Editing Ripley County, Missouri

{{short description|County in Missouri, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Ripley County
 | state                = Missouri
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = 1833
 | founded date         = January 5
 | seat wl              = Doniphan
 | largest city wl      = Doniphan
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 632
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 630
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 2.1
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 10679
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto
 | time zone            = Central
 | footnotes            = 
 | web                  = www.ripleycountymissouri.org/
 | named for            = [[Eleazer Wheelock Ripley]]
 | district             = 8th
 | ex image             = Ripley County MO Courthouse HDR.jpg
 | ex image cap         = [[Ripley County Courthouse (Missouri)|Ripley County Courthouse]] in Doniphan
}}

'''Ripley County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[Ozarks]] of [[Missouri]]. At the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], it had a population of 10,679.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/29/2181.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 12, 2013}}</ref> The largest city and [[county seat]] is [[Doniphan, Missouri|Doniphan]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The county was officially organized on January 5, 1833, and is named after Brigadier General [[Eleazer Wheelock Ripley]], a soldier who served with distinction in the [[War of 1812]].<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_RfAuAAAAYAAJ | title=How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named | publisher=The State Historical Society of Missouri | author=Eaton, David Wolfe | year=1917 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_RfAuAAAAYAAJ/page/n118 347]}}</ref>

The original area included what would later become [[Oregon County, Missouri|Oregon]], [[Howell County, Missouri|Howell]], [[Shannon County, Missouri|Shannon]] and [[Carter County, Missouri|Carter]] counties. The historic Natchitoches Trail passes through Ripley County. It was a Native American trail to the Southwest that was used by pioneers, including [[Stephen F. Austin]]. During the [[American Civil War]], Ripley County was strongly pro-Southern and provided four colonels for the [[Confederate Army]]. Several Civil War skirmishes took place in the county. Tourist areas include the [[Current River (Ozarks)|Current River]] and the [[Mark Twain National Forest]].

==History==
Located deep in the rugged, wooded hills of Southern Missouri, the area remained sparsely settled throughout the 19th century. Although organized in 1833, the county did not assume its present size until 1872.

When Congress created the Territory of Missouri in 1812, what became Ripley County was in [[New Madrid County, Missouri|New Madrid County]]. Three years later, Lawrence County was established, which included all of southern Missouri west of the St. Francis River and a portion of northern Arkansas. The seat of justice for Lawrence County was at Davidsonville in present-day Arkansas. In 1818 [[Wayne County, Missouri|Wayne County]] was formed. This massive county included nearly one-fifth of the area in the Missouri Territory, with [[Greenville, Missouri|Greenville]] becoming the county seat.

In 1833 the General Assembly created Ripley County from part of Wayne County. The county then included present-day Ripley, Carter, Shannon, Oregon, and Howell Counties, with [[Van Buren, Missouri|Van Buren]] as the county seat. Over the next 26 years, Ripley County's boundaries decreased as new counties were formed: Shannon (1841), Oregon, which included today's Oregon and Howell Counties (1845), and Carter (1859). The last boundary change took place in 1872.

Since most of the population lived in the south, voters moved the county seat to the new [[Doniphan, Missouri|Doniphan]], where a wooden courthouse was built. This building served the county until it was burned by Union troops, along with almost entire town of Doniphan, on September 19, 1864. William Russell, a county official, had earlier removed the county's record books and hid them in a cave south of town. They remained there until they were retrieved by the county clerk two years after the war.

Because of the chaos and destruction brought about by the Civil War, the courthouse was not replaced until 1871. A two-story brick courthouse was then built, using the $10,000 bond passed by the voters. It housed the administrative offices until it was destroyed by an accidental fire in January 1898.

Ripley County's current courthouse was designed by William F. Schrage of [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]], and was built by John McDonald Anderson of Emporia, Kansas in 1898–1899. A central tower, later destroyed during a 1929 [[tornado]], dominated the two-story brick structure. Federal relief workers made repairs and renovations of the courthouse during the 1930s. An extensive remodeling project in the 1970s added central heating. The century-old courthouse is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places and celebrated its centennial during the 1999 Labor Day Homecoming Festivities.

