Jackson County, MO elected officials: county commissioners, sheriff, school board and cities

Who holds every elected county, school board, city and special-district office in Jackson County: 11 seats on 3 elected bodies.

County Commission

Jackson County Legislature

OfficeWho holds it now
County Legislator, District 1 At-LargeJalen Anderson Democratic source
County Legislator, District 2 At-LargeDonna Peyton Democratic source
County Legislator, District 3 At-LargeMegan L. Marshall Democratic source
County Legislator, District 1Manuel Abarca IV Democratic source
County Legislator, District 2Venessa Huskey Democratic source
County Legislator, District 3Charlie Franklin Democratic source
County Legislator, District 4DaRon McGee Democratic source
County Legislator, District 5Jeanie Lauer Republican source
County Legislator, District 6Sean E. Smith Republican source

County officers

OfficeWho holds it now
Prosecuting AttorneyMelesa Johnson Democratic source
SheriffDarryl Forté Democratic source

How many local governments Jackson County has

The Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments counts 82 local governments in Jackson County. This page lists the ones whose offices are elected.

Kind of governmentCensus count (2022)Listed on this page
County government11
Cities, towns, villages and townships180
School districts (school boards)130
Special districts (elected boards)500

Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments: Government Units Listing (census.gov).

About these counts

The Census Bureau counts every independent local government once, in the county it assigns it to: the one it mostly serves or where it's based. A city or district that crosses county lines is counted in only one county, so it may be listed on this page but counted elsewhere, or the other way around. Many special districts, such as housing authorities, have appointed boards, and some places have more than one elected body, so the two columns measure different things. School systems run by a county, city or the state aren't counted as separate governments, though their boards may be listed here; in some states the Bureau counts community or state colleges as school districts. The counts are as of 2022.

Who lives in Jackson County

719,976people
37median ageU.S.: 38.9
$68,577 household incomeU.S.: $80,734
14.1%below the U.S.: 12.5%
34%of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degreeU.S.: 35.7%
$230,500median home valueU.S.: $332,700
4.7%unemployed (of the labor force)U.S.: 5.2%
6.6%born outside the U.S.U.S.: 14.1%
6.3%of adults are veteransU.S.: 6.2%
10.7%U.S.: 8.4%
50.7%of renting households pay of income on rentU.S.: 51.1%
24.5%of homeowners with a mortgage pay of income on housing costsU.S.: 28.1%

Race and Hispanic origin: Hispanic or Latino 11.4% · White 59.3% · Black 22% · Asian 1.8% · Other or more than one race 5.5% (Hispanic or Latino people can be of any race; the other groups are non-Hispanic.)

Census Bureau, 2020–2024 5-year estimates (data.census.gov).

About these figures

The American Community Survey asks about 3.5 million households a year about who lives there, their work, income, schooling and housing. The 5-year estimates pool 2020–2024 answers so that every county and district has enough of them. They're estimates with a (larger for smaller places), and they're different from the once-a-decade census count. "Median" means half are above and half below. Household income is before taxes and includes everyone in the household. The unemployment share here is the survey's five-year average, so it differs from the monthly rate in the BLS jobs report. Race and Hispanic origin are as people describe themselves.

Health insurance means any coverage, private or public (such as Medicaid or Medicare), when people answered; the share is of everyone except people on active military duty and people living in institutions such as prisons and nursing homes. The housing shares are of renting households, and of homeowners with a mortgage, for whom the Census Bureau can compute them (households with no income, or renters who pay no cash rent, are left out). Rent here is gross rent, rent plus utilities; owner costs include the mortgage, property taxes, insurance, utilities and fees.

Jobs in Jackson County

3.3%September 2026, preliminary. A year earlier: 3.7%. Missouri: 3.3%.
13,018people unemployedSeptember 2026, preliminary.
376,765people employedSeptember 2026, preliminary. Counted where they live, not where they work.
389,783in the September 2026, preliminary.
Unemployment rate, yearly average, Jackson County 0.0%1.9%3.7%5.6%7.5% 20162018202020222024

Yearly average unemployment rate, 2016–2025.

Every month, last two years
MonthRateUnemployedEmployedLabor force
September 2026 (preliminary)3.3%13,018376,765389,783
August 20263.8%15,081378,527393,608
July 20263.8%15,019381,858396,877
June 20263.6%14,117376,848390,965
May 20263.5%13,668374,227387,895
April 20263.6%13,811373,609387,420
March 20264.3%16,478369,807386,285
February 20264.4%16,855369,393386,248
January 20264.3%16,494370,486386,980
December 20253.6%14,099375,939390,038
November 20253.9%15,090376,183391,273
October 2025not collected (2025 federal shutdown)
September 20253.7%14,225374,580388,805
August 20254.4%17,309377,054394,363
July 20254.6%18,330379,076397,406
June 20254.3%16,874374,568391,442
May 20254.1%16,045372,273388,318
April 20254.0%15,569372,513388,082
March 20254.7%17,917366,662384,579
February 20254.7%18,189365,226383,415
January 20254.5%17,259366,169383,428
December 20243.7%14,237369,481383,718
November 20243.7%14,073370,291384,364
October 20243.6%14,013371,962385,975
Yearly averages
YearRateUnemployedEmployedLabor force
2025 (11 months)4.2%16,446372,749389,195
20243.9%15,111369,227384,338
20233.4%12,665364,713377,378
20222.9%10,774358,517369,291
20215.0%18,327349,983368,310
20207.1%25,961342,202368,163
20193.6%13,345358,909372,254
20183.7%13,800355,687369,487
20174.4%16,214355,087371,301
20165.0%18,841354,644373,485

