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
thumb|250px|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 , of which is land and (1.5%) is water. The county's southwestern border with Kansas is formed by the Missouri River.
Adjacent counties
Buchanan County (north)
Clinton County (northeast)
Clay County (east)
Wyandotte County, Kansas (south)
Leavenworth County, Kansas (southwest)
Atchison County, Kansas (northwest)
Major highways
20px Interstate 29
20px Interstate 435
20px Interstate 635
20px U.S. Route 71
20px Route 9
20px Route 45
20px Route 92
20px Route 152
20px Route 273
20px Route 371
Demographics
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.
Education
Public schools
[http://nppanthers.org/ North Platte R-I School District] – Dearborn
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)
[http://www.parkhill.k12.mo.us/ Park Hill School District] – Kansas City
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)
[http://www.wprii.k12.mo.us/ West Platte County R-II School District] – Weston
Central Elementary School (PK-06)
West Platte County High School (07-12)
Private schools
[http://clayplattemontessori.com/ Clay-Platte Children’s House Montessori School] – Kansas City (PK-08) – Nonsectarian
[http://www.martinlutheracademy.org/ Martin Luther Academy] – Kansas City (K-08) – Lutheran
[http://www.northlandchristianed.com/ Northland Christian Education System] – Kansas City (PK-12) – Nondenominational Christian
[http://www.sttheresenorth.org/ St. Therese School] – Kansas City (K-08) – Roman Catholic
[http://www.stpiusxhs-kc.com/ St. Pius X High School] – Kansas City (09-12) – Roman Catholic
[http://www.kindercare.com/our-centers/center-details/300545/ Prairie View KinderCare] – Kansas City (NS/PK) – Nonsectarian
[http://www.christlc.net/ Christ Lutheran Pre-Kindergarten School] – Platte Woods (NS/PK) – Lutheran
Our Savior Christian Academy - Platte City and Smithville (PK-12)
Public libraries
Mid-Continent Public Library
Politics
Local
The Republican Party controls politics at the local level in Platte County. Republicans hold all of the elected positions in the county. However, Governor Jay Nixon carried the county in his two successful elections, and in 2004, Claire McCaskill of Jackson County narrowly won a majority of the county's votes over Republican victor Matt Blunt.
State
Platte County is divided into four legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives, three held by Republicans and one held by a Democrat.
District 11 — Brenda Shields (R-St. Joseph). Consists of the communities of Dearborn, Edgerton, Tracy, and Weston.
District 12 — Josh Hurlbert (R-Smithville). Consists of Camden Point, Platte City, and Ridgely.
District 13 — Sean Pouche (R-Kansas City). Consists of the communities of Farley, Ferrelview, Parkville, Waldron, Weatherby Lake, and a part of the city of Kansas City.
District 14 – Ashley Aune (D-Kansas City). Consists of the communities of Houston Lake, Lake Waukomis, Northmoor, Platte Woods, Riverside, and part of the city of Kansas City.
All of Platte County is a part of Missouri's 34th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Tony Luetkemeyer (R-Parkville).
Federal
All of Platte County is included in Missouri's 6th Congressional District and is currently represented by Sam Graves (R-Tarkio) in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Missouri presidential preference primary (2008)
Former U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York) received more votes, a total of 5,434, than any candidate from either party in Platte County during the 2008 presidential primary.
Communities
Cities
Camden Point
Dearborn
Edgerton
Houston Lake
Kansas City (partly in Jackson and Clay Counties and a small part in Cass County)
Lake Waukomis
Northmoor
Parkville
Platte City (county seat)
Platte Woods
Riverside
Smithville (mostly in Clay County)
Tracy
Weatherby Lake
Weston
Villages
Farley
Ferrelview
Iatan
Ridgely
Civil townships
Carroll
Fair
Fox
Green
Kickapoo
Lee
Marshall
May
Pawnee
Pettis
Preston
Sioux
Waldron
Weston
Unincorporated communities
Beverly
Dye
East Leavenworth
Edgerton Junction
Hoover
Kerrville
New Market
Stillings
Stubbs
Waldron
West Platte
Woodruff
