Bates County, Missouri

The borderlands of Kansas and Missouri were battlegrounds for insurgents during the American Civil War, with raids going back and forth across the border. Bates County is noted as the site for the first combat engagement during the war of African-American soldiers serving with the Union and against Confederate forces, which occurred on October 28–29, 1862. The First Kansas Colored Division (part of the state militia) fought Confederate guerrillas at the Battle of Island Mound four miles north of present-day Rich Hill, Missouri, and the Union forces won.

The Kansas soldiers were badly outnumbered but stood their ground, fighting valiantly. The skirmish was covered by The New York Times, which noted the men's bravery at a time when many people questioned whether former slaves could make good soldiers.[https://www.nytimes.com/1862/11/19/news/affairs-west-negro-regiment-action-battle-island-mounds-desperate-bravery-negros.html?emc=eta1 "AFFAIRS IN THE WEST.; A Negro Regiment in Action—The Battle of Island Mounds—Desperate Bravery of the Negros—Defeat of the Guerrillas--An Attempted Fraud"], The New York Times, November 19, 1862, accessed February 22, 2016 Their heroic action preceded President Abraham Lincoln's announcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in January 1863 and establishment of the United States Colored Troops.

Following a massacre of men and boys and the burning of Lawrence, Kansas, by Confederate bushwhackers in the summer of 1863, the United States General Ewing ordered the evacuation of the civilian population from rural areas of Bates and nearby counties except for within a mile of certain Union-controlled cities, in order to cut off sources of support for Confederate insurgents. This was done under Order No. 11. The county had been a base of Confederate guerrillas. But, Ewing's order generated outrage and added to support of guerrillas in some areas.

This mostly rural county continued to support agriculture in the decades after the Civil War. Since the early 20th century, population has declined as people have moved to cities for work.

• A statue commemorating the Battle of Island Mound was installed on the north lawn of the county courthouse in Butler, seven miles from the skirmish site.
• The skirmish area has been preserved since 2012 as the Battle of Island Mound State Historic Site, and its historic prairie is being restored.{{cite web |url=http://mostateparks.com/park/battle-island-mound-state-historic-site |title=Battle of Island Mound State Historic Site |work=Missouri State Parks |publisher=Missouri Department of Natural Resources |access-date=July 15, 2013}}
• The Battle of Island Mound (2014) is a short documentary film made in cooperation with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources; it won two Emmy Awards in 2015 for historic documentary and cinematography.[http://dnr.mo.gov/news/newsitem/uuid/c687f8bc-ba93-4f15-a3eb-e6101924eb34 " 'The Battle of Island Mound' wins two Emmy Awards from NATAS Mid-American Chapter"], October 7, 2015, Press Release, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, accessed February 29, 2016

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|851|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|837|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|15|sqmi}} (1.7%) is water.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_29.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021170230/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_29.txt |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 21, 2013 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=November 13, 2014 |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files }}

• Cass County (north)
• Henry County (northeast)
• St. Clair County (southeast)
• Vernon County (south)
• Linn County, Kansas (west)
• Miami County, Kansas (northwest)

• 25px Interstate 49
• 25px U.S. Route 71
• 25px Route 18
• 25px Route 52

• Jefferson Lines

{{US Census population

|1850= 3669

|1860= 7215

|1870= 15960

|1880= 25381

|1890= 32223

|1900= 30141

|1910= 25869

|1920= 23933

|1930= 22068

|1940= 19531

|1950= 17534

|1960= 15905

|1970= 15468

|1980= 15873

|1990= 15025

|2000= 16653

|2010= 17049

|2020= 16042

|estyear=

|estimate=

|estref={{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2018.html|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|access-date=November 29, 2019}}

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{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 13, 2014}}
1790-1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=November 13, 2014}} 1900-1990{{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 13, 2014}}
1990-2000{{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 13, 2014}} 2010-2020

}}

As of the census{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=May 14, 2011 |title=U.S. Census website }} of 2000, there were 16,653 people, 6,511 households, and 4,557 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|20|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people|}}. There were 7,247 housing units at an average density of {{convert|8|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units }}. The racial makeup of the county was 97.33% White, 0.61% Black or African American, 0.59% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.39% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. Approximately 1.07% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,511 households, out of which 32.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.80% were married couples living together, 7.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.00% were non-families. 26.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.50% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 26.00% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 17.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,731, and the median income for a family was $36,470. Males had a median income of $30,298 versus $19,772 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,477. About 11.50% of families and 14.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.30% of those under age 18 and 14.10% of those age 65 or over.

