Holt County, Missouri
Holt County is a county located in the northwestern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 4,223. Its county seat is Oregon. The county was organized February 15, 1841. Originally named Nodaway County, it was soon renamed for David Rice Holt, a Missouri state legislator from Platte County.
History
The original area of Holt County was much larger than its present area. When it was first organized it comprised the current Holt County boundary, all of Atchison County, that part of Nodaway County west of the Nodaway River, and the aforementioned claim extended ten miles north into southwestern Iowa; An area more than 1,350 square miles in all.The first Post Office in Holt County opened in 1839 and was located on Thorp's Creek near Oregon. It was known as Thorp's Mill and closed in 1841.
In 1972, the Holt County Historical Society was established.
Holt County was impacted by the 2019 Midwestern U.S. floods. About of the that flooded in spring 2019 were still underwater in late October. Some of the floodwater was expected to freeze in place over the winter.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water.Adjacent counties
- Atchison County
- Nodaway County
- Andrew County
- Doniphan County, Kansas
- Brown County, Kansas
- Richardson County, Nebraska
- Nemaha County, Nebraska
Major highways
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 4,223. The median age was 48.4 years. 21.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 25.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.6 males age 18 and over.The racial makeup of the county was 94.8% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 0.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.0% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.8% from some other race, and 3.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.6% of the population.
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 1,795 households in the county, of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 21.5% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,351 people, 2,237 households, and 1,503 families residing in the county. The population density was. There were 2,931 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 98.47% White, 0.11% Black or African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.11% from other races, and 0.75% from two or more races. Approximately 0.39% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.There were 2,237 households, out of which 28.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.30% were married couples living together, 6.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.80% were non-families. 29.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.80% under the age of 18, 6.50% from 18 to 24, 24.40% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 21.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 97.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $29,461, and the median income for a family was $35,685. Males had a median income of $26,966 versus $17,846 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,876. About 10.50% of families and 13.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.90% of those under age 18 and 11.90% of those age 65 or over.
Education
School districts include:- Craig R-III School District
- Mound City R-II School District
- Nodaway-Holt R-VII School District
- South Holt County R-I School District
Public schools
- Craig R-III School District – Craig
- *Craig Elementary School
- *Craig High School
- Mound City R-II School District – Mound City
- *Mound City Elementary School
- *Mound City Middle School
- *Mound City High School
- Nodaway-Holt R-VII School District – Maitland and Graham
- *Nodaway-Holt Elementary School
- *Nodaway-Holt Junior/Senior High School
- South Holt County R-I School District – Oregon
- *South Holt County Elementary School
- *South Holt County High School
Public libraries
- Mound City Public Library
- Oregon Public Library
Points of interest
- Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge
- Big Lake State Park on Big Lake
- St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Corning, Missouri
Communities
Cities
Villages
Townships">Civil township">Townships
Unincorporated communities
Extinct places
- Corning
- Curzon
- Kings Grove
- Napier
- Nichols Grove
- Richville
- Whig Valley
Population ranking
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Holt County.† county seat
| Rank | Name | Municipal Type | Population |
| 1 | Mound City | 4th Class City | 1,004 |
| 2 | Oregon † | 4th Class City | 837 |
| 3 | Maitland | 4th Class City | 276 |
| 4 | Forest City | 4th Class City | 243 |
| 5 | Craig | 4th Class City | 105 |
| 6 | Big Lake | Village | 65 |
| 7 | Fortescue | Village | 21 |
| 8 | Bigelow | Village | 5 |
| 9 | Corning | Village | 3 |
Notable people
- Frank McGrath - actor, born in Mound City in 1903
- Charles C. Moore - 13th Governor of Idaho; born in Holt County.
- Roger Wehrli - NFL athlete inducted into the Hall of Fame, born in New Point
Politics
Local
The Republican Party predominantly controls politics at the local level in Holt County. Republicans hold all but one of the elected positions in the county.State
All of Holt County is a part of Missouri's 1st District in the Missouri House of Representatives and is represented by .All of Holt County is a part of Missouri's 12th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by .