Platte County, Missouri Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Platte County
U.S. county
Platte County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
Missouri's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Missouri
Founded	December 31, 1838
Named for	Platte River or Platte Purchase
Seat	Platte City
Largest city	Kansas City
Area
• Total	427 sq mi (1,110 km²)
• Land	420 sq mi (1,100 km²)
• Water	6.6 sq mi (17 km²) 1.5%
Population (2020)
• Total	106,718
• Density	249.93/sq mi (96.50/km²)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	6th

Platte County is a county located in the northwestern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri and is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, the population was 106,718. Its county seat is Platte City. The county was organized December 31, 1838, from the Platte Purchase, named for the Platte River. (Platte is derived from the French word for a low, shallow, or intermittent stream.) The Kansas City International Airport is located in the county, approximately one mile west of Interstate 29 between mile markers 12 and 15. The land for the airport was originally in an unincorporated portion of Platte County before being annexed by Platte City, and eventually Kansas City.

Geography
- Adjacent counties
- Major highways
Demographics
Communities
Education
See also

Geography

Platte County Courthouse in Platte City was built after the original courthouse was burned with the rest of Platte City during the American Civil War. Blanche Barrow was held at the adjoining jail following a Bonnie & Clyde shootout just south of Platte City.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 427 square miles (1,110 km²), of which 420 square miles (1,100 km²) is land and 6.6 square miles (17 km²) (1.5%) is water. The county's southwestern border with Kansas is formed by the Missouri River.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Interstate 29
Interstate 435
Interstate 635
U.S. Route 71
Route 9
Route 45
Route 92
Route 152
Route 273
Route 371

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1840	8,913	—
1850	16,845	89.0%
1860	18,350	8.9%
1870	17,352	−5.4%
1880	17,366	0.1%
1890	16,278	−6.3%
1900	16,193	−0.5%
1910	14,429	−10.9%
1920	13,996	−3.0%
1930	13,819	−1.3%
1940	13,862	0.3%
1950	14,973	8.0%
1960	23,350	55.9%
1970	32,081	37.4%
1980	46,341	44.4%
1990	57,867	24.9%
2000	73,781	27.5%
2010	89,322	21.1%
2020	106,718	19.5%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020

As of the census of 2000, there were 73,781 people, 29,278 households, and 20,231 families residing in the county. The population density was 176 people per square mile (68/km²). There were 30,902 housing units at an average density of 74 per square mile (28/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 91.45% White, 3.49% Black or African American, 0.46% Native American, 1.48% Asian, 0.20% Pacific Islander, 1.05% from other races, and 1.87% from two or more races. Approximately 3.00% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 23.4% were of German, 12.5% Irish, 12.2% American and 11.4% English ancestry.

There were 29,278 households, out of which 34.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.00% were married couples living together, 8.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.90% were non-families. 24.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.80% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 32.60% from 25 to 44, 24.50% from 45 to 64, and 8.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $55,849, and the median income for a family was $65,236. Males had a median income of $44,310 versus $31,005 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,356. About 3.30% of families and 4.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.70% of those under age 18 and 5.70% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Camden Point
Dearborn
East Leavenworth
Edgerton
Farley
Ferrelview
Houston Lake
Iatan
Kansas City (partly in Cass, Clay and Jackson Counties)
Lake Waukomis
Northmoor
Parkville
Platte City (county seat)
Platte Woods
Ridgely
Riverside
Smithville (partly in Clay County)
Tracy
Waldron
Weatherby Lake
Weston

Education

Public schools

- North Platte Elementary School (PK-03)
- North Platte Intermediate School (04-06)
- North Platte Junior High School (07-08)
- North Platte High School (09-12)
- Russell Jones Education Center (K-12) – (Special Education)
- Hopewell Elementary School (K-05)
- Alfred L. Renner Elementary School (K-05)
- Thomas B. Chinn Elementary School (K-05)
- English Landing Elementary School (K-05)
- Graden Elementary School (K-05)
- Hawthorn Elementary School (K-05)
- Line Creek Elementary School (K-05)
- Gerner Family Early Education Center (PK)
- Prairie Point Elementary School (K-05)
- Southeast Elementary School (K-05)
- Tiffany Ridge Elementary School (K-05)
- Union Chapel Elementary School (K-05)
- Congress Middle School (06-08)
- Lakeview Middle School (06-08)
- Plaza Middle School (06-08)
- Walden Middle School (06-08)
- Park Hill High School (09-12) -- within Kansas City city limits
- Park Hill South High School (09-12) – Riverside
- LEAD Innovation Studio (09-12)
Platte County R-III School District – Platte City
- Donald D. Siegrist Elementary School (K-5)
- Pathfinder Elementary School (PK-5)
- Compass Elementary School (PK-5)
- Barry Elementary School (PK-5)
- Platte City Middle School (06-08)
- Platte County High School (09-12)
- Central Elementary School (PK-06)
- West Platte County High School (07-12)

Private schools

Public libraries

Mid-Continent Public Library

Platte County, Missouri facts for kids

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