Caldwell County was originally part of Ray County. The first white settler was Jesse Mann Sr., who settled one-half mile northeast of the public square of Kingston on Shoal Creek in 1831. The early settlers moved back south in 1832 for better protection during the Black Hawk War uprising.
A few Mormon settlers, who had been evicted from Jackson County, Missouri, moved into the county in 1832, and included Jacob Hawn, whose mill on Shoal Creek would become the scene of the bloodiest incident in the Mormon War, known as the Hawn's Mill Massacre.
The settlers established Salem, the first town in the county, two miles southeast of Kingston. A larger number of Mormons moved to the county in the fall of 1836. The Missouri General Assembly created Caldwell County in December 1836, with the understanding that it would be dedicated to Mormon settlers. Its county seat was Far West, Missouri. By 1838 Far West reported a population of 4,000.[3]
Mormon settlers moved further north into Daviess County, particularly at Adam-ondi-Ahman, after Smith proclaimed that it was the Biblical place where Adam and Eve were banished after leaving the Garden of Eden. He said it would be a gathering place on the Judgement Day. The Mormon War erupted following a skirmish between original Missouri settlers and Mormon settlers in the Gallatin Election Day Battle.
Following the dissolution of Far West, the county seat was moved to present-day Kingston.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 430 square miles (1,100 km2), of which 426 square miles (1,100 km2) is land and 3.2 square miles (8.3 km2) (0.8%) is water.[4]
U.S. Decennial Census[6] 1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8] 1990-2000[9] 2010-2015[1]
As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 8,969 people, 3,523 households, and 2,501 families residing in the county. The population density was 8/km2 (21/sq mi). There were 4,493 housing units at an average density of 4/km2 (10/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 98.56% White, 0.13% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races, and 0.67% from two or more races. 0.75% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 3,523 households, out of which 32.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.20% were married couples living together, 8.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.00% were non-families. 25.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.00% 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 3.04.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.10% under the age of 18, 7.10% from 18 to 24, 25.10% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 17.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 97.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,240, and the median income for a family was $37,087. Males had a median income of $28,710 versus $19,523 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,343. 11.90% of the population and 9.70% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 15.10% of those under the age of 18 and 12.90% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
The 2020 presidential primaries for both the Democratic and Republican parties were held in Missouri on March 10. On the Democratic side, former Vice PresidentJoe Biden (D-Delaware) both won statewide and carried Caldwell County by a wide margin. Biden went on to defeat PresidentDonald Trump in the general election.
Missouri Democratic Presidential Primary – Caldwell County (2020)
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, as well as a plurality of the vote in Caldwell County.
Missouri Republican Presidential Primary – Caldwell County (2016)
The 2012 Missouri Republican Presidential Primary's results were nonbinding on the state's national convention delegates. Voters in Caldwell County supported former U.S. SenatorRick Santorum (R-Pennsylvania), who finished first in the state at large, but eventually lost the nomination to former GovernorMitt Romney (R-Massachusetts). Delegates to the congressional district and state conventions were chosen at a county caucus, which selected delegations favoring Romney.
2008
In 2008, the Missouri Republican Presidential Primary was closely contested, with SenatorJohn McCain (R-Arizona) prevailing and eventually winning the nomination.
Missouri Republican Presidential Primary – Caldwell County (2008)
Then-SenatorHillary Clinton (D-New York) received more votes than any candidate from either party in Caldwell 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.
Missouri Democratic Presidential Primary – Caldwell County (2008)
LeSueur, Stephen C. (Fall 2005). "Missouri's Failed Compromise: The Creation of Caldwell County for the Mormons". Journal of Mormon History. 31 (3): 113–144.