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|632|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|630|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|2.1|sqmi}} (0.3%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_29.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 18, 2014|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021170230/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_29.txt|archive-date=October 21, 2013}}</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Carter County, Missouri|Carter County]] (north)
*[[Butler County, Missouri|Butler County]] (east)
*[[Clay County, Arkansas]] (southeast)
*[[Randolph County, Arkansas]] (southwest)
*[[Oregon County, Missouri|Oregon County]] (west)

===Major highways===
*[[Image:US 160.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 160 (Missouri)|U.S. Route 160]]
*[[Image:MO-21.svg|20px]] [[Missouri Route 21|Route 21]]
*[[Image:MO-142.svg|20px]] [[Missouri Route 142|Route 142]]

===National protected area===
*[[Mark Twain National Forest]] (part)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1840= 2856
|1850= 2830
|1860= 3747
|1870= 3175
|1880= 5377
|1890= 8512
|1900= 13186
|1910= 13099
|1920= 12061
|1930= 11176
|1940= 12606
|1950= 11414
|1960= 9096
|1970= 9803
|1980= 12458
|1990= 12303
|2000= 13509
|2010= 14100
|2020= 10679
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2018">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2018.html|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|access-date=November 13, 2019}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 18, 2014}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=November 18, 2014}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mo190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 18, 2014}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 18, 2014}}</ref> 2010-2015<ref name="QF"/>
}}

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 13,509 people, 5,416 households, and 3,845 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|22|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 6,392 housing units at an average density of {{convert|10|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units&nbsp;}}. The racial makeup of the county was 97.17% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.04% [[Black (U.S. Census)|Black]] or [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.33% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.22% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.01% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.05% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.17% from two or more races. Approximately 0.98% of the population were [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race. The major first ancestries reported in Ripley County were 34.1% [[United States|American]], 14.0% [[Irish people|Irish]], 11.6% [[German people|German]] and 10.7% [[English people|English]].

There were 5,416 households, out of which 30.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.40% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.00% were non-families. 25.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.80% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 25.30% from 25 to 44, 24.70% from 45 to 64, and 17.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 94.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,285, and the median income for a family was $33,101. Males had a median income of $22,056 versus $17,823 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $15,251. About 16.90% of families and 22.00% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 27.00% of those under age 18 and 20.40% of those age 65 or over.

At the end of 2008, the [[unemployment rate]] in Ripley County was 6.4%.

===Religion===
According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2000), Ripley County is a part of the [[Bible Belt]] with evangelical Protestantism being the majority religion. The most predominant denominations among residents in Ripley County who adhere to a religion are [[Southern Baptist Convention|Southern Baptists]] (34.98%), [[Churches of Christ]] (12.20%), and [[Baptist Missionary Association of America]] (10.16%).

===2020 Census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Ripley County Racial Composition<ref>{{Cite web|title =P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Ripley County, Missouri|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Ripley%20County,%20Missouri&t=Race%20and%20Ethnicity&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (NH)
|9,885
|92.6%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (NH)
|31
|0.3%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]] (NH)
|44
|0.41%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]] (NH)
|28
|0.26%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]] (NH)
|1
|0.01%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]] (NH)
|563
|5.3%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|127
|1.2%
|}

==Politics==

===Local===
The [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] mostly controls politics at the local level in Ripley County. Republicans hold over half of the elected positions in the county.

