Atchison County, Missouri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Atchison County
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Atchison County Memorial Building
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Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
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 Missouri's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Missouri |
| Founded | February 14, 1845 |
| Named for | David Rice Atchison |
| Seat | Rock Port |
| Largest city | Tarkio |
| Area | |
| • Total | 550 sq mi (1,400 km2) |
| • Land | 547 sq mi (1,420 km2) |
| • Water | 2.8 sq mi (7 km2) 0.5% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 5,305 |
| • Density | 9.65/sq mi (3.72/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 6th |
Atchison County is the northwesternmost county in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 5,305. Its county seat is Rock Port. It was originally known as Allen County when it was detached from Holt County in 1843. The county was officially organized on February 14, 1845, and named for U.S. Senator David Rice Atchison from Missouri.
Contents
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 550 square miles (1,400 km2), of which 547 square miles (1,420 km2) is land and 2.8 square miles (7.3 km2) (0.5%) is water.
Atchison's western boundary for the most part is the Missouri River and Nebraska. An 1867 flood straightened a bend in the river north of Watson. Both Nebraska and Missouri claimed the 5,000 acre McKissick Island that extends almost two miles into Atchison County. The Supreme Court in 1904 decided that the land belongs to Nebraska. The only way Nebraskans can reach it by road is to cross the Missouri River and then travel through Missouri.
The State Line Slough (Missouri) stream is in Atchison County.
Adjacent counties
- Fremont County, Iowa (north)
- Page County, Iowa (northeast)
- Nodaway County (east)
- Holt County (south)
- Richardson County, Nebraska (southwest)
- Nemaha County, Nebraska (west)
- Otoe County, Nebraska (northwest)
Major highways
- Interstate 29
- U.S. Route 59
- U.S. Route 136
- U.S. Route 275
- Route 46
- Route 111
Transit
- Jefferson Lines
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 1,678 | — | |
| 1860 | 4,649 | 177.1% | |
| 1870 | 8,440 | 81.5% | |
| 1880 | 14,556 | 72.5% | |
| 1890 | 15,533 | 6.7% | |
| 1900 | 16,501 | 6.2% | |
| 1910 | 13,604 | −17.6% | |
| 1920 | 13,008 | −4.4% | |
| 1930 | 13,421 | 3.2% | |
| 1940 | 12,897 | −3.9% | |
| 1950 | 11,127 | −13.7% | |
| 1960 | 9,213 | −17.2% | |
| 1970 | 9,240 | 0.3% | |
| 1980 | 8,605 | −6.9% | |
| 1990 | 7,457 | −13.3% | |
| 2000 | 6,430 | −13.8% | |
| 2010 | 5,685 | −11.6% | |
| 2020 | 5,305 | −6.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2015 |
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As of the census of 2000, there were 6,430 people, 2,722 households, and 1,777 families residing in the county. The population density was 12 people per square mile (4.6 people/km2). There were 3,103 housing units at an average density of 6 units per square mile (2.3 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.00% White, 2.05% Black or African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.31% from other races, and 0.31% from two or more races. Approximately 0.67% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 2,722 households, out of which 26.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.80% were married couples living together, 6.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.70% were non-families. 31.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.82.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.10% under the age of 18, 6.50% from 18 to 24, 24.20% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 21.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 99.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,959, and the median income for a family was $38,279. Males had a median income of $27,468 versus $18,855 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,956. About 9.30% of families and 11.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.70% of those under age 18 and 12.40% of those age 65 or over.
Religion
According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2010), Atchison County is sometimes regarded as being on the northern edge of the Bible Belt, although mainline Protestantism is the most predominant religion. The most predominant denominations among residents in Atchison County who adhere to a religion are United Methodists (29.93%), Lutherans (LCMC) (22.16%), and Southern Baptists (14.33%).
2020 census
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
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| White (NH) | 4,983 | 94% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 22 | 0.41% |
| Native American (NH) | 25 | 0.5% |
| Asian (NH) | 7 | 0.13% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 0 | 0% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 195 | 3.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 73 | 1.4% |
Education
Public schools
- Fairfax R-III School District – Fairfax
- Fairfax Elementary School (PK-06)
- Fairfax High School (07-12)
- Rock Port R-II School District – Rock Port
- Rock Port Elementary School (K-06)
- Rock Port High School (07-12)
- Tarkio R-I School District – Tarkio
- Tarkio Elementary School (PK-06)
- Tarkio High School (07-12)
Private schools
- Tarkio Academy – Tarkio (07-12) – Nonsectarian (All Boys) - closed
Public libraries
- Atchison County Library
Communities
Cities
Village
Unincorporated communities
Townships
Atchison County is divided into 11 townships:
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Notable people
- Michael J. Burg - Actor
- Zel Fischer - Missouri Supreme Court Justice
- Sam Graves - U.S. Representative for Missouri's 6th Congressional District
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Atchison (Misuri) para niños
