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Ray County, Missouri facts for kids

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Ray County
Ray County Courthouse
Ray County Courthouse
Map of Missouri highlighting Ray 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 November 16, 1820
Named for John Ray, Missouri state legislator
Seat Richmond
Largest city Richmond
Area
 • Total 574 sq mi (1,490 km2)
 • Land 569 sq mi (1,470 km2)
 • Water 5.1 sq mi (13 km2)  0.9%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 23,158
 • Density 40.34/sq mi (15.577/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 5th

Ray County is a county located in the northwestern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri and is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, the population was 23,158. Its county seat is Richmond. The county was organized November 16, 1820, and named for John Ray, a Missouri state legislator and member of the first state Constitutional Convention.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 574 square miles (1,490 km2), of which 569 square miles (1,470 km2) is land and 5.4 square miles (14 km2) (0.9%) is water.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

  • MO-10.svg Route 10
  • MO-13.svg Route 13
  • MO-210.svg Route 210

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1830 2,657
1840 6,553 146.6%
1850 10,373 58.3%
1860 14,092 35.9%
1870 18,700 32.7%
1880 20,190 8.0%
1890 24,215 19.9%
1900 24,805 2.4%
1910 21,451 −13.5%
1920 20,508 −4.4%
1930 19,846 −3.2%
1940 18,584 −6.4%
1950 15,932 −14.3%
1960 16,075 0.9%
1970 17,599 9.5%
1980 21,378 21.5%
1990 21,971 2.8%
2000 23,354 6.3%
2010 23,494 0.6%
2020 23,158 −1.4%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2015

As of the census of 2000, there were 23,354 people, 8,743 households, and 6,539 families residing in the county. The population density was 16 people per square mile (6.2 people/km2). There were 9,371 housing units at an average density of 6 units per square mile (2.3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.50% White, 1.46% Black or African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.36% from other races, and 1.13% from two or more races. Approximately 1.08% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 29.6% were of American, 23.3% German, 11.5% English and 10.3% Irish ancestry.

There were 8,743 households, out of which 35.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.10% were married couples living together, 8.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.20% were non-families. 22.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.50% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 28.30% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 12.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 100.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $41,886, and the median income for a family was $49,192. Males had a median income of $36,815 versus $21,684 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,685. About 5.30% of families and 6.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.00% of those under age 18 and 7.80% of those age 65 or over.

2020 Census

Ray County Racial Composition
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 20,893 90.22%
Black or African American (NH) 227 1%
Native American (NH) 133 0.57%
Asian (NH) 76 0.33%
Pacific Islander (NH) 8 0.04%
Other/Mixed (NH) 1,241 5.4%
Hispanic or Latino 580 2.5%

Education

Public schools

  • Hardin-Central C-2 School District – Hardin
    • Hardin-Central Elementary School (PK-06)
    • Hardin-Central High School (07-12)
  • Lawson R-XIV School District – Lawson
    • Southwest Elementary School (PK-04)
    • Lawson Middle School (05-08)
    • Lawson High School (09-12)
  • Orrick R-XI School District – Orrick
    • Orrick Elementary School (PK-06)
    • Orrick High School (07-12)
  • Richmond R-XVI School District – Richmond
    • Dear Elementary School (PK-01)
    • Sunrise Elementary School (02-05)
    • Richmond Middle School (06-08)
    • Richmond High School (09-12)

Public libraries

  • Ray County Library

Communities

Cities

Villages

Census-designated place

Other unincorporated communities

Townships

  • Camden
  • Crooked River
  • Fishing River
  • Grape Grove
  • Knoxville
  • Orrick
  • Polk
  • Richmond

Notable people

  • Robert Ford, outlaw, killer of Jesse James
  • Chad Kilgore, football player
  • Forrest Smith, Missouri's 42nd Governor
  • Gordon Young, cowboy, journalist, novelist

See also

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

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