Bates County is located in the west-central portion of Missouri and is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area. The county seat is Butler, and the largest city is Butler. The county was organized on February 14, 1841.

Bates County is governed by a three-member Board of Commissioners, who are elected in November of even-numbered years to serve four-year terms. The county also has a county court, which is composed of a presiding judge and two associate judges.

The county is served by the Bates County Sheriff's Office, which is responsible for law enforcement and the operation of the county jail. The county also has a prosecuting attorney, who is responsible for prosecuting criminal cases.

The county is served by the Bates County R-IV School District, which operates seven elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school. The county also has several private schools.

The county is served by several state highways, including U.S. Route 71, Missouri Route 52, and Missouri Route 7. The county is also served by the Kansas City International Airport, which is located in nearby Kansas City, Missouri.

For the most up-to-date and in-depth information, please check the public records links below.