Monroe County, Missouri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Monroe County
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The Monroe County Courthouse in Paris
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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 | January 6, 1831 |
| Named for | James Monroe |
| Seat | Paris |
| Largest city | Monroe City |
| Area | |
| • Total | 670 sq mi (1,700 km2) |
| • Land | 648 sq mi (1,680 km2) |
| • Water | 23 sq mi (60 km2) 3.4% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 8,666 |
| • Density | 12.93/sq mi (4.99/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 6th |
Monroe County is a county in northeast Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,666. Its county seat is Paris. It is the birthplace of Mark Twain.
Contents
History
The county was organized January 6, 1831 and named for James Monroe, the fifth President of the United States.
Monroe County was one of several along the Missouri River settled by migrants from the Upper South, especially Kentucky and Tennessee. They brought slaves and slaveholding traditions with them and quickly started cultivating crops similar to those in Middle Tennessee and Kentucky: hemp and tobacco. They also brought characteristic antebellum architecture and culture. The county was at the heart of what was called Little Dixie.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 670 square miles (1,700 km2), of which 648 square miles (1,680 km2) is land and 23 square miles (60 km2) (3.4%) is water.
Adjacent counties
- Shelby County (north)
- Marion County (northeast)
- Ralls County (east)
- Audrain County (south)
- Randolph County (west)
Major highways
U.S. Route 24
U.S. Route 36
Route 15
Route 107
Route 151
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1840 | 9,505 | — | |
| 1850 | 10,541 | 10.9% | |
| 1860 | 14,785 | 40.3% | |
| 1870 | 17,149 | 16.0% | |
| 1880 | 19,071 | 11.2% | |
| 1890 | 20,790 | 9.0% | |
| 1900 | 19,716 | −5.2% | |
| 1910 | 18,304 | −7.2% | |
| 1920 | 16,414 | −10.3% | |
| 1930 | 13,466 | −18.0% | |
| 1940 | 13,195 | −2.0% | |
| 1950 | 11,314 | −14.3% | |
| 1960 | 10,688 | −5.5% | |
| 1970 | 9,542 | −10.7% | |
| 1980 | 9,716 | 1.8% | |
| 1990 | 9,104 | −6.3% | |
| 2000 | 9,311 | 2.3% | |
| 2010 | 8,840 | −5.1% | |
| 2020 | 8,666 | −2.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2015 |
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2010 Census
As of the census of 2010, there were 8,840 people, 3,656 households, and 2,566 families residing in the county. The population density was 14 inhabitants per square mile (5.4/km2). There were 4,565 housing units at an average density of 7 per square mile (2.7/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.66% White, 3.83% Black or African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.16% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. Approximately 0.56% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 24.7% were of German, 23.2% American, 14.2% English and 11.8% Irish ancestry.
There were 3,656 households, out of which 31.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.10% were married couples living together, 7.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.80% were non-families. 26.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.90% under the age of 18, 7.30% from 18 to 24, 25.00% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 17.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 96.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,871, and the median income for a family was $36,895. Males had a median income of $26,534 versus $20,440 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,695. About 8.30% of families and 11.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.00% of those under age 18 and 10.30% of those age 65 or over.
2020 Census
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 7,902 | 91.2% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 177 | 2.04% |
| Native American (NH) | 32 | 0.36% |
| Asian (NH) | 31 | 0.36% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 1 | 0.01% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 364 | 4.2% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 159 | 1.83% |
Education
Public schools
- Holliday C-2 School District – Holliday
- Holliday Elementary School (K-08)
- Madison C-3 School District – Madison
- Madison Elementary School (PK-06)
- Madison High School (07-12)
- Middle Grove C-1 School District – Madison
- Middle Grove Elementary School (K-08)
- Monroe City R-I School District – Monroe City
- Monroe City Elementary School (PK-04)
- Monroe City Middle School (05-08)
- Monroe City High School (09-12)
- Paris R-II School District – Paris
- Paris Elementary School (PK-06)
- Paris Junior High School (07-08)
- Paris High School (09-12)
Private schools
- Holy Rosary School – Monroe City (K-09) – Roman Catholic
- Foundation for Life Christian School – Paris (PK-12) – Nondenominational Christian
Public libraries
- Monroe City Public Library
Communities
Cities and Towns
- Florida
- Holliday
- Madison
- Monroe City (partly in Marion County and a small part in Ralls County)
- Paris (county seat)
- Stoutsville
Unincorporated Communities
Notable people
- Mark Twain, American author and humorist, was born in Monroe County. The Mark Twain Birthplace State Historic Site in Mark Twain State Park commemorates this occasion.
- Xenophon Overton Pindall, member of the Arkansas House of Representatives, Arkansas State Senate and Acting Governor of the U.S. state of Arkansas
- Eli C. D. Shortridge, third Governor of North Dakota from 1893 to 1895' raised in Monroe County.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Monroe (Misuri) para niños
