Ray County, Missouri
Ray County is a county located in the northwestern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri and is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, the population was 23,158.[1] Its county seat is Richmond.[2] The county was organized November 16, 1820, and named for John Ray, a Missouri state legislator and member of the first state Constitutional Convention.[3]
Geography
[edit]According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 574 square miles (1,490 km2), of which 569 square miles (1,470 km2) is land and 5.4 square miles (14 km2) (0.9%) is water.[4]
Adjacent counties
[edit]- Caldwell County (north)
- Carroll County (east)
- Lafayette County (south)
- Jackson County (southwest)
- Clay County (west)
- Clinton County (northwest)
Major highways
[edit]
National protected area
[edit]Demographics
[edit]2020 census
[edit]As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 23,158. The median age was 42.3 years. 23.0% 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 99.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.3 males.[5]
The racial makeup of the county was 91.2% White, 1.0% Black or African American, 0.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.8% from some other race, and 6.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.5% of the population.[6]
25.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 74.1% lived in rural areas.[7]
There were 9,081 households in the county, of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 22.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[5]
There were 9,842 housing units, of which 7.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 77.1% were owner-occupied and 22.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.3%.[7]
Racial and ethnic composition
[edit]| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[8] | Pop 1990[9] | Pop 2000[10] | Pop 2010[11] | Pop 2020[12] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 20,864 | 21,410 | 22,384 | 22,338 | 20,893 | 97.60% | 97.45% | 95.85% | 95.08% | 90.22% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 313 | 296 | 340 | 265 | 227 | 1.46% | 1.35% | 1.46% | 1.13% | 0.98% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 60 | 109 | 80 | 114 | 133 | 0.28% | 0.50% | 0.34% | 0.49% | 0.57% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 43 | 33 | 43 | 60 | 76 | 0.20% | 0.15% | 0.18% | 0.26% | 0.33% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | x [13] | x [14] | 1 | 15 | 8 | x | x | 0.00% | 0.06% | 0.03% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 4 | 4 | 13 | 3 | 53 | 0.02% | 0.02% | 0.06% | 0.01% | 0.23% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x [15] | x [16] | 240 | 284 | 1,188 | x | x | 1.03% | 1.21% | 5.13% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 94 | 119 | 253 | 415 | 580 | 0.44% | 0.54% | 1.08% | 1.77% | 2.50% |
| Total | 21,378 | 21,971 | 23,354 | 23,494 | 23,158 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2000 census
[edit]As of the 2000 census,[17] there were 23,354 people, 8,743 households, and 6,539 families residing in the county. The population density was 16 people per square mile (6.2 people/km2). There were 9,371 housing units at an average density of 6 units per square mile (2.3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.50% White, 1.46% Black or African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.36% from other races, and 1.13% from two or more races. Approximately 1.08% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 29.6% were of American, 23.3% German, 11.5% English and 10.3% Irish ancestry.
There were 8,743 households, out of which 35.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.10% were married couples living together, 8.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.20% were non-families. 22.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.50% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 28.30% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 12.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 100.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $41,886, and the median income for a family was $49,192. Males had a median income of $36,815 versus $21,684 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,685. About 5.30% of families and 6.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.00% of those under age 18 and 7.80% of those age 65 or over.