According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2010), Bates County is regarded as being a part of the Bible Belt, with evangelical Protestantism being the most predominant religion. The most predominant denominations among residents in Bates County who adhere to a religion are Southern Baptists (34.21%), United Methodists (15.78%), and Christian Churches and Churches of Christ (14.48%).

• Adrian R-III School District – Adrian
• Adrian Elementary School (PK-05)
• Adrian High School (06-12)
• Ballard R-II School District – Butler
• Ballard Elementary School (PK-06)
• Ballard High School (07-12)
• Butler R-V School District – Butler
• Butler Elementary School (K-06)
• Butler High School (07-12)
• Hume R-VIII School District – Hume
• Hume Elementary School (PK-05)
• Hume High School (06-12)
• Miami R-I School District – Amoret
• Miami Elementary School (K-06)
• Miami High School (07-12)
• Rich Hill R-IV School District – Rich Hill
• Rich Hill Elementary School (K-05)
• Rich Hill High School (06-12)

• Zion Lutheran School – Rockville (02-09) – Lutheran

• Butler Public Library{{cite web | last = Breeding | first = Marshall | title = Butler Public Library | publisher = Libraries.org | url = https://librarytechnology.org/library/20392 | access-date = May 8, 2017}}
• Rich Hill Memorial Library{{cite web | last = Breeding | first = Marshall | title = Rich Hill Memorial Library | publisher = Libraries.org | url = https://librarytechnology.org/library/20175 | access-date = May 8, 2017}}

Politics are divided at the local level in Bates County. Republicans hold a majority of the elected positions in the county.

{{Missouri county elected officials

| name =Bates County, Missouri

| assessor =Carl Bettels

| assessorparty =Republican

| circuitclerk =Shelli White

| circuitclerkparty =Republican

| countyclerk =Jami Page

| countyclerkparty =Republican

| presiding =Jim Wheatley

| presidingparty =Republican

| districtnorth =Ken Mooney

| districtnorthparty =Republican

| districtsouth =Trent Nelson

| districtsouthparty =Republican

| coroner =Greg Mullinax

| coronerparty =Republican

| prosecutor =Hugh C. Jenkins

| prosecutorparty =Republican

| administrator =Brenda Doody

| administratorparty=Democratic

| recorder =Danyelle Baker

| recorderparty =Republican

| sheriff =Chad Anderson

| sheriffparty =Republican

| surveyor =W.C. “Bill” Lethcho

| surveyorparty =Democratic

| treasurercollector =Jimmy Platt

| treasurercollectorparty =Democratic

}}

Bates County is split between three legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives, all of which are held by Republicans.

• District 56 — Michael Davis (R-Kansas City). Consists of unincorporated areas in the northwestern quadrant of the county south of Drexel.

{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 56 — Bates County (2020)}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Michael Davis

|votes = 244

|percentage = 71.98%

|change = -28.02

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Neal Barnes

|votes = 95

|percentage = 28.02%

|change = +28.02

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 56 — Bates County (2018)}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Jack Bondon

|votes = 200

|percentage = 100.00%

|change = +25.33

}}

{{Election box end}}

• District 57 — Rodger Reedy (R-Windsor). Consists of unincorporated areas in the northern part of the county south of Archie and Creighton.

{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 57 — Bates County (2020)}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Rodger Reedy

|votes = 438

|percentage = 100.00%

|change = +29.83

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 57 — Bates County (2018)}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Rodger Reedy

|votes = 254

|percentage = 70.17%

|change = -1.80

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Joan Shores

|votes = 108

|percentage = 29.83%

|change = +1.80

}}

{{Election box end}}

• District 126 — Patricia Pike (R-Adrian). Consists of most of the entire county.

{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 126 — Bates County (2020)}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Patricia Pike

|votes = 5,850

|percentage = 78.42%

|change = +6.72

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Jim Hogan

|votes = 1,610

|percentage = 21.58%

|change = -4.87

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 126 — Bates County (2018)}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Patricia Pike

|votes = 4,332

|percentage = 71.70%

|change = -28.30

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Jim Hogan

|votes = 1,598

|percentage = 26.45%

|change = +26.45

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Constitution Party (United States)

|candidate = Stephen Biles

|votes = 112

|percentage = 1.85%

|change = +1.85

}}

{{Election box end}}

All of Bates County is a part of Missouri's 31st Senatorial District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Rick Brattin (R-Harrisonville).

