Editing Worth County, Missouri

{{short description|County in Missouri, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Worth County
 | state                = Missouri
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = 1861
 | founded date         = February 8
 | seat wl              = Grant City
 | largest city wl      = Grant City
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 267
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 267
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 0.2
 | area percentage      = 0.08
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 1973
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2021
 | population_est       = 1983 {{increase}}
 | population_density_km2 = auto
 | web                  = http://www.worthcounty.us/
 | district             = 6th
 | time zone            = Central
 | named for            = [[William J. Worth]]
 | ex image             = Worth County Courthouse, Grant City, Missouri - retouched.jpg
 | ex image cap         = [[Worth County Courthouse (Missouri)|Worth County Courthouse]] in Grant City
}}

'''Worth County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the northwestern portion of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Missouri]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 1,973.<ref name="QF">{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/worthcountymissouri/PST045221 |access-date=October 7, 2022 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> It is the smallest county in the state in population and, excluding the [[Independent city (United States)|independent city]] of [[St. Louis]], the smallest in total area. Its [[county seat]] is [[Grant City, Missouri|Grant City]].<ref name="GR6">{{Cite web |title=Find a County |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 |access-date=June 7, 2011 |publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The county was organized February 8, 1861, being split from [[Gentry County, Missouri | Gentry County]],<ref name="1860map">{{cite web|url=https://digital.lib.uiowa.edu/node/282723|publisher=S. Augustus Mitchell 1860|last=Gamble|first=William H.|title=County map of the states of Iowa and Missouri, 1860|website=Iowa Digital Library|access-date=May 14, 2025}}</ref> and named for General [[William J. Worth]], who served in the [[Mexican–American War]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Eaton, David Wolfe |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RfAuAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA372 |title=How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named |publisher=The State Historical Society of Missouri |year=1918 |pages=372}}</ref> Worth County is also the youngest county in the state.<ref name="Missouri History of Counties">{{Cite web |title=What are the Origins of Missouri Counties? |url=https://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/history/counties |access-date=October 10, 2017 |publisher=State of Missouri}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|267|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|267|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|0.2|sqmi}} (0.08%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{Cite web |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_29.txt |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 |access-date=November 22, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> It is the smallest county in Missouri by area. [[Iowa]] is located to the north of Worth County.

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Taylor County, Iowa]] (northwest)
* [[Ringgold County, Iowa]] (northeast)
* [[Harrison County, Missouri|Harrison County]] (east)
* [[Gentry County, Missouri|Gentry County]] (south)
* [[Nodaway County, Missouri|Nodaway County]] (west)

==Transportation==

===Major highways===
*[[Image:US 169.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 169 in Missouri|U.S. Route 169]]
*[[Image:MO-46.svg|20px]] [[Missouri Route 46|Route 46]]
*[[Image:MO-246.svg|20px]] [[Missouri Route 246|Route 246]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1870= 5004
|1880= 8203
|1890= 8738
|1900= 9832
|1910= 8007
|1920= 7642
|1930= 6535
|1940= 6345
|1950= 5120
|1960= 3936
|1970= 3359
|1980= 3008
|1990= 2440
|2000= 2382
|2010= 2171
|2020= 1973
|estyear=2021
|estimate=1983
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2021">{{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html |access-date=October 7, 2022}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |access-date=November 22, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |access-date=November 22, 2014 |publisher=University of Virginia Library}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mo190090.txt |access-date=November 22, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{Cite web |title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |url-status=live |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 |access-date=November 22, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 2010-2020<ref name="QF" />
}}

===2020 Census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Worth 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) – Worth County, Missouri |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Worth%20County,%20Missouri&t=Race%20and%20Ethnicity&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (NH)
|1,887
|95.64%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (NH)
|0
|0%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]] (NH)
|4
|0.2%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]] (NH)
|4
|0.2%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]] (NH)
|5
|0.25%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]] (NH)
|48
|2.43%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|25
|1.26%
|}

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 2,382 people, 1,009 households, and 677 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|9|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 1,245 housing units at an average density of {{convert|5|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units&nbsp;}}. The racial makeup of the county was 98.99% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.17% [[Black (U.S. Census)|Black]] or [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.34% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.08% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], and 0.42% from two or more races. Approximately 0.29% of the population were [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 1,009 households, out of which 28.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.40% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.90% were non-families. 30.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.85.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.30% under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 23.50% from 25 to 44, 23.10% from 45 to 64, and 22.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 96.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,471, and the median income for a family was $34,044. Males had a median income of $24,138 versus $17,300 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $14,367. About 10.90% of families and 14.30% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 18.80% of those under age 18 and 11.50% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
===Public schools===
* Worth County R-III School District – [[Grant City, Missouri|Grant City]]
** Worth County Elementary School (PK–6)
** Worth County High School (7–12)

