Cooper County, Missouri
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.[1] Its county seat is Boonville.[2] 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.[3][4] 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 569 square miles (1,470 km2), of which 565 square miles (1,460 km2) is land and 4.4 square miles (11 km2) (0.8%) is water.[5]
Adjacent counties
[edit]- Howard County (north)
- Boone County (northeast)
- Moniteau County (southeast)
- Morgan County (south)
- Pettis County (west)
- Saline County (northwest)
Major highways
[edit]
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National protected area
[edit]Demographics
[edit]2020 census
[edit]As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 17,103. The median age was 40.7 years; 22.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 106.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 106.3 males age 18 and over.[6]
There were 6,584 households in the county, of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 26.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 7,281 housing units, of which 9.6% were vacant; among occupied housing units, 71.3% were owner-occupied and 28.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.2%.[6]
As of the 2020 census, 47.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 53.0% lived in rural areas.[7]
Racial and ethnic composition
[edit]As of the 2020 census, the racial makeup of the county was 86.8% White, 5.4% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.7% from some other race, and 6.3% from two or more races; Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.9% of the population.[8]
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[9] | Pop 1990[10] | Pop 2000[11] | Pop 2010[12] | Pop 2020[13] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 13,569 | 13,491 | 14,762 | 15,754 | 14,730 | 92.67% | 90.94% | 88.55% | 89.51% | 86.13% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 889 | 1,143 | 1,482 | 1,201 | 920 | 6.07% | 7.70% | 8.89% | 6.82% | 5.38% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 31 | 50 | 58 | 49 | 53 | 0.21% | 0.34% | 0.35% | 0.28% | 0.31% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 43 | 47 | 34 | 77 | 67 | 0.29% | 0.32% | 0.20% | 0.44% | 0.39% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | x [14] | x [15] | 3 | 3 | 6 | x | x | 0.02% | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 15 | 8 | 14 | 8 | 62 | 0.10% | 0.05% | 0.08% | 0.05% | 0.36% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x [16] | x [17] | 174 | 277 | 943 | x | x | 1.04% | 1.57% | 5.51% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 96 | 96 | 143 | 232 | 322 | 0.66% | 0.65% | 0.86% | 1.32% | 1.88% |
| Total | 14,643 | 14,835 | 16,670 | 17,601 | 17,103 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2000 census
[edit]As of the 2000 census,[18] there were 16,670 people, 5,932 households and 4,140 families residing in the county. The population density was 30 inhabitants per square mile (12/km2). There were 6,676 housing units at an average density of 12 units per square mile (4.6/km2). 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.
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.
Education
[edit]Public schools
[edit]- Blackwater R-II School District Archived April 4, 2006, at the Wayback Machine – 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 (K-08) – Roman Catholic
Public libraries
[edit]- Boonville/Cooper Branch Library[19]
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
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1888 | 2,416 | 47.02% | 2,685 | 52.26% | 37 | 0.72% |
| 1892 | 2,222 | 45.25% | 2,484 | 50.59% | 204 | 4.15% |
| 1896 | 2,711 | 47.06% | 3,028 | 52.56% | 22 | 0.38% |
| 1900 | 2,738 | 48.96% | 2,756 | 49.28% | 98 | 1.75% |
| 1904 | 2,767 | 51.98% | 2,485 | 46.68% | 71 | 1.33% |
| 1908 | 2,679 | 50.73% | 2,555 | 48.38% | 47 | 0.89% |
| 1912 | 2,270 | 44.84% | 2,444 | 48.28% | 348 | 6.87% |
| 1916 | 2,830 | 52.27% | 2,537 | 46.86% | 47 | 0.87% |
| 1920 | 5,151 | 58.16% | 3,657 | 41.29% | 48 | 0.54% |