{{Election box begin|title=Missouri Senate — District 31 — Bates County (2020)}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Rick Brattin

|votes = 6.323

|percentage = 77.76%

|change = +6.74

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Raymond Kinney

|votes = 1,808

|percentage = 22.24%

|change = +22.24

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=Missouri Senate — District 31 — Bates County (2016)}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Ed Emery

|votes = 5,373

|percentage = 71.02%

|change = +9.57

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Independent (politician)

|candidate = Tim Wells

|votes = 1,459

|percentage = 19.29%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Libertarian Party (United States)

|candidate = Lora Young

|votes = 733

|percentage = 9.69%

|change = +9.69

}}

{{Election box end}}

All of Bates County is included in Missouri's 4th Congressional District and as of 2022 was represented by Vicky Hartzler (R-Harrisonville) in the U.S. House of Representatives. Hartzler was elected to a sixth term in 2020 over Democratic challenger Lindsey Simmons.

{{Election box begin|title=U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 4th Congressional District — Bates County (2020)}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Vicky Hartzler

|votes = '6,539

|percentage = 78.88%

|change = +5.43

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Lindsey Simmons

|votes = 1,556

|percentage = 18.77%

|change = -5.11

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Libertarian Party (United States)

|candidate = Steven K. Koonse

|votes = 195

|percentage = 2.35%

|change = -0.32

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri’s 4th Congressional District — Bates County (2018)}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Vicky Hartzler

|votes = 4,893

|percentage = 73.45%

|change = -0.24

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Renee Hoagenson

|votes = 1,591

|percentage = 23.88%

|change = +1.83

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Libertarian Party (United States)

|candidate = Mark Bliss

|votes = 178

|percentage = 2.67%

|change = -1.59

}}

{{Election box end}}

Bates County, along with the rest of the state of Missouri, is represented in the U.S. Senate by Josh Hawley (R-Columbia) and Roy Blunt (R-Strafford).

{{Election box begin|title=U.S. Senate – Class I – Bates County (2018)}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Josh Hawley

|votes = 4,467

|percentage = 66.82%

|change = +23.37

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Claire McCaskill

|votes = 1,906

|percentage = 28.51%

|change = -19.76

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Independent (politician)

|candidate = Craig O'Dear

|votes = 183

|percentage = 2.74%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Libertarian Party (United States)

|candidate = Japheth Campbell

|votes = 89

|percentage = 1.33%

|change = -6.95

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Green Party (United States)

|candidate = Jo Crain

|votes = 40

|percentage = 0.60%

|change = +0.60

}}

{{Election box end}}

Blunt was elected to a second term in 2016 over then-Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander.

{{Election box begin|title=U.S. Senate — Class III — Bates County (2016)}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Roy Blunt

|votes = 4,630

|percentage = 58.06%

|change = +14.61

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Jason Kander

|votes = 2,866

|percentage = 35.94%

|change = -12.33

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Libertarian Party (United States)

|candidate = Jonathan Dine

|votes = 259

|percentage = 3.25%

|change = -5.02

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Green Party (United States)

|candidate = Johnathan McFarland

|votes = 126

|percentage = 1.58%

|change = +1.58

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Constitution Party (United States)

|candidate = Fred Ryman

|votes = 94

|percentage = 1.18%

|change = +1.18

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{PresHead|place=Bates County, Missouri|source={{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=March 24, 2018}}}}

{{PresRow|2024|Republican|6,702|1,563|95|Missouri}}

{{PresRow|2020|Republican|6,597|1,672|169|Missouri}}

{{PresRow|2016|Republican|6,001|1,618|464|Missouri}}

{{PresRow|2012|Republican|5,020|2,557|194|Missouri}}

{{PresRow|2008|Republican|4,833|3,271|179|Missouri}}

{{PresRow|2004|Republican|5,004|3,398|64|Missouri}}

{{PresRow|2000|Republican|4,245|3,386|161|Missouri}}

{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|2,904|3,224|1,009|Missouri}}

{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|2,499|2,993|2,238|Missouri}}

