DeKalb County, Missouri
DeKalb County is a county located in the northwest portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,029.[1] Its county seat is Maysville.[2] The county was organized February 25, 1845[3] and named for General Johann de Kalb,[4] Baron de Kalb, of the Revolutionary War. DeKalb County is part of the St. Joseph, MO-KS Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS Combined Statistical Area.
Geography
[edit | edit source]According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 426 square miles (1,100 km2), of which 421 square miles (1,090 km2) is land and 4.5 square miles (12 km2) (1.0%) is water.[5]
Adjacent counties
[edit | edit source]- Gentry County (north)
- Daviess County (east)
- Caldwell County (southeast)
- Clinton County (south)
- Buchanan County (southwest)
- Andrew County (west)
Major highways
[edit | edit source]Source:[6]
- File:I-35 (MO).svg Interstate 35
- File:US 36.svg U.S. Route 36
- File:US 69.svg U.S. Route 69
- File:US 169.svg U.S. Route 169
- File:MO-6.svg Route 6
- File:MO-31.svg Route 31
- File:MO-33.svg Route 33
- File:MO-110.svg Route 110 (Chicago–Kansas City Expressway)
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Transit
[edit | edit source]Demographics
[edit | edit source]2020 census
[edit | edit source]As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 11,029. The median age was 42.2 years; 19.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 133.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 141.7 males age 18 and over.[7]
30.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 69.9% lived in rural areas.[8]
There were 3,814 households in the county, of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 24.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[7]
There were 4,264 housing units, of which 10.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 71.1% were owner-occupied and 28.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.2%.[7]
Racial and ethnic composition
[edit | edit source]As of the 2020 census, the racial makeup of the county was 88.7% White, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.5% from some other race, and 4.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.1% of the population. The accompanying table presents the county's racial and ethnic counts for 1980 through 2020, with the 2020 share highlighted.[9]
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[10] | Pop 1990[11] | Pop 2000[12] | Pop 2010[13] | Pop 2020[14] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 8,149 | 8,934 | 10,250 | 11,045 | 9,653 | 99.11% | 89.64% | 88.38% | 85.67% | 87.52% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 0 | 729 | 1,020 | 1,454 | 672 | 0.00% | 7.31% | 8.80% | 11.28% | 6.09% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 13 | 65 | 74 | 49 | 30 | 0.16% | 0.65% | 0.64% | 0.38% | 0.27% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 9 | 31 | 20 | 31 | 42 | 0.11% | 0.31% | 0.17% | 0.24% | 0.38% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | x [15] | x [16] | 0 | 12 | 2 | x | x | 0.00% | 0.09% | 0.02% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 5 | 8 | 10 | 0 | 24 | 0.06% | 0.08% | 0.09% | 0.00% | 0.22% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x [17] | x [18] | 98 | 82 | 379 | x | x | 0.85% | 0.64% | 3.44% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 46 | 200 | 125 | 219 | 227 | 0.56% | 2.01% | 1.08% | 1.70% | 2.06% |
| Total | 8,222 | 9,967 | 11,597 | 12,892 | 11,029 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2000 census
[edit | edit source]As of the census[19] of 2000, there were 11,597 people, 3,528 households and 2,473 families residing in the county. The population density was 27 inhabitants per square mile (10/km2). There were 3,839 housing units at an average density of 9 units per square mile (3.5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 89.09% White, 8.86% Black or African American, 0.66% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races and 0.93% from two or more races. Approximately 1.08% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 3,528 households, out of which 32.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 9.60% were married couples living together, 7.40% had a female householder with no husband present and 29.90% were non-families. 26.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 20.70% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 36.30% from 25 to 44, 20.90% from 45 to 64 and 13.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 152.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 168.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,654 and the median income for a family was $37,329. Males had a median income of $28,434 versus $20,207 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,687. About 7.20% of families and 10.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.80% of those under age 18 and 75.20% of those age 65 or over.
Religion
[edit | edit source]According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2010), DeKalb County is sometimes regarded as being on the northern edge of the Bible Belt, with evangelical Protestantism being the most predominant religion. The most predominant denominations among residents in DeKalb County who adhere to a religion are Southern Baptists (37.63%), United Methodists (19.88%) and Community of Christ (14.82%).
Education
[edit | edit source]School districts which have portions of the county include:[20]
Public Schools
[edit | edit source]- Maysville R-I School District – Maysville
- Maysville Elementary School (K-06)
- Maysville Junior/Senior High School (07-12)
- Osborn R-0 School District Archived March 21, 2012, at the Wayback Machine – Osborn
- Osborn Elementary School (K-06)
- Osborn Senior High School (07-12)
- Stewartsville C-2 School District – Stewartsville
- Stewartsville Elementary School (K-06)
- Stewartsville Senior High School (07-12)
- Union Star R-II School District – Union Star
- Union Star Elementary School (K-06)
- Union Star Senior High School (07-12)
Public libraries
[edit | edit source]Communities
[edit | edit source]Cities
[edit | edit source]- Cameron
- Clarksdale
- Maysville (county seat)
- Osborn
- Stewartsville
- Union Star
Villages
[edit | edit source]Unincorporated Community
[edit | edit source]Extinct Places
[edit | edit source]Townships
[edit | edit source]Politics
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Local
[edit | edit source]The Republican Party controls politics at the local level in DeKalb County.
