Pettis County, Missouri

 

Founding: 1833
Parent counties: Cooper, Morgan, St. Clair, Saline, and unorganized territory

Namesake: Spencer Pettis, Missouri politician
Seat: St. Helena (1833–1837); Georgetown (1837–1865); Sedalia (1865–)

Land area: 682 square miles

Population (2020): 42,980

Population (historic): 2,930 (1840); 9,392 (1860); 27,271 (1880); 32,438 (1900); 34,664 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1840–1920; 1950s; 1970s; 1990–2020

Subdivisions: Five cities; one village; 17 townships

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 3,870 (21.2%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 37.9%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 6.7%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 9.7%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 13.5%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $1,612
Average outbuilding value (1930): $1,116
Average farmhouse size (1940): 5.2 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 2,797
Average farm size (1920): 123.7 acres
Sources of settlement: Virginia, Kentucky, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Germany
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Sedalia

Namesake: Unknown

Founding: 1856 (platting); 1860 (incorporation); 1861 (post office)

Population (2020): 21,725

Population (historic): 4,560 (1870); 14,068 (1890); 17,822 (1910); 20,806 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1870–1920; 1950s; 1990–2020
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 2,992 (29.3%)
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Outstanding Buildings

1. Blackwater Methodist Chapel (1882). Blackwater Chapel Road, east of Tyler Road. Blackwater. Gothic Revival.
2. Benjamin Prigmore Farm (1858/1870s). 15195 South Fork Road. Blackwater. Italianate.
3. Samuel Shanks Farm (1885). 11251 Road D. Blackwater. Italianate.
4. William Gentry Farm (c. 1855). 22970 Cherry Tree Lane. Cedar. Greek Revival.
5. David Thomson Farm (c. 1840). 20694 Dow Road. Cedar. Greek Revival.
6. Reuben Gentry Farm (1879). Gentry Road, east of Cherry Road. Cedar. Italianate. Razed.
7. Lewis Major House (c. 1845). McCurdy Road, south of Smelser Road. Cedar.
8. Henry Jones Farm (1878). 17000 Road EE. Heath Creek. Italianate.
9. Benjamin McClure Farm (c. 1905). Hillview Road, south of McCubbin Road. Houstonia. Eastlake. Razed.
10. Ford–Durley Farm (c. 1855/1890). Road D, east of High Point Road. Hughesville. Greek Revival. Razed.
11. Deer Park / John Jones House (c. 1835/1845). 26774 Deer Park Road. Longwood. Greek Revival. Razed.
12. John Rudy Farm (c. 1860). Maplewood Road, east of Road O. Smithton. Greek Revival. Razed.

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