Carroll County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 8,495. Its county seat is Carrollton. The county was organized on January 2, 1833, from part of Ray County and named for Charles Carroll of Carrollton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence.
Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.0%) is water.
Adjacent counties Livingston County (north) Chariton County (east) Saline County (southeast) Lafayette County (southwest) Ray County (west) Caldwell County (northwest)
Major highways U.S. Route 24 U.S. Route 65 Route 10 Route 41 Route 139
Demographics
Religion According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2010), Carroll County is sometimes regarded as being on the northern edge of the Bible Belt, with evangelical Protestantism being the most predominant religion. The most predominant denominations among residents in Carroll County who adhere to a religion are Southern Baptists (55.73%), United Methodists (11.01%), and Lutherans (LCMS) (9.69%).
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 8,495. The median age was 44.9 years, 21.6% of residents were under the age of 18, and 23.3% were 65 years of age or older. There were 98.9 males for every 100 females and 96.3 males for every 100 females age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the county was 93.5% White, 1.1% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.5% from some other race, and 4.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.6% of the population.
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 3,569 households in the county, of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 23.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 4,364 housing units, of which 18.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 75.0% were owner-occupied and 25.0% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 13.7%.
2000 census As of the census of 2000, there were 10,285 people, 4,169 households, and 2,880 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 4,897 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 96.95% white, 1.72% Black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.14% from other races, and 0.79% from two or more races. Approximately 0.71% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 32.7% were of German, 25.3% American, 11.8% English and 9.2% Irish ancestry.
There were 4,169 households, out of which 30.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.40% were married couples living together, 8.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.90% were non-families. 27.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.20% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 24.50% from 25 to 44, 22.90% from 45 to 64, and 20.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 94.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,643, and the median income for a family was $36,773. Males had a median income of $26,135 versus $17,468 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,522. About 9.70% of families and 13.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.00% of those under age 18 and 12.80% of those age 65 or over.
Racial and ethnic composition +Carroll County, Missouri – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010 Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)11,75310,4609,9198,8937,90696.88%97.32%96.44%95.68%93.07%Black or African American alone (NH)267219177149972.20%2.04%1.72%1.60%1.14%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)12132821150.10%0.12%0.27%0.23%0.18%Asian alone (NH)17111310150.14%0.10%0.13%0.11%0.18%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x included in the Asian category in the 1980 Censusx included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census180xx0.01%0.09%0.00%Other race alone (NH)751160.06%0.05%0.01%0.01%0.07%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x not an option in the 1980 Censusx not an option in the 1990 Census7395324xx0.71%1.02%3.81%Hispanic or Latino (any race)7540731181320.62%0.37%0.71%1.27%1.55%Total12,13110,74810,2859,2958,495 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%
Education School districts include: - Text list Bosworth R-V School District Braymer C-4 School District Brunswick R-II School District Carrollton R-VII School District Hale R-I School District Norborne R-VIII School District Tina-Avalon R-II School District
Public schools Bosworth R-V School District – Bosworth Bosworth Elementary School (PK-06) Bosworth High School (07–12) Carrollton R-VII School District – Carrollton Adams-Dieterich Elementary School (K-04) Adams Primary School (PK-01) Carrollton Elementary School (02–04) Carrollton Middle School (05–08) Carrollton High School (09–12) Hale R-I School District – Hale Hale Elementary School (PK-06) Hale High School (07–12) Norborne R-VIII School District – Norborne Norborne Elementary School (K-05) Norborne High School (06–12) Tina-Avalon R-II School District – Tina Tina-Avalon Elementary School (PK-06) Tina-Avalon High School (07–12)
Public libraries Carrollton Public Library Norborne Public Library
Communities
Cities
Bogard Bosworth Carrollton (county seat) De Witt Hale Norborne
Village Tina
Unincorporated communities
Bridge Creek Coloma Grace Little Compton Mandeville Miami Station Miles Point Plymouth Roads Standish Stet Sugartree Wakenda White Rock
Townships
Carrollton Township Cherry Valley Township Combs Township De Witt Township Egypt Township Eugene Township Fairfield Township Hill Township Hurricane Township Leslie Township Moss Creek Township Prairie Township Ridge Township Rockford Township Stokes Mound Township Sugartree Township Trotter Township Van Horn Township Wakenda Township Washington Township
Notable people Lewis Eldon Atherton, historian at the University of Missouri Amanda Austin, painter and sculptor Leon E. Bates, UAW leader James Johnson Duderstadt, President of the University of Michigan (1988–1996) James Fergason, inventor and business leader in electronics known for work with LCD Francis Doyle Gleeson, Roman Catholic bishop Don Martin, NFL player and coach John C. McQueen, Major general, USMC, decorated veteran of World War II James Shields, only person in U.S. history to serve in the United States Senate representing three different states: Illinois (1849–1849; 1849–1855), Minnesota (1858–1859), and Missouri (1879–1879) Robert Simpson, athlete Barbara Sinatra, wife of Zeppo Marx and later Frank Sinatra Claude T. Smith, American band conductor, composer, and educator
Politics
Local The Republican Party predominantly controls politics at the local level in Carroll County. Republicans hold all but three of the elected positions in the county.
