List of counties in Missouri

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There are 114 counties and one independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri. Following the Louisiana Purchase and the admittance of Louisiana into the United States in 1812, five counties were formed out of the Missouri Territory at the first general assembly. Most subsequent counties were apportioned from these five original counties. Six more counties were added through the 1836 Platte Purchase, the acquired lands of which formed the northwest tip of the state and consisted of Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan Holt, Nodaway, and Platte counties.[1]

In Missouri, the county level of government level comes between those of the city and the state. Its primary responsibilities include maintaining roads, providing security, prosecuting criminals, and collecting taxes. Elected officials at this level include a sheriff, prosecuting attorney, and assessor.[2]

Most of the counties in Missouri are named after politicians. One such county, Cass, was originally named Van Buren County after President Martin Van Buren, and was changed to its present name in support of Van Buren's Democratic opponent Lewis Cass during the presidential election of 1848. Other counties are named after war heroes, natural resources, explorers, and former U.S. territories.[3]

The city of St. Louis is an independent city, and is not within the limits of a county. Its residents voted to secede from Saint Louis County in 1876. Throughout the United States, St. Louis is one of three independent cities outside the state of Virginia (the other two are Baltimore, Maryland and Carson City, Nevada).[4]

Population figures are based on the 2010 United States Census. According to that census, the population of Missouri is 5,988,927, an increase of 7.0% from 2000. The average population of Missouri’s counties is 52,078  ; Saint Louis County is the most populous (998,954), and Worth County is the least (2,171). The average land area is 599 sq mi (1,550 km2). The largest county is Texas County (1,179 sq mi, 3,054 km2) and the smallest is St. Louis city (61.9 sq mi, 160 km2). [5] [6]

The Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) is used by the U.S. government to uniquely identify counties, and is provided for each entry. These codes link to the United States Census Bureau's "quick facts" for each county. To distinguish from counties in other states, one must use Missouri’s FIPS code, 29. For example, Adair County's unique nationwide identifier is 29001.[7]

