Cooper County, Missouri
Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox U.S. county
Cooper County is located in the central portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 17,103.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Its county seat is Boonville.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> The county was organized December 17, 1818, and named for Sarshell Cooper, a frontier settler who was killed by Native Americans near Arrow Rock in 1814.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> It is a part of the Columbia, Missouri metropolitan area.
Geography
[edit]According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (0.8%) is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>
Adjacent counties
[edit]- Howard County (north)
- Boone County (northeast)
- Moniteau County (southeast)
- Morgan County (south)
- Pettis County (west)
- Saline County (northwest)
Major highways
[edit]- File:I-70 (MO).svg Interstate 70
- File:US 40.svg U.S. Route 40
- File:MO-5.svg Route 5
- File:MO-41.svg Route 41
- File:MO-87.svg Route 87
- File:MO-98.svg Route 98
- File:MO-135.svg Route 135
- File:MO-179.svg Route 179
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National protected area
[edit]Demographics
[edit]As of the 2000 census,<ref name="GR8">Template:Cite web</ref> there were 16,670 people, 5,932 households and 4,140 families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 6,676 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 89.05% White, 8.96% Black or African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.28% from other races, and 1.11% from two or more races. Approximately 0.86% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 38.1% were of German, 18.7% American, 8.1% English and 8.0% Irish ancestry.
There were 5,932 households, of which 31.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.40% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.20% were non-families. 26.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.60% 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 2.97.
Age distribution was 22.80% under the age of 18, 14.00% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 20.60% from 45 to 64, and 15.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 117.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 120.00 males.
The median household income was $35,313, and the median family income was $41,526. Males had a median income of $28,513 versus $20,965 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,648. About 8.30% of families and 10.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.80% of those under age 18 and 8.30% of those age 65 or over.
2020 Census
[edit]| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 14,730 | 86.13% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 920 | 5.4% |
| Native American (NH) | 53 | 0.31% |
| Asian (NH) | 67 | 0.4% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 6 | 0.04% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 1,005 | 6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 322 | 2% |
Education
[edit]Public schools
[edit]- Blackwater R-II School District Template:Webarchive – Blackwater
- Blackwater Elementary School (PK-08)
- Boonville R-I School District – Boonville
- Hannah Cole Primary School (PK-02)
- David Barton Elementary School (03-05)
- Laura Speed Elliott Middle School (06-08)
- Boonville High School (09-12)
- Cooper County R-IV School District – Bunceton
- Bunceton Elementary School (K-06)
- Bunceton High School (07-12)
- Otterville R-VI School District – Otterville
- Otterville Elementary School (K-06)
- Otterville High School (07-12)
- Pilot Grove C-4 School District – Pilot Grove
- Pilot Grove Elementary School (PK-05)
- Pilot Grove Middle School (06-08)
- Pilot Grove High School (09-12)
- Prairie Home R-V School District – Prairie Home
- Prairie Home Elementary School (K-06)
- Prairie Home High School (07-12)
Private schools
[edit]- Saints Peter & Paul School – Boonville (K-09) – Roman Catholic
- Zion Lutheran School – Bunceton (02-08) – Lutheran
- St. Joseph Elementary School – Pilot Grove (02-09) – Roman Catholic
Public libraries
[edit]- Boonville/Cooper Branch Library<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Politics
[edit]Local
[edit]The Republican Party completely controls politics at the local level in Cooper County. Republicans hold all of the elected positions in the county.
Template:Missouri county elected officials
State
[edit]| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third Parties |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 72.62% 6,378 | 24.66% 2,166 | 2.72% 239 |
| 2020 | 74.58% 5,435 | 21.87% 1,594 | 3.54% 258 |
| 2016 | 61.89% 4,958 | 35.43% 2,838 | 2.68% 215 |
| 2012 | 51.29% 3,837 | 45.69% 3,418 | 3.02 226 |
| 2008 | 52.28% 4,170 | 45.99% 3,669 | 1.73% 138 |
| 2004 | 61.24% 4,593 | 37.68% 2,826 | 1.08% 81 |
| 2000 | 53.39% 3,641 | 44.18% 3,013 | 2.44% 166 |
| 1996 | 39.00% 2,576 | 57.70% 3,811 | 3.30% 218 |
Cooper County is divided into three legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives, all of which elected Republicans, but one is currently vacant.
- District 47 — Chuck Basye (R-Rocheport). Consists of areas east of the city of Boonville.
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- District 48 — Tim Taylor (politician) (R-Bunceton). Consists of the communities of Blackwater, Boonville, Bunceton, Otterville, and Pilot Grove.
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- District 50 — Sara Walsh. (R-Ashland). Consists of the community of Prairie Home and much of the rest of the eastern portion of the county.
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All of Cooper County is a part of Missouri's 19th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia). Template:Election box begin Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box end Template:Election box begin Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box end Template:Election box begin Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box end
Federal
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All of Cooper County is included in Missouri's 4th Congressional District and is currently represented by Vicky Hartzler (R-Harrisonville) in the U.S. House of Representatives. Template:Election box begin Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box end Template:Election box begin Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box end Template:Election box begin Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box end Template:Election box begin Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box end
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Communities
[edit]Cities
[edit]- Blackwater
- Boonville (county seat)
- Bunceton
- Otterville
- Pilot Grove
- Prairie Home
Villages
[edit]Unincorporated communities
[edit]- Bellair
- Billingsville
- Chouteau Springs
- Clarks Fork
- Clifton City
- Harriston
- Lamine
- Lone Elm
- New Lebanon
- Overton
- Pisgah
- Pleasant Green
- Speed
Townships
[edit]Cooper County is divided into 14 townships: Template:Div col
- Blackwater
- Boonville
- Clark Fork
- Clear Creek
- Kelly
- Lamine
- Lebanon
- North Moniteau
- Otterville
- Palestine
- Pilot Grove
- Prairie Home
- Saline
- South Moniteau
Notable person
[edit]- Country music singer Sara Evans was born in Cooper County.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]<references />
External links
[edit]- Cooper County Information from MO-River.Net
- Digitized 1930 Plat Book of Cooper County Template:Webarchive from University of Missouri Division of Special Collections, Archives, and Rare Books
- Cooper County Sheriff's Office