Worth County, Missouri

Coordinates: 40°29′N 94°25′W / 40.48°N 94.42°W / 40.48; -94.42
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Worth County
Worth County Courthouse in Grant City
Worth County Courthouse in Grant City
Map of Missouri highlighting Worth County
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
Map of the United States highlighting Missouri
Missouri's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°29′N 94°25′W / 40.48°N 94.42°W / 40.48; -94.42
Country United States
State Missouri
FoundedFebruary 8, 1861
Named forWilliam J. Worth
SeatGrant City
Largest cityGrant City
Area
 • Total267 sq mi (690 km2)
 • Land267 sq mi (690 km2)
 • Water0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2)  0.08%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total1,973
 • Estimate 
(2021)
1,983 Increase
 • Density7.4/sq mi (2.9/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district6th
Websitewww.worthcounty.us

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.[1] 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.[2] The county was organized February 8, 1861 and named for General William J. Worth, who served in the Mexican–American War.[3] Worth County is also the youngest county in the state.[4]

Geography[edit]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 267 square miles (690 km2), of which 267 square miles (690 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) (0.08%) is water.[5] It is the smallest county in Missouri by area. Iowa is located to the north of Worth County.

Adjacent counties[edit]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18705,004
18808,20363.9%
18908,7386.5%
19009,83212.5%
19108,007−18.6%
19207,642−4.6%
19306,535−14.5%
19406,345−2.9%
19505,120−19.3%
19603,936−23.1%
19703,359−14.7%
19803,008−10.4%
19902,440−18.9%
20002,382−2.4%
20102,171−8.9%
20201,973−9.1%
2021 (est.)1,983[6]0.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2020[1]

2020 Census[edit]

Worth County Racial Composition[11]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 1,887 95.64%
Black or African American (NH) 0 0%
Native American (NH) 4 0.2%
Asian (NH) 4 0.2%
Pacific Islander (NH) 5 0.25%
Other/Mixed (NH) 48 2.43%
Hispanic or Latino 25 1.26%

2000 census[edit]

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 9 people per square mile (3.5 people/km2). There were 1,245 housing units at an average density of 5 units per square mile (1.9/km2). 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[edit]

Public schools[edit]

Public libraries[edit]

  • Worth County Library Association[12]

Communities[edit]

Cities[edit]

Towns[edit]

Villages[edit]

Unincorporated communities[edit]

Politics[edit]

Local[edit]

The Republican Party controls politics at the local level in Worth County. Republicans hold all but six of the elected positions in the county.

Worth County, Missouri
Elected countywide officials
Assessor Miles Spainhower Republican
Circuit Clerk Jana Findley Democratic
County Clerk Roberta Owens Republican
Collector Julie Tracy Republican
Commissioner
(Presiding)
Jubal Summers Republican
Commissioner
(District 1)
Regan Nonneman Republican
Commissioner
(District 2)
Tyler Paxson Republican
Coroner Sharon Supinger Democratic
Prosecuting Attorney Janet Wake Larison Democratic
Public Administrator Patsy A. Worthington Republican
Recorder Barbara Foland Democratic
Sheriff Scott Sherer Republican
Surveyor NA Republican
Treasurer Linda L. Brown Republican

State[edit]

Past Gubernatorial Elections Results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2020 79.36% 869 18.72% 205 1.92% 21
2016 68.79% 714 28.23% 293 2.98% 31
2012 50.14% 524 46.51% 486 3.35% 35
2008 48.95% 559 47.99% 548 3.06% 35
2004 58.43% 662 40.69% 461 0.88% 10
2000 49.16% 557 48.72% 461 2.12% 24
1996 34.11% 425 64.37% 802 1.52% 19

Worth County is part of the 1st district in the Missouri House of Representatives, currently held by Jeff Farnan (R-Stanberry).

Missouri House of Representatives — District 1 — Worth County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Allen Andrews 970 100.00% +16.01
Missouri House of Representatives — District 1 — Worth County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Allen Andrews 640 83.99% -16.01
Democratic Robert Ritterbusch 122 16.01% +16.01
Missouri House of Representatives — District 1 — Worth County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Mike Thomson 946 100.00%

Worth County is part of the 12th District in the Missouri Senate, currently held by Dan Hegeman (R-Cosby).