{{PresRow|1988|Republican|3,574|3,332|24|Missouri}}

{{PresRow|1984|Republican|4,223|2,889|0|Missouri}}

{{PresRow|1980|Republican|4,061|3,297|163|Missouri}}

{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|3,350|4,288|46|Missouri}}

{{PresRow|1972|Republican|5,314|3,020|0|Missouri}}

{{PresRow|1968|Republican|4,087|3,370|801|Missouri}}

{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|3,514|5,162|0|Missouri}}

{{PresRow|1960|Republican|5,429|3,906|0|Missouri}}

{{PresRow|1956|Republican|5,467|4,300|0|Missouri}}

{{PresRow|1952|Republican|6,002|3,995|2|Missouri}}

{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|4,156|4,371|6|Missouri}}

{{PresRow|1944|Republican|5,122|4,096|18|Missouri}}

{{PresRow|1940|Republican|5,727|4,978|33|Missouri}}

{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|5,022|5,681|74|Missouri}}

{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|3,395|6,220|79|Missouri}}

{{PresRow|1928|Republican|6,133|3,594|54|Missouri}}

{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|4,552|4,722|389|Missouri}}

{{PresRow|1920|Republican|5,039|4,433|236|Missouri}}

{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|2,597|3,255|204|Missouri}}

{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|1,383|3,057|1,587|Missouri}}

{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|2,754|3,248|247|Missouri}}

{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|2,956|2,967|352|Missouri}}

{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|2,731|3,591|634|Missouri}}

{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|2,522|5,073|133|Missouri}}

{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|1,928|3,007|2,039|Missouri}}

{{PresFoot|1888|Democratic|2,674|3,556|794|Missouri}}

At the presidential level, Bates County has become solidly Republican in recent years. Bates County strongly favored Donald Trump in both 2016 and 2020. Bill Clinton was the last Democratic presidential nominee to carry Bates County in 1996 with a plurality of the vote, and a Democrat hasn't won majority support from the county's voters in a presidential election since Jimmy Carter in 1976.

Like most rural areas throughout Missouri, voters in Bates County generally adhere to socially and culturally conservative principles which tend to influence their Republican leanings, at least on the state and national levels. Despite Bates 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. 75.43% of Bates County voters cast their ballots to overturn the law.

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 Bates County by a wide margin. Biden went on to defeat President Donald Trump in the general election.

{{Election box begin | title=Missouri Democratic Presidential Primary – Bates County (2020)}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Joe Biden

|votes = 602

|percentage = 63.77

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Bernie Sanders

|votes = 273

|percentage = 28.92

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Tulsi Gabbard

|votes = 18

|percentage = 1.91

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Others/Uncommitted

|votes = 51

|percentage = 5.40

|change =

}}

{{Election box end}}

Incumbent President Donald Trump (R-Florida) faced a primary challenge from former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld, but won both Bates County and statewide by overwhelming margins.

{{Election box begin | title=Missouri Republican Presidential Primary – Bates County (2020)}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Donald Trump

|votes = 947

|percentage = 97.83

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Bill Weld

|votes = 2

|percentage = 0.21

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Others/Uncommitted

|votes = 19

|percentage = 1.96

|change =

}}

{{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 and carried a plurality of the vote in Bates County. He went on to win the presidency.

{{Election box begin | title=Missouri Republican Presidential Primary – Bates County (2016)}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Donald Trump

|votes = 1,306

|percentage = 46.04

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Ted Cruz

|votes = 1,080

|percentage = 38.07

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = John Kasich

|votes = 199

|percentage = 7.01

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Marco Rubio

|votes = 143

|percentage = 5.04

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Others/Uncommitted

|votes = 109

|percentage = 3.84

|change =

}}

{{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) won a majority of the vote in Bates County.

{{Election box begin | title=Missouri Democratic Presidential Primary – Bates County (2016)}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Bernie Sanders

|votes = 632

|percentage = 53.12

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Hillary Clinton

|votes = 518

|percentage = 43.53

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Others/Uncommitted

|votes = 40

|percentage = 3.36

|change =

}}

{{Election box end}}

The 2012 Missouri Republican Presidential Primary's results were nonbinding on the state's national convention delegates. Voters in Bates 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.

{{Election box begin | title=Missouri Republican Presidential Primary – Bates County (2008)}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = John McCain

|votes = 594

|percentage = 37.71

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Mike Huckabee

|votes = 503

|percentage = 31.94

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Mitt Romney

|votes = 368

|percentage = 23.37

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Ron Paul

|votes = 71

|percentage = 4.51

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Others/Uncommitted

|votes = 39

|percentage = 2.48

|change =

}}

{{Election box end}}

Then-Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York) received more votes than any candidate from either party in Bates County during the 2008 presidential primary. 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.

