Shannon County, Missouri

Adjacent counties

• Dent County (north)
• Reynolds County (east)
• Carter County (southeast)
• Oregon County (south)
• Howell County (southwest)
• Texas County (west)

Major highways

• U.S. Route 60
• Route 19
• Route 99
• Route 106

National protected areas

• Mark Twain National Forest (part)
• Ozark National Scenic Riverways (part)

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 7,031 and the median age was 47.4 years; 21.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 23.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older, while there were 98.7 males for every 100 females and 96.8 males for every 100 females age 18 and over.^[13][14]

The racial makeup of the county was 92.5% White, 0.1% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.6% from some other race, and 6.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.0% of the population.^[14]

The following table shows the count and percentage for the county's non-Hispanic race groups and the Hispanic or Latino population as reported in 2020.

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.^[24]

There were 2,948 households in the county, of which 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 24.2% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[13]

There were 3,513 housing units, of which 16.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 78.3% were owner-occupied and 21.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.3%.^[13]

2000 census

As of the census^[25] of 2000, there were 8,324 people, 3,319 households, and 2,356 families residing in the county. The population density was 31 people per square mile (12 people/km²). There were 3,862 housing units at an average density of 1/km² (2.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.05% White, 0.17% Black or African American, 1.83% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races, and 2.69% from two or more races. Approximately 0.93% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Among the major first ancestries reported in Shannon County were 38.3% American, 13.4% Irish, 11.8% German, and 9.7% English.

There were 3,319 households, out of which 32.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.80% were married couples living together, 8.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.00% were non-families. 25.80% 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 2.49 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.40% under the age of 18, 7.20% from 18 to 24, 26.10% from 25 to 44, 25.30% from 45 to 64, and 15.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 95.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $24,835, and the median income for a family was $30,102. Males had a median income of $21,917 versus $16,024 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,127. About 21.00% of families and 26.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.10% of those under age 18 and 20.20% of those age 65 or over.

Religion

According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2000), Shannon County is a part of the Bible Belt with evangelical Protestantism being the majority religion. The most predominant denominations among residents in Shannon County who adhere to a religion are Southern Baptists (56.22%), Methodists (12.03%), and Christian Churches & Churches of Christ (10.84%).

Local

The Republican Party predominantly controls politics at the local level in Shannon County. Republicans hold eleven of the elected positions in the county.

State

In the Missouri House of Representatives, Shannon County is currently represented within Missouri's 143rd District by Republican Bennie Cook.^[26] The 143rd District's boundaries changed after 2022 redistricting; readers should confirm current district lines before treating this as definitive.^{[citation needed]}

In the Missouri Senate, all of Shannon County is a part of Missouri's 25th District and is currently represented by Doug Libla, (R- Poplar Bluff).

Federal

Shannon County is included in Missouri's 8th Congressional District and is currently represented by Jason T. Smith (R-Salem) in the U.S. House of Representatives. Smith won a special election on Tuesday, June 4, 2013, to finish out the remaining term of U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson (R-Cape Girardeau). Emerson announced her resignation a month after being reelected with over 70 percent of the vote in the district. She resigned to become CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative.

Missouri presidential preference primary (2008)

In the 2008 presidential primary, voters in Shannon County from both political parties supported candidates who finished in second place in the state at large and nationally.

Former U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York) received more votes, a total of 914, than any candidate from either party in Shannon County during the 2008 presidential primary.

Public Schools

• Birch Tree Elementary School – Birch Tree
• Eminence R-I School District – Eminence
  • Eminence Elementary School (PK-06)
  • Eminence High School (07–12)
• Winona R-III School District – Winona
  • Winona Elementary School (PK-08)
  • Winona High School (09–12)

Public libraries

• Birch Tree City Library^[30]
• Eminence Public Library^[31]
• Winona Public Library^[32]

Cities

Census-designated place

• Montier

Other unincorporated places