Howard County, Missouri
Howard County is located in the U.S. state of Missouri, with its southern border formed by the Missouri River. As of the 2020 census, the population was 10,151. Its county seat is Fayette. Settled originally by migrants from the Upper South, it is part of the region historically known as Little Dixie. It is part of the Columbia, Missouri, metropolitan area.
The county was organized January 23, 1816, a year after the end of the War of 1812, and named for Benjamin Howard, two years after his death. He was an officer in the United States Army, and was appointed by President James Madison as the first Governor of the newly reorganized Missouri Territory, with its new capital city in nearby St. Louis. Governor Howard oversaw the new federal territory when it was separated from the previous larger Louisiana Territory of 1804-1812, which encompassed the vast uncharted Louisiana Purchase of 1803 when sold to the United States by the Emperor Napoleon I of France for $15 million. The subsequent Missouri Territory was formed nine years later after the previous short-lived Louisiana Territory's southern portion along the lower Mississippi River including the former territorial capital at the major prosperous river port city of New Orleans was approved by the United States Congress and President Madison to be admitted to the federal Union as the 18th State of Louisiana in 1812.
This was just prior to the outbreak of the War of 1812, which heralded renewed conflict with the United Kingdom. Territorial Governor Howard was involved and instrumental in the hostilities, although he died in the midst of the war's last year, and before the British Army and Royal Navy attack in the Battle of New Orleans in January 1815, the famous last battle of the war a month after a peace treaty was signed in December 1814, in Europe.
History
Located on the north bank of the Missouri River, Howard County was settled primarily from the Upper Southern states of Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia. The migrants brought slaves and slaveholding traditions with them, and cultivated hemp and tobacco, crops of Middle Tennessee. Howard was one of several counties settled mainly by Southerners along the Missouri River in the center of the state. Because of this, this area became known as Little Dixie, and Howard County was at its heart. Following the 1848 revolutions in the German nations, many German immigrants also came to this region, developing farms.Due to the reliance on slave labor, by 1860 African-American slaves composed at least 25 percent of the county's population. Given their backgrounds and cultural affiliations, many Howard County residents supported the Confederacy during the Civil War. Ethnic German immigrants and descendants tended to support the Union.
After the end of Reconstruction, whites enforced Jim Crow laws and racial segregation in the county to maintain white supremacy. In the most violent period, at the turn of the 20th century, five African Americans were lynched in Howard County from 1891 to 1914: Olli Truxton, Frank Embree, Thomas Hayden, Arthur McNeal, and Dallas Shields. Howard County tied with Pike County for the highest rate of lynchings in the state.
The county continued to be developed for agriculture and is still largely rural. However, Howard County has lost population since its peak in 1880. The mechanization of farming reduced the demand for labor, and many workers left for jobs in the cities and less oppressive societies. By 2000 African Americans in the county had declined to less than seven percent of the total. In the early 21st century, nearly one-third of the residents identify as being of German ancestry, reflecting the wave of mid-19th century immigration.
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
*Route 240 Alternate
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Route 240 Business
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Route 240 Spur
National protected area
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 10,151, 3,873 households, and 2,539 families in Howard County, Missouri. The population density was 21.9 per square mile. There were 4,368 housing units at an average density of 9.4 per square mile ; 11.3% of those units were vacant, 75.2% of occupied units were owner-occupied, 24.8% were renter-occupied, the homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5%, and the rental vacancy rate was 7.9%.0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.
The racial makeup of the county was 87.98% white, 5.34% [African United States|American (U.S. Census)|black] or African-American, 0.36% Native American or Alaska Native, 0.27% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 0.99% from other races, and 5.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.05% of the population.
Of the 3,873 households, 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples living together, and 23.7% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.7 and the average family size was 3.1.
22.1% of the population was under the age of 18, 13.5% from 18 to 24, 20.8% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 96.0 males.
The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 19.5% of the population. The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $55,000. The median family income was $66,495. Males had a median income of $36,139 versus $25,043 for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $30,623. Approximately, 6.7% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.3% of those under the age of 18 and 8.5% of those ages 65 or over.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 10,212 people, 3,836 households, and 2,631 families residing in the county. The population density was. There were 4,346 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 91.13% White, 6.84% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 1.10% from two or more races. Approximately 0.86% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 32.4% were of German, 16.1% American, 8.9% English and 8.3% Irish ancestry.There were 3,836 households, out of which 31.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.30% were married couples living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.40% were non-families. 27.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.30% 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 2.98.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.00% under the age of 18, 13.30% from 18 to 24, 25.20% from 25 to 44, 21.30% from 45 to 64, and 16.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,614, and the median income for a family was $40,167. Males had a median income of $26,369 versus $19,950 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,198. About 7.50% of families and 11.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.70% of those under age 18 and 14.40% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Public schools
School districts covering sections of the county include:- Fayette R-III School District – Fayette
- *Laurence J. Daly Elementary School
- *William N. Clark Middle School
- *Fayette High School
- Glasgow School District – Glasgow
- *Howard County Elementary School
- *Glasgow High School
- Harrisburg R-VIII School District
- Higbee R-VIII School District
- New Franklin R-I School District – New Franklin
- *New Franklin Elementary School
- *New Franklin Middle/High School
- Salisbury R-IV School District
Private schools
- St. Mary's Catholic School – Glasgow – Roman Catholic
- Grace & Glory Christian Academy – New Franklin – Baptist -
Post-secondary
- Central Methodist University – Fayette – A private, four-year Methodist university.
Public libraries
- Howard County Library
- Lewis Library of Glasgow
Communities
Cities and Towns
Unincorporated communities
Notable people
- Frank P. Briggs - former United States Senator and Assistant U.S. Secretary of the Interior.
- Sara Evans - American country music singer.
- Spottswood Rice - Union Soldier in the Civil War and African Methodist Episcopal Church minister.
- Talbot Smith, United States District Judge
- Kit Carson - Trapper and guide for John Charles Fremont
- Caius T. Ryland - Speaker of the California State Assembly
Politics
Local
The Democratic Party predominantly controls politics at the local level in Howard County. Democrats hold all but four of the elected positions in the county.State
Howard County is split between two districts of the Missouri House of Representatives, both of which are represented by Republicans.- District 47 — consists of the eastern part of the county.
- District 48 — consists of the central and western parts of the county.