Missouri

Overview

• Population: 5,595,211 (Change since 1990: +9.3%)
• Statehood: Aug. 10, 1821
• Capital city: Jefferson City
• Highest point: Taum Sauk Mountain, 1772 ft.
• Lowest point: Southwest tip of Bootheel, 230 ft.

Counties

• Bollinger County
  • Population: 12,029 (Change since 1990: +13.3%)
  • Created: March 1, 1851
  • County seat: Marble Hill
  • Largest town: Marble Hill (Pop. 1,502)
  • Name origin: Col. George Frederick Bollinger
• Butler County
  • Population: 40,867 (Change since 1990: +5.4%)
  • Created: February 27, 1849
  • County seat: Poplar Bluff
  • Largest town: Poplar Bluff (Pop. 16,651)
  • Name origin: Gen. William Orlando Butler
• Cape Girardeau County
  • Population: 68,693 (Change since 1990: +11.5%)
  • Created: October 1, 1812
  • County seat: Jackson
  • Largest town: Cape Girardeau (Pop. 35,349)
  • Name origin: Ensign Jean B. Girardot
• Carter County
  • Population: 5,941 (Change since 1990: +7.7%)
  • Created: March 10, 1859
  • County seat: Van Buren
  • Largest town: Van Buren (Pop. 845)
  • Name origin: Zimri A. Carter
• Crawford County
  • Population: 22,804 (Change since 1990: +18.9%)
  • Created: January 23, 1829
  • County seat: Steelville
  • Largest town: Cuba (Pop. 3,230)
  • Name origin: William H. Crawford
• Dent County
  • Population: 14,927 (Change since 1990: +8.9%)
  • Created: February 10, 1851
  • County seat: Salem
  • Largest town: Salem (Pop. 4,854)
  • Name origin: Lewis Dent
• Dunklin County
  • Population: 33,155 (Change since 1990: +0.1%)
  • Created: February 14, 1845
  • County seat: Kennett
  • Largest town: Kennett (Pop. 11,260)
  • Name origin: Daniel Dunklin
• Franklin County
  • Population: 93,807 (Change since 1990: +16.4%)
  • Created: December 11, 1818
  • County seat: Union
  • Largest town: Washington (Pop. 13,243)
  • Name origin: Benjamin Franklin
• Gasconade County
  • Population: 15,342 (Change since 1990: +9.5%)
  • Created: November 25, 1820
  • County seat: Hermann
  • Largest town: Hermann (Pop. 2,674)
• Howell County
  • Population: 31,447 (1990 census)
  • Created: March 2, 1857
  • County seat: West Plains
  • Largest town: West Plains (Pop. 10,866)
  • Name origin: James Howell
• Iron County
  • Population: 10,697 (Change since 1990: -0.3%)
  • Created: February 17, 1857
  • County seat: Ironton
  • Largest town: Ironton (Pop. 1,471)
  • Name origin: iron mining
• Jefferson County
  • Population: 198,099 (Change since 1990: +15.6%)
  • Created: December 8, 1818
  • County seat: Hillsboro
  • Largest town: Arnold (Pop. 19,965)
  • Name origin: Thomas Jefferson
• Madison County
  • Population: 11,800 (Change since 1990: +6.0%)
  • Created: December 14, 1818
  • County seat: Fredericktown
  • Largest town: Fredericktown (Pop. 3,928)
  • Name origin: James Madison
• Mississippi County
  • Population: 13,427 (Change since 1990: -7.0%)
  • Created: February 14, 1845
  • County seat: Charleston
  • Largest town: Charleston (Pop. 4,732)
  • Name origin: Mississippi River
• New Madrid County
  • Population: 19,760 (Change since 1990: -5.6%)
  • Created: October 1, 1812
  • County seat: New Madrid
  • Largest town: New Madrid (Pop. 3,334)
  • Name origin: New Madrid
• Oregon County
  • Population: 10,344 (Change since 1990: +9.2%)
  • Created: February 14, 1854
  • County seat: Alton
  • Largest town: Thayer (Pop. 2,201)
  • Name origin: Territory of Oregon
• Pemiscot County
  • Population: 20,047 (Change since 1990: -8.5%)
  • Created: February 19, 1851
  • County seat: Caruthersville
  • Largest town: Caruthersville (Pop. 6,760)
  • Name origin: "liquid mud"
• Perry County
  • Population: 18,132 (Change since 1990: +8.9%)
