Worth County, Missouri

Worth County, Missouri
County
Worth County Courthouse in Grant City
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
Coordinates: 40°29′N 94°25′W / 40.48°N 94.42°W / 40.48; -94.42
Country United States
State Missouri
FoundedFebruary 8, 1861
Named afterWilliam J. Worth
SeatGrant City
Largest cityGrant City
Area
 • Total
267 sq mi (690 km2)
 • Land267 sq mi (690 km2)
 • Water0.2 sq mi (0.52 km2)  0.08%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
1,973
 • Estimate 
(2021)
1,983
 • Density7.39/sq mi (2.85/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district6th
Websitewww.worthcounty.us

Worth County is a county located in the northwestern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,973.[1] It is the smallest county in the state in population and, excluding the independent city of St. Louis, the smallest in total area. Its county seat is Grant City.[2] The county was organized on February 8, 1861, being split from Gentry County,[3] and named for General William J. Worth, who served in the Mexican–American War.[4] Worth County is also the youngest county in the state.[5]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 267 square miles (690 km2), of which 267 square miles (690 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) (0.08%) is water.[6] It is the smallest county in Missouri by area. Iowa is located to the north of Worth County.

Adjacent counties

Transportation

Major highways

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18705,004—
18808,20363.9%
18908,7386.5%
19009,83212.5%
19108,007−18.6%
19207,642−4.6%
19306,535−14.5%
19406,345−2.9%
19505,120−19.3%
19603,936−23.1%
19703,359−14.7%
19803,008−10.4%
19902,440−18.9%
20002,382−2.4%
20102,171−8.9%
20201,973−9.1%
2021 (est.)1,983[7]0.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2020[1]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 1,973 and a median age of 47.8 years. 20.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 24.5% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 100.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 101.2 males age 18 and over.[12]

The racial makeup of the county was 96.1% White, 0.0% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, 0.3% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.3% from some other race, and 2.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.3% of the population.[13]

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[14]

There were 876 households in the county, of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 24.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[12]

There were 1,114 housing units, of which 21.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 75.5% were owner-occupied and 24.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.1%.[12]

Racial and ethnic composition

The following table shows the county's racial and ethnic composition from 1980 through 2020.

Worth County, Missouri – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 1980[15] Pop 1990[16] Pop 2000[17] Pop 2010[18] Pop 2020[19] % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 2,999 2,424 2,351 2,115 1,887 99.70% 99.34% 98.70% 97.42% 95.64%
Black or African American alone (NH) 1 1 4 11 0 0.03% 0.04% 0.17% 0.51% 0.00%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 0 1 8 5 4 0.00% 0.04% 0.34% 0.23% 0.20%
Asian alone (NH) 2 5 2 6 4 0.07% 0.20% 0.08% 0.28% 0.20%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) x [20] x [21] 0 0 5 x x 0.00% 0.00% 0.25%
Other race alone (NH) 1 0 0 3 0 0.03% 0.00% 0.00% 0.14% 0.00%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) x [22] x [23] 10 8 48 x x 0.42% 0.37% 2.43%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5 9 7 23 25 0.17% 0.37% 0.29% 1.06% 1.27%
Total 3,008 2,440 2,382 2,171 1,973 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,382 people, 1,009 households, and 677 families residing in the county. The population density was 9 people per square mile (3.5 people/km2). There were 1,245 housing units at an average density of 5 units per square mile (1.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.99% White, 0.17% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.08% Asian, and 0.42% from two or more races. Approximately 0.29% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,009 households, out of which 28.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.40% were married couples living together, 7.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.90% were non-families. 30.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.85.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.30% under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 23.50% from 25 to 44, 23.10% from 45 to 64, and 22.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 96.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,471, and the median income for a family was $34,044. Males had a median income of $24,138 versus $17,300 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,367. About 10.90% of families and 14.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.80% of those under age 18 and 11.50% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Public schools

  • Worth County R-III School District – Grant City
    • Worth County Elementary School (PK–6)
    • Worth County High School (7–12)

Public libraries

  • Worth County Library Association[24]

Communities

Cities

Villages

Extinct Places

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Worth County.[25]

† county seat

Rank Name Municipal Type Population
1 Grant City † 4th Class City 817
2 Sheridan 4th Class City 145
3 Worth Village 65
4 Allendale 3rd Class City 48
5 Denver Village 32
6 Irena Village 14

Politics

Local

The Republican Party controls politics at the local level in Worth County. Republicans hold the majority of elected positions in the county.

Worth County, Missouri
Elected countywide officials
Assessor Tresha Petty Republican
Circuit Clerk Jana Findley Republican
County Clerk Roberta Owens Republican
Collector Jessica Davidson Republican
Commissioner
(presiding)		 Jubal Summers Republican
Commissioner
(district 1)		 Regan Nonneman Republican
Commissioner
(district 2)		 Tyler Paxson Republican
Coroner Sharon Paxson Republican
Prosecuting Attorney Janet Wake Larison Democratic
Public Administrator Patsy A. Worthington Republican
Recorder Amanda Gilland Democratic
Sheriff Scott Sherer Republican
Surveyor NA Republican
Treasurer Stephanie Hardy Republican

State

Past Gubernatorial Elections Results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2024 81.37% 878 17.05% 184 1.58% 17
2020 79.36% 869 18.72% 205 1.92% 21
2016 68.79% 714 28.23% 293 2.98% 31
2012 50.14% 524 46.51% 486 3.35% 35
2008 48.95% 559 47.99% 548 3.06% 35
2004 58.43% 662 40.69% 461 0.88% 10
2000 49.16% 557 48.72% 461 2.12% 24
1996 34.11% 425 64.37% 802 1.52% 19

Worth County is part of the 1st district in the Missouri House of Representatives, currently held by Jeff Farnan (R-Stanberry).

