Barry County, Missouri
County in Missouri, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Barry County is a county located in the southwest portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 34,534.[1] Its county seat is Cassville.[2] The county was organized in 1835 and named after William Taylor Barry, a U.S. Postmaster General from Kentucky.[3] The town of Barry, also named after the postmaster-general, was located just north of Kansas City, not in Barry County.
Barry County, Missouri | |
|---|---|
The Barry County Courthouse in Cassville | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Missouri | |
| Coordinates: 36°43′N 93°50′W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Missouri |
| Founded | January 5, 1835 |
| Named after | William Taylor Barry |
| Seat | Cassville |
| Largest city | Monett |
| Area | |
• Total | 791 sq mi (2,050 km2) |
| • Land | 778 sq mi (2,020 km2) |
| • Water | 13 sq mi (34 km2) 1.6% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 34,534 |
• Estimate (2025) | 36,200  |
| • Density | 44.4/sq mi (17.1/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 7th |
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 791 square miles (2,050 km2), of which 778 square miles (2,020 km2) is land and 13 square miles (34 km2) (1.6%) is water.[4] Roaring River State Park is located in the southern part of the county, amid the Mark Twain National Forest.
Adjacent counties
- Lawrence County (north)
- Stone County (east)
- Carroll County, Arkansas (southeast)
- Benton County, Arkansas (south)
- McDonald County (southwest)
- Newton County (northwest)
Major highways
National protected area
- Mark Twain National Forest (part)
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1840 | 4,745 | — | |
| 1850 | 3,467 | −26.9% | |
| 1860 | 7,995 | 130.6% | |
| 1870 | 10,373 | 29.7% | |
| 1880 | 14,405 | 38.9% | |
| 1890 | 22,943 | 59.3% | |
| 1900 | 25,532 | 11.3% | |
| 1910 | 23,869 | −6.5% | |
| 1920 | 23,473 | −1.7% | |
| 1930 | 22,803 | −2.9% | |
| 1940 | 23,546 | 3.3% | |
| 1950 | 21,755 | −7.6% | |
| 1960 | 18,921 | −13.0% | |
| 1970 | 19,597 | 3.6% | |
| 1980 | 24,408 | 24.5% | |
| 1990 | 27,547 | 12.9% | |
| 2000 | 34,010 | 23.5% | |
| 2010 | 35,597 | 4.7% | |
| 2020 | 34,534 | −3.0% | |
| 2025 (est.) | 36,200 | [5] | 4.8% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[6] 1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8] 1990–2000[9] 2010–2015[1] | |||
Racial and ethnic composition
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[10] | Pop 1990[11] | Pop 2000[12] | Pop 2010[13] | Pop 2020[14] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 24,076 | 27,030 | 31,486 | 31,505 | 28,058 | 98.64% | 98.12% | 92.58% | 88.50% | 81.25% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 5 | 24 | 30 | 87 | 102 | 0.02% | 0.09% | 0.09% | 0.24% | 0.30% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 112 | 266 | 279 | 289 | 316 | 0.46% | 0.97% | 0.82% | 0.81% | 0.92% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 70 | 73 | 86 | 459 | 808 | 0.29% | 0.27% | 0.25% | 1.29% | 2.34% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | x [15] | x [16] | 10 | 6 | 70 | x | x | 0.03% | 0.02% | 0.20% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 28 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 81 | 0.11% | 0.01% | 0.01% | 0.02% | 0.23% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x [17] | x [18] | 402 | 498 | 1,766 | x | x | 1.18% | 1.40% | 5.11% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 117 | 152 | 1,713 | 2,745 | 3,333 | 0.48% | 0.55% | 5.04% | 7.71% | 9.65% |
| Total | 24,408 | 27,547 | 34,010 | 35,597 | 34,534 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 34,534. The median age was 43.1 years. 23.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 101.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.3 males age 18 and over. 17.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 82.5% lived in rural areas.[19][20][21]
The racial makeup of the county was 83.0% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 1.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.3% Asian, 0.2% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 4.9% from some other race, and 7.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 9.7% of the population.[21]
There were 13,720 households in the county, of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 22.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 26.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[20]
There were 16,990 housing units, of which 19.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 73.7% were owner-occupied and 26.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.0%.[20]
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 28,058 | 81.3% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 102 | 0.3% |
| Native American (NH) | 316 | 1% |
| Asian (NH) | 808 | 2.34% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 70 | 0.2% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 1,847 | 5.4% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 3,333 | 9.7% |
2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 34,010 people, 13,398 households, and 9,579 families residing in the county. The population density was 44 people per square mile (17 people/km2). There were 15,964 housing units at an average density of 20 units per square mile (7.7/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.09% White, 0.11% Black or African American, 0.86% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 3.25% from other races, and 1.38% from two or more races. Approximately 5.04% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 26.5% were of American, 15.5% German, 11.7% English and 10.4% Irish ancestry.