Template:Missouri county elected officials
State
[edit | edit source]| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third Parties |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 78.84% 3,744 | 18.47% 877 | 2.79% 128 |
| 2020 | 78.14% 3,763 | 19.31% 930 | 2.55% 123 |
| 2016 | 66.63% 3,061 | 30.76% 1,413 | 2.61% 120 |
| 2012 | 55.06% 2,394 | 41.74% 1,815 | 3.20% 139 |
| 2008 | 50.13% 2,332 | 46.80% 2,177 | 3.07% 143 |
| 2004 | 57.93% 2,710 | 40.40% 1,890 | 1.67% 78 |
| 2000 | 52.93% 2,129 | 44.70% 1,798 | 2.37% 95 |
| 1996 | 34.11% 1,317 | 63.30% 2,444 | 2.59% 100 |
DeKalb County is a part of Missouri's 2nd District in the Missouri House of Representatives and is represented by Mazzie Boyd (R-Hamilton).[23] 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 end
DeKalb County is a part of Missouri's 12th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Rusty Black (R-Chillicothe).[24] 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 end
Federal
[edit | edit source]All of DeKalb County is included in Missouri's 6th Congressional District and is currently represented by Sam Graves (R-Tarkio) in the U.S. House of Representatives. Graves was elected to an eleventh term in 2020 over Democratic challenger Gena Ross. 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
Daviess County, along with the rest of the state of Missouri, is represented in the U.S. Senate by Josh Hawley (R-Columbia) and Roy Blunt (R-Strafford). 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 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 candidate with party link Template:Election box end
Political culture
[edit | edit source]| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1888 | 1,598 | 48.57% | 1,573 | 47.81% | 119 | 3.62% |
| 1892 | 1,339 | 41.61% | 1,372 | 42.64% | 507 | 15.76% |
| 1896 | 1,590 | 42.00% | 2,167 | 57.24% | 29 | 0.77% |
| 1900 | 1,669 | 46.21% | 1,840 | 50.94% | 103 | 2.85% |
| 1904 | 1,768 | 51.23% | 1,607 | 46.57% | 76 | 2.20% |
| 1908 | 1,703 | 50.53% | 1,632 | 48.43% | 35 | 1.04% |
| 1912 | 1,090 | 33.11% | 1,652 | 50.18% | 550 | 16.71% |
| 1916 | 1,640 | 49.22% | 1,647 | 49.43% | 45 | 1.35% |
| 1920 | 3,001 | 57.83% | 2,121 | 40.87% | 67 | 1.29% |
| 1924 | 2,730 | 52.58% | 2,368 | 45.61% | 94 | 1.81% |
| 1928 | 3,338 | 63.53% | 1,898 | 36.12% | 18 | 0.34% |
| 1932 | 1,747 | 40.74% | 2,519 | 58.75% | 22 | 0.51% |
| 1936 | 2,872 | 51.56% | 2,680 | 48.11% | 18 | 0.32% |
| 1940 | 3,072 | 54.93% | 2,505 | 44.79% | 16 | 0.29% |
| 1944 | 2,658 | 57.47% | 1,961 | 42.40% | 6 | 0.13% |
| 1948 | 2,098 | 50.74% | 2,033 | 49.17% | 4 | 0.10% |
| 1952 | 3,073 | 63.28% | 1,773 | 36.51% | 10 | 0.21% |
| 1956 | 2,538 | 57.55% | 1,872 | 42.45% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 2,484 | 59.41% | 1,697 | 40.59% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 1,679 | 41.70% | 2,347 | 58.30% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 2,112 | 54.87% | 1,452 | 37.72% | 285 | 7.40% |
| 1972 | 2,766 | 67.38% | 1,339 | 32.62% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1976 | 1,739 | 46.02% | 2,023 | 53.53% | 17 | 0.45% |
| 1980 | 2,062 | 53.08% | 1,677 | 43.17% | 146 | 3.76% |
| 1984 | 2,188 | 59.91% | 1,464 | 40.09% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1988 | 1,863 | 48.48% | 1,970 | 51.26% | 10 | 0.26% |
| 1992 | 1,318 | 31.60% | 1,630 | 39.08% | 1,223 | 29.32% |
| 1996 | 1,627 | 42.30% | 1,679 | 43.66% | 540 | 14.04% |
| 2000 | 2,363 | 58.36% | 1,562 | 38.58% | 124 | 3.06% |
| 2004 | 2,941 | 62.76% | 1,707 | 36.43% | 38 | 0.81% |
| 2008 | 2,889 | 61.29% | 1,692 | 35.89% | 133 | 2.82% |
| 2012 | 3,056 | 70.25% | 1,194 | 27.45% | 100 | 2.30% |
| 2016 | 3,540 | 76.52% | 824 | 17.81% | 262 | 5.66% |
| 2020 | 3,828 | 78.90% | 930 | 19.17% | 94 | 1.94% |
| 2024 | 3,885 | 80.70% | 870 | 18.07% | 59 | 1.23% |
| 2016 | 1 | 33.33% | 1 | 33.33% | 1 | 33.33% |
At the presidential level, DeKalb County is solidly Republican. Donald Trump carried the county easily in 2016 and 2020. Bill Clinton was the last Democratic presidential nominee to carry DeKalb County in 1996. The last Democrat to win majority support from the county's voters was Michael Dukakis in 1988.
