Howell County, Missouri

Infobox U.S. County
county = Howell County
state = Missouri


founded year = 1857 [ [http://www.howellcounty.net/history.html Untitled Document ] ]
founded date = March 2
seat wl = West Plains
largest city wl = West Plains
area_total_sq_mi = 928
area_total_km2 = 2404
area_land_sq_mi = 928
area_land_km2 = 2403
area_water_sq_mi = 1
area_water_km2 = 2
area percentage = 0.06
census yr = 2000
pop = 37238
density_sq_mi = 40
density_km2 = 16
time zone = Central
UTC offset = -6
DST offset = -5
footnotes =
web = http://www.howellcounty.net/
named for = James Howell, pioneer settler in Howell Valley

Howell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of 2000, the population was 37,238. Its county seat is West PlainsGR|6.

History

Howell County was organized on March 2, 1857, from Oregon County, and named for James Howell, who made the first settlement in Howell Valley.

The first Circuit Court met in a log cabin one mile east of West Plains, according to an 1876 account. A small, wooden courthouse was built on the square in West Plains in 1859. It was damaged during the Confederate War, in 1862. In the fall of 1863, guerrillas burned West Plains, devastating the community. Not one person remained. The county was reorganized three years later, but all of the county records were destroyed in an 1866 fire.

A second courthouse was built in West Plains in 1869. It was a small, three-room, frame building, about 24 by 30 feet.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 928 square miles (2,404 km²), of which, 928 square miles (2,403 km²) of it is land and 1 square miles (2 km²) of it (0.06%) is water.

Adjacent counties

*Texas County (north)
*Shannon County (northeast)
*Oregon County (east)
*Fulton County, Arkansas (south)
*Ozark County (southwest)
*Douglas County (northwest)

Major highways

*U.S. Route 60
*U.S. Route 63
*U.S. Route 160
*Route 14
*Route 17
*Route 76
*Route 142

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 37,238 people, 14,762 households, and 10,613 families residing in the county. The population density was 40 people per square mile (16/km²). There were 16,340 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile (7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.41% White, 0.31% Black or African American, 0.97% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.28% from other races, and 1.63% from two or more races. 1.21% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 28.3% were of American, 16.4% German, 12.2% Irish and 12.1% English ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 14,762 households out of which 32.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.80% were married couples living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.00% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 26.20% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 16.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $25,628, and the median income for a family was $30,534. Males had a median income of $22,960 versus $16,968 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,959. About 14.00% of families and 18.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.30% of those under age 18 and 14.00% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

References

External links

* [http://www.howellcounty.net Howell County, Missouri]
* [http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/uedivis/ue6045.htm Howell County Courthouse, MU Extension]