Scotland County, Missouri

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Scotland County is a county in northeastern Missouri. As of the 2020 census, its population was 4,716,[1] making it Missouri's seventh-least populous county. Its county seat is Memphis.[2] The county was organized on January 29, 1841, and named for the country of Scotland.

History

The Missouri General Assembly organized Scotland County on January 29, 1841. At first its boundaries contained all the land now known as Knox County as well, but in 1843 the General Assembly divided it off.[3] Stephen W. B. Carnegy suggested that the county be named after his native Scotland.[4] He also gave several settlements in the area Scottish names.

The first white settlement in Scotland County was in 1833 by brothers Levi and George Rhodes and their families near a location known as Sand Hill.[3] Sand Hill was in the southern part of the county, about 12 miles from present-day Memphis. A general store was opened there around 1835 by James l. Jones, who also served as Scotland County's first sheriff.

Slavery, while never as prevalent in Scotland County as in other counties further south in the state's Little Dixie region, existed from the county's earliest days. Robert T. Smith brought the first slaves, a group of three, to the county in 1834.[3] In 1850 Scotland County had 157 slaves or other "non-free people of color", but by the 1860 census that number had dropped to 131.[3]

Farming was Scotland County's primary economic lifeblood from its earliest times. Once the stands of timber were cleared and the tough prairie grass plowed aside, settlers found rich soil. Between 1850 and 1880 the number of farms in the county grew from 334 to 1,994. The value of the farmland, in 1880 dollars, was over $3.72 million.[3] Corn was the major cash crop, followed by oats, wheat, and potatoes.

The Civil War

Scotland County was the scene of three notable engagements during the American Civil War. The first happened at Etna on July 21, 1861. The 1st Northeast Missouri Home Guards under Colonel David Moore with assistance from additional units from Iowa and Illinois attacked pro-Confederate Missouri State Guard (MSG) forces using Etna as a training and resupply point. The action was part of General Nathaniel Lyon's efforts to clear "rebels" from rural Missouri. After a brief battle the MSG forces, mostly lightly armed cavalry, were driven from the town and surrounding areas of Scotland County and Moore's unit returned to its main base at Athens, Missouri.

On July 13, 1862, Confederate Colonel Joseph C. Porter approached Memphis in four converging columns totaling 125–169 men and captured it with little or no resistance.[5] They first raided the federal armory, seizing about 100 muskets with cartridge boxes and ammunition, and several uniforms. The Confederates rounded up all adult men, who were taken to the courthouse to swear not to divulge any information about the raiders for 48 hours. Porter freed all militiamen and suspected militiamen to await parole, a fact noted by champions of his character. Citizens expressed their sympathies variously; Porter gave safe passage to a physician, an admitted Union supporter, who was anxious to return to his seriously ill wife. One of Porter's troops threatened a verbally abusive woman with a pistol, perhaps as a bluff. Porter's troops entered the courthouse and destroyed all indictments for horse theft, an act variously understood as simple lawlessness, intervention on behalf of criminal associates, or interference with politically motivated, fraudulent charges.[5]

At Memphis, a key incident occurred that darkened Porter's reputation, and which his detractors see as part of a behavioral pattern that put him and his men beyond the norms of warfare. According to the History of Shelby County, which is generally sympathetic to Porter, "Most conceded that Col. Porter’s purpose for capturing Memphis, MO. was to seize Dr. Wm. Aylward, a prominent Union man of the community." Aylward was captured during the day by Captain Tom Stacy's men and confined to a house. Stacy was generally regarded as a genuine bushwhacker; other members of Porter's command called his company "the chain gang" due to its behavior. After rousing Aylward overnight and removing him from his home, ostensibly to see Porter, guards claimed that he escaped. But witnesses reported hearing the sounds of a strangling, and his body was found the next day with marks consistent with hanging or strangulation.[5] Supporters of Porter attribute Aylward's murder to Stacy. But a Union gentleman who came to inquire about Aylward and a captured officer before the discovery of the body said that when he asked Porter about Aylward, the response was, "He is where he will never disturb anybody else."[5]

The next engagement in the county took place on July 18, 1862. Union Colonel (later General) John McNeil had been pursuing Porter and his forces across northeast Missouri for some time. Hearing of the capture of Memphis, McNeil sent a detachment of three companies (C, H, and I), about 300 men, of Merrill's Horse under Major John Y. Clopper from Newark, Missouri, to rescue the town.[6] Porter and his Confederate forces, their strength estimated at anywhere between 125 men[5] to 600, planned to ambush the Federals. This became known as the Battle of Vassar Hill in the History of Scotland County. Porter called it Oak Ridge, and Federal forces called it Pierce's Mill. By whatever name, it happened about ten miles southwest of Memphis on the south fork of the Middle Fabius River.