Like most rural areas throughout northwest Missouri, voters in DeKalb County generally adhere to socially and culturally conservative principles which tend to influence their Republican leanings, at least on the state and national levels. In 2004, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman—it overwhelmingly passed in DeKalb County with 80.7% of the vote. The initiative passed the state with 71% support from voters. In 2006, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to fund and legalize embryonic stem cell research in the state—it failed in DeKalb County with 55.9% voting against the measure. The initiative narrowly passed the state with 51% of support from voters as Missouri became one of the first states in the nation to approve embryonic stem cell research. Despite DeKalb County's longstanding tradition of supporting socially conservative platforms, voters in the county have a penchant for advancing 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 in DeKalb County with 67.7% of the vote. The proposition strongly passed every single county in Missouri with 78.99% voting in favor. (During the same election, voters in five other states also strongly approved increases in the minimum wage.) In 2018, Missourians voted on a proposition (Proposition A) concerning right to work, the outcome of which ultimately reversed the right to work legislation passed in the state the previous year. 65.70% of DeKalb County voters cast their ballots to overturn the law.
Missouri presidential preference primaries
[edit | edit source]2020
[edit | edit source]The 2020 presidential primaries for both the Democratic and Republican parties were held in Missouri on March 10. On the Democratic side, former Vice President Joe Biden (D-Delaware) both won statewide and carried DeKalb County by a wide margin. Biden went on to defeat President Donald Trump in the general election. 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
Incumbent President Donald Trump (R-Florida) faced a primary challenge from former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld, but won both Daviess County and statewide by large margins. 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
2016
[edit | edit source]The 2016 presidential primaries for both the Republican and Democratic parties were held in Missouri on March 15. Businessman Donald Trump (R-New York) narrowly won both DeKalb County and the state overall. He went on to win the presidency. 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 candidate with party link Template:Election box end
On the Democratic side, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D-New York) won statewide by a small margin, but lost DeKalb County to Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont). 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
2012
[edit | edit source]In the 2012 Missouri Republican Presidential Primary, voters in DeKalb County supported former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum (R-Pennsylvania), who finished first in the state at large, but eventually lost the nomination to former Governor Mitt Romney (R-Massachusetts). Delegates to the state convention were chosen at a county caucus, which selected a delegation favoring Santorum.
2008
[edit | edit source]In 2008, the Missouri Republican Presidential Primary was closely contested, with Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) prevailing and eventually winning the nomination. Former Governor Mitt Romney (R-Massachusetts) won the vote in Caldwell County. 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 candidate with party link Template:Election box end
Then-Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York) received more votes than any candidate from either party in DeKalb County during the 2008 presidential primary. Despite initial reports that Clinton had won Missouri, Barack Obama (D-Illinois), also a Senator at the time, narrowly defeated her statewide and later became that year's Democratic nominee, going on to win the presidency. 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
See also
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ "2020 Population and Housing State Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
- ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ↑ Eaton, David Wolfe (1916). How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named. The State Historical Society of Missouri. p. 284.
- ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 103.
- ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
- ↑ "County Maps". Missouri Department of Transportation. Retrieved April 8, 2026.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "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 – DeKalb County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – DeKalb County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – DeKalb 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.
- ↑ Geography Division (December 18, 2020). 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: DeKalb County, MO (PDF) (Map). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved February 7, 2025. - Text list
- ↑ Breeding, Marshall. "Cameron Public Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
- ↑ "DeKalb County Public Library". Retrieved May 8, 2017.
- ↑ "Missouri House of Representatives District 2". Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
- ↑ "Missouri State Senate District 12". Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
- ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
External links
[edit | edit source]- Digitized 1930 Plat Book of DeKalb County Archived August 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine from University of Missouri Division of Special Collections, Archives, and Rare Books
- Use American English from June 2025
- Use mdy dates from April 2024
- Articles needing additional references from June 2014
- Coordinates not on Wikidata
- DeKalb County, Missouri
- Missouri counties
- St. Joseph metropolitan area
- 1845 establishments in Missouri
- Populated places in the United States established in 1845