Missouri House of Representatives — District 1 — Worth County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Allen Andrews 970 100.00% +16.01
Missouri House of Representatives — District 1 — Worth County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Allen Andrews 640 83.99% −16.01
Democratic Robert Ritterbusch 122 16.01% +16.01
Missouri House of Representatives — District 1 — Worth County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Mike Thomson 946 100.00%

Worth County is part of the 12th District in the Missouri Senate, currently held by Dan Hegeman (R-Cosby).

Missouri Senate — District 12 — Worth County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Dan Hegeman 618 100.00%

Federal

U.S. Senate — Missouri — Worth County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Roy Blunt 667 64.51% +21.42
Democratic Jason Kander 321 31.04% −18.20
Libertarian Jonathan Dine 30 2.90% −4.59
Green Johnathan McFarland 5 0.48% +0.48
Constitution Fred Ryman 11 1.06 +1.06
U.S. Senate — Missouri — Worth County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Todd Akin 449 43.09
Democratic Claire McCaskill 515 49.24
Libertarian Jonathan Dine 78 7.49

Worth County is included in Missouri's 6th Congressional District and is currently represented by Sam Graves (R-Tarkio) in the U.S. House of Representatives.

U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 6th Congressional District — Worth County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sam Graves 780 75.80% +9.93
Democratic David M. Blackwell 206 20.02% −7.34
Libertarian Russ Lee Monchil 29 2.82% −3.95
Green Mike Diel 14 1.36% +1.36
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri’s 6th Congressional District — Worth County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sam Graves 496 65.87% −1.69
Democratic Bill Hedge 206 27.36% −1.92
Libertarian Russ Lee Monchil 51 6.77% +3.61
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 6th Congressional District — Worth County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sam Graves 706 67.56%
Democratic Kyle Yarber 306 29.28%
Libertarian Russ Lee Monchil 33 3.16%
United States presidential election results for Worth County, Missouri[26]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
№  % №  % №  %
1888 771 44.41% 789 45.45% 176 10.14%
1892 624 33.46% 696 37.32% 545 29.22%
1896 885 41.24% 1,248 58.15% 13 0.61%
1900 1,023 45.73% 1,123 50.20% 91 4.07%
1904 1,042 49.78% 967 46.20% 84 4.01%
1908 985 48.43% 993 48.82% 56 2.75%
1912 769 39.11% 973 49.49% 224 11.39%
1916 892 44.29% 1,079 53.57% 43 2.14%
1920 1,888 54.72% 1,532 44.41% 30 0.87%
1924 1,666 49.66% 1,650 49.18% 39 1.16%
1928 1,839 56.46% 1,407 43.20% 11 0.34%
1932 1,041 36.90% 1,763 62.50% 17 0.60%
1936 1,581 44.46% 1,944 54.67% 31 0.87%
1940 1,807 51.44% 1,702 48.45% 4 0.11%
1944 1,444 50.12% 1,437 49.88% 0 0.00%
1948 1,162 42.53% 1,563 57.21% 7 0.26%
1952 1,682 57.72% 1,227 42.11% 5 0.17%
1956 1,338 49.70% 1,354 50.30% 0 0.00%
1960 1,355 50.60% 1,323 49.40% 0 0.00%
1964 831 37.70% 1,373 62.30% 0 0.00%
1968 924 48.55% 853 44.82% 126 6.62%
1972 1,170 61.68% 727 38.32% 0 0.00%
1976 771 44.08% 969 55.40% 9 0.51%
1980 833 50.27% 760 45.87% 64 3.86%
1984 921 55.65% 734 44.35% 0 0.00%
1988 677 47.98% 732 51.88% 2 0.14%
1992 483 34.18% 599 42.39% 331 23.43%
1996 540 42.42% 572 44.93% 161 12.65%
2000 651 56.22% 469 40.50% 38 3.28%
2004 691 61.04% 436 38.52% 5 0.44%
2008 707 60.22% 427 36.37% 40 3.41%
2012 664 63.36% 341 32.54% 43 4.10%
2016 808 77.25% 195 18.64% 43 4.11%
2020 877 79.22% 215 19.42% 15 1.36%
2024 904 81.81% 190 17.19% 11 1.00%

Missouri presidential preference primary (2008)

Main articles: 2008 Missouri Democratic presidential primary and 2008 Missouri Republican presidential primary

Former U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York) received more votes, a total of 171, than any candidate from either party in Worth County during the 2008 presidential primary.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Gamble, William H. "County map of the states of Iowa and Missouri, 1860". Iowa Digital Library. S. Augustus Mitchell 1860. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  4. ^ Eaton, David Wolfe (1918). How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named. The State Historical Society of Missouri. p. 372.
  5. ^ "What are the Origins of Missouri Counties?". State of Missouri. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
  6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
  7. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021". Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  8. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
  9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
  10. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
  11. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
  12. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  13. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  14. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  15. ^ "1980 Census of Population - General Social and Economic Characteristics - Missouri- Table 16 - Persons by Spanish Origin, Race, and Sex: 1980" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 20-25.
  16. ^ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Missouri: Table 5 - Race and Hispanic Origin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 13-63.
  17. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Worth County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau.
  18. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Worth County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau.
  19. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Worth County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau.
  20. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  21. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  22. ^ not an option in the 1980 Census
  23. ^ not an option in the 1990 Census
  24. ^ Breeding, Marshall. "Worth County Library Association". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  25. ^ "2023-2024 Official Manual of the State of Missouri". Missouri Secretary of State. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  26. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 27, 2018.

40°29′N 94°25′W / 40.48°N 94.42°W / 40.48; -94.42

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