Chariton County, Missouri


Chariton County is a county located in the north-central portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 7,408. Its county seat is Keytesville. The county was organized November 16, 1820, from part of Howard County and is named for the Chariton River.

History

Chariton County was settled primarily from the states of the Upper South, especially Kentucky and Tennessee. They brought slaves and slaveholding traditions with them, and they quickly started cultivating crops similar to those in Middle Tennessee and Kentucky: hemp and tobacco. Chariton was one of several counties settled mostly by southerners to the north and south of the Missouri River. Given their culture and traditions, this area became known as Little Dixie and Chariton County was at its heart. It was heavily pro-Confederate during the American Civil War.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water.

Adjacent counties

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 7,408 and a median age of 46.0 years; 22.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 24.2% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 102.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.9 males age 18 and over.
The 2020 Redistricting Data show that 94.1% of residents identified as White, 2.0% as Black or African American, 0.3% as American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% as Asian, 0.0% as Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.1% as some other race, and 3.4% as two or more races; 1.4% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
No residents lived in urban areas while 100.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 3,067 households in the county, of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 22.4% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present; 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 3,792 housing units, of which 19.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 80.0% were owner-occupied and 20.0% were renter-occupied, the homeowner vacancy rate was 0.8%, and the rental vacancy rate was 13.0%.

Racial and ethnic composition

Race / Ethnicity Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020
Latino whites|White] alone 9,9238,8208,0677,5446,92594.60%95.85%95.60%96.34%93.48%
Black or African American alone 5133372641551444.89%3.66%3.13%1.98%1.94%
Native American or Alaska Native alone 12151318150.11%0.16%0.15%0.23%0.20%
Asian alone 7711730.07%0.08%0.13%0.09%0.04%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone xx003xx0.00%0.00%0.04%
Race and ethnicity in [the United States census|Other race] alone 441310.04%0.04%0.01%0.04%0.01%
Mixed race or Multiracial xx3564216xx0.41%0.82%2.92%
Hispanic or Latino 301947401010.29%0.21%0.56%0.51%1.36%
Total10,4899,2028,4387,8317,408 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 8,438 people, 3,469 households, and 2,345 families residing in the county. The population density was. There were 4,250 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 95.99% White, 3.19% Black or American |African American], 0.17% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.11% from other races, and 0.41% from two or more races. Approximately 0.56% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 38.8% were of German, 25.5% American, 9.7% English and 7.8% Irish ancestry.
There were 3,469 households, out of which 28.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.30% were married couples living together, 6.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.40% were non-families. 29.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.70% under the age of 18, 6.50% from 18 to 24, 23.70% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 22.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 91.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $32,285, and the median income for a family was $39,176. Males had a median income of $25,263 versus $19,068 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,515. About 8.80% of families and 11.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.40% of those under age 18 and 14.00% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Public schools

School districts include:

Cities and Towns

Local

State

Chariton County is split between two districts in the Missouri [House of Representatives], with both electing Republicans.
  • District 39 – . Consists of the northern part of the county.
  • District 48 – . Consists of the southern part of the county.
All of Chariton County is a part of Missouri's 18th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by .

Federal

All of Chariton County is included in Missouri's 6th Congressional District and is currently represented by Sam Graves in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Missouri presidential preference primary (2008)

Former U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton received more votes, a total of 786, than any candidate from either party in Chariton County during the 2008 presidential primary. She also received more votes than the total number of votes cast in the entire Republican primary in Chariton County.