Greene County

Geography

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.

Adjacent counties

Polk County (north)

Dallas County (northeast)

Webster County (east)

Christian County (south)

Lawrence County (southwest)

Dade County (northwest)

National protected area

Wilson's Creek National Battlefield

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Greene County had a population of 298,915, a median age of 36.8 years, 20.6% of residents under the age of 18, and 17.1% of residents 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.7 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 83.9% White, 3.4% Black or African American, 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.1% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.7% from some other race, and 8.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.8% of the population.

85.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 14.1% lived in rural areas.

There were 126,028 households in the county, of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 29.2% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 136,450 housing units, of which 7.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 56.0% were owner-occupied and 44.0% were renter-occupied, with a homeowner vacancy rate of 1.6% and a rental vacancy rate of 8.2%.

2000 census

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 were 190,417 registered voters in Greene County.

Emergency services

Republic and Springfield have city fire departments. Additionally, the county is served by the following fire districts:

Ash Grove

Battlefield

Billings

Bois D'arc

Brookline

Ebenezer

Fair Grove

Logan-Rogersville

Strafford

Walnut Grove

West Republic

Willard

Law enforcement is provided by the Greene County Sheriff's Office. The current sheriff is Jim C. Arnott.

Government and politics

Political culture

Like most counties situated in Southwest Missouri, Greene County has long been a Republican stronghold. In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump carried Greene County by a margin of 60% to 33%. It is exceptionally Republican for an urban and suburban county.

The last Democratic presidential nominee to win Greene County was Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.

In 2004, state residents voted on a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman. This passed Greene County with 72.04 percent of the vote. The initiative passed the state with 71 percent of support from voters; Missouri became the first state to ban same-sex marriage. In 2006, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to fund and legalize embryonic stem cell research in the state—it narrowly failed in Greene County with 51.62 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 research.

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.

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.

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.

Local

The Republican Party predominantly controls politics at the local level in Greene County.

State

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.

District 130 — Bishop Davidson (R-Springfield). The district includes the northern part of the city of Springfield and the rural area of north-central Greene County.

District 131 — Bill Owen (R-Springfield). The district includes the northern part of the city of Springfield and the rural area of north-central Greene County.

District 132 — Crystal Quade (D-Springfield). The district is based entirely in the city of Springfield.

District 133 — Curtis Trent (R-Springfield). The district includes Battlefield and part of the city of Springfield.

District 134 — Alex Riley (R-Springfield). The district includes part of the city of Springfield.

District 135 — Betsy Fogle (D-Springfield). The district exists entirely within the city of Springfield.

District 136 — Craig Fishel (R-Springfield). The district includes parts of the city of Springfield and some rural areas southeast of the city.

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.

Greene County is divided into two districts in the Missouri Senate, both represented by Republicans: District 20, representing large parts of Greene and Christian County; and District 30, mostly representing the city of Springfield.

Federal

All of Greene County is included in Missouri's 7th Congressional District and is currently represented by Billy Long (R-Springfield) in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Missouri presidential preference primary (2008)

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. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York) received more votes, a total of 18,322, in Greene County than any other candidate from either party.

Education

School districts include:

Public schools

Ash Grove R-IV School District - Ash Grove

Ash Grove Elementary School (PK-06)

Bois D'Arc Elementary School (K-06) - Bois D'Arc

Ash Grove High School (07-12)

Fair Grove R-X School District] - Fair Grove

Fair Grove Elementary School (K-04)

Fair Grove Middle School (05-08)

Fair Grove High School (09-12)

Logan-Rogersville R-VIII School District - 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)

Republic R-III School District - Republic

Republic Kindergarten School (K)

Republic Elementary School I (01-02)

Republic Elementary School II (03-04)

Republic Elementary School III (05-06)

Republic Middle School (07-08)

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 (formerly Southwest Missouri State University) - Springfield - 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

Ozarks Technical Community College - Springfield - a public, two-year community college

Ozarks Technical Community College - Republic - a public, two-year community college

Everest College - Springfield - a public, four-year for-profit Corinthian college

Columbia College Springfield Campus - Springfield - a private, four-year college

Bryan University Springfield Campus - Springfield - a private, four-year university

Cox College - Springfield - a private, four-year non-profit nursing college

University of Missouri Springfield Clinical Campus - Springfield - a public, four-year university

Public libraries

Springfield-Greene County Library

Transportation

Transit

City Utilities of Springfield

Springfield Transit Services

Greyhound Lines

Jefferson Lines

Airports

Springfield-Branson National Airport

Springfield Downtown Airport

Communities