Education
[edit]School districts including any part of the county, no matter how slight, include:[18]
Public schools
[edit]- Hardin-Central C-2 School District – Hardin
- Hardin-Central Elementary School (PK-06)
- Hardin-Central High School (07-12)
- Lawson R-XIV School District – Lawson
- Southwest Elementary School (PK-04)
- Lawson Middle School (05-08)
- Lawson High School (09-12)
- Orrick R-XI School District – Orrick
- Orrick Elementary School (PK-06)
- Orrick High School (07-12)
- Richmond R-XVI School District – Richmond
- Dear Elementary School (PK-01)
- Sunrise Elementary School (02-05)
- Richmond Middle School (06-08)
- Richmond High School (09-12)
Public libraries
[edit]- Ray County Library[19]
Communities
[edit]Cities
[edit]- Camden
- Crystal Lakes
- Excelsior Springs (mostly in Clay County)
- Fleming
- Hardin
- Henrietta
- Lawson (partly in Clay County)
- Orrick
- Richmond
- Wood Heights
Villages
[edit]- Elmira
- Excelsior Estates (small part in Clay County)
- Homestead
Census-designated place
[edit]Other unincorporated communities
[edit]Townships
[edit]Notable people
[edit]- Robert Ford, outlaw, killer of Jesse James
- Chad Kilgore, football player
- Forrest Smith, Missouri's 42nd Governor
- Gordon Young, cowboy, journalist, novelist
Law, government and politics
[edit]Government
[edit]On January 1, 2025, the Ray County Jail was closed after newly elected Sheriff Gary Blackwell, due to "safety and security concerns."[20][21] Inmates were sent to facilities in neighboring Harrison and Lafayette counties, as well as the Daviess-Dekalb Regional Jail.[20]
Politics
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Local
[edit]Politics at the local level in Ray County are now evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats, with Republicans making major gains in the past four election cycles, going from no representation before 2011 to now holding half of the county offices. Template:Missouri county elected officials
State
[edit]| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third Parties |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 72.05% 8,256 | 25.67% 2,942 | 2.28% 261 |
| 2020 | 68.93% 7,964 | 28.38% 3,279 | 2.68% 310 |
| 2016 | 52.51% 5,686 | 43.58% 4,719 | 3.91% 423 |
| 2012 | 41.26% 4,252 | 55.53% 5,722 | 3.21% 331 |
| 2008 | 35.73% 3,899 | 61.13% 6,670 | 3.14% 343 |
| 2004 | 47.08% 5,073 | 51.33% 5,531 | 1.59% 172 |
| 2000 | 41.75% 4,045 | 55.81% 5,407 | 2.44% 237 |
| 1996 | 28.31% 2,475 | 69.26% 6,055 | 2.43% 212 |
| 1992 | 37.6% 3,578 | 62.4% 5,937 | N/A |
| 1988 | 56.26% 4,859 | 43.01% 3,714 | 0.73% 63 |
The northwest corner of Ray County is a part of Missouri's 8th District in the Missouri House of Representatives and is currently represented by Jim Neely (R-Cameron). Template:Election box begin 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
Most of Ray County is a part of Missouri's 39th District in the Missouri House of Representatives and is currently represented by Joe Don McGaugh (R-Carrollton). Template:Election box begin 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 Template:Election box begin Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box end
All of Ray County is a part of Missouri's 21st District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Denny Hoskins (R-Warrensburg). 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
Federal
[edit]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 end All of Ray County is included in Missouri's 5th Congressional District, which is currently represented by Emanuel Cleaver (D-Kansas City) in the United States 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
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1888 | 1,796 | 35.17% | 3,181 | 62.29% | 130 | 2.55% |
| 1892 | 1,643 | 32.29% | 3,250 | 63.86% | 196 | 3.85% |
| 1896 | 2,003 | 33.31% | 3,945 | 65.60% | 66 | 1.10% |
| 1900 | 2,004 | 35.02% | 3,631 | 63.46% | 87 | 1.52% |
| 1904 | 1,792 | 38.86% | 2,744 | 59.51% | 75 | 1.63% |
| 1908 | 1,914 | 37.74% | 3,043 | 60.00% | 115 | 2.27% |
