Henry County, Missouri

Henry County is a county located in the western portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 21,946.^[1] Its county seat is Clinton.^[2] The county was organized December 13, 1834, as Rives County but was renamed in 1841 for Revolutionary War patriot Patrick Henry.^[3][4] The county originally had been named after William Cabell Rives,^[5] who was then serving as a U.S. Senator from Virginia. However, Rives lost popularity in Missouri after he joined the Whig Party.

Henry County
County
Henry County courthouse in Clinton
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
Missouri's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°23′N 93°47′W
Country	United States
State	Missouri
Founded	December 13, 1834
Named after	Patrick Henry
Seat	Clinton
Largest city	Clinton
Area
• Total	732 sq mi (1,900 km2)
• Land	697 sq mi (1,810 km2)
• Water	35 sq mi (90 km2)  4.8%
Population  (2020)
• Total	21,946
• Density	30/sq mi (12/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	4th
Website	www.henrycomo.com

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 732 square miles (1,900 km²), of which 697 square miles (1,810 km²) is land and 35 square miles (91 km²) (4.8%) is water.^[6]

Adjacent counties

• Johnson County (north)
• Pettis County (northeast)
• Benton County (east)
• St. Clair County (south)
• Bates County (west)
• Cass County (northwest)

Major highways

• Route 7
• Route 13
• Route 18
• Route 52

Transit

• Jefferson Lines

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1840	4,726		—
1850	4,052		−14.3%
1860	9,866		143.5%
1870	17,401		76.4%
1880	23,906		37.4%
1890	28,235		18.1%
1900	28,054		−0.6%
1910	27,242		−2.9%
1920	25,116		−7.8%
1930	22,931		−8.7%
1940	22,313		−2.7%
1950	20,043		−10.2%
1960	19,226		−4.1%
1970	18,451		−4.0%
1980	19,672		6.6%
1990	20,044		1.9%
2000	21,997		9.7%
2010	22,272		1.3%
2020	21,946		−1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9] 1990-2000[10] 2010[11]

As of the census^[12] of 2000, there were 21,997 people, 9,133 households, and 6,246 families residing in the county. The population density was 31 people per square mile (12 people/km²). There were 10,261 housing units at an average density of 15 units per square mile (5.8/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.61% White, 1.02% Black or African American, 0.70% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races, and 1.05% from two or more races. Approximately 0.91% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 9,133 households, out of which 28.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.30% were married couples living together, 9.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.60% were non-families. 27.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.70% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 25.80% from 25 to 44, 24.40% from 45 to 64, and 18.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 95.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,949, and the median income for a family was $36,328. Males had a median income of $27,932 versus $19,201 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,468. About 11.40% of families and 14.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.40% of those under age 18 and 13.90% of those age 65 or over.

2020 Census

Henry County Racial Composition^[13]

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (NH)	19,800	90.22%
Black or African American (NH)	177	0.8%
Native American (NH)	89	0.4%
Asian (NH)	91	0.41%
Pacific Islander (NH)	6	0.03%
Other/Mixed (NH)	1,210	5.51%
Hispanic or Latino	573	2.61%

Education

Historic photo of Baird College in Clinton

Public schools

• Calhoun R-VIII School District– Calhoun
  • Calhoun Elementary School (K-06)
  • Calhoun High School (07–12)
• Clinton School District – Clinton
  • Clinton Early Childhood Center (PK)
  • Henry Elementary School (K-02)
  • Clinton Intermediate School (03–05)
  • Clinton Middle School (06–08)
  • Clinton High School (09–12)
• Davis R-XII School District – Clinton
  • Davis Elementary School (K-08)
• Henry County R-I School District – Windsor
  • Windsor Elementary School (PK-06)
  • Windsor High School (07–12)
• Lakeland R-III School District – Deepwater/Lowry City
  • Actually located in St. Clair County
  • Lakeland Elementary School (PK-06)
  • Lakeland High School (07–12)
• Leesville R-IX School District – Clinton
  • Leesville Elementary School (K-08)
• Montrose R-XIV School District – Montrose
  • Montrose Elementary School (K-08)
  • Montrose High School (09–12)
• Shawnee R-III School District – Chilhowee
  • Shawnee Elementary School (K-08)

