Worth County, Missouri

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 February 8, 1861, and named for General William J. Worth, who served in the Mexican–American War.^[3] Worth County is also the youngest county in the state.^[4]

Worth County
County
Worth County Courthouse in Grant City
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
Missouri's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°29′N 94°25′W
Country	United States
State	Missouri
Founded	February 8, 1861
Named for	William J. Worth
Seat	Grant City
Largest city	Grant City
Area
• Total	267 sq mi (690 km2)
• Land	267 sq mi (690 km2)
• Water	0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2)  0.08%
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,973
• Estimate  (2021)	1,983
• Density	7.4/sq mi (2.9/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	6th
Website	www.worthcounty.us

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.^[5] It is the smallest county in Missouri by area. Iowa is located to the north of Worth County.

Adjacent counties

• Taylor County, Iowa – northwest
• Ringgold County, Iowa – northeast
• Harrison County – east
• Gentry County – south
• Nodaway County – west

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1870	5,004		—
1880	8,203		63.9%
1890	8,738		6.5%
1900	9,832		12.5%
1910	8,007		−18.6%
1920	7,642		−4.6%
1930	6,535		−14.5%
1940	6,345		−2.9%
1950	5,120		−19.3%
1960	3,936		−23.1%
1970	3,359		−14.7%
1980	3,008		−10.4%
1990	2,440		−18.9%
2000	2,382		−2.4%
2010	2,171		−8.9%
2020	1,973		−9.1%
2021 (est.)	1,983	[6]	0.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9] 1990-2000[10] 2010-2020[1]

2020 Census

Worth County Racial Composition^[11]

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (NH)	1,887	95.64%
Black or African American (NH)	0	0%
Native American (NH)	4	0.2%
Asian (NH)	4	0.2%
Pacific Islander (NH)	5	0.25%
Other/Mixed (NH)	48	2.43%
Hispanic or Latino	25	1.26%

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^[12]

Communities

Cities

• Grant City (county seat)
• Sheridan

Towns

• Allendale

Villages

• Denver
• Irena
• Worth

Unincorporated communities

• Isadora
• Oxford
• Prohibition City

Politics

Local

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

Worth County, Missouri
Elected countywide officials
Assessor	Miles Spainhower	Republican
Circuit Clerk	Jana Findley	Democratic
County Clerk	Roberta Owens	Republican
Collector	Julie Tracy	Republican
Commissioner (Presiding)	Jubal Summers	Republican
Commissioner (District 1)	Regan Nonneman	Republican
Commissioner (District 2)	Tyler Paxson	Republican
Coroner	Sharon Supinger	Democratic
Prosecuting Attorney	Janet Wake Larison	Democratic
Public Administrator	Patsy A. Worthington	Republican
Recorder	Barbara Foland	Democratic
Sheriff	Scott Sherer	Republican
Surveyor	NA	Republican
Treasurer	Linda L. Brown	Republican

State

Past Gubernatorial Elections Results

Year	Republican	Democratic	Third Parties
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^[13]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	877	79.22%	215	19.42%	15	1.36%
2016	808	77.25%	195	18.64%	43	4.11%
2012	664	63.36%	341	32.54%	43	4.10%
2008	707	60.22%	427	36.37%	40	3.41%
2004	691	61.04%	436	38.52%	5	0.44%
2000	651	56.22%	469	40.50%	38	3.28%
1996	540	42.42%	572	44.93%	161	12.65%
1992	483	34.18%	599	42.39%	331	23.43%
1988	677	47.98%	732	51.88%	2	0.14%
1984	921	55.65%	734	44.35%	0	0.00%
1980	833	50.27%	760	45.87%	64	3.86%
1976	771	44.08%	969	55.40%	9	0.51%
1972	1,170	61.68%	727	38.32%	0	0.00%
1968	924	48.55%	853	44.82%	126	6.62%
1964	831	37.70%	1,373	62.30%	0	0.00%
1960	1,355	50.60%	1,323	49.40%	0	0.00%
1956	1,338	49.70%	1,354	50.30%	0	0.00%
1952	1,682	57.72%	1,227	42.11%	5	0.17%
1948	1,162	42.53%	1,563	57.21%	7	0.26%
1944	1,444	50.12%	1,437	49.88%	0	0.00%
1940	1,807	51.44%	1,702	48.45%	4	0.11%
1936	1,581	44.46%	1,944	54.67%	31	0.87%
1932	1,041	36.90%	1,763	62.50%	17	0.60%
1928	1,839	56.46%	1,407	43.20%	11	0.34%
1924	1,666	49.66%	1,650	49.18%	39	1.16%
1920	1,888	54.72%	1,532	44.41%	30	0.87%
1916	892	44.29%	1,079	53.57%	43	2.14%
1912	769	39.11%	973	49.49%	224	11.39%
1908	985	48.43%	993	48.82%	56	2.75%
1904	1,042	49.78%	967	46.20%	84	4.01%
1900	1,023	45.73%	1,123	50.20%	91	4.07%
1896	885	41.24%	1,248	58.15%	13	0.61%
1892	624	33.46%	696	37.32%	545	29.22%
1888	771	44.41%	789	45.45%	176	10.14%

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

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

References

1. "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. Eaton, David Wolfe (1918). How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named. The State Historical Society of Missouri. p. 372.
4. "What are the Origins of Missouri Counties?". State of Missouri. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
6. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021". Retrieved October 7, 2022.
7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
10. "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.
11. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Worth County, Missouri".
12. Breeding, Marshall. "Worth County Library Association". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
13. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 27, 2018.

External links

• Digitized 1930 Plat Book of Worth County Archived August 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine from University of Missouri Division of Special Collections, Archives, and Rare Books
• Official website of Worth County, Missouri.

40.48°N 94.42°W / 40.48; -94.42