Following the August 2024 primary, the Republican candidates for District 1 County Commissioner, Everett Shields, and District 2 County Commissioner, Charles Pence, faced no Democratic challengers in the general election.
State + Past Gubernatorial Elections Results Year Republican Democratic Third Parties202481.27% 3,62316.94% 7541.81% 81202081.61% 3,67117.12% 7701.27% 57201665.31% 2,83732.04% 1,3922.65% 115201252.91% 2,25644.61% 1,9022.48% 106200849.48% 2,23348.77% 2,2011.75% 79200460.13% 2,82838.91% 1,8300.96% 45200057.71% 2,64340.87% 1,8721.42% 65199636.21% 1,62562.25% 2,7941.54% 69
All of Carroll County is a part of Missouri's 39th District in the Missouri House of Representatives and is currently represented by Peggy McGaugh (R-Carrollton).
All of Carroll County is a part of Missouri's 21st District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Denny Hoskins (R-Warrensburg).
Federal All of Carroll 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. Graves was elected to an eleventh term in 2020 over Democratic challenger Gena Ross.
Carroll County, along with the rest of the state of Missouri, is represented in the U.S. Senate by Josh Hawley (R-Columbia) and Roy Blunt (R-Strafford).
Blunt was elected to a second term in 2016 over then-Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander.
Political culture
At the presidential level, Carroll County has become solidly Republican in recent years. Carroll County strongly favored Donald Trump in both 2016 and 2020. Bill Clinton was the last Democratic presidential nominee to carry Carroll County in 1996 with a plurality of the vote, and a Democrat hasn't won majority support from the county's voters in a presidential election since Jimmy Carter in 1976.
Like most rural areas throughout Missouri, voters in Carroll County generally adhere to socially and culturally conservative principles which tend to influence their Republican leanings. Despite Carroll County's longstanding tradition of supporting socially conservative platforms, voters in the county have a penchant for advancing populist causes. In 2018, Missourians voted on a proposition (Proposition A) concerning right to work, the outcome of which ultimately reversed the right to work legislation passed in the state the previous year. 63.63% of Carroll County voters cast their ballots to overturn the law.
Missouri presidential preference primaries
2020 The 2020 presidential primaries for both the Democratic and Republican parties were held in Missouri on March 10. On the Democratic side, former Vice President Joe Biden (D-Delaware) both won statewide and carried Carroll County by a wide margin. Biden went on to defeat President Donald Trump in the general election.
Incumbent President Donald Trump (R-Florida) faced a primary challenge from former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld, but won both Carroll County and statewide by overwhelming margins.
2016 The 2016 presidential primaries for both the Republican and Democratic parties were held in Missouri on March 15. Businessman Donald Trump (R-New York) narrowly won the state overall, but carried a majority of the vote in Carroll County. He went on to win the presidency.
On the Democratic side, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D-New York) narrowly won statewide, but Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) carried a majority in Carroll County.
2012 The 2012 Missouri Republican Presidential Primary's results were nonbinding on the state's national convention delegates. Voters in Carroll County supported former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum (R-Pennsylvania), who finished first in the state at large, but eventually lost the nomination to former Governor Mitt Romney (R-Massachusetts). Delegates to the congressional district and state conventions were chosen at a county caucus, which selected a delegation favoring Santorum. Incumbent President Barack Obama easily won the Missouri Democratic Primary and renomination. He defeated Romney in the general election.
2008 In 2008, the Missouri Republican Presidential Primary was closely contested, with Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) prevailing and eventually winning the nomination. Carroll County gave McCain his highest vote share of any county in Missouri.