Ralls County, Missouri


Ralls County is a county located in the northeastern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 [United States census|2020 census], the population was 10,355. Its county seat is New London. The county was organized November 16, 1820, and named for Daniel Ralls, Missouri state legislator.
Ralls County is part of the Hannibal, MO Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Quincy-Hannibal, IL-MO Combined Statistical Area.

History

Ralls County was one of several along the Mississippi River settled in the early years primarily by European-American migrants from the Upper South, especially Kentucky and Tennessee. They brought slaves and slaveholding traditions with them, and quickly started cultivating crops similar to those in Middle Tennessee and Kentucky: hemp and tobacco. They also brought characteristic antebellum architecture and culture. Ralls is considered one of the counties in the outer ring of what is called the Little Dixie region. Most of the Little Dixie counties are located further west along the Missouri River, from Callaway County west.

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

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Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 10,355. The median age was 45.5 years, with 21.9% of residents under the age of 18 and 21.6% aged 65 years or older. For every 100 females there were 102.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 102.2 males age 18 and over.
There were 4,125 households in the county, of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 17.2% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 22.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 5,028 housing units, of which 18.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 83.3% were owner-occupied and 16.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.4%.
2.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 97.5% lived in rural areas.

Racial and ethnic composition

As of the 2020 census, the racial makeup of the county was 94.1% White, 1.1% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.7% from some other race, and 3.6% from two or more races. Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino] residents of any race comprised 0.9% of the population.
Race / Ethnicity Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020
White alone 8,7068,3009,3939,8289,71397.70%97.92%97.58%96.67%93.80%
Black or African American alone 1641381061071141.84%1.63%1.10%1.05%1.10%
Native American or Alaska Native alone 8181814260.09%0.21%0.19%0.14%0.25%
Asian alone 56719170.06%0.07%0.07%0.19%0.16%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone xx1124xx0.01%0.12%0.04%
Race and ethnicity in [the United States census|Other race] alone 2025410.02%0.00%0.02%0.05%0.40%
Mixed race or Multiracial xx5784344xx0.59%0.83%3.32%
Hispanic or Latino 26144298960.29%0.17%0.44%0.96%0.93%
Total8,9118,4769,62610,16710,355 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 10,167 people, 3,736 households, and 2,783 families residing in the county. The population density was. There were 4,564 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 97.93% White, 1.11% Black or American (U.S. Census)|African American], 0.20% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.04% from other races, and 0.62% from two or more races. Approximately 0.44% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 30.1% were of American, 27.3% German, 10.5% English and 10.4% Irish ancestry.
There were 3,736 households, out of which 34.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.20% were married couples living together, 6.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.50% were non-families. 21.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.20% under the age of 18, 7.10% from 18 to 24, 26.90% from 25 to 44, 26.50% from 45 to 64, and 14.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $37,094, and the median income for a family was $41,955. Males had a median income of $28,139 versus $20,238 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,456. About 6.60% of families and 8.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.70% of those under age 18 and 10.70% of those age 65 or over.

Education

School districts in Ralls County

Public schools

Public libraries

  • Ralls County Library

Communities

Cities

Village

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Politics

Local

Historically, the Democratic Party predominantly controlled politics at the local level in Ralls County. However, all local seats up for election with a Republican candidate during the November 2016 election cycle were won by Republicans. Republicans now hold the office of Sheriff, Coroner, and Western District Commissioner.

State

Ralls County is a part of Missouri's 40h District in the Missouri House of Representatives and is represented by
Jim Hansen.
Ralls County is a part of Missouri's 18th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Brian Munzlinger.

Federal

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