Greene County is located in the southwest part of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, its population was 298,915.[1] making it the fourth most-populous county in Missouri.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 678 square miles (1,760 km2), of which 675 square miles (1,750 km2) is land and 2.6 square miles (6.7 km2) (0.4%) is water.[4]
U.S. Decennial Census[6] 1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8] 1990-2000[9] 2010-2020[1]
As of the census of 2000, there were 240,391 people, 97,859 households, and 61,846 families residing in the county. The population density was 356 inhabitants per square mile (137/km2). There were 104,517 housing units at an average density of 155 units per square mile (60 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.54% White, 2.26% Black or African American, 0.66% Native American, 1.13% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.67% from other races, and 1.68% from two or more races. Approximately 1.84% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 97,859 households, out of which 28.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.00% were married couples living together, 9.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.80% were non-families. 29.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.30% under the age of 18, 13.80% from 18 to 24, 28.60% from 25 to 44, 21.80% from 45 to 64, and 13.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $44,185, and the median income for a family was $56,047. Males had a median income of $30,672 versus $21,987 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,770. About 7.60% of families and 12.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.60% of those under age 18 and 7.50% of those age 65 or over.
There are 190,417 registered voters in Greene County.[10]
Greene County is divided into eight legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives; six of which are held by Republicans and two Democratic seats.[13]
District 130 — Bishop Davidson (R-Springfield). The district includes the northern part the city of Springfield and rural area of north-central Greene County.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 130 — Greene County (2020)[14]
District 131 — Bill Owen (R-Springfield). The district includes the northern part the city of Springfield and rural area of north-central Greene County.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 131 — Greene County (2020)[14]
District 137 — John Black (R-Marshfield). The district includes the communities of Fair Grove, Rogersville, and Strafford, as well as a large portion of Webster County.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 137 — Greene County (2020)[15]
Greene County is also divided into two districts in the Missouri Senate, both of which represented by Republicans; District 20, representing large parts of Greene and Christian County, and District 30, representing mostly the city of Springfield.[16]
Like most counties situated in Southwest Missouri, Greene County has become a Republican stronghold since the late 20th century. George W. Bush carried Greene County in 2000 and 2004 by almost two-to-one margins. Greene County favored Republican John McCain over Barack Obama in 2008. In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump carried Greene County by a margin of 60% to 33%.[20]
The last Democratic presidential nominee to win Greene County was Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964. Before that the county and state had largely been dominated by Democratic voters, who often made it part of the Solid South.
Despite Greene County's longstanding tradition of supporting socially conservative platforms, voters in the county have a penchant for advancing populist causes, such as 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 Greene County with 74.41 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.[citation needed]
In 2020, Greene County was one of only eight counties in Missouri and the only one outside St. Louis, Kansas City and Columbia to vote yes on Amendment 2 to expand Medicaid. Its voters recognized they could be helped by such expansion; the measure passed Greene County with 52.3 percent of the vote and statewide with 53.3 percent.[21]
Republicans hold all county-level elected offices. However, the county has been known to support Democrats in statewide races. Mel Carnahan carried the county in both of his runs for governor, as did Jay Nixon. In 2000, Bob Holden's victory in the county provided the margin that allowed him to defeat Jim Talent statewide.
Voters in Greene County from both political parties supported candidates who finished in second place in the state at large and nationally. During the 2008 presidential primary, U.S. SenatorHillary Clinton (D-New York) received more votes, a total of 18,322, in Greene County than any other candidate from either party.
Willard North Elementary School - (PK-04) - Willard
Willard East Elementary School - (K-04) - Willard
Willard South Elementary School - (PK-04) - Springfield
Willard Central Elementary School - (K-04) - Springfield
Willard Intermediate School - (05-06) - Willard
Willard Middle School - (07-08) - Willard
Willard High School - (09-12) - Willard
Private schools
Christian Schools of Springfield - (PK-12) - Springfield - Baptist
Grace Classical Academy - (PK-12) - Springfield - Nondenominational Christianity
Greenwood Laboratory School - (K-12) - Springfield - Nonsectarian
Immaculate Conception School - (PK-8) - Springfield - Roman Catholic
New Covenant Academy - (PK-12) - Springfield - Nondenominatonal Christianity
Springfield Catholic High School - (09-12) - Springfield - Roman Catholic
Springfield Lutheran School - (PS-8) - Springfield - Lutheran MO Synod
St. Agnes Cathedral School - (PK-8) - Springfield - Roman Catholic
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School - (PK-5) - Springfield - Roman Catholic
The Summit Preparatory School of Southwest Missouri - (PK-12) - Springfield - Nonsectarian
Alternative/other schools
Bailey Educational Center - (09-12) - Springfield - Alternative/Other School
Community Learning Center - (06-12) - Springfield - Alternative/Other School
Datema House - (05-12) - Springfield - Alternative/Other School
Excel School - (06-12) - Springfield - Alternative/Other School
Graff Career Center - (09-12) - Springfield - Vocational/Technical School
Greene County Special Education Cooperative - (K-12) - Republic - Special Education
Greene Valley - Springfield - Special Education
Phelps Gifted Center - (01-12) - Springfield - Alternative/Other School/Gifted Education
Wilson Creek Group Home - (06-12) - Springfield - Alternative/Other School
Colleges and universities
Missouri State University - Springfield - Formerly known as Southwest Missouri State University - A public, four-year university.
Evangel University - Springfield - A private, four-year Pentecostal liberal arts university.
Drury University - Springfield - A private, four-year liberal arts university.
Mission University (formerly Baptist Bible College) - Springfield - A private, conservative Bible college owned by the Baptist Bible Fellowship International.
United States
Missouri
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