Missouri Senate — District 12 — Worth County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Dan Hegeman 618 100.00%

Federal[edit]

U.S. Senate — Missouri — Worth County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Roy Blunt 667 64.51% +21.42
Democratic Jason Kander 321 31.04% -18.20
Libertarian Jonathan Dine 30 2.90% -4.59
Green Johnathan McFarland 5 0.48% +0.48
Constitution Fred Ryman 11 1.06 +1.06
U.S. Senate — Missouri — Worth County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Todd Akin 449 43.09
Democratic Claire McCaskill 515 49.24
Libertarian Jonathan Dine 78 7.49

Worth County is included in Missouri's 6th Congressional District and is currently represented by Sam Graves (R-Tarkio) in the U.S. House of Representatives.

U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 6th Congressional District — Worth County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sam Graves 780 75.80% +9.93
Democratic David M. Blackwell 206 20.02% -7.34
Libertarian Russ Lee Monchil 29 2.82% -3.95
Green Mike Diel 14 1.36% +1.36
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri’s 6th Congressional District — Worth County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sam Graves 496 65.87% -1.69
Democratic Bill Hedge 206 27.36% -1.92
Libertarian Russ Lee Monchil 51 6.77% +3.61
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 6th Congressional District — Worth County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sam Graves 706 67.56%
Democratic Kyle Yarber 306 29.28%
Libertarian Russ Lee Monchil 33 3.16%
United States presidential election results for Worth County, Missouri[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 877 79.22% 215 19.42% 15 1.36%
2016 808 77.25% 195 18.64% 43 4.11%
2012 664 63.36% 341 32.54% 43 4.10%
2008 707 60.22% 427 36.37% 40 3.41%
2004 691 61.04% 436 38.52% 5 0.44%
2000 651 56.22% 469 40.50% 38 3.28%
1996 540 42.42% 572 44.93% 161 12.65%
1992 483 34.18% 599 42.39% 331 23.43%
1988 677 47.98% 732 51.88% 2 0.14%
1984 921 55.65% 734 44.35% 0 0.00%
1980 833 50.27% 760 45.87% 64 3.86%
1976 771 44.08% 969 55.40% 9 0.51%
1972 1,170 61.68% 727 38.32% 0 0.00%
1968 924 48.55% 853 44.82% 126 6.62%
1964 831 37.70% 1,373 62.30% 0 0.00%
1960 1,355 50.60% 1,323 49.40% 0 0.00%
1956 1,338 49.70% 1,354 50.30% 0 0.00%
1952 1,682 57.72% 1,227 42.11% 5 0.17%
1948 1,162 42.53% 1,563 57.21% 7 0.26%
1944 1,444 50.12% 1,437 49.88% 0 0.00%
1940 1,807 51.44% 1,702 48.45% 4 0.11%
1936 1,581 44.46% 1,944 54.67% 31 0.87%
1932 1,041 36.90% 1,763 62.50% 17 0.60%
1928 1,839 56.46% 1,407 43.20% 11 0.34%
1924 1,666 49.66% 1,650 49.18% 39 1.16%
1920 1,888 54.72% 1,532 44.41% 30 0.87%
1916 892 44.29% 1,079 53.57% 43 2.14%
1912 769 39.11% 973 49.49% 224 11.39%
1908 985 48.43% 993 48.82% 56 2.75%
1904 1,042 49.78% 967 46.20% 84 4.01%
1900 1,023 45.73% 1,123 50.20% 91 4.07%
1896 885 41.24% 1,248 58.15% 13 0.61%
1892 624 33.46% 696 37.32% 545 29.22%
1888 771 44.41% 789 45.45% 176 10.14%

Missouri presidential preference primary (2008)[edit]

Former U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York) received more votes, a total of 171, than any candidate from either party in Worth County during the 2008 presidential primary.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Eaton, David Wolfe (1918). How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named. The State Historical Society of Missouri. p. 372.
  4. ^ "What are the Origins of Missouri Counties?". State of Missouri. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
  5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
  6. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021". Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
  9. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
  10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
  11. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Worth County, Missouri".
  12. ^ Breeding, Marshall. "Worth County Library Association". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  13. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 27, 2018.

External links[edit]

40°29′N 94°25′W / 40.48°N 94.42°W / 40.48; -94.42