Bates County, Missouri
Founding: 1841 (declared in 1833) Parent counties: Jackson, Lafayette, and unorganized territory Namesake: Frederick Bates, Missouri governor Seat: Papinville (1841–1856); Butler (1856–) Land area: 837 square miles Population (2020): 16,042 Population (historic): 3,669 (1850); 15,960 (1870); 32,223 (1890); 25,869 (1910); 22,068 (1930) Periods of population growth: pre-1850–1890; 1970s; 1990–2010 Subdivisions: Eight cities; three villages; 24 townships Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 1,631 (20.8%) Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 28.6% Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 3.1% Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 17.7% Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 8.6% Average farmhouse value (1930): $1,214 Average outbuilding value (1930): $994 Average farmhouse size (1940): 5.1 rooms Number of farms (1920): 3,500 Average farm size (1920): 126.6 acres Sources...