There were 13,398 households, out of which 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.30% were married couples living together, 8.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.50% were non-families. 24.70% 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 2.51 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.10% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 26.10% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 16.10% 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 95.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $28,906, and the median income for a family was $34,043. Males had a median income of $25,381 versus $18,631 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,980. About 11.80% of families and 16.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.50% of those under age 18 and 11.90% of those age 65 or over.
Religion
According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2010), Barry County is regarded as being a part of the Bible Belt, with evangelical Protestantism being the most predominant religion. The most predominant denominations among residents in Barry County who adhere to a religion are Southern Baptists (50.27%), Roman Catholics (19.26%), and United Methodists (4.67%).
Education
Public schools
- Cassville R-IV School District – Cassville[23]
- Eunice Thomas Elementary School (PK-02)
- Cassville Intermediate School (03-05)
- Cassville Middle School (06-08)
- Cassville High School (09-12)
- Exeter R-VI School District – Exeter[24]
- Exeter Elementary School (K-08)
- Exeter High School (09-12)
- Monett R-I School District – Monett[25]
- Monett Elementary School (PK-02)
- Central Park Elementary School (03-04)
- Monett Intermediate School (05-06)
- Monett Middle School (07-08)
- Monett High School (09-12)
- Purdy R-II School District Purdy[26]
- Purdy Elementary School (K-04)
- Purdy Middle School (05-08)
- Purdy High School (09-12)
- Shell Knob School District No. 78 – Shell Knob[27]
- Shell Knob Elementary School (K-08)
- Southwest R-V School District Washburn[28]
- Southwest Elementary School (PK-04)
- Southwest Middle School (05-08)
- Southwest High School (09-12)
- Wheaton R-III School District – Wheaton[29]
- Wheaton Elementary School (PK-06)
- Wheaton High School (07-12)
Private schools
- St. Lawrence Catholic School – Monett (K-06) – Roman Catholic[30]
Public libraries
- Barry-Lawrence Regional Library[31]
Communities
Cities
Villages
Census-designated places
- Eagle Rock
- Golden
- Shell Knob (partly in Stone County)
Other unincorporated communities
Townships
Barry County is divided into 25 townships:
Notable people
- Clete Boyer – Major League Baseball player
- Scott Fitzpatrick – Missouri State Treasurer (2019–present)
- Don Johnson – Actor
- Curtis F. Marbut – Director of the Soil Survey Division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (1913–1935)
Politics
Local
Republicans control politics at the local level in Barry County, holding every elected position in the county.
| Barry County, Missouri | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Elected countywide officials | |||
| Assessor | Sherry Smith | Republican | |
| Circuit Clerk | Craig Williams | Republican | |
| County Clerk | Joyce Ennis | Republican | |
| Collector | Skyler Bowman | Republican | |
| Commissioner (presiding) | Steve Blankenship | Republican | |
| Commissioner (northern district) | Gary Schad | Republican | |
| Commissioner (southern district) | Gene Robbins | Republican | |
| Coroner | Gary Swearingen | Republican | |
| Prosecuting Attorney | Amy Boxx | Republican | |
| Public Administrator | Sam Madsen | Republican | |
| Recorder | Danielle Still | Republican | |
| Sheriff | Danny Boyd | Republican | |
| Treasurer | Gretta Tripp | Republican | |
State
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third Parties |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 79.79% 12,721 | 18.31% 2,920 | 1.91% 303 |
| 2020 | 79.57% 12,356 | 18.03% 2,841 | 2.13% 331 |
| 2016 | 68.09% 9,943 | 28.50% 4,161 | 3.41% 498 |
| 2012 | 56.68% 7,769 | 40.06% 5,491 | 3.25% 446 |
| 2008 | 49.48% 7,156 | 47.90% 6,928 | 2.62% 379 |
| 2004 | 68.97% 9,594 | 29.81% 4,147 | 1.22% 170 |
| 2000 | 59.91% 7,352 | 38.14% 4,681 | 1.95% 239 |
| 1996 | 55.84% 6,574 | 41.28% 4,859 | 2.88% 339 |
| 1992 | 52.56% 6,529 | 47.44% 5,893 | 0.00% 0 |
All of Barry County is a part of Missouri's 158th Legislative District in the Missouri House of Representatives and is represented by Scott Cupps (R-Shell Knob).[32]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Scott Cupps | 12,408 | 81.35% | −1.24 | |
| Democratic | Brenda McKinney | 2,845 | 18.65% | +1.24 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Scott Cupps | 1,798 | 82.59% | −17.41 | |
| Democratic | Lisa Kalp | 379 | 17.41% | +17.41 | |
All of Barry County is a part of Missouri's 29th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Mike Moon (R-Ash Grove).