| 1924 | 4,755 | 52.76% | 4,070 | 45.16% | 187 | 2.08% |
| 1928 | 4,794 | 52.02% | 4,413 | 47.88% | 9 | 0.10% |
| 1932 | 3,695 | 40.05% | 5,493 | 59.54% | 38 | 0.41% |
| 1936 | 4,980 | 48.84% | 5,188 | 50.88% | 29 | 0.28% |
| 1940 | 5,720 | 55.30% | 4,606 | 44.53% | 17 | 0.16% |
| 1944 | 4,928 | 56.79% | 3,729 | 42.98% | 20 | 0.23% |
| 1948 | 4,094 | 51.38% | 3,865 | 48.51% | 9 | 0.11% |
| 1952 | 5,208 | 59.90% | 3,475 | 39.97% | 12 | 0.14% |
| 1956 | 4,995 | 58.72% | 3,511 | 41.28% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 4,672 | 54.77% | 3,858 | 45.23% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 3,530 | 45.66% | 4,201 | 54.34% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 4,115 | 55.29% | 2,798 | 37.59% | 530 | 7.12% |
| 1972 | 5,172 | 68.92% | 2,332 | 31.08% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1976 | 3,694 | 54.25% | 3,087 | 45.34% | 28 | 0.41% |
| 1980 | 3,996 | 58.34% | 2,687 | 39.23% | 166 | 2.42% |
| 1984 | 4,603 | 67.47% | 2,219 | 32.53% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1988 | 3,737 | 59.64% | 2,510 | 40.06% | 19 | 0.30% |
| 1992 | 2,867 | 39.07% | 2,709 | 36.91% | 1,763 | 24.02% |
| 1996 | 2,900 | 43.75% | 2,753 | 41.53% | 976 | 14.72% |
| 2000 | 4,072 | 59.97% | 2,567 | 37.81% | 151 | 2.22% |
| 2004 | 5,058 | 67.37% | 2,400 | 31.97% | 50 | 0.67% |
| 2008 | 4,902 | 61.08% | 2,996 | 37.33% | 128 | 1.59% |
| 2012 | 4,887 | 65.06% | 2,474 | 32.94% | 150 | 2.00% |
| 2016 | 5,624 | 70.42% | 1,932 | 24.19% | 430 | 5.38% |
| 2020 | 6,272 | 72.15% | 2,249 | 25.87% | 172 | 1.98% |
| 2024 | 6,393 | 72.10% | 2,347 | 26.47% | 127 | 1.43% |
| 2016 | 1 | 33.33% | 1 | 33.33% | 1 | 33.33% |
Communities
[edit]Cities
[edit]- Blackwater
- Boonville (county seat)
- Bunceton
- Otterville
- Pilot Grove
- Prairie Home
Villages
[edit]Unincorporated communities
[edit]Townships
[edit]Cooper County is divided into 14 townships:
Notable person
[edit]- Country music singer Sara Evans was born in Cooper County.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ "Explore Census Data".
- ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 90.
- ↑ Eaton, David Wolfe (1916). How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named. The State Historical Society of Missouri. pp. 280.
- ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
- ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
- ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
- ↑ "1980 Census of Population - General Social and Economic Characteristics - Missouri- Table 16 - Persons by Spanish Origin, Race, and Sex: 1980" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 20-25.
- ↑ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Missouri: Table 5 - Race and Hispanic Origin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 13-63.
- ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Cooper County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Cooper County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Cooper County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
- ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
- ↑ not an option in the 1980 Census
- ↑ not an option in the 1990 Census
- ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- ↑ Breeding, Marshall. "Boonville/Cooper Branch Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
- ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
External links
[edit]- Cooper County Information from MO-River.Net
- Digitized 1930 Plat Book of Cooper County Archived August 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine from University of Missouri Division of Special Collections, Archives, and Rare Books
- Cooper County Sheriff's Office
- Use American English from June 2025
- Use mdy dates from April 2024
- Articles needing additional references from June 2014
- Coordinates not on Wikidata
- Cooper County, Missouri
- 1818 establishments in Missouri Territory
- Populated places in the United States established in 1818
- Missouri counties on the Missouri River
- Columbia metropolitan area, Missouri