Day (United States)|Independence Day]] parade west of the [[Mississippi River]]. Former [[President of the United States|President]] [[George H.W. Bush|George Herbert Walker Bush]] and wife [[Barbara Bush|Barbara]] visited the parade on July 4, 1991, while campaigning for the presidency through Missouri. Webster County also boasts the longest continuous county fair in the state of Missouri.

The annual Seymour Apple Festival, established in 1973, has grown to one of Missouri's largest free celebrations, with estimated crowds of more than 30,000 congregating on the Seymour public square each second weekend of September. The festival pays tribute to Seymour's apple industry, which began in the 1840s, with Seymour being called "The Land Of The Big Red Apple" around the turn of the 20th century, when Webster County produced more than 50 percent of the state's apple crop.

==Geography==
Webster County straddles the [[drainage divide]] between the [[Missouri River|Missouri]] and [[White River (Arkansas–Missouri)|White]] rivers and the headwaters of the [[James River (Missouri)|James]], [[Niangua River|Niangua]], [[Gasconade River|Gasconade]], and [[Pomme de Terre River (Missouri)|Pomme de Terre]] rivers arise in Webster County.<ref name="About Webster County" />

According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|594|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|593|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|1.2|sqmi}} (0.2%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_29.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 22, 2014|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021170230/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_29.txt|archive-date=October 21, 2013}}</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Dallas County, Missouri|Dallas County]] (northwest)
*[[Laclede County, Missouri|Laclede County]] (northeast)
*[[Wright County, Missouri|Wright County]] (east)
*[[Douglas County, Missouri|Douglas County]] (southeast)
*[[Christian County, Missouri|Christian County]] (southwest)
*[[Greene County, Missouri|Greene County]] (west)

===Major highways===
*[[Image:I-44 (MO).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 44 (Missouri)|Interstate 44]]
*[[Image:US 60.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 60 (Missouri)|U.S. Route 60]]
*[[Image:MO-38.svg|20px]] [[Missouri Route 38|Route 38]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 7099
|1870= 10434
|1880= 12175
|1890= 15177
|1900= 16640
|1910= 17377
|1920= 16609
|1930= 16148
|1940= 17226
|1950= 15072
|1960= 13753
|1970= 15562
|1980= 20414
|1990= 23753
|2000= 31045
|2010= 36202
|2020= 39085
|estimate=42041
|estyear=2024
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 22, 2014}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=November 22, 2014}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mo190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 22, 2014}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 22, 2014}}</ref> 2010<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/29/29225.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 14, 2013}}</ref> 2024<ref name=qf/>
}}

As of the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]], there were 31,045 people, 11,073 households, and 8,437 families residing in the county.<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> The population density was {{convert|52|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 12,052 housing units at an average density of {{convert|20|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units&nbsp;}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|racial makeup]] of the county was 96.20% White, 1.16% Black or African American, 0.65% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races, and 1.39% from two or more races. Approximately 1.29% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 11,073 households, out of which 37.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.00% were married couples living together, 8.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.80% were non-families. 20.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.90% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 29.70% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 11.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,948, and the median income for a family was $46,941. Males had a median income of $28,168 versus $20,768 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $17,948. About 9.60% of families and 14.80% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 21.00% of those under age 18 and 14.10% of those age 65 or over.

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Racial composition in Webster County<ref>{{Cite web|title =P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Webster County, Missouri|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Webster%20County,%20Missouri&t=Race%20and%20Ethnicity&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|White (NH)
|35,893
|92%
|-
|Black or African American (NH)
|194
|0.5%
|-
|Native American (NH)
|243
|0.62%
|-
|Asian (NH)
|141
|0.36%
|-
|Pacific Islander (NH)
|9
|0.02%
|-
|Other/Mixed (NH)
|1,815
|4.6%
|-
|Hispanic or Latino
|790
|2%
|}