Contents

Counties

County
 FIPS code
[7]		 County seat
[8]		 Established
[8]		 Formed from
[3]		 Etymology
[3][9][10]		 Population
[6]		 Area
[8]		 Map
Adair County 001 Kirksville 1841 Macon County John Adair (1757–1840), pioneer, soldier, and seventh Governor of Kentucky &1000000000002560700000025,607 &10000000000000568000000568 sq mi
(&100000000000014710000001,471 km2)
Andrew County 003 Savannah 1841 Part of the Platte Purchase Andrew Jackson Davis (1826–1910), spiritualist and missionary who settled in St. Louis &1000000000001729100000017,291 &10000000000000435000000435 sq mi
(&100000000000011270000001,127 km2)
Atchison County 005 Rock Port 1843 Holt County, part of the Platte Purchase U.S. Senator David Rice Atchison (1807–1886), a Democrat from Missouri &100000000000056850000005,685 &10000000000000545000000545 sq mi
(&100000000000014120000001,412 km2)
Audrain County 007 Mexico 1831 Callaway, Monroe and Ralls counties James H. Audrain, a War of 1812 colonel Missouri State Legislator &1000000000002552900000025,529 &10000000000000693000000693 sq mi
(&100000000000017950000001,795 km2)
Barry County 009 Cassville 1835 Greene County William Taylor Barry (1784–1835), jurist and United States Postmaster General &1000000000003559700000035,597 &10000000000000779000000779 sq mi
(&100000000000020180000002,018 km2)
Barton County 011 Lamar 1855 Jasper County U.S. Senator David Barton (1783–1837), one of the first senators from Missouri &1000000000001240200000012,402 &10000000000000594000000594 sq mi
(&100000000000015380000001,538 km2)
Bates County 013 Butler 1841 Van Buren (now Cass) County Frederick Bates (1777–1825), the second governor of Missouri &1000000000001704900000017,049 &10000000000000848000000848 sq mi
(&100000000000021960000002,196 km2)
Benton County 015 Warsaw 1835 Pettis and Greene counties Thomas Hart Benton (1782–1858), U.S. Senator from Missouri &1000000000001905600000019,056 &10000000000000706000000706 sq mi
(&100000000000018290000001,829 km2)
Bollinger County 017 Marble Hill 1851 Cape Girardeau, Madison, Stoddard and Wayne counties George Frederick Bollinger (1770–1842), early settler of Missouri &1000000000001236300000012,363 &10000000000000621000000621 sq mi
(&100000000000016080000001,608 km2)
Boone County 019 Columbia 1821 Howard County Daniel Boone (1734–1820), American pioneer and hunter &10000000000162642000000162,642 &10000000000000685000000685 sq mi
(&100000000000017740000001,774 km2)
Buchanan County 021 Saint Joseph 1838 Part of the Platte Purchase James Buchanan (1791–1868), 15th President of the United States &1000000000008920100000089,201 &10000000000000410000000410 sq mi
(&100000000000010620000001,062 km2)
Butler County 023 Poplar Bluff 1849 Wayne County William O. Butler (1791–1880), U.S. Representative from Kentucky and vice-presidential nominee under Lewis Cass &1000000000004279400000042,794 &10000000000000698000000698 sq mi
(&100000000000018080000001,808 km2)
Caldwell County 025 Kingston 1836 Ray County Disputed; either John Caldwell, an Indian scout and friend of respected Colonel Alexander William Doniphan; John Caldwell, Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky; or Mathew Caldwell, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence &100000000000094240000009,424 &10000000000000429000000429 sq mi
(&100000000000011110000001,111 km2)
Callaway County 027 Fulton 1821 Boone, Howard and Montgomery counties James Callaway (1783–1815), soldier during the War of 1812 and grandson of Daniel Boone &1000000000004433200000044,332 &10000000000000839000000839 sq mi
(&100000000000021730000002,173 km2)
Camden County 029 Camdenton 1841 Benton, Morgan and Pulaski counties Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden (1714–1794), an English lawyer, judge, Whig politician, and proponent of civil liberties &1000000000004400200000044,002 &10000000000000655000000655 sq mi
(&100000000000016960000001,696 km2)
Cape Girardeau County 031 Jackson 1812 One of the five original counties Sieur de Girardot, a French officer and early explorer of the region &1000000000007567400000075,674 &10000000000000579000000579 sq mi
(&100000000000015000000001,500 km2)
Carroll County 033 Carrollton 1833 Ray County Charles Carroll (1737–1832), delegate to the Continental Congress and U.S. Senator for Maryland &100000000000092950000009,295 &10000000000000695000000695 sq mi
(&100000000000018000000001,800 km2)
Carter County 035 Van Buren 1859 Oregon, Reynolds, Ripley and Shannon counties Zimri Carter, pioneering settler &100000000000062650000006,265 &10000000000000508000000508 sq mi
(&100000000000013160000001,316 km2)
Cass County 037 Harrisonville 1833 Jackson County Lewis Cass (1782–1866), senator from Michigan &1000000000009947800000099,478 &10000000000000699000000699 sq mi
(&100000000000018100000001,810 km2)
Cedar County 039 Stockton 1845 Dade and St. Clair counties Named for the abundance of Eastern Red Cedar trees &1000000000001398200000013,982 &10000000000000476000000476 sq mi
