Ralls County, Missouri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ralls County
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Ralls County Courthouse in New London
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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 | November 16, 1820 |
| Named for | Daniel Ralls |
| Seat | New London |
| Largest city | Hannibal |
| Area | |
| • Total | 484 sq mi (1,250 km2) |
| • Land | 470 sq mi (1,200 km2) |
| • Water | 14 sq mi (40 km2) 2.65% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 10,355 |
| • Density | 21.395/sq mi (8.261/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 6th |
Ralls County is a county in the northeastern part of Missouri, a state in the United States. In 2020, about 10,355 people lived there. The main town, or county seat, is New London.
The county was created on November 16, 1820. It was named after Daniel Ralls, who was a lawmaker in Missouri. Ralls County is also part of the larger Hannibal area.
Contents
History of Ralls County
Ralls County was one of the first areas along the Mississippi River to be settled. Many early settlers came from states like Kentucky and Tennessee. They brought their farming traditions with them.
These settlers grew crops like hemp and tobacco, which were common in their home states. The county is also part of a historic area called "Little Dixie". This name comes from the way the area was settled and the culture that developed there.
Geography of Ralls County
Ralls County covers about 484 square miles. Most of this area, about 470 square miles, is land. The rest, about 14 square miles, is water.
Neighboring Counties
Ralls County shares its borders with several other counties:
- Marion County (to the north)
- Pike County, Illinois (to the northeast)
- Pike County (to the southeast)
- Audrain County (to the south)
- Monroe County (to the west)
Main Roads
Several important roads pass through Ralls County:
Interstate 72 (planned)
U.S. Route 24
U.S. Route 36
U.S. Route 54
U.S. Route 61
U.S. Route 61 Business
Route 19
Route 79
Route 154
Great River Road
People in Ralls County
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1830 | 4,375 | — | |
| 1840 | 5,670 | 29.6% | |
| 1850 | 6,151 | 8.5% | |
| 1860 | 8,592 | 39.7% | |
| 1870 | 10,510 | 22.3% | |
| 1880 | 11,838 | 12.6% | |
| 1890 | 12,294 | 3.9% | |
| 1900 | 12,287 | −0.1% | |
| 1910 | 12,913 | 5.1% | |
| 1920 | 10,412 | −19.4% | |
| 1930 | 10,704 | 2.8% | |
| 1940 | 10,040 | −6.2% | |
| 1950 | 8,686 | −13.5% | |
| 1960 | 8,078 | −7.0% | |
| 1970 | 7,764 | −3.9% | |
| 1980 | 8,984 | 15.7% | |
| 1990 | 8,476 | −5.7% | |
| 2000 | 9,626 | 13.6% | |
| 2010 | 10,167 | 5.6% | |
| 2020 | 10,355 | 1.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2015 |
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The census helps us learn about the people living in Ralls County. In 2010, there were 10,167 people. The county had about 20 people living per square mile.
Most people in the county were White (97.93%). Other groups included Black or African American (1.11%), Native American (0.20%), and Asian (0.08%). About 0.44% of the people were Hispanic or Latino.
Many families lived in the county. About 34% of households had children under 18. The average age of people in Ralls County was 39 years old.
2020 Census Information
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
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| White (NH) | 9,713 | 94% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 114 | 1.1% |
| Native American (NH) | 26 | 0.25% |
| Asian (NH) | 17 | 0.16% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 4 | 0.04% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 385 | 3.72% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 96 | 1% |
Education in Ralls County
Kids in Ralls County go to public schools and can visit public libraries.
Public Schools
- Ralls County R-II School District in Center
- Ralls County Elementary School (for grades PK-5)
- Mark Twain Junior High School (for grades 6-8)
- Mark Twain High School (for grades 9-12)
Public Libraries
- Ralls County Library
Communities in Ralls County
Ralls County has several towns and smaller communities.
Cities
- Center
- Hannibal (mostly in Marion County)
- Monroe City (mostly in Monroe County and partly in Marion County)
- New London (the county seat)
- Perry
Village
Unincorporated Communities
These are smaller places that are not officially cities or villages.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Ralls para niños
