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 acre...