Butler County, Missouri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Butler County
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Butler County Courthouse in Poplar Bluff
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Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
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 Missouri's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Missouri |
| Founded | February 27, 1849 |
| Named for | William Orlando Butler |
| Seat | Poplar Bluff |
| Largest city | Poplar Bluff |
| Area | |
| • Total | 699 sq mi (1,810 km2) |
| • Land | 695 sq mi (1,800 km2) |
| • Water | 4.3 sq mi (11 km2) 0.6% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 42,130 |
| • Density | 60.27/sq mi (23.271/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 8th |
Butler County is a county located in the southeast Ozark Foothills Region in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 Census, the county's population was 42,130. The largest city and county seat is Poplar Bluff. The county was officially organized from Wayne County on February 27, 1849, and is named after former U.S. Representative William O. Butler (D-Kentucky), who was also an unsuccessful candidate for Vice President of the United States. The first meeting in the Butler County Courthouse was held on June 18, 1849.
Butler County comprises the Poplar Bluff, MO Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 699 square miles (1,810 km2), of which 695 square miles (1,800 km2) is land and 4.3 square miles (11 km2) (0.6%) is water.
Adjacent counties
- Wayne County (north)
- Stoddard County (northeast)
- Dunklin County (southeast)
- Clay County, Arkansas (south)
- Ripley County (west)
- Carter County (northwest)
Major highways
Future Interstate 57
U.S. Route 60
U.S. Route 67
U.S. Route 160
Route 51
Route 53
Route 142
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National protected area
- Mark Twain National Forest (part)
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 1,616 | — | |
| 1860 | 2,891 | 78.9% | |
| 1870 | 4,298 | 48.7% | |
| 1880 | 6,011 | 39.9% | |
| 1890 | 10,164 | 69.1% | |
| 1900 | 16,769 | 65.0% | |
| 1910 | 20,624 | 23.0% | |
| 1920 | 24,106 | 16.9% | |
| 1930 | 23,697 | −1.7% | |
| 1940 | 34,276 | 44.6% | |
| 1950 | 37,707 | 10.0% | |
| 1960 | 34,656 | −8.1% | |
| 1970 | 33,529 | −3.3% | |
| 1980 | 37,693 | 12.4% | |
| 1990 | 38,765 | 2.8% | |
| 2000 | 40,867 | 5.4% | |
| 2010 | 42,794 | 4.7% | |
| 2020 | 42,130 | −1.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020 |
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As of the census of 2000, there were 40,867 people, 16,718 households, and 11,318 families residing in the county. The population density was 59 people per square mile (23 people/km2). There were 18,707 housing units at an average density of 27 units per square mile (10/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.16% White, 5.22% Black or African American, 0.56% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 1.36% from two or more races. Approximately 1.01% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Among the major first ancestries reported in Butler County were 31.7% American, 13.8% German, 11.6% Irish and 10.5% English.
There were 16,718 households, out of which 29.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.50% were married couples living together, 11.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.30% were non-families. 28.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.20% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 26.60% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 16.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 92.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,422, and the median income for a family was $42,713. Males had a median income of $27,449 versus $19,374 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,282. About 14.00% of families and 18.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.90% of those under age 18 and 16.90% of those age 65 or over.
Religion
According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2010), Butler County is part of the Bible Belt, with evangelical Protestantism being the most predominant religion. The most predominant denominations among residents in Butler County who adhere to a religion are Southern Baptists (36.39%), nondenominational evangelical groups (14.64%), and Roman Catholics (11.92%).
2020 Census
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 35,745 | 85% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 2,463 | 6% |
| Native American (NH) | 198 | 0.5% |
| Asian (NH) | 304 | 0.72% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 12 | 0.03% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 2,507 | 6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 901 | 2.14% |
Education
Of adults 25 years of age and older in Butler County, 83.5% possesses a high school diploma or higher while 13.9% holds a bachelor's degree or higher as their highest educational attainment.
Public Schools
- Neelyville R-IV School District - Neelyville
- Hillview Elementary School - Harviell - (PK-02)
- Neelyville Elementary School - (03-06)
- Neelyville High School - (07-12)
- Poplar Bluff R-I School District - Poplar Bluff
- Eugene Field Elementary School - (01-03)
- Mark Twain Early Childhood Center - (PK/Daycare)
- Lake Road Elementary School - (01-04)
- Poplar Bluff Kindergarten Center - (K)
- O'Neal Elementary School - (01-03)
- Oak Grove Elementary School - (01-03)
- Poplar Bluff Middle School - (04-06)
- Poplar Bluff Jr. High School (07-08)
- Poplar Bluff High School (09-12)
- Twin Rivers R-X School District - Broseley
Private schools
- Agape Christian School - Poplar Bluff - (K-12) - Non-denominational Christian
- Sacred Heart Elementary School - Poplar Bluff - (PK-08) - Roman Catholic
- Southern Missouri Christian School - Poplar Bluff - (K-12) - Assembly of God/Pentecostal
- Westwood Baptist Academy - Poplar Bluff - (PK-12) - Baptist
- Zion Lutheran School - Poplar Bluff - Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod
Special education/other schools
- Hentz Alternative Learning Center - Poplar Bluff
- Shady Grove State School - Poplar Bluff
- Sierra-Osage Treatment Center - Poplar Bluff
- W.E. Sears Youth Center - Poplar Bluff
Post-secondary
- Three Rivers College - Poplar Bluff - A public, two-year community college.
Public libraries
- Fisk Community Library
- Poplar Bluff Public Library
Communities
Cities
- Fisk
- Neelyville
- Poplar Bluff (county seat and largest municipality)
- Qulin
Census-designated places
- Fairdealing (part)
- Harviell
Other unincorporated communities
Townships
Butler County is divided into ten townships:
- Ash Hill
- Beaver Dam
- Black River
- Cane Creek
- Coon Island
- Epps
- Gillis Bluff
- Neely
- Poplar Bluff
- St. Francois
Notable people
- Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, television producer (Designing Women)
- Christian Boeving, fitness model, bodybuilder and actor
- Sean Fister, 1995, 2001 and 2005 World Long Drive Champion, inducted to 3 Hall of Fames
- Leroy Griffith, burlesque theater owner and film producer
- Tyler Hansbrough, NBA basketball player for the Toronto Raptors, Indiana Pacers and the Charlotte Hornets
- Scott Innes, radio broadcaster and voice actor for Scooby-Doo
- Charles Jaco, CNN reporter
- Billie G. Kanell, Medal of Honor recipient, United States Army
- Tim Lollar, professional baseball pitcher
- Matt Lucas, singer, drummer and songwriter
- Derland Moore, professional football player
- Mikel Rouse, composer
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Butler (Misuri) para niños