===Public libraries===
* Worth County Library Association<ref>{{Cite web |last=Breeding |first=Marshall |title=Worth County Library Association |url=https://librarytechnology.org/library/20399 |access-date=May 8, 2017 |publisher=Libraries.org}}</ref>

==Communities==
===Cities===
* [[Grant City, Missouri|Grant City]] (county seat)
* [[Sheridan, Missouri|Sheridan]]
* [[Allendale, Missouri|Allendale]]

===Villages===
* [[Denver, Missouri|Denver]]
* [[Irena, Missouri|Irena]]
* [[Worth, Missouri|Worth]]

===Extinct Places===
* [[Defiance,_Missouri_(Worth_County)|Defiance]]
* [[Isadora, Missouri|Isadora]]
* [[Oxford, Missouri|Oxford]]
* [[Prohibition City, Missouri|Prohibition City]]

==Politics==
{{update|section|date=April 2023}}

===Local===
The [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] controls politics at the local level in Worth County. Republicans hold all but six of the elected positions in the county.

{{Missouri county elected officials
| name              =Worth County, Missouri
| assessor          =Miles Spainhower
| assessorparty     =Republican
| circuitclerk      =Jana Findley
| circuitclerkparty =Democratic
| countyclerk       =Roberta Owens
| countyclerkparty  =Republican
| presiding         =Jubal Summers
| presidingparty    =Republican
| district1         =Regan Nonneman
| district1party    =Republican
| district2         =Tyler Paxson
| district2party    =Republican
| collector         =Julie Tracy
| collectorparty    =Republican
| coroner           =Sharon Supinger
| coronerparty      =Democratic
| prosecutor        =Janet Wake Larison
| prosecutorparty   =Democratic
| administrator     =Patsy A. Worthington
| administratorparty=Republican
| recorder          =Barbara Foland
| recorderparty     =Democratic
| sheriff           =Scott Sherer
| sheriffparty      =Republican
| surveyor          =NA
| surveyorparty     =Republican
| treasurer         =Linda L. Brown
| treasurerparty    =Republican
}}

===State===
{| 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"|'''81.37%''' ''878''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|17.05% ''184''
|align="center" |1.58% ''17''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[2020 Missouri gubernatorial election|2020]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''79.36%''' ''869''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|18.72% ''205''
|align="center" |1.92% ''21''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[2016 Missouri gubernatorial election|2016]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''68.79%''' ''714''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|28.23% ''293''
|align="center" |2.98% ''31''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[2012 Missouri gubernatorial election|2012]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''50.14%''' ''524''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|46.51% ''486''
|align="center" |3.35% ''35''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[2008 Missouri gubernatorial election|2008]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''48.95%''' ''559''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|47.99% ''548''
|align="center" |3.06% ''35''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[2004 Missouri gubernatorial election|2004]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''58.43%''' ''662''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|40.69% ''461''
|align="center" |0.88% ''10''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|2000
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''49.16%''' ''557''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|48.72% ''461''
|align="center" |2.12% ''24''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff "|1996
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|34.11% ''425''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|'''64.37%''' ''802''
|align="center" |1.52% ''19''
|}

Worth County is part of the 1st district in the [[Missouri House of Representatives]], currently held by [[Jeff Farnan]] (R-[[Stanberry, Missouri|Stanberry]]).
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 1 — Worth County (2016)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Allen Andrews'''
  |votes      = '''970'''
  |percentage = '''100.00%'''
  |change     = '''+16.01'''
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 1 — Worth County (2014)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Allen Andrews'''
  |votes      = '''640'''
  |percentage = '''83.99%'''
  |change     = '''-16.01'''
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Robert Ritterbusch
  |votes      = 122
  |percentage = 16.01%
  |change     = +16.01
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 1 — Worth County (2012)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Mike Thomson'''
  |votes      = '''946'''
  |percentage = '''100.00%'''
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box end}}

Worth County is part of the 12th District in the [[Missouri Senate]], currently held by Dan Hegeman (R-[[Cosby, Missouri|Cosby]]).
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri Senate — District 12 — Worth County (2014)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Dan Hegeman'''
  |votes      = '''618'''
  |percentage = '''100.00%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