{{Missouri county elected officials
| name              =Ripley County, Missouri
| assessor          =Jan Spencer
| assessorparty     =Democratic
| circuitclerk      =Sharon R. Richmond
| circuitclerkparty =Republican
| countyclerk       =Becky York
| countyclerkparty  =Democratic
| presiding         =Jesse Roy
| presidingparty    =Republican
| district1         =Gary Emmons
| district1party    =Republican
| district2         =Andy Towell
| district2party    =Republican
| collector         =Marcia Tackett
| collectorparty    =Republican
| coroner           =Mike Jackson
| coronerparty      =Democratic
| prosecutor        =Edward Thompson
| prosecutorparty   =Democratic
| administrator     =Brenda Emmons-Thompson
| administratorparty=Republican
| recorder          =June Watson
| recorderparty     =Democratic
| sheriff           =Rad Talburt
| sheriffparty      =Republican
| surveyor          =William Troy Ayers
| surveyorparty     =Republican
| treasurer         =Terry L. Slayton
| treasurerparty    =Republican
}}

===State===
All of Ripley County is a part of Missouri's 153rd District and is currently represented by Steve Cookson (R-[[Poplar Bluff, Missouri|Poplar Bluff]]). 
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 153 — Ripley County (2016)<ref name=MOSOS>{{cite web|title= County Results - State of Missouri - 2016 General Election - November 8, 2016 - Official Results|publisher=Missouri Secretary of State| url=http://enr.sos.mo.gov/CountyResults.aspx|date=December 12, 2016|access-date=May 6, 2017}}</ref>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Steve Cookson'''
  |votes      = '''3,692'''
  |percentage = '''68.69%'''
  |change     = '''-10.23'''
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Matt Michel
  |votes      = 1,683
  |percentage = 32.31%
  |change     = +32.31
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 153 — Ripley County (2014)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Steve Cookson'''
  |votes      = '''2,007'''
  |percentage = '''78.92%'''
  |change     = '''+3.18'''
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Ginny Keirns
  |votes      = 536
  |percentage = 21.08%
  |change     = +21.08
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 153 — Ripley County (2012)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Steve Cookson'''
  |votes      = '''3,796'''
  |percentage = '''75.74%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Independent (politician)
  |candidate  = Jack (Skip) Johnson
  |votes      = 1,216
  |percentage = 24.26%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

All of Ripley County is a part of Missouri's 33rd District in the [[Missouri Senate]] and is currently represented by Mike Cunninghma (R-[[Rogersville, Missouri|Rogersville]]).
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri Senate — District 33 — Ripley County (2016)<ref name=MOSOS/>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Mike Cunningham'''
  |votes      = '''4,669'''
  |percentage = '''100.00%'''
  |change     = 
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri Senate — District 33 — Ripley County (2012)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Mike Cunningham'''
  |votes      = '''4,410'''
  |percentage = '''100.00%'''
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box end}}

{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; font-size:95%;"
|+ Past Gubernatorial Elections Results
|- bgcolor=lightgrey
! Year
! [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
! [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
! [[Third Party (United States)|Third Parties]]
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[2024 Missouri gubernatorial election|2024]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''85.61%''' ''4,872''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|12.51% ''712''
|align="center" |1.88% ''97''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 2020|2020]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''82.05%''' ''4,629''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|15.93% ''899''
|align="center" |2.03% ''114''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 2016|2016]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''73.17%''' ''3,959''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|24.23% ''1,311''
|align="center" |2.60% ''141''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 2012|2012]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''54.29%''' ''2,822''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|42.63% ''2,216''
|align="center" |3.08% ''160''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 2008|2008]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|47.09% ''2,499''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|'''49.75%''' ''2,640''
|align="center" |3.17% ''168''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 2004|2004]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''59.85%''' ''3,332''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|38.37% ''2,136''
|align="center" |1.78% ''99''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 2000|2000]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''53.19%''' ''2,651''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|44.36% ''2,211''
|align="center" |2.45% ''122''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 1996|1996]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|38.80% ''1,801''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|'''58.97%''' ''2,738''
|align="center" |2.24% ''104''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 1992|1992]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|45.47% ''2,155''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|'''54.53%''' ''2,584''
|align="center" |0.00% ''0''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 1988|1988]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''62.64%''' ''2,840''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|37.25% ''1,689''
|align="center" |0.11% ''5''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 1984|1984]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''56.91%''' ''2,665''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|43.09% ''2,018''
|align="center" |0.00% ''0''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 1980|1980]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''53.25%''' ''2,510''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|46.71% ''2,202''
|align="center" |0.04% ''2''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 1976|1976]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|47.30% ''1,972''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|'''52.53%''' ''2,190''
|align="center" |0.17% ''7''
|}

