Knox County, Missouri

Knox County is a county located in the northeast portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census,^[2] its population was 3,744,^[3] making it the third-least populous county in Missouri. Its county seat is Edina.^[4] The county was organized February 14, 1845, and named for U.S. Secretary of War General Henry Knox.^[5]

Country

United States

FoundedFebruary 14, 1845

SeatEdina

TimezoneUTC−6 (Central)

Quick facts Country, State ...

Knox County, Missouri
County
Knox County Courthouse in Edina
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
Coordinates: 40°07′N 92°09′W
Country	United States
State	Missouri
Founded	February 14, 1845
Named after	Henry Knox
Seat	Edina
Largest city	Edina
Area
• Total	507 sq mi (1,310 km²)
• Land	504 sq mi (1,310 km²)
• Water	2.8 sq mi (7.3 km²) 0.6%
Population (2020)
• Total	3,744
• Estimate (2025)^[1]	3,728
• Density	7.4/sq mi (2.9/km²)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	6th
Website	www.knoxcountymo.org

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Civil War

A battle was fought during the American Civil War at Newark, involving Joseph C. Porter on August 1, 1862.^[6]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 507 square miles (1,310 km²), of which 504 square miles (1,310 km²) is land and 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²) (0.6%) is water.^[7]

Adjacent counties

Scotland County (north)
Clark County (northeast)
Lewis County (east)
Shelby County (south)
Macon County (southwest)
Adair County (west)

Major highways

Demographics

More information Census, Pop. ...

Historical population
Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1850	2,894		—
1860	8,727		201.6%
1870	10,974		25.7%
1880	13,047		18.9%
1890	13,501		3.5%
1900	13,479		−0.2%
1910	12,403		−8.0%
1920	10,783		−13.1%
1930	9,658		−10.4%
1940	8,878		−8.1%
1950	7,617		−14.2%
1960	6,558		−13.9%
1970	5,692		−13.2%
1980	5,508		−3.2%
1990	4,482		−18.6%
2000	4,361		−2.7%
2010	4,131		−5.3%
2020	3,744		−9.4%
2025 (est.)	3,728	^[8]	−0.4%
U.S. Decennial Census^[9] 1790-1960^[10] 1900-1990^[11] 1990-2000^[12] 2010^[3] 2025^[1]

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2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 3,744. The median age was 44.1 years. 24.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 23.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.4 males age 18 and over.^[13]

The racial makeup of the county was 95.4% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.4% from some other race, and 2.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 0.6% of the population. The detail is provided in the table below.^[14]

There were 1,500 households in the county, of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 25.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[13]

There were 1,934 housing units, of which 22.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 79.9% were owner-occupied and 20.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 14.0%.^[13]

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.^[15]

Racial and ethnic composition

More information Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic), Pop 1980 ...

**Knox County, Missouri – Racial and ethnic composition**
*Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.*
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 1980^[16]	Pop 1990^[17]	Pop 2000^[18]	Pop 2010^[19]	Pop 2020^[20]	% 1980	% 1990	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	5,474	4,454	4,277	4,027	3,573	99.38%	99.38%	98.07%	97.48%	95.43%
Black or African American alone (NH)	6	6	4	14	20	0.11%	0.13%	0.09%	0.34%	0.53%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	5	10	1	7	5	0.09%	0.22%	0.02%	0.17%	0.13%
Asian alone (NH)	8	3	4	8	18	0.15%	0.07%	0.09%	0.19%	0.48%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)	x ^[21]	x ^[22]	0	0	0	x	x	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Other race alone (NH)	7	0	2	0	6	0.13%	0.00%	0.05%	0.00%	0.16%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	x ^[23]	x ^[24]	47	41	99	x	x	1.08%	0.99%	2.64%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	8	9	26	34	23	0.15%	0.20%	0.60%	0.82%	0.61%
Total	5,508	4,482	4,361	4,131	3,744	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

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2010 census

As of the census^[25] of 2010, there were 4,131 people in the county, organized into 1,791 households and 1,217 families. The population density was 9 people per square mile (3.5 people/km²). There were 2,317 housing units at an average density of 5 units per square mile (1.9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.51% White, 0.09% Black or African American, 0.09% Asian, 0.02% Native American, 0.16% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. Approximately 0.60% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,791 households, out of which 27.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.50% were married couples living together, 6.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.00% were non-families. 29.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.00% 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 2.93.

24.90% of the county's population was under the age of 18, 6.20% from 18 to 24, 23.70% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 21.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 92.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.6 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,124, and the median income for a family was $31,741. Males had a median income of $22,636 versus $18,902 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,075. 18.00% of the population and 12.90% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 24.10% of those under the age of 18 and 16.50% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

The TFR for Knox County in 2004 was relatively high at 2.64, despite the population being 98% white.^[26]

Education

Four school districts have sections of the county: Knox County R-I School District, Adair County R-II School District, La Plata R-II School District, and Lewis County C-1 School District.^[27]

Public schools

Knox County R-I School District – Edina - The only school district that operates schools in the county boundaries:
- Knox County Elementary School (PK-06)
- Knox County High School (07-12)

Public libraries

Northeast Missouri Library Service^[28]

Politics

Local

The Democratic Party mostly controls politics at the local level in Knox County. Democrats hold all but five of the elected positions in the county.

Quick facts Elected countywide officials, Assessor ...

Knox County, Missouri
Elected countywide officials
Assessor	Anita James	Republican
Circuit Clerk	James Gibbons	Democratic
County Clerk	Marlene Spory	Republican
Collector	Brent Karhoff	Republican
Commissioner (presiding)	Evan Glasgow	Republican
Commissioner (district 1)	Terry (“Red”) Callahan	Democratic
Commissioner (district 2)	Roger Parton	Democratic
Coroner	Jeffrey Doss	Democratic
Prosecuting Attorney	David M. Brown	Republican
Public Administrator	Theresa Allen-Hamlin	Republican
Recorder	Sandy Woods	Democratic
Sheriff	Allen Gudehus	Democratic
Surveyor	Dilbert Sullivan	Democratic
Treasurer	Donnie Davis	Democratic

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State

More information Year, Republican ...

Past Gubernatorial Elections Results
Year	Republican	Democratic	Third Parties
2024	84.07% 1,462	14.09% 245	1.84% 32
2020	82.66% 1,516	16.03% 294	1.31% 24
2016	61.61% 1,125	36.80% 672	1.59% 29
2012	47.35% 912	50.16% 966	2.49% 49
2008	58.88% 1,180	39.57% 793	1.55% 31
2004	67.41% 1,328	31.62% 623	0.96% 19
2000	55.48% 1,124	43.34% 878	1.19% 24
1996	30.52% 623	67.71% 1,382	1.76% 36

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All of Knox County is included in Missouri's 4th District in the Missouri House of Representatives and is represented by Craig Redmon (R-Canton).