===Federal===
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. Senate — Missouri — Worth County (2016)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Roy Blunt'''
  |votes      = '''667'''
  |percentage = '''64.51%'''
  |change     = '''+21.42'''
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jason Kander
  |votes      = 321
  |percentage = 31.04%
  |change     = -18.20
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jonathan Dine
  |votes      = 30
  |percentage = 2.90%
  |change     = -4.59
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Green Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Johnathan McFarland
  |votes      = 5
  |percentage = 0.48%
  |change     = +0.48
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Constitution Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Fred Ryman
  |votes      = 11
  |percentage = 1.06
  |change     = +1.06
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. Senate — Missouri — Worth County (2012)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Todd Akin
  |votes      = 449
  |percentage = 43.09
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Claire McCaskill'''
  |votes      = '''515'''
  |percentage = '''49.24'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jonathan Dine
  |votes      = 78
  |percentage = 7.49
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}
Worth County is included in [[MO-06|Missouri's 6th Congressional District]] and is currently represented by [[Sam Graves]] (R-[[Tarkio, Missouri|Tarkio]]) in the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]].
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 6th Congressional District — Worth County (2016)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Sam Graves'''
  |votes      = '''780'''
  |percentage = '''75.80%'''
  |change     = '''+9.93'''
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = David M. Blackwell
  |votes      = 206
  |percentage = 20.02%
  |change     = -7.34
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Russ Lee Monchil
  |votes      = 29
  |percentage = 2.82%
  |change     = -3.95
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Green Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Mike Diel
  |votes      = 14
  |percentage = 1.36%
  |change     = +1.36
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri’s 6th Congressional District — Worth County (2014)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Sam Graves'''
  |votes      = '''496'''
  |percentage = '''65.87%'''
  |change     = '''-1.69'''
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Bill Hedge
  |votes      = 206
  |percentage = 27.36%
  |change     = -1.92
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Russ Lee Monchil
  |votes      = 51
  |percentage = 6.77%
  |change     = +3.61
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 6th Congressional District — Worth County (2012)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Sam Graves'''
  |votes      = '''706'''
  |percentage = '''67.56%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Kyle Yarber
  |votes      = 306
  |percentage = 29.28%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Russ Lee Monchil
  |votes      = 33
  |percentage = 3.16%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

{{PresHead|place=Worth County, Missouri|source=<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leip |first=David |title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |access-date=March 27, 2018 |website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|904|190|11|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|877|215|15|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|808|195|43|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|664|341|43|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|707|427|40|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|691|436|5|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|651|469|38|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|540|572|161|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|483|599|331|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|677|732|2|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|921|734|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|833|760|64|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|771|969|9|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|1,170|727|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|924|853|126|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|831|1,373|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|1,355|1,323|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|1,338|1,354|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|1,682|1,227|5|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|1,162|1,563|7|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|1,444|1,437|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|1,807|1,702|4|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,581|1,944|31|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,041|1,763|17|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,839|1,407|11|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|1,666|1,650|39|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|1,888|1,532|30|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|892|1,079|43|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|769|973|224|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|985|993|56|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|1,042|967|84|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|1,023|1,123|91|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|885|1,248|13|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|624|696|545|Missouri}}
{{PresFoot|1888|Democratic|771|789|176|Missouri}}

===Missouri presidential preference primary (2008)===
{{main|2008 Missouri Democratic presidential primary|2008 Missouri Republican presidential primary}}
Former [[U.S. Senator]] [[Hillary Clinton]] (D-[[New York (state)|New York]]) received more votes, a total of 171, than any candidate from either party in Worth County during the 2008 presidential primary.

{{clear}}

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

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://mulibraries.missouri.edu/specialcollections/platbooks.htm Digitized 1930 Plat Book of Worth 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
* [http://worthcounty.us Official website of Worth County, Missouri.]

{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Worth County, Missouri
|North     =
|Northeast = [[Ringgold County, Iowa]]
|East      = [[Harrison County, Missouri|Harrison County]]
|Southeast =
|South     = [[Gentry County, Missouri|Gentry County]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Nodaway County, Missouri|Nodaway County]]
|Northwest = [[Taylor County, Iowa]]
}}

{{Worth County, Missouri}}
{{Missouri}}

{{authority control}}

{{coord|40.48|-94.42|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MO_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Worth County, Missouri| ]]
[[Category:1861 establishments in Missouri]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1861]]