St. Francois County, Missouri

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"St. Francois County" redirects here. Not to be confused with St. Francis County, Arkansas.

Template:Infobox U.S. county

St. Francois County (/ˈfrænsɪs/ FRAN-siss) is a county in the Lead Belt region in the U.S. state of Missouri. At the 2020 census, the population was 66,922.[1] The largest city and county seat is Farmington.[2] The county was officially organized on December 19, 1821. It was named after the St. Francis River. The origin of the river's name is unclear. It may refer to St. Francis of Assisi.[3] Another possibility is that Jacques Marquette, a Jesuit who explored the region in 1673, named the river for the Jesuit missionary Francis Xavier; Marquette had spent some time at the mission of St. François Xavier before his voyage and, as a Jesuit, was unlikely to have given the river a name honoring the Franciscans.[4]

St. Francois County comprises the Farmington Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the St. Louis–St. Charles–Farmington–Illinois Combined Statistical Area.

History

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Seal

File:Seal of St. Francois County, Missouri (2018–2022).png
2018–2022
File:Seal of St. Francois County, Missouri.png
2022–present

A former county seal, used from 2018 to 2022, was posted on the subreddit r/CrappyDesign where it received considerable attention and was covered by local and national news organizations. It was criticized for being "overdone" and "amateurish," though some said they felt it stood out and was "spontaneous."[5][6]

The 2018 seal was designed during a weekend deadline by county commissioner Harold Gallaher and incorporated components from an older 1982 seal designed by a high school student in needlework.[7] The seal was unanimously approved by the county commission and was used on government signage and vehicles.[8]

The seal featured clip art-style[9] images of a bald eagle atop the American flag, a pickaxe and shovel, a Bible and Christian cross, and an outline of the county. It also featured the phrase "In God we trust" and the founding date of the county.

In response to the attention it received, the county held a contest to redesign the seal. Gallaher requested that the redesign make reference to the parks in the county as well as include elements from the old seal.[10] The county received 264[11] or 282[12] entries from 33 counties and 35 states, of which three finalists were chosen. Some included the St. Francois County Courthouse and referenced the county's mining history. The winning design was submitted by Bryan Finch, a graphic designer from Farmington, Missouri, a city in St. Francois County.[11]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

National protected area

Demographics

Template:US Census population

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 66,922. The median age was 40.3 years. 20.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 113.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 116.5 males age 18 and over.[13]

59.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 41.0% lived in rural areas.[14]

There were 24,792 households in the county, of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 26.5% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 29.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[13]

There were 28,636 housing units, of which 13.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 65.9% were owner-occupied and 34.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.1%.[13]

Racial and ethnic composition

As of the 2020 census, the racial makeup of the county was 89.6% White, 4.0% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.6% from some other race, and 4.9% from two or more races; Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.6% of the population.[15]

St. Francois County, Missouri – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 1980[16] Pop 1990[17] Pop 2000[18] Pop 2010[19] Pop 2020[20] % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 42,127 47,489 53,228 60,631 59,474 98.89% 97.11% 95.66% 92.77% 88.87%
Black or African American alone (NH) 107 945 1,105 2,759 2,645 0.25% 1.93% 1.99% 4.22% 3.95%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 33 103 188 228 192 0.08% 0.21% 0.34% 0.35% 0.29%
Asian alone (NH) 91 120 174 242 403 0.21% 0.25% 0.31% 0.37% 0.60%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) x [21] x [22] 12 32 21 x x 0.02% 0.05% 0.03%
Other race alone (NH) 23 8 14 12 188 0.05% 0.02% 0.03% 0.02% 0.28%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) x [23] x [24] 473 677 2,910 x x 0.85% 1.04% 4.35%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 219 239 447 778 1,089 0.51% 0.49% 0.80% 1.19% 1.63%
Total 42,600 48,904 55,641 65,359 66,922 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 55,641 people, 20,793 households, and 14,659 families residing in the county. The population density was 124 inhabitants per square mile (48/km2). There were 24,449 housing units at an average density of 54 units per square mile (21/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.14% White, 2.02% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.23% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.80% of the population.

There were 20,793 households, out of which 32.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.90% were married couples living together, 11.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.50% were non-families. 24.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.00% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 29.40% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 14.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 103.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,551, and the median income for a family was $47,923. Males had a median income of $29,961 versus $19,412 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,047. Approximately 14.90% of the population and 11.00% of families were below the poverty line, including 19.80% under the age of 18 and 11.50% over the age of 65.

