Platte

Formed December 31, 1838 (63^rd county)

Platte County (106,718), Platte City (4,773), Parkville (7,195)                

The red brick Federalist courthouse was built in 1866 on Main Street between 3^rd and 4^th streets.  It underwent renovation in 1978.  A Government Center and Judicial Center were added in 1998.  The building interior features wood and brick walls.  United States Highway 71 passes three blocks south of the courthouse.  Platte County was formed on December 31, 1838 from Native American Territory as the 63^rd county.  Platte City has always been the county seat.  Peter McDuff designed the courthouse.  The county and county seat are named for the purchase which added the northwest part of Missouri to the state boundaries. Platte County was the birthplace for 1 Missouri Governor, Guy B. Park.  

Platte County government consists of a sheriff and 3 Commissioners.  Two Circuit Court Judges and Three County Court Judges serve Platte County.  The county is in the northwest part of the state on the Missouri River border with Kansas.  Kansas City, Missouri is directly southeast of the county.  The county center is in Platte City 2 miles South-Southwest of the city center.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Buchanan, Clinton, and Clay counties and Kansas. 

The area of the county is 420 square miles.  It is 105 out of 115 in the state.  It ranks 11 out of 115 in population in the state.  It has a density of 254.1 persons per square mile making it 9 out of 115 in the state.  Platte County has 72.9% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 29 crosses the county north to southeast from Buchanan County to Clay County.  United States Highway 71 is joined with Interstate Highway 29 from Buchanan to Clay counties.  The county is a triangle facing northeast.  Platte City is slightly east of center in the county.  Parkville is on the southern border of the county.  Platte City is the county seat and Parkville is the largest city.  Platte City is 4.5% of the county population while Parkville is 6.7% of the county population.  This county is in the Kansas City Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Smithville