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mike Moon | 13,499 | 100.00% | ±0.00 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | David Sater | 13,239 | 100.00% | ±0.00 | |
Federal
All of Barry County is included in Missouri's 7th Congressional District and is currently represented by Eric Burlison (R-Ozark) in the U.S. House of Representatives.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Billy Long | 12,016 | 78.46% | +2.49 | |
| Democratic | Teresa Montseny | 2,701 | 17.64% | −3.34 | |
| Libertarian | Kevin Craig | 580 | 3.79% | +0.74 | |
| Write-ins | 18 | 0.12% | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Billy Long | 9.261 | 75.97% | +0.43 | |
| Democratic | Jamie Daniel Schoolcraft | 2,558 | 20.98% | −0.03 | |
| Libertarian | Benjamin T. Brixey | 372 | 3.05% | −0.41 | |
Barry County, along with the rest of the state of Missouri, is represented in the U.S. Senate by Josh Hawley (R-Columbia) and Eric Schmitt (R-Glendale).
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Josh Hawley | 9,019 | 73.36% | +19.56 | |
| Democratic | Claire McCaskill | 2,822 | 22.95% | −14.65 | |
| Independent | Craig O'Dear | 234 | 1.90% | ||
| Libertarian | Japheth Campbell | 149 | 1.21% | −7.39 | |
| Green | Jo Crain | 71 | 0.58% | +0.58 | |
Blunt was elected to a second term in 2016 over then-Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Roy Blunt | 10,059 | 68.69% | +14.89 | |
| Democratic | Jason Kander | 3,864 | 26.38% | −11.22 | |
| Libertarian | Jonathan Dine | 388 | 2.65% | −5.95 | |
| Green | Johnathan McFarland | 175 | 1.19% | +1.19 | |
| Constitution | Fred Ryman | 159 | 1.09% | +1.09 | |
Political culture
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1888 | 1,904 | 45.07% | 1,963 | 46.46% | 358 | 8.47% |
| 1892 | 1,940 | 42.98% | 1,904 | 42.18% | 670 | 14.84% |
| 1896 | 2,320 | 42.24% | 3,151 | 57.37% | 21 | 0.38% |
| 1900 | 2,420 | 46.49% | 2,661 | 51.12% | 124 | 2.38% |
| 1904 | 2,568 | 51.21% | 2,237 | 44.61% | 210 | 4.19% |
| 1908 | 2,526 | 49.62% | 2,383 | 46.81% | 182 | 3.57% |
| 1912 | 1,396 | 27.71% | 2,300 | 45.65% | 1,342 | 26.64% |
| 1916 | 2,683 | 47.82% | 2,752 | 49.05% | 176 | 3.14% |
| 1920 | 5,162 | 57.04% | 3,729 | 41.21% | 158 | 1.75% |
| 1924 | 4,065 | 47.93% | 3,606 | 42.52% | 810 | 9.55% |
| 1928 | 5,901 | 62.89% | 3,431 | 36.57% | 51 | 0.54% |
| 1932 | 4,497 | 42.47% | 5,957 | 56.26% | 134 | 1.27% |
| 1936 | 5,906 | 50.48% | 5,744 | 49.10% | 49 | 0.42% |
| 1940 | 6,573 | 55.68% | 5,207 | 44.11% | 24 | 0.20% |
| 1944 | 5,796 | 58.85% | 4,029 | 40.91% | 23 | 0.23% |
| 1948 | 4,812 | 50.46% | 4,724 | 49.54% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 6,664 | 61.77% | 4,124 | 38.23% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 6,063 | 57.27% | 4,523 | 42.73% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 6,706 | 63.12% | 3,919 | 36.88% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 4,757 | 47.27% | 5,307 | 52.73% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 5,537 | 57.12% | 3,398 | 35.06% | 758 | 7.82% |
| 1972 | 7,295 | 69.73% | 3,167 | 30.27% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1976 | 5,053 | 49.79% | 5,046 | 49.72% | 49 | 0.48% |
| 1980 | 7,038 | 61.42% | 4,193 | 36.59% | 227 | 1.98% |
| 1984 | 7,683 | 68.81% | 3,483 | 31.19% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1988 | 7,231 | 63.00% | 4,210 | 36.68% | 36 | 0.31% |
| 1992 | 5,565 | 43.62% | 4,791 | 37.56% | 2,401 | 18.82% |
| 1996 | 5,855 | 49.62% | 4,352 | 36.88% | 1,592 | 13.49% |
| 2000 | 7,885 | 63.75% | 4,135 | 33.43% | 348 | 2.81% |