Private schools

• Windsor Amish Schools – Windsor (01–08) – Amish
• St. Mary's School – Montrose (01–08) – Roman Catholic
• Holy Rosary Catholic School – Clinton (PK-08) – Roman Catholic
• Clinton Christian Academy – Clinton (K4-12) – Nondenominational Christian

Public libraries

• Henry County Library^[14]
• Lenora Blackmore Branch of Henry County Library^[15]

Politics

Local

The Democratic Party historically controls politics at the local level in Henry County. However, recent gains by Republicans have made Henry County a swing county.

Henry County, Missouri
Elected countywide officials
Assessor	Scott Largent	Republican
Circuit Clerk	Wendi McGhee	Republican
County Clerk	Rick Watson	Republican
Collector	Maggie Stoddard	Democratic
Commissioner (presiding)	Jim Stone	Republican
Commissioner (district 1)	Daniel L. Doll	Democratic
Commissioner (district 2)	Jim Talley	Democratic
Coroner	Dain Sisk	Republican
Prosecuting Attorney	LaChrisha Gray	Republican
Public Administrator	Allen Huff	Republican
Recorder	Gail Perrymann	Republican
Sheriff	J. Kent Oberkrom	Republican
Surveyor	Jacob Hann	Democratic
Treasurer	Maggie Stoddard	Democratic

State

Past Gubernatorial Elections Results

Year	Republican	Democratic	Third Parties
2024	74.17% 7,957	23.56% 2,527	2.28% 244
2020	74.00% 7,928	24.02% 2,574	1.98% 212
2016	59.40% 5,582	37.51% 3,695	3.09% 304
2012	42.14% 4,277	53.85% 5,430	3.74% 377
2008	35.70% 3,935	61.79% 6,810	2.51% 277
2004	50.47% 5,471	48.29% 5,235	1.23% 134
2000	45.63% 4,420	52.36% 5,072	2.01% 194
1996	34.41% 3,135	62.70% 5,712	2.89% 263

All of Henry County is a part of Missouri's 57th District in the Missouri House of Representatives and is represented by Rodger Reedy (R-Windsor), who was elected in 2018.^[16]

Missouri House of Representatives — District 57 — Henry County (2016)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Wanda Brown	6,237	64.30%	+1.92
	Democratic	William A. Grimes	3,463	35.70%	+2.03

Missouri House of Representatives — District 57 — Henry County (2014)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Wanda Brown	3,348	62.38%	+10.58
	Democratic	William A. Grimes	1,807	33.67%	−14.53
	Constitution	Butch Page	212	3.95%	+3.95

Missouri House of Representatives — District 57 — Henry County (2012)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Wanda Brown	5,012	51.80%
	Democratic	Don Bullock	4,664	48.20%

All of Henry County is a part of Missouri's 31st District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Ed Emery (R-Lamar).

Missouri Senate — District 31 — Henry County (2016)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Ed Emery	6,916	73.97%	+14.28
	Libertarian	Lora Young	1,132	12.11%	+12.11
	Independent	Tim Wells	1,302	13.92%	+13.92

Missouri Senate — District 31 — Henry County (2012)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Ed Emery	5,812	59.69%
	Constitution	Charles A. Burton	3,925	40.31%

Federal

U.S. Senate — Missouri — Henry County (2016)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Roy Blunt	5,500	55.82%	+15.28
	Democratic	Jason Kander	3,785	38.41%	−12.63
	Libertarian	Jonathan Dine	310	3.15%	−5.27
	Green	Johnathan McFarland	144	1.46%	+1.46
	Constitution	Fred Ryman	114	1.16%	+1.16

U.S. Senate — Missouri — Henry County (2012)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Todd Akin	4,066	40.54%
	Democratic	Claire McCaskill	5,119	51.04%
	Libertarian	Jonathan Dine	844	8.42%

All of Henry 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.

