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 , of which is land and (0.8%) is water.

Adjacent counties Howard County (north) Boone County (northeast) Moniteau County (southeast) Morgan County (south) Pettis County (west) Saline County (northwest)

Major highways

Interstate 70 U.S. Route 40 Route 5 Route 41 Route 87 Route 98 Route 135 Route 179

National protected area Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge

Demographics

2020 census As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 17,103. The median age was 40.7 years; 22.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 106.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 106.3 males age 18 and over.

There were 6,584 households in the county, of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 26.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 7,281 housing units, of which 9.6% were vacant; among occupied housing units, 71.3% were owner-occupied and 28.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.2%.

As of the 2020 census, 47.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 53.0% lived in rural areas.

Racial and ethnic composition As of the 2020 census, the racial makeup of the county was 86.8% White, 5.4% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.7% from some other race, and 6.3% from two or more races; Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.9% of the population.

+Cooper County, Missouri – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010 Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)13,56913,49114,76215,75414,73092.67%90.94%88.55%89.51%86.13%Black or African American alone (NH)8891,1431,4821,2019206.07%7.70%8.89%6.82%5.38%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)31505849530.21%0.34%0.35%0.28%0.31%Asian alone (NH)43473477670.29%0.32%0.20%0.44%0.39%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x included in the Asian category in the 1980 Censusx included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census336xx0.02%0.02%0.04%Other race alone (NH)158148620.10%0.05%0.08%0.05%0.36%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x not an option in the 1980 Censusx not an option in the 1990 Census174277943xx1.04%1.57%5.51%Hispanic or Latino (any race)96961432323220.66%0.65%0.86%1.32%1.88%Total14,64314,83516,67017,60117,103 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

2000 census 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 . There were 6,676 housing units at an average density of . 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.

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. Education

Public schools Blackwater R-II School District – Blackwater Blackwater Elementary School (PK-08) Boonville R-I School District – Boonville 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 District – Bunceton Bunceton Elementary School (K-06) Bunceton High School (07-12) Otterville R-VI School District – Otterville Otterville Elementary School (K-06) Otterville High School (07-12) Pilot Grove C-4 School District – Pilot Grove Pilot Grove Elementary School (PK-05) Pilot Grove Middle School (06-08) Pilot Grove High School (09-12) Prairie Home R-V School District – Prairie Home Prairie Home Elementary School (K-06) Prairie Home High School (07-12)

Private schools Saints Peter & Paul School – Boonville (K-09) – Roman Catholic Zion Lutheran School – Bunceton (02-08) – Lutheran St. Joseph Elementary School – Pilot Grove (K-08) – Roman Catholic

Public libraries Boonville/Cooper Branch Library

Politics

Local The Republican Party completely controls politics at the local level in Cooper County. Republicans hold all of the elected positions in the county.

State + Past Gubernatorial Elections Results Year Republican Democratic Third Parties202472.62% 6,37824.66% 2,1662.72% 239202074.58% 5,43521.87% 1,5943.54% 258201661.89% 4,95835.43% 2,8382.68% 215201251.29% 3,83745.69% 3,4183.02 226200852.28% 4,17045.99% 3,6691.73% 138200461.24% 4,59337.68% 2,8261.08% 81200053.39% 3,64144.18% 3,0132.44% 166199639.00% 2,57657.70% 3,8113.30% 218

Cooper County is divided into three legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives, all of which elected Republicans, but one is currently vacant. District 47 — Chuck Basye (R-Rocheport). Consists of areas east of the city of Boonville.

District 48 — Tim Taylor (politician) (R-Bunceton). Consists of the communities of Blackwater, Boonville, Bunceton, Otterville, and Pilot Grove.

District 50 — Sara Walsh. (R-Ashland). Consists of the community of Prairie Home and much of the rest of the eastern portion of the county.

All of Cooper County is a part of Missouri's 19th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia).

Federal

All of Cooper County is included in Missouri's 4th Congressional District and is currently represented by Vicky Hartzler (R-Harrisonville) in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Communities Cities Blackwater Boonville (county seat) Bunceton Otterville Pilot Grove Prairie Home

Villages Windsor Place Wooldridge

Unincorporated communities

Bellair Billingsville Chouteau Springs Clarks Fork Clifton City Harriston Lamine Lone Elm New Lebanon Overton Pisgah Pleasant Green Speed

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 Country music singer Sara Evans was born in Cooper County.

See also National Register of Historic Places listings in Cooper County, Missouri

References

External links Cooper County Information from MO-River.Net Digitized 1930 Plat Book of Cooper County from University of Missouri Division of Special Collections, Archives, and Rare Books Cooper County Sheriff's Office