Ray County, Missouri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ray County
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Ray County Courthouse
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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 | John Ray, Missouri state legislator |
| Seat | Richmond |
| Largest city | Richmond |
| Area | |
| • Total | 574 sq mi (1,490 km2) |
| • Land | 569 sq mi (1,470 km2) |
| • Water | 5.1 sq mi (13 km2) 0.9% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 23,158 |
| • Density | 40.34/sq mi (15.577/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 5th |
Ray County is a county located in the northwestern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri and is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, the population was 23,158. Its county seat is Richmond. The county was organized November 16, 1820, and named for John Ray, a Missouri state legislator and member of the first state Constitutional Convention.
Contents
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 574 square miles (1,490 km2), of which 569 square miles (1,470 km2) is land and 5.4 square miles (14 km2) (0.9%) is water.
Adjacent counties
- Caldwell County (north)
- Carroll County (east)
- Lafayette County (south)
- Jackson County (southwest)
- Clay County (west)
- Clinton County (northwest)
Major highways
Route 10
Route 13
Route 210
National protected area
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1830 | 2,657 | — | |
| 1840 | 6,553 | 146.6% | |
| 1850 | 10,373 | 58.3% | |
| 1860 | 14,092 | 35.9% | |
| 1870 | 18,700 | 32.7% | |
| 1880 | 20,190 | 8.0% | |
| 1890 | 24,215 | 19.9% | |
| 1900 | 24,805 | 2.4% | |
| 1910 | 21,451 | −13.5% | |
| 1920 | 20,508 | −4.4% | |
| 1930 | 19,846 | −3.2% | |
| 1940 | 18,584 | −6.4% | |
| 1950 | 15,932 | −14.3% | |
| 1960 | 16,075 | 0.9% | |
| 1970 | 17,599 | 9.5% | |
| 1980 | 21,378 | 21.5% | |
| 1990 | 21,971 | 2.8% | |
| 2000 | 23,354 | 6.3% | |
| 2010 | 23,494 | 0.6% | |
| 2020 | 23,158 | −1.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2015 |
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As of the census of 2000, there were 23,354 people, 8,743 households, and 6,539 families residing in the county. The population density was 16 people per square mile (6.2 people/km2). There were 9,371 housing units at an average density of 6 units per square mile (2.3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.50% White, 1.46% Black or African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.36% from other races, and 1.13% from two or more races. Approximately 1.08% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 29.6% were of American, 23.3% German, 11.5% English and 10.3% Irish ancestry.
There were 8,743 households, out of which 35.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.10% were married couples living together, 8.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.20% were non-families. 22.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.50% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 28.30% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 12.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 100.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $41,886, and the median income for a family was $49,192. Males had a median income of $36,815 versus $21,684 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,685. About 5.30% of families and 6.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.00% of those under age 18 and 7.80% of those age 65 or over.
2020 Census
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 20,893 | 90.22% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 227 | 1% |
| Native American (NH) | 133 | 0.57% |
| Asian (NH) | 76 | 0.33% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 8 | 0.04% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 1,241 | 5.4% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 580 | 2.5% |
Education
Public schools
- Hardin-Central C-2 School District – Hardin
- Hardin-Central Elementary School (PK-06)
- Hardin-Central High School (07-12)
- Lawson R-XIV School District – Lawson
- Southwest Elementary School (PK-04)
- Lawson Middle School (05-08)
- Lawson High School (09-12)
- Orrick R-XI School District – Orrick
- Orrick Elementary School (PK-06)
- Orrick High School (07-12)
- Richmond R-XVI School District – Richmond
- Dear Elementary School (PK-01)
- Sunrise Elementary School (02-05)
- Richmond Middle School (06-08)
- Richmond High School (09-12)
Public libraries
- Ray County Library
Communities
Cities
- Camden
- Crystal Lakes
- Excelsior Springs (mostly in Clay County)
- Fleming
- Hardin
- Henrietta
- Lawson (partly in Clay County)
- Orrick
- Richmond
- Wood Heights
Villages
- Elmira
- Excelsior Estates (small part in Clay County)
- Homestead
Census-designated place
Other unincorporated communities
Townships
- Camden
- Crooked River
- Fishing River
- Grape Grove
- Knoxville
- Orrick
- Polk
- Richmond
Notable people
- Robert Ford, outlaw, killer of Jesse James
- Chad Kilgore, football player
- Forrest Smith, Missouri's 42nd Governor
- Gordon Young, cowboy, journalist, novelist
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Ray para niños
