Cass County

Cass County is an administrative division in western Missouri covering roughly 700 square kilometers of land and water. Harrisonville functions as the county seat and administrative center for the region.

The area was originally established as Van Buren County in 1835 and renamed in 1849 to honor U.S. Senator Lewis Cass. The Civil War brought severe destruction in 1863 when federal forces evacuated the county seat and burned most of its buildings.

Native American groups like the Osage, Quapaw, and Kansa inhabited this region long before European arrival, leaving marks on the land and local names. Visitors can still sense this heritage in the geography and community identity.

The region is served by multiple school districts including Harrisonville R-IX and Raymore-Peculiar R-II that cover different parts of the county. Visitors will find government services, shops, and local facilities centered around Harrisonville and other towns throughout the area.

During the Civil War, federal forces completely evacuated and burned the county seat in 1863, leaving it almost entirely destroyed. This wartime devastation remains a pivotal moment in local memory and regional storytelling.

Location: Missouri

Inception: March 3, 1835

Capital city: Harrisonville

Shares border with: Jackson County, Bates County, Johnson County, Henry County, Miami County

Website: http://casscounty.com

GPS coordinates: 38.65000,-94.35000

Latest update: December 20, 2025 13:51