Detail of 1846 Missouri map showing Van Buren County

The area now known as Cass County was originally organized in 1835 as Van Buren County. It was renamed in 1848 after Lewis Cass, who served as governor of the Michigan Territory and as a U.S. senator representing Michigan. Cass was the nominee of the Democratic Party for president of the United States in 1848.

Unless otherwise noted, © The State Historical Society of Missouri