===Federal===
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. Senate — Missouri — Ripley County (2016)<ref name=MOSOS/>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Roy Blunt'''
  |votes      = '''3,814'''
  |percentage = '''70.85%'''
  |change     = '''+17.54'''
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jason Kander
  |votes      = 1,340
  |percentage = 24.89%
  |change     = -16.41
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jonathan Dine
  |votes      = 100
  |percentage = 1.86%
  |change     = -3.53
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Green Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Johnathan McFarland
  |votes      = 78
  |percentage = 1.45%
  |change     = +1.45
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Constitution Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Fred Ryman
  |votes      = 49
  |percentage = 0.91%
  |change     = +0.91
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Write-in candidate
  |candidate  = Patrick Lee
  |votes      = 2
  |percentage = 0.04%
  |change     = +0.04
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. Senate — Missouri — Ripley County (2012)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Todd Akin
  |votes      = 2,771
  |percentage = 53.31%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Claire McCaskill'''
  |votes      = '''2,147'''
  |percentage = '''41.30%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jonathan Dine
  |votes      = 280
  |percentage = 5.39%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

Ripley County is included in [[MO-08|Missouri's 8th Congressional District]] and is represented by [[Jason T. Smith]] (R-[[Salem, Missouri|Salem]]) in the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]]. Smith won a special election on Tuesday, June 4, 2013, to finish out the remaining term of [[U.S. Representative]] [[Jo Ann Emerson]] (R-[[Cape Girardeau, Missouri|Cape Girardeau]]). Emerson announced her resignation a month after being reelected with over 70 percent of the vote in the district. She resigned to become CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative.
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 8th Congressional District — Ripley County (2016)<ref name=MOSOS/>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Jason T. Smith'''
  |votes      = '''4,224'''
  |percentage = '''80.18%'''
  |change     = '''+9.42'''
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Dave Cowell
  |votes      = 903
  |percentage = 17.14%
  |change     = -3.87
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jonathan Shell
  |votes      = 141
  |percentage = 2.68%
  |change     = +1.18
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 8th Congressional District — Ripley County (2014)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Jason T. Smith'''
  |votes      = '''3,911'''
  |percentage = '''70.76%'''
  |change     = '''+0.37'''
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Barbara Stocker
  |votes      = 547
  |percentage = 21.01%
  |change     = -3.68
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Rick Vandeven
  |votes      = 39
  |percentage = 1.50%
  |change     = -0.20
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Constitution Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Doug Enyart
  |votes      = 48
  |percentage = 1.84%
  |change     = -1.38
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Independent (politician)
  |candidate  = Terry Hampton
  |votes      = 127
  |percentage = 4.88%
  |change     = +4.88
  }}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 8th Congressional District — Ripley County (Special Election2013)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Jason T. Smith'''
  |votes      = '''744'''
  |percentage = '''70.39%'''
  |change     = '''-4.94'''
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Steve Hodges
  |votes      = 261
  |percentage = 24.69%
  |change     = +2.77
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Bill Slantz
  |votes      = 18
  |percentage = 1.70%
  |change     = -1.05
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Constitution Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Doug Enyart
  |votes      = 34
  |percentage = 3.22%
  |change     = +3.22
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 8th Congressional District — Ripley County (2012)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Jo Ann Emerson'''
  |votes      = '''3,911'''
  |percentage = '''75.33%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jack Rushin
  |votes      = 1,138
  |percentage = 21.92%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Rick Vandeven
  |votes      = 143
  |percentage = 2.75%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

