Dallas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2010 census, the population was 16,777. Its county seat is Buffalo. The county was organized in 1842 as Niangua County and then renamed in 1844 for George M. Dallas, who served as Vice President under James K. Polk.
Dallas County is part of the Springfield, MO Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.4%) is water.
Adjacent counties
Camden County (north)
Laclede County (east)
Webster County (south)
Greene County (southwest)
Polk County (west)
Hickory County (northwest)
Major highways
25px U.S. Route 65
25px Route 32
25px Route 64
25px Route 64A
25px Route 73
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 15,661 people, 6,030 households and 4,383 families residing in the county. The population density was 29 people per square mile (11/km2). There were 6,914 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile (5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.45% White, 0.12% Black or African American, 0.76% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races. Approximately 0.94% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 3.57% percent reported speaking Pennsylvania German or German at home.[http://www.mla.org/map_data_results&state_id=29&county_id=59&mode=geographic&zip=&place_id=&cty_id=&ll=&a=&ea=&order=r] Dallas County is the county with the largest concentration of Kauffman Amish Mennonites, who have preserved Pennsylvania German as their every day language and an old form of Standard German for church. They had 950 adherents in Dallas County in 2010.
There were 6,030 households, out of which 32.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.80% were married couples living together, 8.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.30% were non-families. 23.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.50% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 26.40% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 15.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $27,346; the median income for a family was $33,500. Males had a median income of $26,438 versus $17,569 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,106. About 14.20% of families and 17.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.40% of those under age 18 and 18.50% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Public schools
Dallas County R-I School District – Buffalo
Mallory Elementary School (PK-04)
Buffalo Middle School (05-08)
Buffalo High School (09-12)
Hickory County R-I School District – Urbana
Skyline Elementary School (K-04)
Skyline Middle School (05-08)
Skyline High School (09-12)
Politics
Local
The Republican Party predominantly controls politics at the local level in Dallas County. Republicans hold all of the elected positions in the county.
State
All of Dallas County is a part of Missouri's 129th District in the Missouri House of Representatives and is represented by [http://house.mo.gov/bio.aspx?year=2017&district=129 Sandy Crawford] (R-Buffalo).
All of Dallas County is a part of Missouri's 28th District in the Missouri Senate. The seat is currently vacant. The previous incumbent, Mike Parson, was elected Lieutenant Governor in 2016.
Federal
All of Dallas 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.
Political culture
Missouri presidential preference primary (2008)
Former U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York) received more votes, a total of 1,157, than any candidate from either party in Dallas County during the 2008 presidential primary. She narrowly edged out former Governor Mike Huckabee (R-Arkansas) by four votes.
Communities
Cities
Buffalo (county seat)
Urbana
Village
Louisburg
Census-designated place
Bennett Springs
Other unincorporated places
Boyd
Celt
Charity
Cloverdale
Elixer
Foose
Handley
Leadmine
Long Lane
March
Mathis
Olive
Plad
Redtop
Reynolds
Shady Grove
Spring Grove
Tunas
Wall Street
Windyville
Wood Hill
Notable people
Roy Meeker - professional baseball player
