Cole County, Missouri facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cole County
U.S. county
The Cole County Courthouse in Jefferson City
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
Missouri's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Missouri
Founded	1820
Named for	Stephen Cole
Seat	Jefferson City
Largest city	Jefferson City
Area
• Total	402 sq mi (1,040 km2)
• Land	394 sq mi (1,020 km2)
• Water	8.2 sq mi (21 km2)  2.0%
Population  (2020)
• Total	77,279
• Density	192.24/sq mi (74.22/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	3rd

Cole County is located in the central part of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, its population was 77,279. Its county seat and largest city is Jefferson City, the state capital. The county was organized November 16, 1820, and named after pioneer William Temple Cole who built Cole's Fort in Boonville.

Cole County is in the Jefferson City, MO Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is south of the Missouri River.

In 2010, the center of the population of Missouri was in Cole County, near the village of Wardsville.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 402 square miles (1,040 km²), of which 394 square miles (1,020 km²) is land and 8.2 square miles (21 km²) (2.0%) is water. It is the third-smallest county in Missouri by area.

Adjacent counties

• Boone County (north)
• Callaway County (northeast)
• Osage County (southeast)
• Miller County (southwest)
• Moniteau County (northwest)

Major highways

• U.S. Route 50
• U.S. Route 54
• U.S. Route 63
• Route 17
• Route 179

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 71,397 people, 27,040 households, and 17,927 families residing in the county. The population density was 182 inhabitants per square mile (70/km²). There were 28,915 housing units at an average density of 74 units per square mile (29/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 87.06% White, 9.92% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.88% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.54% from other races, and 1.23% from two or more races. Approximately 1.28% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 40.1% were of German, 13.6% American, 7.8% English and 6.9% Irish ancestry.

There were 27,040 households, out of which 33.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.00% were married couples living together, 10.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.70% were non-families. 28.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.30% 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 3.00.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.20% under the age of 18, 9.80% from 18 to 24, 32.30% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 11.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,924, and the median income for a family was $53,416. Males had a median income of $33,769 versus $25,189 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,739. About 5.80% of families and 8.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.50% of those under age 18 and 7.30% of those age 65 or over.

2020 Census

Education

Public schools

• Blair Oaks R-II School District – Jefferson City
  • Blair Oaks Elementary School (K-02)
  • Blair Oaks Intermediate School (03-05)
  • Blair Oaks Middle School (06-08)
  • Blair Oaks High School (09-12)
• Cole County R-I School District – Russellville
  • Cole County R-I Elementary School (PK-06)
  • Russellville Junior/Senior High School (07-12)
• Cole County R-V School District – Eugene
  • Eugene Elementary School (PK-06)
  • Eugene High School (07-12)
• Jefferson City Public School District – Jefferson City
  • Southwest Early Childhood Education Center (PK)
  • Callaway Hills Elementary School (K-05) – Holts Summit
  • South Elementary School (K-05)
  • Thorpe J. Gordon STEM Elementary School (K-05)
  • East Elementary School (K-05)
  • North Elementary School (K-05) – Holts Summit
  • Cedar Hill Elementary School (K-05)
  • West Elementary School (K-05)
  • Moreau Heights Elementary School (K-05)
  • Belair Elementary School (K-05)
  • Pioneer Trail Elementary School (K-05)
  • Clarence Lawson Elementary School (K-05)
  • Thomas Jefferson Middle School (06-08)
  • Lewis & Clark Middle School (06-08)
  • Jefferson City High School (09-12)
  • Capital City High School (09-12)

Private schools

• Immaculate Conception School – Jefferson City (PK-08) – Roman Catholic
• Immanuel Lutheran School – Jefferson City (PK-08) – Lutheran
• Moreau Montessori School – Jefferson City (PK-03) – Nonsectarian
• River Oak Christian Academy– Jefferson City (PK-07) – Nondenominational Christian
• St. Francis Xavier School – Taos (K-08) – Roman Catholic
• St. Joseph Cathedral School – Jefferson City (PK-08) – Roman Catholic
• St. Martin School – St. Martins (K-08) – Roman Catholic
• St. Peter Interparish School – Jefferson City (PK-08) – Roman Catholic
• St. Stanislaus Catholic School – Wardsville (K-08) – Roman Catholic
• St. Thomas The Apostle School – Saint Thomas (PK-08) – Roman Catholic
• Lighthouse Preparatory Academy – Jefferson City (PK-12) – Nondenominational Christian
• Trinity Lutheran School – Jefferson City (PK-08) – Lutheran
• Calvary Lutheran High School – Jefferson City (09-12) – Lutheran
• Helias Catholic High School – Jefferson City (09-12) – Roman Catholic

Post-secondary education

• Lincoln University – Jefferson City – A public, four-year historically black university.

Public libraries

• Missouri River Regional Library

Communities

Cities

• Jefferson City (county seat and state capital; a small portion extends into Callaway County)
• Lohman
• Russellville
• St. Martins
• St. Thomas
• Taos

Villages

• Centertown
• Wardsville

Unincorporated communities

Education

School districts include:

• Blair Oaks R-II School District
• Cole County R-I School District
• Cole County R-V School District
• Jamestown C-1 School District
• Jefferson City Public Schools

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Cole para niños