U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 4th Congressional District — Henry County (2016)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Vicky Hartzler	6,927	71.30%	+3.40
	Democratic	Gordon Christensen	2,399	24.69%	−2.47
	Libertarian	Mark Bliss	389	4.00%	−0.94

U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 4th Congressional District — Henry County (2014)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Vicky Hartzler	3,630	67.90%	+7.82
	Democratic	Nate Irvin	1,452	27.16%	−8.39
	Libertarian	Herschel L. Young	264	4.94%	+1.77

U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri’s 4th Congressional District — Henry County (2012)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Vicky Hartzler	5,970	60.08%
	Democratic	Teresa Hensley	3,532	35.55%
	Libertarian	Thomas Holbrook	315	3.17%
	Constitution	Greg Cowan	119	1.20%

Political culture

United States presidential election results for Henry County, Missouri^[17]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	8,286	75.80%	2,535	23.19%	111	1.02%
2020	8,027	74.29%	2,619	24.24%	159	1.47%
2016	7,075	71.38%	2,357	23.78%	480	4.84%
2012	6,229	61.18%	3,606	35.42%	347	3.41%
2008	6,095	54.62%	4,869	43.63%	195	1.75%
2004	6,361	58.48%	4,461	41.01%	55	0.51%
2000	5,120	52.36%	4,459	45.60%	199	2.04%
1996	3,260	35.68%	4,579	50.11%	1,298	14.21%
1992	2,681	27.53%	4,232	43.45%	2,827	29.02%
1988	4,167	50.04%	4,135	49.65%	26	0.31%
1984	5,419	59.16%	3,741	40.84%	0	0.00%
1980	4,807	49.19%	4,648	47.56%	317	3.24%
1976	4,168	43.89%	5,282	55.62%	47	0.49%
1972	5,802	64.99%	3,125	35.01%	0	0.00%
1968	3,824	47.68%	3,514	43.82%	682	8.50%
1964	3,083	34.86%	5,761	65.14%	0	0.00%
1960	6,012	56.65%	4,601	43.35%	0	0.00%
1956	5,789	54.16%	4,900	45.84%	0	0.00%
1952	6,628	59.07%	4,576	40.78%	16	0.14%
1948	4,619	45.40%	5,551	54.56%	4	0.04%
1944	5,564	54.69%	4,587	45.09%	23	0.23%
1940	6,332	50.97%	6,069	48.85%	22	0.18%
1936	4,927	40.68%	7,145	59.00%	39	0.32%
1932	3,631	34.58%	6,809	64.85%	60	0.57%
1928	6,263	59.07%	4,319	40.73%	21	0.20%
1924	4,616	46.76%	4,706	47.68%	549	5.56%
1920	5,313	49.14%	5,367	49.63%	133	1.23%
1916	2,727	41.90%	3,653	56.12%	129	1.98%
1912	1,162	18.40%	3,396	53.78%	1,757	27.82%
1908	2,854	43.30%	3,577	54.27%	160	2.43%
1904	2,799	44.49%	3,222	51.22%	270	4.29%
1900	2,626	39.49%	3,777	56.81%	246	3.70%
1896	3,234	41.79%	4,442	57.41%	62	0.80%
1892	2,563	39.19%	3,475	53.13%	502	7.68%
1888	2,634	42.44%	3,289	52.99%	284	4.58%

Communities

Cities

• Blairstown
• Brownington
• Calhoun
• Clinton (county seat)
• Deepwater
• Montrose
• Urich
• Windsor

Villages

• La Due
• Tightwad

Census-designated place

• Hartwell

Unincorporated communities

• Bowen
• Coal
• Finey
• Garland
• Germantown
• Huntingdale
• Leesville
• Lewis
• Lucas
• Maurine
• Mount Zion
• Petersburg
• Piper
• Quarles
• Roseland
• Shawnee Mound

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Henry County, Missouri