(&100000000000012330000001,233 km2)
Chariton County 041 Keytesville 1821 Howard County Chariton River, a tributary of the Missouri River, whose naming origin is disputed &100000000000078310000007,831 &10000000000000756000000756 sq mi
(&100000000000019580000001,958 km2)
Christian County 043 Ozark 1859 Greene, Taney and Webster counties William Christian (1743–1786), colonel in the American Revolution &1000000000007742200000077,422 &10000000000000563000000563 sq mi
(&100000000000014580000001,458 km2)
Clark County 045 Kahoka 1836 Lewis County William Clark (1770–1838), American explorer, soldier, Indian agent, and territorial governor &100000000000071390000007,139 &10000000000000507000000507 sq mi
(&100000000000013130000001,313 km2)
Clay County 047 Liberty 1822 Ray County Henry Clay (1777–1852), American Senator and orator from Kentucky &10000000000221939000000221,939 &10000000000000396000000396 sq mi
(&100000000000010260000001,026 km2)
Clinton County 049 Plattsburg 1833 Clay County George Clinton (1739–1812), soldier and Governor of New York, considered one of the Founding Fathers of the United States &1000000000002074300000020,743 &10000000000000419000000419 sq mi
(&100000000000010850000001,085 km2)
Cole County 051 Jefferson City 1820 Cooper County Stephen Cole, pioneering settler &1000000000007599000000075,990 &10000000000000392000000392 sq mi
(&100000000000010150000001,015 km2)
Cooper County 053 Boonville 1818 Howard County Sarshel Benjamin Cooper, pioneering settler &1000000000001760100000017,601 &10000000000000565000000565 sq mi
(&100000000000014630000001,463 km2)
Crawford County 055 Steelville 1829 Gasconade County William H. Crawford (1772–1834), U.S. Senator from Georgia, U.S. Secretary of Treasury, and judge &1000000000002469600000024,696 &10000000000000743000000743 sq mi
(&100000000000019240000001,924 km2)
Dade County 057 Greenfield 1841 Barry and Polk counties Major Francis L. Dade (1793?–1835), Major in the U.S. 4th Infantry Regiment, United States Army, during the Second Seminole War &100000000000078830000007,883 &10000000000000490000000490 sq mi
(&100000000000012690000001,269 km2)
Dallas County 059 Buffalo 1841 Polk County George M. Dallas (1792–1864), U.S. Vice President under James K. Polk &1000000000001677700000016,777 &10000000000000542000000542 sq mi
(&100000000000014040000001,404 km2)
Daviess County 061 Gallatin 1836 Ray County Joseph Hamilton Daviess (1774–1811), commanded the Dragoons of the Indiana Militia at the Battle of Tippecanoe &100000000000084330000008,433 &10000000000000567000000567 sq mi
(&100000000000014690000001,469 km2)
DeKalb County 063 Maysville 1843 Clinton County Johann de Kalb (1721–1780), a German soldier who served as a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War &1000000000001289200000012,892 &10000000000000424000000424 sq mi
(&100000000000010980000001,098 km2)
Dent County 065 Salem 1851 Crawford and Shannon counties James Dent, pioneering settler &1000000000001565700000015,657 &10000000000000754000000754 sq mi
(&100000000000019530000001,953 km2)
Douglas County 067 Ava 1857 Ozark County Stephen A. Douglas (1813–1861), American Senator from Illinois, and the Democratic nominee for President in 1860 &1000000000001368400000013,684 &10000000000000815000000815 sq mi
(&100000000000021110000002,111 km2)
Dunklin County 069 Kennett 1843 Stoddard County Daniel Dunklin (1790–1844), fifth governor of Missouri &1000000000003195300000031,953 &10000000000000546000000546 sq mi
(&100000000000014140000001,414 km2)
Franklin County 071 Union 1818 St. Louis County Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790), writer, publisher, orator, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States &10000000000101492000000101,492 &10000000000000922000000922 sq mi
(&100000000000023880000002,388 km2)
Gasconade County 073 Hermann 1821 Franklin County Gasconade River, a tributary of the Missouri River; the river probably derives its name from the French word "gascon" which means braggart, and could be an old satirical name describing those who boast about their adventures upon return to St. Louis &1000000000001522200000015,222 &10000000000000520000000520 sq mi
(&100000000000013470000001,347 km2)
Gentry County 075 Albany 1841 Clinton County Richard Gentry (1788–1837), a distinguished American military colonel in the Seminole Wars &100000000000067380000006,738 &10000000000000492000000492 sq mi
(&100000000000012740000001,274 km2)
Greene County 077 Springfield 1833 Crawford and Wayne counties Nathanael Greene (1742–1786), a major general of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War &10000000000275174000000275,174 &10000000000000675000000675 sq mi
(&100000000000017480000001,748 km2)
