Nodaway County

History

The county has a rich agricultural history. It is the home of trainers Ben Jones and Jimmy Jones, whose horses won six Kentucky Derby races and two Triple Crowns.

The county is home to Northwest Missouri State University. The university's grounds were a re-creation of the landscape of the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. In 1993, Northwest was designated by the Missouri State Legislature as the official Missouri Arboretum. ESPN has carried the university's participation in five national championship football games, three of which they won.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas studied to become a priest at Conception Seminary College, before giving it up for law. The Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration convent in neighboring Clyde has 550 relics of saints, the largest collection in the nation.

Located in Tornado Alley, many tornadoes have struck the county, including an F4 tornado on March 29, 1979, which obliterated the town of Braddyville, Iowa across the county line. Tornadoes have damaged two of the county's largest buildings, the Administration Building on the campus of Northwest Missouri State University and Conception Abbey. The 1881 Hopkins tornado is one of the first recorded F5 tornadoes.

Early life in the county was chronicled by writer Homer Croy, a Nodaway County native, in many books, articles, films and Broadway shows in the 1920s and 1930s.

Etymology

The origin of the name "Nodaway" has been attributed to a Pottawatomie name for "placid," a Dakota Sioux name for "crossed without canoe," and various tribes names for "snake."

Crime

Nodaway County was on the frontier in its earliest days and has a long history of violence.

The first execution in Nodaway County occurred in the county seat of Maryville on July 22, 1881. Two brothers, Albert P. and Charles E. Talbott, were hanged after being convicted of murdering their own father, Dr. Perry H. Talbott. Dr. Talbott, a local physician, newspaper editor, and state legislator, died on September 18, 1880, at his home northwest of Arkoe, a town he co-founded. He was found shot in his home and died of his injuries that evening, blaming his political enemies with his dying breath. Nevertheless, his sons were charged with the crime. Despite their insistence of innocence, the jury found them guilty and the judge sentenced them to death. Their tombstone in the family cemetery is a vertical column with two hands clasped in friendship. The inscription on the headstone reads: "We Died Inocent." [sic]

On December 9, 1884, Omaha Charley, whose real name was Joseph Paro, aka Charles F. Stephens, was the victim of a lynch mob. Six days earlier, he had shot Hubert Kremer in Hilgert's Saloon, in Maryville. Omaha Charley had been arrested, but others decided to take matters into their own hands. About 50 masked men broke into the jail and demanded Omaha Charley. The county sheriff, James Anderson, and his brother, Deputy Jack Anderson, fought the mob, firing shots and being fired upon in return. Ultimately, the mob overpowered the sheriff and his deputy, and dragged Omaha Charley from his cell. They carried Stephens to the bridge at Fourth and Water Streets, where they tied the rope to the bridge railing and threw him over the side. Sheriff Anderson found his prisoner there an hour later. This was not Omaha Charley's first crime, however. Five years earlier, he was convicted of 2nd degree murder in the death of John Mahan. He was sentenced to twelve years in prison. In January 1884, he was pardoned by Governor Thomas Crittenden and released, having served only four and a half years of his sentence.

One of the most notorious murders in Nodaway County was committed by Hezekiah "Hez" Rasco, a farmer's son, who was hanged on March 26, 1912, for the murder of Oda Hubbell. Rasco and Hubbell took part in an all-night poker game in a boxcar at the Barnard Depot. Hubbell returned to his family on the morning of November 20, 1910. The next day, Hubbell and his family were all found dead. Hubbell had been killed with a shotgun and his body dragged into the house. Mrs. Hubbell was beaten to death with the shotgun butt. After killing the children, the murderer set fire to the Hubbell home, which almost incinerated the children's corpses. Little more than half of the torso of Hubbell was found after a passing neighbor had extinguished the blaze. Hez Rasco was arrested and charged with the murder of Hubbell, his wife, and their children Welton, 4, and Jessie, 6. Rasco was tried and convicted only for Oda Hubbell's murder. Rasco maintained his innocence to his death. The murders were covered in the book Hezekiah Rasco: Child of Woe — Man of Sorrow.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 878 square miles (2,270 km2), of which 877 square miles (2,270 km2) is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km2) (0.1%) is water. It is the fifth-largest county in Missouri by area. Iowa forms the northern border of Nodaway County.

Nodaway County consists of undulating hills with three notable rivers. The eponymous Nodaway River partitions the western half of the county and forms part of its southwestern border with Holt County. The One Hundred and Two River divides the county in half and the eastern portion of Maryville covers its western plain. The Platte River traverses the easternmost portion of the county. Mozingo Lake is a large reservoir located 5 miles east of Maryville.

Nodaway County is home to two wind farms. Tenaska Clear Creek Energy Center is a 242-megawatt wind farm containing 111 wind turbines located northwest of Maryville and directly west of Pickering. The 236.5-megawatt White Cloud Wind Farm is located southwest of Maryville and north of Graham.