Religion

According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2000), St. Francois County is a part of the Bible Belt with evangelical Protestantism being the majority religion. The most predominant denominations among residents in St. Francois County who adhere to a religion are Southern Baptists (45.48%), Roman Catholics (14.94%), and Methodists (8.37%). There is also a small Orthodox Christian presence in the county, an example being Nativity of the Holy Virgin Mary Orthodox Church in Desloge.[25]

Catholic Churches in the county are Immaculate Conception in Park Hills, St. Joseph in Farmington, St. Joseph in Bonne Terre, St. John in Bismarck, and St. Anne in French Village.[26]

Politics

Local

The Republican Party predominantly controls politics at the local level in St. Francois County. Republicans hold all but two of the county's elected positions.

Template:Missouri county elected officials

State

St. Francois County is divided into three legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives.

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  • District 117 — Currently represented by Mike Henderson (R-Bonne Terre). It consists of the western parts of the county and includes the communities of Bismarck, Bonne Terre, Desloge, Doe Run, Iron Mountain Lake, Leadington, Leadwood, and parts of Farmington and Park Hills.

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All of St. Francois County is a part of Missouri's 3rd District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Elaine Gannon (R-De Soto). 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

Past gubernatorial election results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2024 74.54% 20,827 23.35% 6,524 2.11% 591
2020 69.37% 19,258 27.67% 7,682 2.96% 823
2016 58.51% 14,433 38.20% 9,424 3.29% 811
2012 44.17% 9,965 52.88% 11,930 2.94% 664
2008 34.55% 8,418 63.49% 15,468 1.96% 478
2004 52.14% 11,903 46.43% 10,601 1.43% 327
2000 46.42% 8,712 50.22% 9,425 3.36% 632
1996 40.23% 7,192 57.19% 10,224 2.58% 461
1992 39.44% 7,350 60.56% 11,287 2.58% 461
1988 58.28% 9,401 40.94% 6,604 0.77% 125
1984 52.10% 8,777 47.90% 8,068 0.00% 0
1980 51.93% 8,797 47.89% 8,113 0.18% 30
1976 47.82% 7,569 52.13% 8,251 0.04% 7

Federal

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St. Francois County is included in Missouri's 8th Congressional District and is currently represented by Jason T. Smith (R-Salem) in the U.S. House of Representatives. Smith won a special election on Tuesday, June 4, 2013, to finish out the remaining term of U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson (R-Cape Girardeau). Emerson announced her resignation a month after being reelected with over 70 percent of the vote in the district. She resigned to become CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative.

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United States presidential election results for St. Francois County, Missouri[27]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
1888 1,445 38.44% 2,214 58.90% 100 2.66%
1892 1,253 36.53% 2,141 62.42% 36 1.05%
1896 1,664 42.37% 2,245 57.17% 18 0.46%
1900 2,295 45.30% 2,707 53.43% 64 1.26%
1904 2,894 51.25% 2,615 46.31% 138 2.44%
1908 3,260 48.56% 2,942 43.83% 511 7.61%
1912 2,305 37.03% 2,786 44.76% 1,134 18.22%
1916 3,015 43.79% 3,675 53.38% 195 2.83%
1920 5,504 49.86% 5,300 48.01% 235 2.13%
1924 6,117 51.16% 5,542 46.35% 297 2.48%
1928 9,040 68.34% 4,171 31.53% 17 0.13%
1932 6,017 43.59% 7,613 55.15% 174 1.26%
1936 7,271 47.79% 7,876 51.77% 66 0.43%
1940 8,687 51.55% 8,132 48.26% 32 0.19%
1944 7,320 52.00% 6,745 47.92% 11 0.08%
1948 6,234 46.03% 7,276 53.73% 32 0.24%
1952 9,672 54.55% 8,040 45.35% 17 0.10%
1956 9,968 56.85% 7,566 43.15% 0 0.00%
1960 10,131 58.44% 7,205 41.56% 0 0.00%
1964 5,690 35.00% 10,567 65.00% 0 0.00%
1968 7,492 47.60% 6,379 40.53% 1,867 11.86%
1972 8,812 65.42% 4,658 34.58% 0 0.00%
1976 7,002 44.01% 8,852 55.63% 57 0.36%
1980 8,914 52.70% 7,495 44.31% 507 3.00%
1984 9,792 57.84% 7,137 42.16% 0 0.00%
1988 7,923 49.13% 8,158 50.59% 46 0.29%
1992 5,889 31.08% 9,367 49.44% 3,691 19.48%
1996 6,200 34.98% 9,034 50.96% 2,492 14.06%
2000 9,327 49.50% 9,075 48.17% 439 2.33%
2004 12,087 52.71% 10,748 46.87% 98 0.43%
2008 12,660 51.57% 11,540 47.01% 350 1.43%
2012 13,248 58.35% 8,829 38.89% 628 2.77%
2016 17,468 70.10% 6,250 25.08% 1,202 4.82%
2020 20,511 73.08% 7,044 25.10% 510 1.82%
2024 21,521 74.99% 6,811 23.73% 366 1.28%
2016 1 33.33% 1 33.33% 1 33.33%


Covid-19 controversy

During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, the head of the St. Francois County Public Health Department described being driven to resign from her position by residents who refused to "accept the reality of the pandemic" and made "cowardly" anonymous threats against her and her family.[28]

Education

Of adults 25 years of age and older in St. Francois County, 72.4% possess a high school diploma or higher while 10.2% hold a bachelor's degree or higher as their highest level of educational attainment.