==Politics==

===Local===
{{Missouri county elected officials
| name              =Webster County, Missouri
| assessor          =Austin Graybill 
| assessorparty     =Republican
| circuitclerk      =Stephanie Vestal
| circuitclerkparty =Republican
| countyclerk       =Stanley D. Whitehurst
| countyclerkparty  =Republican
| presiding         =Paul Ipock
| presidingparty    =Republican
| district1         =Dale Fraker
| district1party    =Republican
| district2         =Randy Owens
| district2party    =Republican
| collector         =Kevin Farr
| collectorparty    =Republican
| coroner           =Michael Taylor
| coronerparty      =Republican
| prosecutor        =Ben Berkstresser
| prosecutorparty   =Republican
| administrator     =Danielle Boggs
| administratorparty=Republican
| recorder          =Stacy Atkison
| recorderparty     =Republican
| sheriff           =Roye Cole
| sheriffparty      =Republican
| surveyor          =Gary Drennan
| surveyorparty     =Republican
| treasurer         =Todd Hungerford
| treasurerparty    =Republican
}}
The [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] predominantly controls politics at the local level in Webster County. Republicans hold all of the elected positions in the county.
{{clear}}

===State===
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; font-size:95%;"
|+ Past gubernatorial elections results
|- bgcolor=lightgrey
! Year
! [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
! [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
! [[Third party (U.S. politics)|Third parties]]
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[2024 Missouri gubernatorial election|2024]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''78.82%''' ''15,493''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|19.32% ''3,798''
|align="center" |1.86% ''365''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[2020 Missouri gubernatorial election|2020]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''78.71%''' ''14,715''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|19.13% ''3,577''
|align="center" |2.16% ''404''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[2016 Missouri gubernatorial election|2016]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''66.52%''' ''11,450''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|30.07% ''5,039''
|align="center" |3.41% ''572''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[2012 Missouri gubernatorial election|2012]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''54.56%''' ''8,406''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|42.65% ''6,570''
|align="center" |2.79% ''430''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[2008 Missouri gubernatorial election|2008]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|46.31% ''7,521''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|'''51.14%''' ''8,306''
|align="center" |2.55% ''414''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[2004 Missouri gubernatorial election|2004]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''67.61%''' ''10,086''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|31.18% ''4,651''
|align="center" |1.21% ''181''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[2000 Missouri gubernatorial election|2000]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''56.66%''' ''6,721''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|41.35% ''4,904''
|align="center" |2.99% ''236''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[1996 Missouri gubernatorial election|1996]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''54.63%''' ''5,512''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|41.43% ''4,180''
|align="center" |3.94% ''397''
|}

Webster County is split between Missouri's 129th and 141st districts in the [[Missouri House of Representatives]].

*District 129 — John Black (R-[[Marshfield, Missouri|Marshfield]]). Consists of the western part of the county.
*District 141 — Hannah Kelly (R-[[Mountain Grove, Missouri|Mountain Grove]]). Consists of the eastern part of the county.

All of Webster County is part of Missouri's 20th district in the [[Missouri Senate]] and is currently represented by Curtis Trent (R-[[Greene County, Missouri|Greene County]]).

===Federal===
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. Senate — Missouri — Webster County (2016)<ref name=Webster2016>{{cite web| title=Official Results|url=http://www.webstercountymo.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Official-Results.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161203013035/http://www.webstercountymo.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Official-Results.pdf |archive-date=December 3, 2016 |url-status=live|publisher=Webster County Clerk |date =November 8, 2016|access-date=April 5, 2017}}</ref>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Roy Blunt'''
  |votes      = '''11,450'''
  |percentage = '''68.16%'''
  |change     = '''+17.58'''
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jason Kander
  |votes      = 4,612
  |percentage = 27.45%
  |change     = -14.13
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jonathan Dine
  |votes      = 397
  |percentage = 2.36%
  |change     = -5.48
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Green Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Johnathan McFarland
  |votes      = 150
  |percentage = 0.89%
  |change     = +0.89
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Constitution Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Fred Ryman
  |votes      = 190
  |percentage = 1.13%
  |change     = +1.13
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. Senate — Missouri — Webster County (2012)<ref name=Webster2012>{{cite web| url=http://www.webstercountymo.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/nov_2012.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161213225654/http://www.webstercountymo.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/nov_2012.pdf |archive-date=December 13, 2016 |url-status=live|title=General Election, Official Results|publisher=Webster County Clerk|date=November 6, 2012|access-date=April 5, 2017}}</ref>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Todd Akin
  |votes      = 7,739
  |percentage = 50.58%
  |change     = 
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Claire McCaskill'''
  |votes      = '''6,363'''
  |percentage = '''41.58%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jonathan Dine
  |votes      = 1,200
  |percentage = 7.84%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

