Cooper County is located in the central portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 17,103. Its county seat is Boonville. The county was organized December 17, 1818 and named for Sarshell Cooper, a frontier settler who was killed by Native Americans near Arrow Rock in 1814. It is a part of the Columbia, Missouri metropolitan area.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.8%) is water.
Adjacent counties
Howard County (north)
Boone County (northeast)
Moniteau County (southeast)
Morgan County (south)
Pettis County (west)
Saline County (northwest)
Major highways
20px Interstate 70
20px U.S. Route 40
20px Route 5
20px Route 41
20px Route 87
20px Route 98
20px Route 135
20px Route 179
National protected area
Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge
Demographics
As of the 2000 census, there were 16,670 people, 5,932 households and 4,140 families residing in the county. The population density was 30 per square mile (11/km2). There were 6,676 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile (5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 89.05% White, 8.96% Black or African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.28% from other races, and 1.11% from two or more races. Approximately 0.86% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 38.1% were of German, 18.7% American, 8.1% English and 8.0% Irish ancestry.
There were 5,932 households, of which 31.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.40% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.20% were non-families. 26.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.97.
Age distribution was 22.80% under the age of 18, 14.00% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 20.60% from 45 to 64, and 15.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 117.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 120.00 males.
The median household income was $35,313, and the median family income was $41,526. Males had a median income of $28,513 versus $20,965 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,648. About 8.30% of families and 10.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.80% of those under age 18 and 8.30% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Public schools
[http://blackwater.k12.mo.us/ Blackwater R-II School District] – Blackwater
Blackwater Elementary School (PK-08)
[http://www.boonville.k12.mo.us/ Boonville R-I School District] – Boonville
Hannah Cole Primary School (PK-02)
David Barton Elementary School (03-05)
Laura Speed Elliott Middle School (06-08)
Boonville High School (09-12)
[http://www.bunceton.k12.mo.us/ Cooper County R-IV School District] – Bunceton
Bunceton Elementary School (K-06)
Bunceton High School (07-12)
[http://www.ottervillervi.k12.mo.us/ Otterville R-VI School District] – Otterville
Otterville Elementary School (K-06)
Otterville High School (07-12)
[http://www.pilotgrove.k12.mo.us/ Pilot Grove C-4 School District] – Pilot Grove
Pilot Grove Elementary School (PK-05)
Pilot Grove Middle School (06-08)
Pilot Grove High School (09-12)
[http://www.prairiehome.k12.mo.us/ Prairie Home R-V School District] – Prairie Home
Prairie Home Elementary School (K-06)
Prairie Home High School (07-12)
Private schools
[http://www.ssppschool.net/ Saints Peter & Paul School] – Boonville (K-09) – Roman Catholic
Zion Lutheran School – Bunceton (02-08) – Lutheran
St. Joseph Elementary School – Pilot Grove (02-09) – Roman Catholic
Public libraries
Boonville/Cooper Branch Library
Politics
Local
The Republican Party completely controls politics at the local level in Cooper County. Republicans hold all of the elected positions in the county.
State
Cooper County is divided into three legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives, all of which elected Republicans, but one is currently vacant.
District 47 — [http://house.mo.gov/member.aspx?year=2017&district=047 Chuck Basye] (R-Rocheport). Consists of areas east of the city of Boonville.
District 48 — Tim Taylor (politician) (R-Bunceton). Consists of the communities of Blackwater, Boonville, Bunceton, Otterville, and Pilot Grove.
District 50 — Sara Walsh. (R-Ashland). Consists of the community of Prairie Home and much of the rest of the eastern portion of the county.
All of Cooper County is a part of Missouri's 19th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by [http://www.senate.mo.gov/mem19/ Caleb Rowden] (R-Columbia).
Federal
All of Cooper County is included in Missouri's 4th Congressional District and is currently represented by Vicky Hartzler (R-Harrisonville) in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Communities
Cities
Blackwater
Boonville (county seat)
Bunceton
Otterville
Pilot Grove
Prairie Home
Villages
Windsor Place
Wooldridge
Unincorporated communities
Bellair
Billingsville
Chouteau Springs
Clarks Fork
Clifton City
Harriston
Lamine
Lone Elm
New Lebanon
Overton
Pisgah
Pleasant Green
Speed
Townships
Cooper County is divided into 14 townships:
Blackwater
Boonville
Clark Fork
Clear Creek
Kelly
Lamine
Lebanon
North Moniteau
Otterville
Palestine
Pilot Grove
Prairie Home
Saline
South Moniteau
Notable person
Country music singer Sara Evans was born in Cooper County.
