Ralls County, Missouri

History

Ralls County was one of several along the Mississippi River settled in the early years primarily by European-American migrants from the Upper South, especially Kentucky and Tennessee. They brought slaves and slaveholding traditions with them, and quickly started cultivating crops similar to those in Middle Tennessee and Kentucky: hemp and tobacco. They also brought characteristic antebellum architecture and culture. Ralls is considered one of the counties in the outer ring of what is called the Little Dixie region. Most of the Little Dixie counties are located further west along the Missouri River, from Callaway County west.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 484 sqmi, of which 470 sqmi is land and 14 sqmi (2.9%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Marion County (north)
• Pike County, Illinois (northeast)
• Pike County (southeast)
• Audrain County (south)
• Monroe County (west)

Major highways

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2015

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 10,355. The median age was 45.5 years, with 21.9% of residents under the age of 18 and 21.6% aged 65 years or older. For every 100 females there were 102.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 102.2 males age 18 and over.

There were 4,125 households in the county, of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 17.2% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 22.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 5,028 housing units, of which 18.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 83.3% were owner-occupied and 16.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.4%.

2.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 97.5% lived in rural areas.

Racial and ethnic composition

As of the 2020 census, the racial makeup of the county was 94.1% White, 1.1% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.7% from some other race, and 3.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 0.9% of the population.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 10,167 people, 3,736 households, and 2,783 families residing in the county. The population density was 20 /mi2. There were 4,564 housing units at an average density of 10 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 97.93% White, 1.11% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.04% from other races, and 0.62% from two or more races. Approximately 0.44% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 30.1% were of American, 27.3% German, 10.5% English and 10.4% Irish ancestry.

There were 3,736 households, out of which 34.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.20% were married couples living together, 6.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.50% were non-families. 21.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.20% under the age of 18, 7.10% from 18 to 24, 26.90% from 25 to 44, 26.50% from 45 to 64, and 14.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,094, and the median income for a family was $41,955. Males had a median income of $28,139 versus $20,238 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,456. About 6.60% of families and 8.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.70% of those under age 18 and 10.70% of those age 65 or over.

Education

School districts in Ralls County (including those which may have schools and/or administration buildings in other counties)

• Ralls County R-II School District
• Bowling Green R-I School District
• Community R-VI School District
• Hannibal 60 School District
• Monroe City R-I School District
• Van-Far R-I School District

Public schools

• Ralls County R-II School District – Center
  • Ralls County Elementary School (PK-05)
  • Mark Twain Junior High School (06-08)
  • Mark Twain High School (09-12)

Public libraries

• Ralls County Library

Communities

Cities

• Center
• Hannibal (mostly in Marion County)
• Monroe City (mostly in Monroe County and partly in Marion County)
• New London (county seat)
• Perry
• Vandalia (Mostly in Audrain County)

Village

• Rensselaer

Census-designated place

• Saverton

Unincorporated communities

• Cincinnati
• Flint Hill
• Greenlawn
• Hassard
• Hatch
• Huntington
• Hutchison
• Ilasco
• Madisonville
• Salt River
• Sheil
• Spalding
• West Hartford

Politics

Local

Historically, the Democratic Party predominantly controlled politics at the local level in Ralls County. However, all local seats up for election with a Republican candidate during the November 2016 election cycle were won by Republicans. Republicans now hold the office of Sheriff, Coroner, and Western District Commissioner.

State

Ralls County is a part of Missouri's 40h District in the Missouri House of Representatives and is represented by Jim Hansen (R-Frankford).

Ralls County is a part of Missouri's 18th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Brian Munzlinger (R-Williamstown).

Federal

Ralls 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.

References

References

1. "Explore Census Data".
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. Eaton, David Wolfe. (1917). "How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named". The State Historical Society of Missouri.
4. [http://www.missouridivision-scv.org/littledixie.htm The Story of Little Dixie, Missouri, Missouri Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans] {{Webarchive. link. (July 17, 2012 , accessed June 3, 2008)
5. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
8. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
9. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
10. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
11. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
12. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
13. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
14. "1980 Census of Population - General Social and Economic Characteristics - Missouri- Table 16 - Persons by Spanish Origin, Race, and Sex: 1980".
15. "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Missouri: Table 5 - Race and Hispanic Origin".
16. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Ralls County, Missouri".
17. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Ralls County, Missouri".
18. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Ralls County, Missouri".
19. included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
20. included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
21. not an option in the 1980 Census
22. not an option in the 1990 Census
23. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
24. Geography Division. (January 12, 2021). "2020 Census - School District Reference Map: Ralls County, MO". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].
25. Breeding, Marshall. "Ralls County Library". Libraries.org.
26. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".