The northern half of Webster County is included in [[Missouri's 4th congressional district]], which is currently represented by [[Mark Alford]] (R-[[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]]) in the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]]. The southern half of the county is included in the [[Missouri's 7th congressional district|7th congressional district]], which is represented by [[Eric Burlison]] (R-[[Springfield, Missouri|Springfield]]).
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 4th congressional district — Webster County (2016)<ref name=Webster2016/>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Vicky Hartzler'''
  |votes      = '''9,821'''
  |percentage = '''78.39%'''
  |change     = '''+4.27'''
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Gordon Christensen
  |votes      = 2,267
  |percentage = 18.09%
  |change     = -0.29
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Mark Bliss
  |votes      = 441
  |percentage = 3.52
  |change     = -3.98
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 4th congressional district — Webster County (2014)<ref name=Webster2014>{{cite web| url=http://www.webstercountymo.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/2014_11_04_final_official_results.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161213175133/http://www.webstercountymo.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/2014_11_04_final_official_results.pdf |archive-date=December 13, 2016 |url-status=live|title=Official Results|publisher =Webster County Clerk|date=November 4, 2014|access-date=April 5, 2017}}</ref>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Vicky Hartzler'''
  |votes      = '''5,307'''
  |percentage = '''74.12%'''
  |change     = '''+1.98'''
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Nate Irvin
  |votes      = 1,316
  |percentage = 18.38%
  |change     = -6.18
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Herschel L. Young
  |votes      = 537
  |percentage = 7.50%
  |change     = +5.08
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 4th congressional district — Webster County (2012)<ref name=Webster2012/>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Vicky Hartzler'''
  |votes      = '''8,350'''
  |percentage = '''72.14%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Teresa Hensley
  |votes      = 2,843
  |percentage = 24.56%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Thomas Holbrook
  |votes      = 280
  |percentage = 2.42%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Constitution Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Greg Cowan
  |votes      = 102
  |percentage = 0.88%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 7th congressional district — Webster County (2016)<ref name=Webster2016/>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Billy Long'''
  |votes      = '''2,778'''
  |percentage = '''70.78%'''
  |change     = '''+8.95'''
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Genevieve (Gen) Williams
  |votes      = 921
  |percentage = 23.46%
  |change     = -4.55
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Benjamin T. Brixey
  |votes      = 226
  |percentage = 5.76%
  |change     = -4.40
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 7th congressional district — Webster County (2014)<ref name=Webster2014/>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party       = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate   = '''Billy Long'''
  |votes       = '''1,150'''
  |percentage  = '''61.83%'''
  |change      = '''-2.20'''
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party       = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate   = Jim Evans
  |votes       = 521
  |percentage  = 28.01%
  |change      = -1.56
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party       = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate   = Kevin Craig
  |votes       = 189
  |percentage  = 10.16%
  |change      = +3.76
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 7th congressional district — Webster County (2012)<ref name=Webster2012/>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party       = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate   = '''Billy Long'''
  |votes       = '''2,282'''
  |percentage  = '''64.03%'''
  |change      =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party       = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate   = Jim Evans
  |votes       = 1,054
  |percentage  = 29.57%
  |change      =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party       = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate   = Kevin Craig
  |votes       = 228
  |percentage  = 6.40%
  |change      =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