Public schools

  • Bismarck R-V School District – Bismarck
    • Bismarck Elementary School (PK–06)
    • Bismarck High School (07–12)
  • Farmington R-VII School District – Farmington
    • Jefferson Elementary School (01–04)
    • Lincoln Intermediate School (05–06)
    • Roosevelt Elementary School (01–04)
    • Truman Learning Center (PK-K)
    • Washington-Franklin Elementary School (01–04)
    • Farmington Middle School (07–08)
    • Farmington High School (09–12)
    • W.L. Johns Administrative Office Building
  • North St. Francois County R-I School District – Bonne Terre
    • North St. Francois County Primary School (PK–02) – Bonne Terre
    • North St. Francois County Parkside Elementary School (03–04) – Desloge
    • North St. Francois County Intermediate School (05–06) – Desloge
    • North St. Francois County Middle School (07–08) – Desloge
    • North St. Francois County High School (09–12) – Bonne Terre
  • St. Francois County Central R-III School District – Park Hills
    • Park Hills Central Elementary School (K–02)
    • West Elementary School (03–05)
    • Park Hills Central Middle School (06–08)
    • Park Hills Central High School (09–12)
  • West St. Francois County R-IV School District – Leadwood
    • West St. Francois County Elementary School (PK–05) – Park Hills
    • West St. Francois County Middle School (06–08) – Leadwood
    • West St. Francois County High School (09–12) – Park Hills

Private schools

Vocational-technical and other schools

  • Juvenile Detention Center – Farmington – (04–12)
  • Midwest Learning Center – Farmington – (04–12)
  • Unitec Career Center – Bonne Terre – (10–12)

Colleges and universities

Public libraries

  • Bonne Terre Memorial Library[29]

Farmington Public Library

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Former communities

  • Elvins
  • Esther
  • Fairview Acres
  • Flat River
  • Rivermines

See also

References

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  1. ↑ "QuickFacts St. Francois County, Missouri; United States". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ Eaton, David Wolfe (1918). How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named. The State Historical Society of Missouri. p. 358.
  4. ↑ St. Francois County, Missouri Place Names Archived July 20, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Western Historical Manuscript Collection
  5. ↑ Adler, Eric (January 5, 2022). "Missouri seal was the work of a county commissioner. The internet can't stop laughing". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  6. ↑ Amelia Bamsey (January 11, 2022). "This might just be the worst logo we've ever seen". Creative Bloq. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  7. ↑ Salcedo, Andrea (January 12, 2022). "A Missouri county's 'cluttered' seal was ridiculed online. It prompted a global search for a replacement". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  8. ↑ Jenkins, Kevin (March 19, 2018). "Commission unveils new county seal". Daily Journal Online. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  9. ↑ Sullivan, Becky (January 6, 2022). "A Missouri county asks for help designing a new seal after old one turns heads online". NPR. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  10. ↑ Marberry, Mark (January 4, 2022). "Commission agrees to county seal redesign, contest". Daily Journal Online. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Finch Wins County Seal Contest". www.kfmo.com. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  12. ↑ "St. Francois County Seal Finalists". www.kfmo.com. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  14. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  15. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  16. ↑ "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.
  17. ↑ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Missouri: Table 5 - Race and Hispanic Origin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 13-63.
  18. ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – St. Francois County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau.
  19. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – St. Francois County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau.
  20. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – St. Francois County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau.
  21. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  22. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  23. ↑ not an option in the 1980 Census
  24. ↑ not an option in the 1990 Census
  25. ↑ "Parishes - Nativity of the Holy Virgin Mary Church". oca.org. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  26. ↑ "Archdiocese of St. Louis – The Roman Catholic Church in Saint Louis, MO". archstl.org. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  27. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  28. ↑ Elliott, Amber, as told to Eli Saslow. 'This is how we treat each other? This is who we are?' Washington Post, November 18, 2020.
  29. ↑ Breeding, Marshall. "Bonne Terre Memorial Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.

Template:Geographic location Template:St. Francois County, Missouri Template:St. Louis MSA Template:Missouri

Coordinates: 37°46′55″N 90°25′20″W / 37.78194°N 90.42222°W / 37.78194; -90.42222

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