Grundy County 079 Trenton 1839 Livingston County Felix Grundy (1777–1840), U.S. Congressman and U.S. Senator from Tennessee who also served as the 13th Attorney General of the United States &1000000000001026100000010,261 &10000000000000436000000436 sq mi
(&100000000000011290000001,129 km2)
Harrison County 081 Bethany 1843 Daviess County Albert G. Harrison (1800–1839), U.S. Representative from Missouri &100000000000089570000008,957 &10000000000000725000000725 sq mi
(&100000000000018780000001,878 km2)
Henry County 083 Clinton 1834 Lillard (now Lafayette) County Patrick Henry (1736–1799), first post-colonial Governor of Virginia and prominent figure in the American Revolution &1000000000002227200000022,272 &10000000000000702000000702 sq mi
(&100000000000018180000001,818 km2)
Hickory County 085 Hermitage 1845 Benton and Polk counties Andrew Jackson (1767–1845), seventh U.S. President, who was nicknamed "Old Hickory" during his military service &100000000000096270000009,627 &10000000000000399000000399 sq mi
(&100000000000010330000001,033 km2)
Holt County 087 Oregon 1841 Part of the Platte Purchase David Rice Holt, Missouri State Representative &100000000000049120000004,912 &10000000000000462000000462 sq mi
(&100000000000011970000001,197 km2)
Howard County 089 Fayette 1816 St. Charles and St. Louis counties Benjamin Howard (1760–1814), a Congressman from Kentucky, governor of Missouri Territory and a brigadier general in the War of 1812 &1000000000001014400000010,144 &10000000000000466000000466 sq mi
(&100000000000012070000001,207 km2)
Howell County 091 West Plains 1857 Oregon County Disputed - Josiah Howell, pioneering settler &1000000000004040000000040,400 &10000000000000928000000928 sq mi
(&100000000000024040000002,404 km2)
Iron County 093 Ironton 1857 Madison, Reynolds, St. Francois, Washington and Wayne counties The abundance of iron ore in the area &1000000000001063000000010,630 &10000000000000551000000551 sq mi
(&100000000000014270000001,427 km2)
Jackson County 095 Kansas City,
Independence		 1826 Lillard (now Lafayette) County Andrew Jackson (1767–1845), U.S. Senator from Tennessee and later President of the United States &10000000000674158000000674,158 &10000000000000605000000605 sq mi
(&100000000000015670000001,567 km2)
Jasper County 097 Carthage 1841 Barry County William Jasper (c. 1750–1779), a noted American soldier in the Revolutionary War &10000000000117404000000117,404 &10000000000000640000000640 sq mi
(&100000000000016580000001,658 km2)
Jefferson County 099 Hillsboro 1818 St. Louis and Sainte Genevieve counties Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), third President of the United States, principal author of the Declaration of Independence, and one of the most influential Founding Fathers &10000000000218733000000218,733 &10000000000000657000000657 sq mi
(&100000000000017020000001,702 km2)
Johnson County 101 Warrensburg 1834 Lillard (now Lafayette) County Richard M. Johnson (1780–1850), ninth Vice President of the United States, serving in the administration of Martin Van Buren &1000000000005259500000052,595 &10000000000000831000000831 sq mi
(&100000000000021520000002,152 km2)
Knox County 103 Edina 1843 Scotland County Henry Knox (1750–1806) an American bookseller from Boston who became the chief artillery officer of the Continental Army and later the nation's first Secretary of War &100000000000041310000004,131 &10000000000000506000000506 sq mi
(&100000000000013110000001,311 km2)
Laclede County 105 Lebanon 1849 Camden, Pulaski and Wright counties Pierre Laclede (1729–1778), founder of St. Louis, Missouri &1000000000003557100000035,571 &10000000000000766000000766 sq mi
(&100000000000019840000001,984 km2)
Lafayette County 107 Lexington 1821 Cooper County Gilbert du Motier, the Marquis de Lafayette (1757–1834), French military officer and general in the American Revolutionary War &1000000000003338100000033,381 &10000000000000629000000629 sq mi
(&100000000000016290000001,629 km2)
Lawrence County 109 Mount Vernon 1843 Barry and Dade counties James Lawrence (1781–1813), an American naval officer best known for his last words "Don't give up the ship!" &1000000000003863400000038,634 &10000000000000613000000613 sq mi
(&100000000000015880000001,588 km2)
Lewis County 111 Monticello 1833 Marion County Meriwether Lewis (1774–1809), explorer and governor of the Louisiana Territory &1000000000001021100000010,211 &10000000000000505000000505 sq mi
(&100000000000013080000001,308 km2)
Lincoln County 113 Troy 1818 St. Charles County Disputed; either Lincoln County, Kentucky (birthplace of Christopher Clark, a Missouri legislator who advocated for the county's creation),[11] or for Benjamin Lincoln (1733–1810), an American revolutionary war general &1000000000005256600000052,566 &10000000000000630000000630 sq mi
(&100000000000016320000001,632 km2)
Linn County 115 Linneus 1837 Chariton County Lewis F. Linn (1796–1843), a Jacksonian Democratic U.S. Senator for Missouri &1000000000001276100000012,761 &10000000000000620000000620 sq mi