====Political culture====
{{PresHead|place=Webster County, Missouri|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=February 22, 2021}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|15,984|3,653|177|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|14,880|3,573|326|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|12,840|3,177|726|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|10,708|4,409|379|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|10,431|5,685|240|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|10,194|4,657|93|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|7,350|4,174|356|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|4,958|3,855|1,339|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|4,361|4,149|2,130|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|5,123|3,890|22|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|5,529|2,982|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|5,121|3,409|189|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|3,510|3,759|46|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|5,095|2,343|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|4,118|2,547|572|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|3,341|3,824|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|4,603|2,707|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|3,940|3,132|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|4,701|2,894|20|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|3,581|3,292|17|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|4,281|2,785|15|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|4,818|3,518|16|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1936|Republican|4,469|3,612|21|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|3,083|4,211|63|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|4,002|2,343|8|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|3,168|2,730|299|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|4,000|2,428|81|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|2,114|1,903|100|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|1,387|1,649|879|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|1,901|1,761|180|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|1,854|1,474|176|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|1,721|1,702|135|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|1,666|1,985|17|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1892|Republican|1,389|1,273|399|Missouri}}
{{PresFoot|1888|Republican|1,441|1,286|276|Missouri}}
Like most counties situated in Southwest Missouri, Webster County is a Republican stronghold in presidential elections. In 2020, [[Donald Trump]] garnered nearly 80% of the vote, with [[Joe Biden]] receiving 19%.  Going back in time, [[George W. Bush]] carried Webster County in [[2000 United States presidential election|2000]] and [[2004 United States presidential election|2004]] by around two-to-one margins, and like many other rural counties throughout Missouri, Webster County strongly favored [[John McCain]] over [[Barack Obama]] in [[2008 United States presidential election|2008]]. The last Democratic presidential nominee to carry Webster County was [[Jimmy Carter]] in 1976.

Like most areas throughout the [[Bible Belt]] in Southwest Missouri, voters in Webster County traditionally adhere to socially and culturally [[Conservatism|conservative]] principles which tend to strongly influence their Republican leanings. In 2004, Missourians voted on [[2006 Missouri Amendment 2|a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman]]—it overwhelmingly passed Webster County with 82.32 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 [[Missouri Constitutional Amendment 2 (2006)|a constitutional amendment to fund and legalize embryonic stem cell research in the state]]—it failed in Webster County with 57.94 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|embryonic stem cell research]]. Despite Webster County's longstanding tradition of supporting socially conservative platforms, voters in the county have a penchant for advancing [[Populism|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 Webster County with 75.50 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 primaries===
In 2020, there were: 2,614 votes for Republicans (98% for incumbent President Donald Trump); 1,782 votes for Democrats (scattered among 23 candidates; the top four of which were: Joe Biden, [[Bernie Sanders]], [[Michael Bloomberg]], and [[Tulsi Gabbard]]); 8 for the Libertarian Party; 8 for the Constitution Party; and 1 for the Green Party.

In 2016, during an open presidential primary, there were: 1,793 votes for Democrats; 6,878 votes for Republicans; 11 Libertarian votes, and 2 votes for candidates of the Constitution Party. Among a field of Democrats, Bernie Sanders out-paced [[Hillary Clinton]] (53% vs. 45%) and others. Among Republicans, Texas Senator [[Ted Cruz]] gained more votes (53%) than future president Donald Trump and the other contenders.

In 2012, [[Rick Santorum]] received 1,343 votes, more than any other candidate and approximately 63% of Republican votes cast.

In 2008, former [[Governor of Arkansas|Governor]] [[Mike Huckabee]] (R-[[Arkansas]]) received more votes, a total of 2,576, than any candidate from either party in Webster County during the presidential primary.

==Education==

===Public schools===
*Fordland R-III School District - [[Fordland, Missouri|Fordland]]
**Fordland Elementary School - (K-05)
**Fordland Middle School - (06-08)
**Fordland High School - (09-12)
*Logan-Rogersville R-VIII School District - [[Rogersville, Missouri|Rogersville]]
**Logan-Rogersville Primary School - (PK-01)
**Logan-Rogersville Elementary School - (02-03)
**Logan-Rogersville Upper Elementary School - (04-06)
**Logan-Rogersville Middle School - (07-08)
**[[Logan-Rogersville High School]] - (09-12)
*Marshfield R-I School District - [[Marshfield, Missouri|Marshfield]]
**Edwin P. Hubble Elementary School - (K-01)
**Daniel Webster Elementary School - (02-03)
**Shook Elementary School - (04-05)
**Marshfield Jr. High School - (06-08)
**Marshfield High School - (09-12)
*Niangua R-V School District - [[Niangua, Missouri|Niangua]]
**Niangua Elementary School - (K-06)
**Niangua High School - (07-12)
*Seymour R-II School District - [[Seymour, Missouri|Seymour]]
**Seymour Elementary School - (PK-05)
**Seymour Middle School - (06-08)
**Seymour High School - (09-12)
Also, shared with neighboring counties:
*Conway School (Laclede County R-1 School District)
*Fair Grove School (Greene County R-10 School District)
*Strafford School (Greene County R-6 School District)