====Political culture====
{{PresHead|place=Ripley County, Missouri|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 26, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|5,002|763|39|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|4,839|833|45|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|4,522|830|172|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|3,743|1,396|124|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|3,407|1,795|161|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|3,693|1,907|53|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|3,121|1,820|124|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|1,988|2,081|589|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|1,814|2,300|746|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|2,647|1,961|12|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|2,927|1,883|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|2,524|2,156|85|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|1,640|2,577|28|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|2,810|1,361|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|1,973|1,440|677|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,684|2,688|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|2,811|1,717|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|2,189|2,149|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|2,444|2,194|12|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|1,533|2,304|21|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|1,841|1,923|15|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|2,291|2,419|15|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,911|2,466|20|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,139|2,600|95|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|2,226|1,395|10|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|1,428|1,863|133|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|1,752|1,735|189|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|1,053|1,325|118|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|651|1,249|541|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|946|1,309|55|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|781|1,089|125|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|822|1,439|72|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|749|1,442|4|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|446|812|206|Missouri}}
{{PresFoot|1888|Democratic|507|805|81|Missouri}}

At the presidential level, Ripley County is heavily Republican, typical of rural counties within the [[Upland South]]. While [[George W. Bush]] carried Ripley County by two-to-one margins in [[2000 United States presidential election|2000]] and [[2004 United States presidential election|2004]], [[Bill Clinton]] won the county both times in [[1992 United States presidential election|1992]] and [[1996 United States presidential election|1996]]. Like most of the rural counties in Missouri, Ripley County favored [[John McCain]] over [[Barack Obama]] in [[2008 United States presidential election|2008]]. Trump won the county by 70% of the vote in 2020.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.politico.com/2020-election/results/missouri/ |website=Politico |publisher=Politico |access-date=November 25, 2020|title=Live election results: 2020 Missouri results }}</ref>

Like most rural areas throughout Southeast Missouri, voters in Ripley County generally adhere to socially and culturally [[Conservatism|conservative]] principles which tend to influence their Republican leanings. In 2004, Missourians voted on [[Missouri Constitutional Amendment 2 (2004)|a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman]]—it overwhelmingly passed Ripley County with 89.06 percent of the vote. The initiative passed the state with 71 percent of support from voters as Missouri became the first state to ban [[same-sex marriage]]. In 2006, Missourians voted on [[Missouri Constitutional Amendment 2 (2006)|a constitutional amendment to fund and legalize embryonic stem cell research in the state]]—it failed in Ripley County with 57.39 percent voting against the measure. The initiative narrowly passed the state with 51 percent of support from voters as Missouri became one of the first states in the nation to approve [[Embryonic stem cell|embryonic stem cell research]]. Despite Ripley County's longstanding tradition of supporting socially conservative platforms, voters in the county have a penchant for advancing [[Populism|populist]] causes like increasing the [[minimum wage]]. In 2006, Missourians voted on a proposition (Proposition B) to increase the minimum wage in the state to $6.50 an hour—it passed Ripley County with 75.08 percent of the vote. The proposition strongly passed every single county in Missouri with 75.94 percent voting in favor as the minimum wage was increased to $6.50 an hour in the state. During the same election, voters in five other states also strongly approved increases in the minimum wage.

===Missouri presidential preference primary (2008)===
{{main|2008 Missouri Democratic presidential primary|2008 Missouri Republican presidential primary}}
In the 2008 presidential primary, voters in Ripley County from both political parties supported candidates who finished in second place in the state at large and nationally. Then [[U.S. Senator]] [[Hillary Clinton]] (D-[[New York (state)|New York]]) received her fourth strongest showing in the Democratic Primary of 2008 in Ripley County; she only did better in [[Dunklin County, Missouri|Dunklin]], [[Wayne County, Missouri|Wayne]] and [[Carter County, Missouri|Carter]] counties. Also, she received more votes, a total of 1,073, than any candidate from either party in Ripley County during the 2008 presidential primary.