{{Election box begin | title=Missouri Democratic Presidential Primary – Bates County (2008)}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Hillary Clinton

|votes = 1,427

|percentage = 63.51

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Barack Obama

|votes = 676

|percentage = 30.08

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Others/Uncommitted

|votes = 144

|percentage = 6.41

|change =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Div col|colwidth=10em|rules=no}}

• Adrian
• Amoret
• Amsterdam
• Butler (county seat)
• Drexel
• Rich Hill
• Rockville
• Hume

{{div col end}}

• Foster
• Merwin
• Passaic

{{Div col|colwidth=10em|rules=no}}

• Altona
• Ballard
• Burdett
• Crescent Hill
• Hudson
• Johnstown
• Mayesburg
• New Home
• Nyhart
• Papinville
• Pleasant Gap
• Prairie City
• Sprague
• Spruce
• Virginia
• Worland

{{Div col end}}

Bates County is divided into 24 townships:

{{div col|colwidth=12em}}

• Charlotte
• Deepwater
• Deer Creek
• East Boone
• Elkhart
• Grand River
• Homer
• Howard
• Hudson
• Lone Oak
• Mingo
• Mound
• Mount Pleasant
• New Home
• Osage
• Pleasant Gap
• Prairie
• Rockville
• Shawnee
• Spruce
• Summit
• Walnut
• West Boone
• West Point

{{div col end}}

• Robert Heinlein, science fiction author who was born and lived in Butler, mentioned the town and county in his short story "Requiem" and the novel To Sail Beyond the Sunset
• Howard Maple, professional athlete in American football and baseball{{Cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=mapleho01|title = Howard Maple Baseball Stats | Baseball Almanac}}
• Charles O'Rear, photographer and author best known for his photo Bliss, the default wallpaper of Windows XP
• Stan Wall, former Major League Baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers
• Warren Welliver, Missouri Supreme Court Justice (1979–1989)

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Bates County, Missouri

{{reflist|30em}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book|title=The History of Cass and Bates counties, Missouri|publisher=National Historical Company|location=St. Joseph, Missouri|year=1883|oclc=10386478}} ({{HathiTrust Catalog|id=100770570|title=The History of Cass and Bates counties, Missouri}})
• {{cite book|title=History of Bates County, Missouri|author1-first=William Oscar|author1-last=Atkeson|publisher=Historical Publishing Company|location=Topeka|year=1918|oclc=2686153}} ({{HathiTrust Catalog|id=009603798|title=History of Bates County, Missouri}})
• {{cite book|title=The old settlers' history of Bates County, Missouri: from its first settlement to the first day of January, 1900|author1-first=S. L.|author1-last=Tathwell|author2-first=H. O.|author2-last=Maxey|publisher=Tathwell & Maxey|location=Amsterdam, Missouri|year=1897|oclc=27326327}} ({{HathiTrust Catalog|id=009586495|title=The old settlers' history of Bates County, Missouri}})

{{refend}}

{{commons category}}

• [http://www.batescounty.net/ Bates County website]
• [http://mulibraries.missouri.edu/specialcollections/platbooks.htm Digitized 1930 Plat Book of Bates 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
• [https://mostateparks.com/park/battle-island-mound-state-historic-site "Battle of Island Mound State Historic Site"], Missouri State Parks
• [http://dnr.mo.gov/news/newsitem/uuid/c687f8bc-ba93-4f15-a3eb-e6101924eb34 " 'The Battle of Island Mound' wins two Emmy Awards from NATAS Mid-American Chapter"], October 7, 2015, Press Release, Missouri Department of Natural Resources

{{Geographic Location

|Centre = Bates County, Missouri

|North = Cass County

|Northeast = Henry County

|East =

|Southeast = St. Clair County

|South = Vernon County

|Southwest =

|West = Linn County, Kansas

|Northwest = Miami County, Kansas

}}

{{Kansas City MSA}}

{{Bates County, Missouri}}

{{Missouri}}

{{authority control}}

{{coord|38.26|-94.34|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MO_source:UScensus1990}}

Category:1841 establishments in Missouri

Category:Missouri counties