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, : BLS publishes county figures only that way, so they rise and fall with the seasons; compare a month with the same month a year earlier rather than with the month before. Missouri's figure above is on the same basis; seasonally adjusted, as in BLS's monthly state release, it was 3.6% in September 2026. The latest month is preliminary and is revised the next month, and BLS revises earlier years each spring. People are counted where they live. October 2025 wasn't collected during the 2025 federal government shutdown, so 2025's yearly average covers 11 months.

Crime reported in Jackson County

403.3 per 100,0002025. Missouri: 417.8.
2,309.2 per 100,0002025. Missouri: 1,644.1.
13murders2025, 1,216 violent crimes in all.
Earlier years
YearViolentRatePropertyRate
20251,216403.36,9632,309.2
20241,384460.28,7482,909.1
2023931315.26,3122,137.1
20221,333451.78,3842,840.7
20211,294454.28,0302,818.6
20201,488524.89,8853,486.5
20191,353479.210,1253,585.8
20181,099388.511,0633,910.5
20171,215430.611,8944,215.2
20161,162414.411,2354,007.0
By police agency (12)
AgencyYearViolentPropertyPeople served
Independence Police Department20256703,606121,329
Blue Springs Police Department20251411,06061,854
Raytown Police Department202519280629,071
Grandview Police Department20258478126,657
Jackson County Sheriff's Office20257428124,568
Grain Valley Police Department20251613517,167
Oak Grove Police Department202581509,379
Sugar Creek Police Department202512843,202
Buckner Police Department20258292,881
Lake Lotawana Police Department20258112,740
Lone Jack Police Department20253201,900
Lake Tapawingo Police Department202404771

Crimes to the county's city and county police agencies (FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, Return A), per 100,000 people they serve. Years with incomplete reporting are left out. Crime in Missouri · the U.S.

Police staffing

1.86 per 1,000 residents2025, 12 agencies serving 301,527 people.
562sworn officers2025, full-time, as of October 31.
207civilian staff2025, full-time.
Agencies counted (12), 2025
AgencyOfficersCiviliansPeople served
Independence Police Department19973121,329
Jackson County Sheriff's Office1014624,568
Blue Springs Police Department974161,854
Raytown Police Department421929,071
Grandview Police Department401526,657
Grain Valley Police Department26617,167
Oak Grove Police Department1839,379
Sugar Creek Police Department1513,202
Buckner Police Department712,881
Lake Lotawana Police Department702,740
Lone Jack Police Department611,900
Lake Tapawingo Police Department41779
Earlier years
YearOfficersPer 1,000CiviliansAgencies
20255621.8620712
20195541.9620112
20185561.9720912
20165551.9819212

Full-time employees of the county's city police departments and sheriff's office, as each reported them to the FBI (Uniform Crime Reporting, Law Enforcement Employees), per 1,000 people in the areas those agencies serve (the FBI's population figures). A year is shown only when every one of these agencies sent a count; a count under half or over double the agency's own counts in nearby years is treated as not sent. Towns policed under contract by another agency are counted through that agency. State police, campus and other agencies aren't included. Sheriffs' offices often also run the county jail and courthouse security, so their staff counts include those jobs.

Quick answers

Who is the Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney?
Melesa Johnson (Democratic) is the Prosecuting Attorney of Jackson County, Missouri.
Who is the Jackson County Sheriff?
Darryl Forté (Democratic) is the Sheriff of Jackson County, Missouri.
Who are the Jackson County commissioners?
Jalen Anderson (County Legislator, District 1 At-Large); Donna Peyton (County Legislator, District 2 At-Large); Megan L. Marshall (County Legislator, District 3 At-Large); Manuel Abarca IV (County Legislator, District 1); Venessa Huskey (County Legislator, District 2); Charlie Franklin (County Legislator, District 3); DaRon McGee (County Legislator, District 4); Jeanie Lauer (County Legislator, District 5); Sean E. Smith (County Legislator, District 6).
What is the population of Jackson County?
About 719,976 people, with a median age of 37; the median household income is $68,577 and 14.1% live below the poverty line (Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates).
What is the unemployment rate in Jackson County?
3.3% in September 2026 (preliminary): 13,018 people unemployed in a labor force of 389,783, against 3.7% a year earlier (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, not seasonally adjusted).
How many local governments are there in Jackson County?
82 in the Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments: 1 county, 18 municipal, 13 school district and 50 special district governments.

Officeholders as of November 6, 2026, from the Missouri Secretary of State's Official Manual (Blue Book) 2025–2026; each name links to its source. Officials change between elections (appointments, resignations), and the body's own website is the authority. Party is shown only for offices elected on a partisan ballot.

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