==Education==
Of adults 25 years of age and older in Ripley County, 62.1% possesses a [[High School Diploma (United States)|high school diploma]] or higher while 7.8% holds a [[bachelor's degree]] or higher as their highest educational attainment.

===Public schools===
*Current River Area Vocational School – [[Doniphan, Missouri|Doniphan]] – (09-12)
*Doniphan R-I School District – [[Doniphan, Missouri|Doniphan]]
**Doniphan Elementary School (K-02)
**Doniphan Intermediate School (03-05)
**Doniphan Middle School (06-08)
**Doniphan High School (09-12)
*Naylor R-II School District – [[Naylor, Missouri|Naylor]]
**Naylor Elementary School (K-06)
**Naylor High School (07-12)
*Ripley County (Gatewood) R-III School District – [[Gatewood, Missouri|Gatewood]] – (K-08)
*Ripley County (Lone Star) R-IV School District – [[Doniphan, Missouri|Doniphan]]

===Private schools===
*West Point Christian Academy – [[Doniphan, Missouri|Doniphan]] – (K-11) – [[Assemblies of God USA|Assemblies of God]]/[[Pentecostal]]

===Public libraries===
* Doniphan-Ripley County Library<ref>{{cite web | last = Breeding | first = Marshall | title =  Doniphan-Ripley County Library | publisher = Libraries.org | url = https://librarytechnology.org/library/9755 | access-date = May 8, 2017}}</ref>

==Communities==
===Cities===
*[[Doniphan, Missouri|Doniphan]] (seat)
*[[Naylor, Missouri|Naylor]]

===Census-designated places===
*[[Fairdealing, Missouri|Fairdealing]]
*[[Oxly, Missouri|Oxly]]

===Other unincorporated places===
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
* [[Bardley, Missouri|Bardley]]
* [[Beaverdam, Missouri|Beaverdam]]
* [[Briar, Missouri|Briar]]
* [[Budapest, Missouri|Budapest]]
* [[Burr, Missouri|Burr]]
* [[Carie, Missouri|Carie]]
* [[Current View, Arkansas and Missouri|Current View]]
* [[Doyle, Missouri|Doyle]]
* [[Flatwoods, Missouri|Flatwoods]]
* [[Gamburg, Missouri|Gamburg]]
* [[Gatewood, Missouri|Gatewood]]
* [[Glenn, Missouri|Glenn]]
* [[Handy, Missouri|Handy]]
* [[Hemenway, Missouri|Hemenway]]
* [[Leibig, Missouri|Leibig]]
* [[Owenmont, Missouri|Owenmont]]
* [[Pine, Missouri|Pine]]
* [[Poynor, Missouri|Poynor]]
* [[Pratt, Missouri|Pratt]]
* [[Pulaski, Missouri|Pulaski]]
* [[Purman, Missouri|Purman]]
* [[Sinsabaugh, Missouri|Sinsabaugh]]
* [[Torch, Missouri|Torch]]
{{div col end}}

==See also==
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Ripley County, Missouri]]

==References==
<references />

==External links==
* [http://mulibraries.missouri.edu/specialcollections/platbooks.htm Digitized 1930 Plat Book of Ripley County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816173126/http://mulibraries.missouri.edu/specialcollections/platbooks.htm |date=August 16, 2011 }} from [[University of Missouri]] Division of Special Collections, Archives, and Rare Books

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Ripley County, Missouri
|North     = [[Carter County, Missouri|Carter County]]
|Northeast =
|East      = [[Butler County, Missouri|Butler County]]
|Southeast = [[Clay County, Arkansas]]
|South     =
|Southwest = [[Randolph County, Arkansas]]
|West      = [[Oregon County, Missouri|Oregon County]]
|Northwest =
}}

{{Ripley County, Missouri}}
{{Missouri}}

{{authority control}}

{{coord|36.66|-90.87|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MO_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Ripley County, Missouri| ]]
[[Category:1833 establishments in Missouri]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1833]]