| 1912 | 1,192 | 24.18% | 3,042 | 61.70% | 696 | 14.12% |
| 1916 | 1,718 | 33.28% | 3,380 | 65.47% | 65 | 1.26% |
| 1920 | 3,228 | 39.53% | 4,865 | 59.58% | 72 | 0.88% |
| 1924 | 2,753 | 34.24% | 4,989 | 62.04% | 299 | 3.72% |
| 1928 | 3,280 | 41.70% | 4,570 | 58.10% | 16 | 0.20% |
| 1932 | 1,706 | 21.74% | 6,088 | 77.59% | 52 | 0.66% |
| 1936 | 2,805 | 30.74% | 6,300 | 69.05% | 19 | 0.21% |
| 1940 | 3,399 | 36.94% | 5,786 | 62.88% | 16 | 0.17% |
| 1944 | 3,094 | 40.57% | 4,521 | 59.28% | 12 | 0.16% |
| 1948 | 2,102 | 30.30% | 4,826 | 69.57% | 9 | 0.13% |
| 1952 | 3,349 | 40.64% | 4,869 | 59.09% | 22 | 0.27% |
| 1956 | 3,041 | 39.61% | 4,636 | 60.39% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 3,542 | 43.69% | 4,565 | 56.31% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 1,734 | 25.05% | 5,189 | 74.95% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 2,587 | 35.90% | 3,541 | 49.14% | 1,078 | 14.96% |
| 1972 | 4,205 | 59.65% | 2,844 | 40.35% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1976 | 2,853 | 33.72% | 5,535 | 65.42% | 73 | 0.86% |
| 1980 | 4,064 | 45.81% | 4,518 | 50.93% | 289 | 3.26% |
| 1984 | 4,875 | 55.06% | 3,979 | 44.94% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1988 | 3,763 | 43.44% | 4,879 | 56.33% | 20 | 0.23% |
| 1992 | 2,563 | 26.64% | 4,457 | 46.33% | 2,600 | 27.03% |
| 1996 | 2,884 | 32.82% | 4,714 | 53.65% | 1,189 | 13.53% |
| 2000 | 4,517 | 46.34% | 4,970 | 50.99% | 260 | 2.67% |
| 2004 | 5,673 | 52.59% | 5,034 | 46.66% | 81 | 0.75% |
| 2008 | 5,593 | 50.60% | 5,241 | 47.42% | 219 | 1.98% |
| 2012 | 5,815 | 56.09% | 4,275 | 41.24% | 277 | 2.67% |
| 2016 | 7,104 | 64.91% | 3,090 | 28.23% | 751 | 6.86% |
| 2020 | 8,345 | 71.48% | 3,109 | 26.63% | 221 | 1.89% |
| 2024 | 8,602 | 73.53% | 2,927 | 25.02% | 170 | 1.45% |
| 2016 | 1 | 33.33% | 1 | 33.33% | 1 | 33.33% |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
- ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ↑ Eaton, David Wolfe (1917). How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named. The State Historical Society of Missouri. pp. 344.
- ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
- ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 18, 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. pp. 20–25.
- ↑ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Missouri: Table 5 - Race and Hispanic Origin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. pp. 13–63.
- ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Ray County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Ray County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Ray 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 January 31, 2008.
- ↑ Geography Division (January 12, 2021). 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Ray County, MO (PDF) (Map). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2025. - Text list
- ↑ Breeding, Marshall. "Ray County Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 "Sheriff closes Ray County, Missouri jail due to deteriorating conditions". FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV. January 2, 2025. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
- ↑ Godding, Chloe (January 2, 2025). "Ray County Jail closes due to unsafe conditions, sheriff says". KMBC. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
- ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
External links
[edit]- Digitized 1930 Plat Book of Ray County Archived August 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine from University of Missouri Division of Special Collections, Archives, and Rare Books
Template:Kansas City MSA Template:Ray County, Missouri Template:Missouri
- Use American English from June 2025
- Use mdy dates from April 2024
- Articles needing additional references from April 2023
- Wikipedia articles in need of updating from April 2023
- Coordinates not on Wikidata
- Ray County, Missouri
- 1820 establishments in Missouri Territory
- Kansas City metropolitan area
- Populated places in the United States established in 1820