kids encyclopedia robot

Audrain County, Missouri facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Audrain County
U.S. county
The Audrain County Courthouse in Mexico
The Audrain County Courthouse in Mexico
Official seal of Audrain County
Seal
Nickname(s): 
Biofuel Capital of Missouri
Map of Missouri highlighting Audrain County
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
Map of the United States highlighting Missouri
Missouri's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Missouri
Founded December 17, 1836
Named for James Hunter Audrain
Seat Mexico
Largest city Mexico
Area
 • Total 697 sq mi (1,810 km2)
 • Land 692 sq mi (1,790 km2)
 • Water 4.6 sq mi (12 km2)  0.7%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 24,962
 • Estimate 
(2021)
 24,982 Increase
 • Density 35.813/sq mi (13.828/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts 4th, 6th

Audrain County is a county located in the central part of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 24,962. Its county seat is Mexico. The county was organized December 13, 1836, and named for Colonel James Hunter Audrain of the War of 1812 and who later was elected to the state legislature.

History

Audrain county was formed from a non-county area with portions under the administration of Montgomery, Callaway, Boone, Ralls, or Monroe counties at various times prior to its official establishment in 1836. Thus, records for locations now in Audrain prior to 1836 may indicate location in those counties instead. Some details have been summarized on the website of the Northeast Missouri Genealogy Village, and a dynamic map showing some of the changes is on the 'mapgeeks' website showing historical maps of the states of the United States. (See 'External Links' below.)

Today's Audrain County historical website data (see 'External Links' below) indicates that the county was divided about 50/50 during the historic US Civil War and that US Army Commander General Ulysses Grant was resident there briefly during that time. While Audrain county shared some history with neighboring counties, it does not border the Missouri River.

According to some Confederate historian publications, Audrain County was one of several nearby counties settled by migrants from the Upper South, especially Kentucky and Tennessee; that some brought slaves and slaveholding traditions with them, cultivating crops similar to those in Middle Tennessee and Kentucky such as hemp and tobacco, or brought antebellum architecture and culture; and that the county was considered by those historians to be in the heart of what was called "Little Dixie".

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 697 square miles (1,810 km2), of which 692 square miles (1,790 km2) is land and 4.6 square miles (12 km2) (0.7%) is water.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

  • US 54.svg U.S. Route 54
  • Business plate.svg
    US 54.svg U.S. Route 54 Business
  • MO-15.svg Route 15
  • MO-19.svg Route 19
  • MO-22.svg Route 22
  • MO-151.svg Route 151

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1840 1,949 —
1850 3,506 79.9%
1860 8,075 130.3%
1870 12,307 52.4%
1880 19,732 60.3%
1890 22,074 11.9%
1900 21,160 −4.1%
1910 21,687 2.5%
1920 20,589 −5.1%
1930 22,077 7.2%
1940 22,673 2.7%
1950 23,829 5.1%
1960 26,079 9.4%
1970 25,362 −2.7%
1980 26,458 4.3%
1990 23,599 −10.8%
2000 25,853 9.6%
2010 25,529 −1.3%
2020 24,962 −2.2%
2021 (est.) 24,982 −2.1%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2020

Audrain County comprises the Mexico, MO Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Columbia-Moberly-Mexico, MO Combined Statistical Area.

As of the census of 2010, there were 25,529 people, 9,844 households, and 6,762 families residing in the county. The population density was 37 inhabitants per square mile (14/km2). There were 10,881 housing units at an average density of 16 units per square mile (6.2/km2). 89.8% of the population were White, 6.4% Black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.4% Native American, 1.2% of some other race and 1.7% of two or more races. 2.6% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). 33.2% were of German, 16.0% American, 9.3% Irish and 8.4% English ancestry.

There were 9,844 households, out of which 31.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.20% were married couples living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.30% were non-families. 27.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.60% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 28.20% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 16.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 84.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,057, and the median income for a family was $40,448. Males had a median income of $28,550 versus $20,712 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,441. About 11.10% of families and 14.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.30% of those under age 18 and 9.80% of those age 65 or over.

Religion

According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2010), Audrain County is sometimes regarded as being on the northern edge of the Bible Belt, with evangelical Protestantism being the most predominant religion. The most predominant denominations among residents in Audrain County who adhere to a religion are Southern Baptists (36.07%), Roman Catholics (12.55%), and Christian Churches and Churches of Christ (8.09%).

2020 census

Audrain County Racial Composition
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 21,450 86%
Black or African American (NH) 1,304 5.22%
Native American (NH) 63 0.3%
Asian (NH) 114 0.5%
Pacific Islander (NH) 2 0.01%
Other/Mixed (NH) 1,298 5.2%
Hispanic or Latino 731 3%

Education

Public schools

  • Community R-VI School District – Laddonia
    • Community Elementary School (PK-05)
    • Community High School (06-12)
  • Mexico School District No. 59 – Mexico
    • McMillan Early Learning Center (PK-K)
    • Hawthorne Elementary School (K-05)
    • Eugene Field Elementary School (K-05)
    • Mexico Middle School (06-08)
    • Mexico High School (09-12)
  • Van-Far R-I School District – Vandalia
    • Van-Far Elementary School (PK-06)
    • Van-Far High School (07-12)

Private schools

Public libraries

  • Mexico-Audrain County Library District

Communities

Cities

Villages

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Audrain County is divided into eight townships:

  • Cuivre
  • Linn
  • Loutre
  • Prairie
  • Saling
  • Salt River
  • South Fork
  • Wilson

Notable people

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Audrain para niños

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
Audrain County, Missouri Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.