Ray County, Missouri facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ray County
U.S. county
Ray County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
Missouri's location within the U.S.
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)
• Total	23,158
• Estimate  (2018)	22,883
• 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.

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

• Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge (part)

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

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/km² (41/mi²). There were 9,371 housing units at an average density of 6/km² (16/mi²). 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.

Communities

Cities

• Camden
• Crystal Lakes
• Excelsior Springs
• Fleming
• Hardin
• Henrietta
• Lawson
• Orrick
• Richmond
• Woods Heights

Villages

• Elmira
• Excelsior Estates
• Homestead

Census-designated place

• Rayville

Other unincorporated communities

• Knoxville
• Stet

Townships

• Camden
• Crooked River
• Fishing River
• Grape Grove
• Knoxville
• Orrick
• Polk
• Richmond

Education

Public schools

• • Hardin-Central Elementary School (PK-06)
  • Hardin-Central High School (07-12)
  • Southwest Elementary School (PK-04)
  • Lawson Middle School (05-08)
  • Lawson High School (09-12)
  • Orrick Elementary School (PK-06)
  • Orrick High School (07-12)
  • 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

Notable people

• Forrest Smith, Missouri's 42nd Governor
• Chad Kilgore, football player
• Gordon Young, cowboy, journalist, novelist