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Cooper County, Missouri facts for kids

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Cooper County
Cooper County Courthouse in Boonville
Cooper County Courthouse in Boonville
Map of Missouri highlighting Cooper 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, 1818
Named for Sarshell Cooper
Seat Boonville
Largest city Boonville
Area
 • Total 569 sq mi (1,470 km2)
 • Land 565 sq mi (1,460 km2)
 • Water 4.4 sq mi (11 km2)  0.8%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 17,103
 • Density 30.058/sq mi (11.605/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 4th

Cooper County is located in the central portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 17,103. Its county seat is Boonville. The county was organized December 17, 1818, and named for Sarshell Cooper, a frontier settler who was killed by Native Americans near Arrow Rock in 1814. It is a part of the Columbia, Missouri metropolitan area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 569 square miles (1,470 km2), of which 565 square miles (1,460 km2) is land and 4.4 square miles (11 km2) (0.8%) is water.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1820 6,959
1830 6,904 −0.8%
1840 10,484 51.9%
1850 12,950 23.5%
1860 17,356 34.0%
1870 20,692 19.2%
1880 21,596 4.4%
1890 22,707 5.1%
1900 22,532 −0.8%
1910 20,311 −9.9%
1920 19,308 −4.9%
1930 19,522 1.1%
1940 18,075 −7.4%
1950 16,608 −8.1%
1960 15,448 −7.0%
1970 14,732 −4.6%
1980 14,643 −0.6%
1990 14,835 1.3%
2000 16,670 12.4%
2010 17,601 5.6%
2020 17,103 −2.8%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2015

As of the 2000 census, there were 16,670 people, 5,932 households and 4,140 families residing in the county. The population density was 30 inhabitants per square mile (12/km2). There were 6,676 housing units at an average density of 12 units per square mile (4.6/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 89.05% White, 8.96% Black or African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.28% from other races, and 1.11% from two or more races. Approximately 0.86% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 38.1% were of German, 18.7% American, 8.1% English and 8.0% Irish ancestry.

There were 5,932 households, of which 31.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.40% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.20% were non-families. 26.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.97.

Age distribution was 22.80% under the age of 18, 14.00% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 20.60% from 45 to 64, and 15.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 117.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 120.00 males.

The median household income was $35,313, and the median family income was $41,526. Males had a median income of $28,513 versus $20,965 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,648. About 8.30% of families and 10.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.80% of those under age 18 and 8.30% of those age 65 or over.

2020 Census

Cooper County Racial Composition
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 14,730 86.13%
Black or African American (NH) 920 5.4%
Native American (NH) 53 0.31%
Asian (NH) 67 0.4%
Pacific Islander (NH) 6 0.04%
Other/Mixed (NH) 1,005 6%
Hispanic or Latino 322 2%

Education

Public schools

  • Blackwater R-II School DistrictBlackwater
    • Blackwater Elementary School (PK-08)
  • Boonville R-I School DistrictBoonville
    • Hannah Cole Primary School (PK-02)
    • David Barton Elementary School (03-05)
    • Laura Speed Elliott Middle School (06-08)
    • Boonville High School (09-12)
  • Cooper County R-IV School DistrictBunceton
    • Bunceton Elementary School (K-06)
    • Bunceton High School (07-12)
  • Otterville R-VI School DistrictOtterville
    • Otterville Elementary School (K-06)
    • Otterville High School (07-12)
  • Pilot Grove C-4 School DistrictPilot Grove
    • Pilot Grove Elementary School (PK-05)
    • Pilot Grove Middle School (06-08)
    • Pilot Grove High School (09-12)
  • Prairie Home R-V School DistrictPrairie Home
    • Prairie Home Elementary School (K-06)
    • Prairie Home High School (07-12)

Private schools

Public libraries

  • Boonville/Cooper Branch Library

Communities

Cities

Villages

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Cooper County is divided into 14 townships:

  • Blackwater
  • Boonville
  • Clark Fork
  • Clear Creek
  • Kelly
  • Lamine
  • Lebanon
  • North Moniteau
  • Otterville
  • Palestine
  • Pilot Grove
  • Prairie Home
  • Saline
  • South Moniteau

Notable person

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Cooper (Misuri) para niños

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