| 2004 | 9,599 | 68.92% | 4,223 | 30.32% | 105 | 0.75% |
| 2008 | 9,758 | 66.63% | 4,630 | 31.62% | 256 | 1.75% |
| 2012 | 9,832 | 71.22% | 3,667 | 26.56% | 307 | 2.22% |
| 2016 | 11,428 | 78.25% | 2,710 | 18.56% | 467 | 3.20% |
| 2020 | 12,425 | 79.66% | 2,948 | 18.90% | 225 | 1.44% |
| 2024 | 13,138 | 81.27% | 2,873 | 17.77% | 154 | 0.95% |
At the presidential level, Barry County is solidly Republican. Barry County strongly favored Donald Trump in both 2016 and 2020. No Democrat has carried the county's votes in a presidential election since Lyndon Johnson in 1964.
Like most rural areas throughout Missouri, voters in Barry County generally adhere to socially and culturally conservative principles which tend to influence their Republican leanings.
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 Barry County by a wide margin. Biden went on to defeat President Donald Trump in the general election.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Joe Biden | 1,040 | 65.70 | ||
| Democratic | Bernie Sanders | 441 | 27.86 | ||
| Democratic | Tulsi Gabbard | 15 | 0.95 | ||
| Democratic | Others/Uncommitted | 87 | 5.50 | ||
Incumbent President Donald Trump (R-Florida) faced a primary challenge from former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld, but won both Barry County and statewide by overwhelming margins.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Donald Trump | 2,988 | 98.39 | ||
| Republican | Bill Weld | 11 | 0.36 | ||
| Republican | Others/Uncommitted | 38 | 1.25 | ||
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 Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) carried a plurality of the vote in Barry County. Trump went on to win the nomination and the presidency.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Ted Cruz | 3,189 | 45.36 | ||
| Republican | Donald Trump | 3,030 | 43.10 | ||
| Republican | John Kasich | 400 | 5.69 | ||
| Republican | Marco Rubio | 255 | 3.63 | ||
| Republican | Others/Uncommitted | 157 | 2.23 | ||
On the Democratic side, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D-New York) both won statewide and carried Barry County by a small margin.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Hillary Clinton | 874 | 51.62 | ||
| Democratic | Bernie Sanders | 796 | 47.02 | ||
| Democratic | Others/Uncommitted | 23 | 1.36 | ||
2012
The 2012 Missouri Republican Presidential Primary's results were nonbinding on the state's national convention delegates. Voters in Barry 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 Romney. 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. However, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee carried Barry County, receiving more votes than any other candidate of either party.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mike Huckabee | 2,396 | 49.69 | ||
| Republican | John McCain | 1,365 | 28.31 | ||
| Republican | Mitt Romney | 739 | 15.33 | ||
| Republican | Ron Paul | 266 | 5.52 | ||
| Republican | Others/Uncommitted | 56 | 1.16 | ||
Then-Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York) easily won Barry County during the 2008 presidential primary. Despite initial reports that Clinton had won Missouri, Barack Obama (D-Illinois), also a Senator at the time, narrowly defeated her statewide and later became that year's Democratic nominee, going on to win the presidency.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Hillary Clinton | 1,976 | 65.52 | ||
| Democratic | Barack Obama | 919 | 30.47 | ||
| Democratic | Others/Uncommitted | 121 | 4.01 | ||
