Butler is a city in and the county seat of Bates County, Missouri, United States and is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area. The population was 4,220 at the 2020 census. The city is named for William Orlando Butler, an American military and political figure of the early and mid-19th century. It is located approximately south of Kansas City, Missouri on Interstate 49.
History
When laid out in April 1852, Butler was a short distance from its modern location, with John C. Kennett being recognized as the first settler to build a home. The first county seat for Bates County was Papinville.
After a large portion of the county was split off to form Vernon County in 1855, Papinville was no longer near the geographic center, and Butler was selected in 1856 as the county seat.
On August 25, 1863 Union Army General Thomas Ewing issued his controversial Order No. 11, requiring evacuation of all rural residents from the county.
Geography
The city is on US Route 71 and Missouri Route 52. Rich Hill is ten miles south and Adrian is 8.5 miles north.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water.
Climate
Demographics
Butler is considered a part of the Kansas City metropolitan area.
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Butler had a population of 4,220. The median age was 38.4 years. 23.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 20.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.6 males age 18 and over.
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 1,685 households in Butler, of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 38.9% were married-couple households, 18.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 33.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 36.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. of 2010, there were 4,219 people, 1,739 households, and 1,031 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 2,047 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 94.5% White, 2.7% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.3% of the population.
There were 1,739 households, of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.8% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.7% were non-families. Of all households, 35.5% were made up of individuals, and 17.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.97.
The median age in the city was 39.3 years. 24.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.2% were from 25 to 44; 23.6% were from 45 to 64; and 20.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.8% male and 53.2% female.
2000 census
As of the census The elementary school serves children from kindergarten to 5th grade, and the high school oversees grades 6 to 12.
The town has a lending library, the Butler Public Library.
Notable people
- Wesley Bolin, Arizona governor
- Harvey C. Clark, U.S. Army brigadier general
- Robert A. Heinlein, science fiction author; was born and lived in Butler.
- Charles O'Rear, photographer and author; was born in Butler.
- Randy Pike, Missouri state legislator; was born in Butler.
- Stan Wall, former Major League Baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
- Warren Dee Welliver, lawyer and jurist. Served ten years on the Supreme Court of Missouri.
References
External links
- City of Butler website
- Historic maps of Butler in the Sanborn Maps of Missouri Collection at the University of Missouri