  • Created: November 16, 1820
  • County seat: Perryville
  • Largest town: Perryville (Pop. 7,667)
  • Name origin: Oliver Perry
• Phelps County
  • Population: 39,825 (Change since 1990: +13.0%)
  • Created: November 13, 1857
  • County seat: Rolla
  • Largest town: Rolla (Pop. 16,367)
  • Name origin: John F. Phelps
• Reynolds County
  • Population: 6,689 (Change since 1990: +0.4%)
  • Created: February 25, 1845
  • County seat: Centerville
  • Largest town: Ellington (Pop. 1,045)
  • Name origin: Thomas Reynolds
• Ripley County
  • Population: 13,509 (Change since 1990: +9.8%)
  • Created: January 5, 1833
  • County seat: Doniphan
  • Largest town: Doniphan (Pop. 1,932)
  • Name origin: Gen. Eleazer W. Ripley
• Scott County
  • Population: 40,422 (Change since 1990: +2.7%)
  • Created: December 28, 1821
  • County seat: Benton
  • Largest town: Sikeston (Pop. 16,992)
  • Name origin: John Scott
• Shannon County
  • Population: 8,324 (Change since 1990: +9.3%)
  • Created: January 29, 1841
  • County seat: Eminence
  • Largest town: Winona (Pop. 1,290)
  • Name origin: George Shannon
• St. Francois County
  • Population: 55,641 (Change since 1990: +13.8%)
  • Created: December 19, 1821
  • County seat: Farmington
  • Largest town: Farmington (Pop. 13,924)
  • Name origin: St. Francis River
• St. Louis County
  • Population: 1,016,315 (Change since 1990: +2.3%)
  • Created: October 1, 1812
  • County seat: Clayton
  • Largest town: Florissant (Pop. 50,497)
  • Name origin: City of St. Louis
• St. Louis
  • Population: 348,189 (Change since 1990: -12.2%)
  • Name origin: King Louis IX of France
• Ste. Genevieve County
  • Population: 17,842 (Change since 1990: +11.3%)
  • Created: October 1, 1812
  • County seat: Ste. Genevieve
  • Largest town: Ste. Genevieve (Pop. 4,476)
  • Name origin: Sainte Genevieve
• Stoddard County
  • Population: 29,705 (Change since 1990: +2.8%)
  • Created: January 2, 1835
  • County seat: Bloomfield
  • Largest town: Dexter (Pop. 7,356)
  • Name origin: Maj. Amos Stoddard
• Texas County
  • Population: 23,003 (Change since 1990: +7.1%)
  • Created: February 14, 1845
  • County seat: Houston
  • Largest town: Cabool (Pop. 2,168)
  • Name origin: Republic of Texas
• Washington County
  • Population: 23,344 (Change since 1990: +14.5%)
  • Created: August 21, 1813
  • County seat: Potosi
  • Largest town: Potosi (Pop. 2,662)
  • Name origin: George Washington
• Wayne County
  • Population: 13,259 (Change since 1990: +14.9%)
  • Created: December 11, 1818
  • County seat: Greenville
  • Largest town: Piedmont (Pop. 1,992)
  • Name origin: Gen. Anthony Wayne

History

Timeline

Apr. 9, 1682

Robert Cavalier, Sieur de La Salle, claimed possession of Mississippi River valley for France. Named Louisiana after King Louis XIV.

Nov. 13, 1762

Spain took possession of Louisiana in Treaty of Fountainbleau

Oct. 30, 1800

France regained control of Louisiana

Apr. 30, 1803

Louisiana Purchased signed

Mar. 3, 1805

Louisiana Territory established with seat of government at St. Louis

Jun. 4, 1812

Missouri Territory divided from Louisiana

Oct. 1, 1812

First general assembly of Missouri Territory held. Five original counties (Cape Girardeau, New Madrid, St. Charles, St. Louis, and Ste. Genevieve) established.

Jul. 19, 1820

First Missouri Constitution adopted

Aug. 10, 1821

Missouri officially admitted as the 24th state

Oct. 1, 1826

Seat of government officially moved to Jefferson City

Apr. 10, 1865

Second Missouri Constitution adopted

Oct. 30, 1875

Third Missouri Constitution adopted

Mar. 30, 1945

Fourth and current Missouri Constitution enacted

Demographics