Worth County is a county located in the northwestern portion of the U.S. state of

Missouri Missouri (''see #Etymology and pronunciation, pronunciation'') is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it border ...

. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,973. 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 A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or parish (administrative division), civil parish. The term is in use in five countries: Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, and the United States. An equiva ...

is Grant City. The county was organized February 8, 1861, being split from Gentry County, and named for General William J. Worth, who served in the Mexican–American War. Worth County is also the youngest county in the state.

Geography

According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.08%) is water. It is the smallest county in Missouri by area.

Iowa Iowa ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the upper Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west; Wisconsin to the northeast, Ill ...

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)

Transportation

Major highways

* U.S. Route 169 * Route 46 * Route 246

Demographics

2020 Census

2000 census

As of the

census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...

of 2000, there were 2,382 people, 1,009 households, and 677 families residing in the county. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geog ...

was . There were 1,245 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 98.99%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

, 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 The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...

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 Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

for the county was $14,367. About 10.90% of families and 14.30% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, 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

Communities

Cities

* Grant City (county seat) * Sheridan * Allendale

Villages

Denver Denver ( ) is a List of municipalities in Colorado#Consolidated city and county, consolidated city and county, the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Colorado, most populous city of the U.S. state of ...

* Irena * Worth

Extinct Places

* Defiance * Isadora *

Oxford Oxford () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and non-metropolitan district in Oxfordshire, England, of which it is the county town. The city is home to the University of Oxford, the List of oldest universities in continuou ...

* Prohibition City

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Worth County. † ''county seat''

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.

State

Worth County is part of the 1st district in the Missouri House of Representatives, currently held by Jeff Farnan (R- Stanberry). Worth County is part of the 12th District in the Missouri Senate, currently held by Dan Hegeman (R- Cosby).

Federal

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.

Missouri presidential preference primary (2008)

Former U.S. Senator

Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton ( Rodham; born October 26, 1947) is an American politician, lawyer and diplomat. She was the 67th United States secretary of state in the administration of Barack Obama from 2009 to 2013, a U.S. senator represent ...

(D- New York) received more votes, a total of 171, than any candidate from either party in Worth County during the 2008 presidential primary.

References

External links

Digitized 1930 Plat Book of Worth County
from University of Missouri Division of Special Collections, Archives, and Rare Books
Official website of Worth County, Missouri.
{{coord, 40.48, -94.42, display=title, type:adm2nd_region:US-MO_source:UScensus1990 1861 establishments in Missouri Populated places established in 1861