Missouri

Bates

16,042
2020 population
1850
first census record
18
census records

About Bates

Bates, Missouri, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 3,669. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 16,042.

Its recorded population peaked at 32,223 in 1890, and has since declined by roughly 50 percent.

On the ground today, 9 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Lane's Jayhawkers – Raid on Butler, Missouri, Butler Skirmish (Bates County), Skirmish at Butler, and 4 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202016,042
201017,049
200016,653
199015,025
198015,873
197015,468
196015,905
195017,534
194019,531
193022,068
192023,933
191025,869
190030,141
189032,223
188025,381
187015,960
18607,215
18503,669
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Bates

Military engagements that took place in Bates, Missouri.

Lane's Jayhawkers – Raid on Butler, Missouri
1861
Butler Skirmish (Bates County)
1862
Skirmish at Butler
1862
Battle of Island Mound
1862
Papinsville Skirmish (Bates County)
1862
Butler Missouri Raid
1863
Rich Hill Skirmish (Bates County)
1863
Skirmish at Papinsville (Second)
1864
Skirmish at Rich Hill
1864

Historic places in Bates

National Register of Historic Places listings in Bates, Missouri.

Bates County Courthouse
Butler
Hudson City School
Appleton City
Papinville Marais des Cygnes River Bridge
Papinville
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Other counties in Missouri

Explore census history and historic records for more Missouri counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Bates County, Missouri

This page charts the census history of Bates County, Missouri. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Bates

When does Bates first appear in the US census?
Bates, Missouri first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 3,669.
What is the population of Bates?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Bates had a recorded population of 16,042.
When did Bates's population peak?
Bates's recorded population peaked at 32,223 in 1890.
Were any battles fought in Bates?
9 documented military engagements took place in Bates, including Lane's Jayhawkers – Raid on Butler, Missouri, Butler Skirmish (Bates County), Skirmish at Butler.
How many historic places are in Bates?
4 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Bates, Missouri.
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