Adjacent counties

Page County, Iowa (northwest)

Taylor County, Iowa (north)

Worth County (northeast)

Gentry County (southeast)

Andrew County (south)

Holt County (southwest)

Atchison County (west)

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 21,241, a median age of 33.4 years, and 19.9% of residents were under the age of 18 while 17.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.5 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 91.6% White, 1.7% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.6% from some other race, and 3.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.0% of the population.

52.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 47.2% lived in rural areas.

There were 8,376 households in the county, of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 26.7% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 32.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 9,449 housing units, of which 11.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 61.0% were owner-occupied and 39.0% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.3%.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 21,912 people, 8,138 households, and 4,817 families residing in the county. The population density was 25 people per square mile (9.7 people/km2). There were 8,909 housing units at an average density of 10 units per square mile (3.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.58% White, 1.35% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.87% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. Approximately 0.71% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 8,138 households, out of which 27.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.00% were married couples living together, 6.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.80% were non-families. 30.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 19.40% under the age of 18, 25.10% from 18 to 24, 23.10% from 25 to 44, 18.60% from 45 to 64, and 13.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 99.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,781, and the median income for a family was $42,203. Males had a median income of $28,388 versus $21,267 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,384. About 8.30% of families and 16.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.20% of those under age 18 and 13.30% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Major highways

U.S. Route 71

U.S. Route 136

Route 46

Route 113

Route 148

Route 246

Transit

Jefferson Lines

Airports

Nodaway County is served by two airports. Northwest Missouri Regional Airport and Rankin Airport, both just outside of Maryville. Both airports are for general aviation with no commercial service.

Education

School districts covering this county, including ones with their schools and/or headquarters in other counties, include:

Public schools

Jefferson C-123 School District – Conception Junction

Jefferson Elementary School (PK-06)

Jefferson High School (07-12)

Maryville R-II School District – Maryville

Maryville Early Childhood Center (PK)

Eugene Field Elementary School (K-04)

Maryville Middle School (05-08)

Maryville High School (09-12)

Nodaway-Holt R-VII School District – Graham

Nodaway-Holt Elementary School (K-06)

Nodaway-Holt Junior/Senior High School (07-12)

North Nodaway County R-VI School District – Hopkins

North Nodaway County Elementary School (PK-05)

North Nodaway County Junior/Senior High School (06-12)

Northeast Nodaway County R-V School District – Ravenwood

Parnell Elementary School (PK-06)

Northeast Nodaway County High School (07-12)

South Nodaway County R-IV School District – Barnard

South Nodaway County Elementary School (PK-06)

Private schools

St. Gregory Barbarigo School – Maryville (K-09) – Catholic

Post-secondary

Northwest Missouri State University – Maryville – A public, four-year university.

Public libraries

Maryville Public Library

Points of interest

Bilby Ranch Lake Conversation Area

Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration

Conception Abbey

Maryville Treatment Center

Missouri State Arboretum

Mozingo Lake

Nodaway County Historical Society Museum

Media

The four licensed broadcast stations originating in the county broadcast from Maryville:

KNIM – 1580 – AM

KVVL – 97.1 – FM

KXCV – 90.5 – FM

KZLX-FM – 106.7 – FM

Communities

Villages

Arkoe

Clyde

Guilford

Census-designated places

Conception

Quitman

Unincorporated Community

Wilcox

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Nodaway County.

† county seat

Notable residents

Sarah Caldwell (1924–2006) – Boston was an American opera conductor, impresario, and stage director.

Dale Carnegie (1888–1955) – author of How to Win Friends and Influence People

Charles J. Colden (1870–1938) – U.S. Representative

Homer Croy (1883–1965) – author and screenwriter who wrote about life in Maryville

Albert David (1902–1945) – Medal of Honor winner for capture of U-505 during World War II

Forrest C. Donnell (1884–1980) – native of Quitman; Republican Governor from 1941 to 1945 and U.S. Senator from 1945 to 1951

Herbert Hoover (1874–1964) – President of the United States; was never a true county resident, but he owned a farm south of Graham

Ben A. Jones (1882–1961) and his son Horace A. "Jimmy" Jones (1906–2001) had a farm near Parnell and retired there. During their tenure at Calumet Farm, they trained six Kentucky Derby and two Triple Crown winners. Extensive memorabilia from the racing days are in the Nodaway County Historical Society Museum.

Henry L. Jost (1873–1950) – Mayor of Kansas City, who arrived in Hopkins aboard an orphan train

Edward H. Moore (1871–1950) – U.S. Senator from Oklahoma

Albert P. Morehouse (1835–1891) – Maryville resident who succeeded to Governor from 1887 to 1889

Harley Race (1943–2019) – professional wrestler

Politics

Local

The Republican Party is predominate at the local level in Nodaway County. Republicans hold all but two of the elected positions in the county.

State

All of Nodaway County is a part of Missouri’s 1st District in the Missouri House of Representatives and is represented by Allen Andrews (R-Grant City).

All of Nodaway County is a part of Missouri’s 12th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Dan Hegeman (R-Cosby).

Federal

All of Nodaway County is included in Missouri’s 6th Congressional District and is currently represented by Sam Graves (R-Tarkio) in the U.S. House of Representatives.