(&100000000000016060000001,606 km2)
Livingston County 117 Chillicothe 1837 Carroll County Edward Livingston (1764–1836), a prominent American jurist and statesman, influential in the drafting of the Louisiana Civil Code of 1825, a civil code based largely on the Napoleonic Code &1000000000001519500000015,195 &10000000000000535000000535 sq mi
(&100000000000013860000001,386 km2)
Macon County 121 Macon 1837 Chariton and Randolph counties Nathaniel Macon (1758–1837), member of the United States House of Representatives from 1791 to 1815 who briefly served in the American Revolutionary War &1000000000001556600000015,566 &10000000000000804000000804 sq mi
(&100000000000020820000002,082 km2)
Madison County 123 Fredericktown 1818 Cape Girardeau and Sainte Genevieve counties James Madison (1751–1836), politician and political philosopher who served as the fourth President of the United States, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States &1000000000001222600000012,226 &10000000000000497000000497 sq mi
(&100000000000012870000001,287 km2)
Maries County 125 Vienna 1855 Osage and Pulaski counties Maries River, possibly a corruption of the French word marias meaning "marsh" or "swamp" &100000000000091760000009,176 &10000000000000528000000528 sq mi
(&100000000000013680000001,368 km2)
Marion County 127 Palmyra 1826 Ralls County Francis Marion (1732–1795), a military officer who served in the American Revolutionary War &1000000000002878100000028,781 &10000000000000438000000438 sq mi
(&100000000000011340000001,134 km2)
McDonald County 119 Pineville 1847 Newton County Alexander McDonald, American Revolutionary War sergeant &1000000000002308300000023,083 &10000000000000540000000540 sq mi
(&100000000000013990000001,399 km2)
Mercer County 129 Princeton 1845 Grundy County John F. Mercer (1759–1821), an American lawyer, planter, and Governor of Maryland &100000000000037850000003,785 &10000000000000454000000454 sq mi
(&100000000000011760000001,176 km2)
Miller County 131 Tuscumbia 1837 Cole and Pulaski counties John Miller (1781–1846), an American publisher and politician from St. Louis, Missouri. He was the fourth Governor of Missouri and represented Missouri in the U.S. House &1000000000002474800000024,748 &10000000000000592000000592 sq mi
(&100000000000015330000001,533 km2)
Mississippi County 133 Charleston 1842 Scott County Mississippi River, the second-longest river in the United States which forms Missouri's eastern border &1000000000001435800000014,358 &10000000000000413000000413 sq mi
(&100000000000010700000001,070 km2)
Moniteau County 135 California 1845 Cole and Morgan counties Moniteau Creek; "moniteau" is a French spelling of manitou, the Algonquian Great Spirit &1000000000001560700000015,607 &10000000000000417000000417 sq mi
(&100000000000010800000001,080 km2)
Monroe County 137 Paris 1831 Ralls County James Monroe (1758–1831), fifth President of the United States who crafted the Missouri Compromise &100000000000088400000008,840 &10000000000000646000000646 sq mi
(&100000000000016730000001,673 km2)
Montgomery County 139 Montgomery City 1818 St. Charles County Richard Montgomery (1738–1775), an Irish-born soldier who first served in the British Army and later became a brigadier-general in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War &1000000000001223600000012,236 &10000000000000539000000539 sq mi
(&100000000000013960000001,396 km2)
Morgan County 141 Versailles 1833 Cooper County Daniel Morgan (c. 1736–1802), American pioneer, soldier, and United States Representative from Virginia &1000000000002056500000020,565 &10000000000000598000000598 sq mi
(&100000000000015490000001,549 km2)
New Madrid County 143 New Madrid 1812 One of the five original counties Madrid, Spain &1000000000001895600000018,956 &10000000000000678000000678 sq mi
(&100000000000017560000001,756 km2)
Newton County 145 Neosho 1838 Barry County John Newton (1755–1780), legendary soldier of the American Revolution &1000000000005811400000058,114 &10000000000000626000000626 sq mi
(&100000000000016210000001,621 km2)
Nodaway County 147 Maryville 1843 Andrew County, the Platte Purchase Nodaway River, a 120-mile (190 km) long river in southwest Iowa and northwest Missouri &1000000000002337000000023,370 &10000000000000877000000877 sq mi
(&100000000000022710000002,271 km2)
Oregon County 149 Alton 1841 Ripley County Oregon Territory &1000000000001088100000010,881 &10000000000000792000000792 sq mi
(&100000000000020510000002,051 km2)
Osage County 151 Linn 1841 Gasconade County Osage River, a 360 miles (580 km) long tributary of the Missouri River in central Missouri; the name of the river is probably derived from a French corruption of "Washazhe" – the name of the Osage Native Americans &1000000000001387800000013,878 &10000000000000606000000606 sq mi
(&100000000000015700000001,570 km2)