===Private schools===
*Ozark Mennonite School - Seymour - (01-10) - [[Mennonite]]

===Public libraries===
*Garst Memorial Library (Marshfield) 
*Rogersville Branch Library 
*Seymour Public Library<ref>{{cite web | last = Breeding | first = Marshall | title = Seymour Public Library | publisher = Libraries.org | url = https://librarytechnology.org/library/20350 | access-date = May 8, 2017}}</ref>

==Communities==
===Cities===
{{Div col|small=yes}}
*[[Fordland, Missouri|Fordland]]
*[[Marshfield, Missouri|Marshfield]] (county seat)
*[[Niangua, Missouri|Niangua]]
*[[Rogersville, Missouri|Rogersville]]
*[[Seymour, Missouri|Seymour]]
*[[Strafford, Missouri|Strafford]]
{{div col end}}

===Village===
*[[Diggins, Missouri|Diggins]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{Div col|colwidth=10em|rules=yes}}
* [[All, Missouri|All]]
* [[Beach, Missouri|Beach]]
* [[Bracken, Missouri|Bracken]]
* [[Caddo, Missouri|Caddo]]
* [[Conklin, Missouri|Conklin]]
* [[Crown, Missouri|Crown]]
* [[Duncan, Missouri|Duncan]]
* [[Elkland, Missouri|Elkland]]
* [[Forkners Hill, Missouri|Forkners Hill]]
* [[Henderson, Missouri|Henderson]]
* [[High Prairie, Missouri|High Prairie]]
* [[Mountain Dale, Missouri|Mountain Dale]]
* [[Northview, Missouri|Northview]]
* [[Olga, Missouri|Olga]]
* [[Panther Valley, Missouri|Panther Valley]]
* [[Rader, Missouri|Rader]]
* [[Red Top (Webster County), Missouri|Red Top]]
* [[Sampson, Missouri|Sampson]]
* [[Sarvis Point, Missouri|Sarvis Point]]
* [[Susanna, Missouri|Susanna]]
* [[Waldo, Missouri|Waldo]]
* [[Zenar, Missouri|Zenar]]
{{div col end}}

==See also==
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Missouri#Webster County|National Register of Historic Places listings in Webster County, Missouri]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* ''History of Laclede, Camden, Dallas, Webster, Wright, Texas, Pulaski, Phelps, and Dent counties, Missouri'' (1889) [http://digital.library.umsystem.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?sid=2eb3977dac6e01be233d3e8ddf7526ca;g=;c=umlib;idno=umlr000006 full text]

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050904090010/http://www.geocities.com/joefurr2/histtor.html] - Historical Tornadoes
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051111141650/http://www.shomepower.com/tornado.htm] - Eyewitness account of the Marshfield tornado
* [http://mulibraries.missouri.edu/specialcollections/platbooks.htm Digitized 1930 Plat Book of Webster County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816173126/http://mulibraries.missouri.edu/specialcollections/platbooks.htm |date=August 16, 2011 }} from [[University of Missouri]] Division of Special Collections, Archives, and Rare Books

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Webster County, Missouri
|North     = 
|Northeast = [[Laclede County, Missouri|Laclede County]]
|East      = [[Wright County, Missouri|Wright County]]
|Southeast = [[Douglas County, Missouri|Douglas County]]
|South     = 
|Southwest = [[Christian County, Missouri|Christian County]]
|West      = [[Greene County, Missouri|Greene County]]
|Northwest = [[Dallas County, Missouri|Dallas County]]
}}

{{Webster County, Missouri}}
{{Missouri}}

{{authority control}}

{{coord|37.28|-92.87|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MO_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Webster County, Missouri| ]]
[[Category:1855 establishments in Missouri]]
[[Category:Springfield metropolitan area, Missouri]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1855]]