Boone County, Missouri

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


founded year = 1820
founded date = November 16
seat wl = Columbia
largest city wl = Columbia
area_total_sq_mi = 691
area_total_km2 = 1790
area_land_sq_mi = 685
area_land_km2 = 7775
area_water_sq_mi = 15
area_water_km2 = 6
area percentage = 0.85%
census estimate yr = 2007
pop = 152,435 [http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/tables/CO-EST2007-01-29.csv 2007 Population Estimates for Missouri Counties]
density_sq_mi = 211.3
density_km2 = 81.5
time zone = Central
UTC offset = -6
DST offset = -5
footnotes =
web = www.showmeboone.com
named for = Daniel Boone|

Boone County is a county centrally located in the U.S. state of Missouri. In 2007 the population was 152,435. [http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/tables/CO-EST2007-01-29.csv 2007 Population Estimates for Missouri Counties] Its county seat, Columbia, is the fifth largest city in Missouri and the anchor city of the Columbia Metropolitan Area.

History

Boone County was organized on November 16, 1820, from a portion of the territorial Howard County. The area was known as Boone's Lick Country, because of a salt lick which sons of Daniel Boone relied on for their stock.

Boone County was settled primarily from migrants from the Upper South states of Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia. They brought slaves and slaveholding traditions with them, and quickly started cultivating crops similar to those in Middle Tennessee and Kentucky: hemp and tobacco. Boone was one of several counties settled mostly by southerners to the north and south of the Missouri River. Given their culture and traditions, this area became known as Little Dixie and Boone was at its heart. [ [http://www.missouridivision-scv.org/littledixie.htm The Story of Little Dixie, Missouri, Missouri Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans] , accessed 3 Jun 2008] In 1860 slaves made up 25 percent or more of the county's population. [T. J. Stiles, "Jesse James: The Last Rebel of the Civil War", New York: Vintage Books, 2003, pp.10-11] Residents generally supported the Confederacy during the Civil War.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 691 square miles (1,790 km²), of which, 685 square miles (1,775 km²) of it is land and 6 square miles (15 km²) of it (0.85%) is water.

Government

Boone County is a Class I non-charter county.

Adjacent counties

*Randolph County (north)
*Audrain County (northeast)
*Callaway County (east)
*Cole County (south)
*Moniteau County (southwest)
*Cooper County (west)
*Howard County (northwest)

Major highways

*Interstate 70
*U.S. Route 40
*U.S. Route 63
*Route 22
*Route 124
*Route 163
*Route 740

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 135,454 people, 53,094 households, and 31,378 families residing in the county. The population density was 198 people per square mile (76/km²). There were 56,678 housing units at an average density of 83 per square mile (32/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 85.43% White, 8.54% Black or African American, 0.42% Native American, 2.96% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.69% from other races, and 1.93% from two or more races. 1.78% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 24.6% claimed German, 12.3% American, 11.2% English and 9.8% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 53,094 households out of which 30.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.50% were married couples living together, 10.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.90% were non-families. 28.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county the population was spread out with 22.80% under the age of 18, 19.90% from 18 to 24, 29.90% from 25 to 44, 18.80% from 45 to 64, and 8.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 93.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,485, and the median income for a family was $51,210. Males had a median income of $33,304 versus $25,990 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,844. About 7.60% of families and 14.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.10% of those under age 18 and 5.90% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

References