Worth County, Missouri
Worth County is a county located in the northwestern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,973. It is the smallest county in the state in population and, excluding the independent city of St. Louis, the smallest in total area. Its county seat is Grant City. The county was organized on February 8, 1861, being split from Gentry County, and named for General William J. Worth, who served in the Mexican–American War. Worth County is also the youngest county in the state.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water. It is the smallest county in Missouri by area. Iowa is located to the north of Worth County.Adjacent counties
Transportation
Major highways
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 1,973 and a median age of 47.8 years. 20.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 24.5% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 100.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 101.2 males age 18 and over.The racial makeup of the county was 96.1% White, 0.0% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, 0.3% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.3% from some other race, and 2.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.3% of the population.
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 876 households in the county, of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 24.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 1,114 housing units, of which 21.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 75.5% were owner-occupied and 24.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.1%.
Racial and ethnic composition
The following table shows the county's racial and ethnic composition from 1980 through 2020.| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 1980 | Pop 1990 | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
| White alone | 2,999 | 2,424 | 2,351 | 2,115 | 1,887 | 99.70% | 99.34% | 98.70% | 97.42% | 95.64% |
| Black or African American alone | 1 | 1 | 4 | 11 | 0 | 0.03% | 0.04% | 0.17% | 0.51% | 0.00% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone | 0 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 0.00% | 0.04% | 0.34% | 0.23% | 0.20% |
| Asian alone | 2 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 0.07% | 0.20% | 0.08% | 0.28% | 0.20% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone | x | x | 0 | 0 | 5 | x | x | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.25% |
| Other race alone | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0.03% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.14% | 0.00% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial | x | x | 10 | 8 | 48 | x | x | 0.42% | 0.37% | 2.43% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 5 | 9 | 7 | 23 | 25 | 0.17% | 0.37% | 0.29% | 1.06% | 1.27% |
| Total | 3,008 | 2,440 | 2,382 | 2,171 | 1,973 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,382 people, 1,009 households, and 677 families residing in the county. The population density was. There were 1,245 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 98.99% White, 0.17% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.08% Asian, and 0.42% from two or more races. Approximately 0.29% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.There were 1,009 households, out of which 28.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.40% were married couples living together, 7.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.90% were non-families. 30.00% 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 2.31 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.30% under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 23.50% from 25 to 44, 23.10% 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 96.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $27,471, and the median income for a family was $34,044. Males had a median income of $24,138 versus $17,300 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,367. About 10.90% of families and 14.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.80% of those under age 18 and 11.50% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Public schools
- Worth County R-III School District – Grant City
- * Worth County Elementary School
- * Worth County High School
Public libraries
- Worth County Library Association
Communities
Cities
Villages
Extinct Places
- Defiance
- Isadora
- Oxford
- Prohibition City
Population ranking
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Worth County.† county seat
| Rank | Name | Municipal Type | Population |
| 1 | Grant City † | 4th Class City | 817 |
| 2 | Sheridan | 4th Class City | 145 |
| 3 | Worth | Village | 65 |
| 4 | Allendale | 3rd Class City | 48 |
| 5 | Denver | Village | 32 |
| 6 | Irena | Village | 14 |
Politics
Local
The Republican Party controls politics at the local level in Worth County. Republicans hold the majority of elected positions in the county.State
Worth County is part of the 1st district in the Missouri House of Representatives, currently held by Jeff Farnan.Worth County is part of the 12th District in the Missouri Senate, currently held by Dan Hegeman.