Porter's men were concealed in brush and stayed low when the Federals stopped to fire before each charge. Porter's men held their fire until the range was very short, increasing the volley's lethality.[5] Clopper was in the Federal front, and of 21 men of his advance guard, all but one were killed or wounded.[7] The Federals made at least seven mounted charges, doing little but adding to the body count. A battalion of roughly 100 men[6] of the 11th Missouri State Militia Cavalry under Major Rogers arrived and dismounted. Clopper claimed to have driven the enemy from the field after this, but eyewitness Joseph Mudd said the Union troops fell back and ended the engagement, leaving Porter in possession of the field until he withdrew. Clopper's reputation suffered as a result of his poor tactics. Before the final charge, one company officer angrily asked, "Why don't you dismount those men and stop murdering them?"[8] Union casualties were about 24 dead and mortally wounded (10 from Merrill's Horse and 14 from the 11th MSM Cavalry), and perhaps 59 wounded (24 from Merrill's Horse, and 35 from the 11th MSM Cavalry.) Porter's loss was as little as three killed and five wounded according to Mudd, or six killed, three mortally wounded, and 10 wounded left on the field according to the Shelby County History.[7]

Postwar to present

In the 1880s, a group called The Tax-payers' Association of Scotland County formed to resist paying local taxes and intimidate any potential bidders on horses and mules that had been seized to cover those taxes. The handling of county debt collection went to the Supreme Court in Findlay v. McAllister.

Geography

File:ScotlandCountyCourthouse2.jpg
Another view of the Scotland County courthouse.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of Script error: No such module "convert"., of which Script error: No such module "convert". is land and Script error: No such module "convert". (0.6%) is water.[9] Scotland County borders Iowa to the north.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Demographics

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Historical population
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18503,782—
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19805,415Script error: No such module "String".%
19904,822Script error: No such module "String".%
20004,983Script error: No such module "String".%
20104,843Script error: No such module "String".%
20204,716Script error: No such module "String".%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010-2015[1]

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2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 4,716, a median age of 36.7 years, 29.8% of residents under the age of 18, and 18.9% who were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.7 males age 18 and over.[14]

The racial makeup of the county was 96.5% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.0% from some other race, and 2.9% from two or more races; Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 0.7% of the population.[15]

All of the county's residents were classified as living in rural areas, with 0.0% in urban areas and 100.0% in rural areas.[16]

There were 1,809 households in the county, of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 22.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 29.5% of households were made up of individuals and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[14]

There were 2,210 housing units, of which 18.1% were vacant; among occupied housing units, 75.3% were owner-occupied and 24.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 14.6%.[14]

Racial and ethnic composition

Scotland County, Missouri – Racial and ethnic composition
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Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 1980[17] Pop 1990[18] Pop 2000[19] Pop 2010[20] Pop 2020[21] % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 5,377 4,797 4,890 4,760 4,537 99.30% 99.48% 98.13% 98.29% 96.20%
Black or African American alone (NH) 2 3 10 3 6 0.04% 0.06% 0.20% 0.06% 0.13%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 1 10 7 12 5 0.02% 0.21% 0.14% 0.25% 0.11%
Asian alone (NH) 7 0 4 11 5 0.13% 0.00% 0.08% 0.23% 0.11%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) x [22] x [23] 1 0 1 x x 0.02% 0.00% 0.02%
Other race alone (NH) 4 0 0 1 0 0.07% 0.00% 0.00% 0.02% 0.00%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) x [24] x [25] 29 23 127 x x 0.58% 0.47% 2.69%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 24 12 42 33 35 0.44% 0.25% 0.84% 0.68% 0.74%
Total 5,415 4,822 4,983 4,843 4,716 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2010 census

As of the census[26] of 2010, there were 4,843 people, 1,902 households, and 1,302 families residing in the county. The population density was Script error: No such module "convert".. There were 2,292 housing units at an average density of Script error: No such module "convert".. The racial makeup of the county was 98.82% White, 0.20% Black or African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.16% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. Approximately 0.84% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. In the county, 5.72% report speaking Pennsylvania German, Dutch, or German at home, while 1.58% speak Spanish.[27]

There were 1,902 households, of which 32.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.20% were married couples living together, 7.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.50% were non-families. 28.20% 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 2.55 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.60% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 24.10% from 25 to 44, 20.80% from 45 to 64, and 19.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 94.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,409, and the median income for a family was $33,529. Males had a median income of $23,836 versus $16,866 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,474. About 13.40% of families and 16.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.70% of those under age 18 and 13.50% of those age 65 or over.