Ozark County 153 Gainesville 1841 Taney County Ozark Mountains – Ozark is the anglicized form of the French "aux arcs", an abbreviation of "Aux Arkansas", which means in the county of Arkansas &100000000000097230000009,723 &10000000000000747000000747 sq mi
(&100000000000019350000001,935 km2)
Pemiscot County 155 Caruthersville 1851 New Madrid County An American Indian word meaning "liquid mud" &1000000000001829600000018,296 &10000000000000493000000493 sq mi
(&100000000000012770000001,277 km2)
Perry County 157 Perryville 1821 Sainte Geneviere County Oliver Hazard Perry (1785–1819), naval officer in the War of 1812 against Britain, earned the title "Hero of Lake Erie" for leading American forces in a decisive naval victory at the Battle of Lake Erie &1000000000001897100000018,971 &10000000000000475000000475 sq mi
(&100000000000012300000001,230 km2)
Pettis County 159 Sedalia 1833 Cooper and Saline counties Spencer Darwin Pettis (1802–1831), U.S. Representative from Missouri &1000000000004220100000042,201 &10000000000000685000000685 sq mi
(&100000000000017740000001,774 km2)
Phelps County 161 Rolla 1857 Crawford County John S. Phelps (1814–1886), a politician, soldier during the American Civil War, and twenty-third Governor of Missouri &1000000000004515600000045,156 &10000000000000673000000673 sq mi
(&100000000000017430000001,743 km2)
Pike County 163 Bowling Green 1818 St. Charles County Zebulon Pike (1778–1813), American soldier and explorer for whom Pikes Peak in Colorado is also named &1000000000001851600000018,516 &10000000000000673000000673 sq mi
(&100000000000017430000001,743 km2)
Platte County 165 Platte City 1838 Part of the Platte Purchase Platte River, a tributary of the Missouri River, which is in turn named for the French word "platte" meaning flat or shallow &1000000000008932200000089,322 &10000000000000420000000420 sq mi
(&100000000000010880000001,088 km2)
Polk County 167 Bolivar 1835 Greene County James K. Polk (1795–1849), 11th President of the United States &1000000000003113700000031,137 &10000000000000637000000637 sq mi
(&100000000000016500000001,650 km2)
Pulaski County 169 Waynesville 1833 Crawford County Kazimierz Pulaski (1745–1779), Polish soldier of fortune in the American Revolutionary War, he saved the life of George Washington and became a general in the Continental Army &1000000000005227400000052,274 &10000000000000547000000547 sq mi
(&100000000000014170000001,417 km2)
Putnam County 171 Unionville 1843 Adair and Sullivan counties Israel Putnam (1718–1790), an American army general who fought with distinction at the Battle of Bunker Hill during the American Revolutionary War &100000000000049790000004,979 &10000000000000518000000518 sq mi
(&100000000000013420000001,342 km2)
Ralls County 173 New London 1821 Pike County Daniel Ralls, a Missouri State Representative &1000000000001016700000010,167 &10000000000000471000000471 sq mi
(&100000000000012200000001,220 km2)
Randolph County 175 Huntsville 1829 Chariton and Ralls counties John Randolph of Roanoke (1773–1833), a leader in Congress from Virginia and spokesman for the "Old Republican" &1000000000002541400000025,414 &10000000000000482000000482 sq mi
(&100000000000012480000001,248 km2)
Ray County 177 Richmond 1820 Howard County John Ray, Missouri State Representative &1000000000002349400000023,494 &10000000000000570000000570 sq mi
(&100000000000014760000001,476 km2)
Reynolds County 179 Centerville 1845 Shannon County Thomas Reynolds (1796–1844), governor of Missouri from 1840 to 1844 &100000000000066960000006,696 &10000000000000811000000811 sq mi
(&100000000000021000000002,100 km2)
Ripley County 181 Doniphan 1831 Wayne County Eleazer Wheelock Ripley (1782–1839), Brigadier General in the War of 1812 &1000000000001410000000014,100 &10000000000000630000000630 sq mi
(&100000000000016320000001,632 km2)
St. Charles County 183 Saint Charles 1812 One of the five original counties St. Charles Borromeo (1538–1584), an Italian saint and cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church &10000000000360485000000360,485 &10000000000000561000000561 sq mi
(&100000000000014530000001,453 km2)
St. Clair County 185 Osceola 1841 Rives (now Henry) County Arthur St. Clair (1737–1818), an American soldier and Governor of the Northwest Territory &100000000000098050000009,805 &10000000000000677000000677 sq mi
(&100000000000017530000001,753 km2)
St. Francois County 187 Farmington 1821 Jefferson, Sainte Genevieve and Washington counties St. Francis of Assisi (c. 1182–1226), a Catholic deacon and the founder of the Order of Friars Minor, more commonly known as the Franciscans &1000000000006535900000065,359 &10000000000000450000000450 sq mi
(&100000000000011650000001,165 km2)
St. Louis County 189 Clayton 1812 One of the five original counties King Louis IX (1214–1270), King of France from 1226 until his death &10000000000998954000000998,954 &10000000000000508000000508 sq mi
