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. Its county seat is Boonville. 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. It is a part of the Columbia, Missouri metropolitan area.

WWW coopercountymo.org

Geography

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

Adjacent counties

Major highways

National protected area

Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge

Demographics

2020 census

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.
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%.
As of the 2020 census, 47.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 53.0% lived in rural areas.

Racial and ethnic composition

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.

Race / Ethnicity	Pop 1980	Pop 1990	Pop 2000	Pop 2010	Pop 2020	% 1980	% 1990	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
[Non-Hispanic or Latino (U.S. Census)\|Latino whites\|White] alone	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	889	1,143	1,482	1,201	920	6.07%	7.70%	8.89%	6.82%	5.38%
Native American or Alaska Native alone	31	50	58	49	53	0.21%	0.34%	0.35%	0.28%	0.31%
Asian alone	43	47	34	77	67	0.29%	0.32%	0.20%	0.44%	0.39%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone	x	x	3	3	6	x	x	0.02%	0.02%	0.04%
Other race alone	15	8	14	8	62	0.10%	0.05%	0.08%	0.05%	0.36%
Mixed race or Multiracial	x	x	174	277	943	x	x	1.04%	1.57%	5.51%
Hispanic or Latino	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

As of the 2000 census, there were 16,670 people, 5,932 households and 4,140 families residing in the county. The population density was. There were 6,676 housing units at an average density of. 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

Public schools

– Blackwater
*Blackwater Elementary School
– Boonville
*Hannah Cole Primary School
*David Barton Elementary School
*Laura Speed Elliott Middle School
*Boonville High School
– Bunceton
*Bunceton Elementary School
*Bunceton High School
– Otterville
*Otterville Elementary School
*Otterville High School
– Pilot Grove
*Pilot Grove Elementary School
*Pilot Grove Middle School
*Pilot Grove High School
– Prairie Home
*Prairie Home Elementary School
*Prairie Home High School

Private schools

– Boonville – Roman Catholic
Zion Lutheran School – Bunceton – Lutheran
– Pilot Grove – Roman Catholic

Public libraries

Boonville/Cooper Branch Library

Politics

Local

The Republican Party completely controls politics at the local level in Cooper County. Republicans hold all of the elected positions in the county.

State

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 — . Consists of areas east of the city of Boonville.
District 48 — Tim Taylor (politician). Consists of the communities of Blackwater, Boonville, Bunceton, Otterville, and Pilot Grove.
District 50 — Sara Walsh.. Consists of the community of Prairie Home and much of the rest of the eastern portion of the county.

All of Cooper County is a part of Missouri's 19th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by .

Federal

All of Cooper County is included in Missouri's 4th Congressional District and is currently represented by Vicky Hartzler in the U.S. House of Representatives.