Education

School districts in the county, including those with any territory, no matter how slight: Scotland County R-I School District, Knox County R-I School District, and Schuyler County R-I School District.[28]

Previously an elementary school district, Gorin R-III School District, had territory in the county.[29] The Gorin district closed on July 1, 2015 and consolidated into the Scotland County R-1 district.[30]

Public schools

One of the school districts operates schools in the county limits:

Public libraries

  • Scotland County Memorial Library[31]

Communities

Cities

Villages

Unincorporated communities

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Notable people

Politics

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Local

The Democratic Party controls politics at the local level in Scotland County. Democrats hold all but five of the elected positions in the county.

Template:Missouri county elected officials

State

Past Gubernatorial Elections Results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2024 83.36% 1,553 15.19% 283 1.45% 27
2020 81.02% 1,584 17.49% 342 1.48% 29
2016 65.32% 1,273 31.30% 610 3.38% 66
2012 48.61% 930 48.14% 921 3.24% 62
2008 57.14% 1,197 40.91% 857 1.96% 41
2004 70.16% 1,507 28.63% 615 1.22% 26
2000 53.00% 1,129 45.16% 962 1.84% 39
1996 24.62% 499 72.52% 1,470 2.86% 58

Scotland County is in Missouri's 4th District in the Missouri House of Representatives and is represented by Craig Redmon (R-Canton).

Missouri House of Representatives — District 4 — Scotland County (2016)
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Script error: No such module "Political party". Craig Redmon 1,677 100.00%

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Missouri House of Representatives — District 4 — Scotland County (2014)
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Script error: No such module "Political party". Craig Redmon 1,276 100.00%

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Missouri House of Representatives — District 4 — Scotland County (2012)
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Script error: No such module "Political party". Craig Redmon 1,595 100.00%

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Scotland County is a part of Missouri's 18th District in the Missouri Senate and is represented by Brian Munzlinger (R-Williamstown).

Missouri Senate — District 18 — Scotland County (2014)
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Script error: No such module "Political party". Brian Munzlinger 1,244 100.00%

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Federal

U.S. Senate — Missouri — Scotland County (2016)
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Script error: No such module "Political party". Roy Blunt 1,283 66.13% Script error: No such module "String".
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U.S. Senate — Missouri — Scotland County (2012)
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Script error: No such module "Political party". Todd Akin 900 47.00%
Script error: No such module "Political party". Claire McCaskill 941 49.14%
Script error: No such module "Political party". Jonathan Dine 74 3.86%

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Scotland County is in Missouri's 6th Congressional District and is represented by Sam Graves (R-Tarkio) in the U.S. House of Representatives.

U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 6th Congressional District — Scotland County (2016)
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U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri’s 6th Congressional District — Scotland County (2014)
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Script error: No such module "Political party". Sam Graves 1,090 74.81% Script error: No such module "String".
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U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 6th Congressional District — Scotland County (2012)
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Script error: No such module "Political party". Sam Graves 1,265 69.54%
Script error: No such module "Political party". Kyle Yarber 510 28.04%
Script error: No such module "Political party". Russ Monchil 44 2.42%

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See also

References

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  1. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  5. ↑ a b c d e f Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ a b Moore, Frank, The Rebellion Record, Fifth Volume, G.P. Putnam, 1868, page 558, from "The Fight near Memphis, Mo." in the Missouri Democrat
  7. ↑ a b The History of Shelby Country, page 744
  8. ↑ Banasik, Michael, Embattled Arkansas: The Prairie Grove Campaign of 1862, Broadfoot Publishing, 1998, page 124
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  14. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  23. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  24. ↑ not an option in the 1980 Census
  25. ↑ not an option in the 1990 Census
  26. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1". - Text list
  29. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1". - Text list
  30. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  31. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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External links

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Template:Geographic Location

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