(&100000000000013160000001,316 km2)
Saint Louis City 510 St. Louis 1876 Created in 1876 when city residents voted to secede from St. Louis County King Louis IX (1214–1270), King of France from 1226 until his death &10000000000319294000000319,294 &1000000000000006189999961.9 sq mi
(&10000000000000160000000160 km2)
Sainte Genevieve County 186 Sainte Genevieve 1812 One of the five original counties St. Genevieve (c. 420 – c. 510), the patron saint of Paris in Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox tradition &1000000000001814500000018,145 &10000000000000502000000502 sq mi
(&100000000000013000000001,300 km2)
Saline County 195 Marshall 1820 Cooper County Local hot springs &1000000000002337000000023,370 &10000000000000756000000756 sq mi
(&100000000000019580000001,958 km2)
Schuyler County 197 Lancaster 1843 Adair County Philip Schuyler (1733–1804), a general in the American Revolution and a United States Senator from New York &100000000000044310000004,431 &10000000000000308000000308 sq mi
(&10000000000000798000000798 km2)
Scotland County 199 Memphis 1841 Clark, Lewis, and Shelby counties Scotland (country) &100000000000048430000004,843 &10000000000000438000000438 sq mi
(&100000000000011340000001,134 km2)
Scott County 201 Benton 1822 New Madrid County John Guier Scott (1819–1892), a U.S. Representative from Missouri &1000000000003919100000039,191 &10000000000000421000000421 sq mi
(&100000000000010900000001,090 km2)
Shannon County 203 Eminence 1837 Ripley County George Shannon (1785–1836), member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition &100000000000084410000008,441 &100000000000010040000001,004 sq mi
(&100000000000026000000002,600 km2)
Shelby County 205 Shelbyville 1835 Marion County Isaac Shelby (1750–1826), the first and fifth Governor of the U.S. state of Kentucky &100000000000063730000006,373 &10000000000000501000000501 sq mi
(&100000000000012980000001,298 km2)
Stoddard County 207 Bloomfield 1835 New Madrid County Amos Stoddard (1762–1813), the only commandant of Upper Louisiana for the French Republic and the only commandant for the District of Louisiana for the United States in 1804 during the handover of the Louisiana Purchase &1000000000002996800000029,968 &10000000000000827000000827 sq mi
(&100000000000021420000002,142 km2)
Stone County 209 Galena 1851 Taney County William Stone, first elected judge of Taney County &1000000000003220200000032,202 &10000000000000463000000463 sq mi
(&100000000000011990000001,199 km2)
Sullivan County 211 Milan 1843 Linn County John Sullivan (1740–1795), American Revolutionary War general &100000000000067140000006,714 &10000000000000651000000651 sq mi
(&100000000000016860000001,686 km2)
Taney County 213 Forsyth 1837 Greene County Roger Brooke Taney (1777–1864), eleventh United States Attorney General and fifth Chief Justice of the United States &1000000000005167500000051,675 &10000000000000632000000632 sq mi
(&100000000000016370000001,637 km2)
Texas County 215 Houston 1843 Shannon and Wright counties Republic of Texas &1000000000002600800000026,008 &100000000000011790000001,179 sq mi
(&100000000000030540000003,054 km2)
Vernon County 217 Nevada 1851 Bates County Miles Vernon, Missouri State Senator – the county was originally defined as having the same boundaries as Bates county, but was later declared unconstitutional and changed &1000000000002115900000021,159 &10000000000000834000000834 sq mi
(&100000000000021600000002,160 km2)
Warren County 219 Warrenton 1833 Montgomery County Joseph Warren (1741–1775), Revolutionary War doctor and general &1000000000003251300000032,513 &10000000000000432000000432 sq mi
(&100000000000011190000001,119 km2)
Washington County 221 Potosi 1813 Sainte Genevieve County George Washington (1732–1799), commander of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War and first President of the United States &1000000000002519500000025,195 &10000000000000760000000760 sq mi
(&100000000000019680000001,968 km2)
Wayne County 223 Greenville 1818 Cape Girardeau and Lawrence counties Anthony Wayne (1745–1796), United States Army general and statesman &1000000000001352100000013,521 &10000000000000761000000761 sq mi
(&100000000000019710000001,971 km2)
Webster County 225 Marshfield 1855 Greene County Daniel Webster (1782–1852), U.S. Secretary of State and Senator from Massachusetts &1000000000003620200000036,202 &10000000000000593000000593 sq mi
(&100000000000015360000001,536 km2)
Worth County 227 Grant City 1861 Gentry County William J. Worth (1794–1849), a United States general during the Mexican-American War &100000000000021710000002,171 &10000000000000266000000266 sq mi
(&10000000000000689000000689 km2)
Wright County 229 Hartville 1841 Pulaski County Silas Wright (1795–1847), an American Democratic politician and Governor of New York &1000000000001881500000018,815 &10000000000000682000000682 sq mi
(&100000000000017660000001,766 km2)

