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

National Register listings: 28

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.