Former county names

County[3] Etymology[3][10] Changed to[3]
Allen County
Unknown
 Atchison County in 1845
Ashley County William Henry Ashley (1778–1838), early settler Texas County in 1845 upon organization
Decatur County Stephen Decatur (1779–1820), American naval officer[12] Ozark County in 1845
Highland County
Unknown
 Sullivan County in 1845 upon organization
Kinderhook County Kinderhook, New York, birthplace of Martin Van Buren Camden County in 1843
Lillard County James Lillard of Tennessee, who served in the first state legislature of Missouri Lafayette County in 1825
Niangua County Niangua River, a tributary of the Osage River – "niangua" comes from the Native American word nehemgar, which means "a river of numerous springs or sources"[13] Dallas County in 1844 because of the difficulty in pronouncing and spelling Niangua
Seneca County Seneca Nation, a group of Native Americans from New York McDonald County in 1847 upon organization
Van Buren County Martin Van Buren (1782–1862), eighth President of the United States and also Vice President under Andrew Jackson Cass County in 1849 in honor of Van Buren's opponent in the presidential election of 1848

See also

References

  1. ^ "Timeline of Missouri History: 1673-1799". Missouri State Government Web. http://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/history/timeline/timeline1.asp. Retrieved October 10, 2009. 
  2. ^ "County Government Links". Missouri State Government Web. http://www.mo.gov/mo/county.htm. Retrieved October 10, 2009. 
  3. ^ a b c d e f "What are the Origins of Missouri Counties?". Missouri State Government Web. http://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/history/counties.asp. Retrieved September 17, 2009. 
  4. ^ "About St. Louis: Government". City of St. Louis. http://stlouis.missouri.org/about/government.html. Retrieved October 12, 2009. 
  5. ^ U.S. Census Bureau, ("Missouri County Selection Map")
  6. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". U.S. Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/maps/missouri_map.html. Retrieved September 28, 2009. 
  7. ^ a b "EPA County FIPS Code Listing". US Environmental Protection Agency. http://www.epa.gov/enviro/html/codes/mo.html. Retrieved September 27, 2009. 
  8. ^ a b c "NACo - Find a county". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Template.cfm?Section=Find_a_County&Template=/cffiles/counties/state.cfm&state.cfm&statecode=MO. Retrieved September 17, 2009. 
  9. ^ Beatty, Michael (2001). County Name Origins of the United States. McFarland Press. ISBN 0786410256. 
  10. ^ a b Coulet du Gard, René; Coulet Western, Dominique (1981). The Handbook of American Counties, Parishes and Independent Cities. Editions des Deux Mondes. ISBN 0939586002. 
  11. ^ Howard Louis Conard (1901). Encyclopedia of the history of Missouri. p. 68. 
  12. ^ Stevens, Walter B. (1921). Centennial history of Missouri (The Center State) One Hundred Years in the Union 1820-1921. Chicago: Clarke Pub. Co. p. 72. 
  13. ^ Stevens, Walter B. (1921). Centennial history of Missouri (The Center State) One Hundred Years in the Union 1820-1921. Chicago: Clarke Pub. Co. p. 73. 

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