St. Clair County, Missouri

St. Clair County is a county located in the western portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 9,284.^[2] Its county seat is Osceola.^[3] The largest city is Appleton City. The county was organized in 1841 and named after General Arthur St. Clair, Governor of the Northwest Territory.^[4] St. Clair was also the 9th president of the United States in Congress Assembled. Under his presidency, the Northwest Ordinance and United States Constitution were passed.^[5]

Country

United States

FoundedJanuary 29, 1841

SeatOsceola

TimezoneUTC−6 (Central)

Quick facts Country, State ...

St. Clair County, Missouri
County
St. Clair County courthouse in Osceola
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
Coordinates: 38°02′N 93°46′W
Country	United States
State	Missouri
Founded	January 29, 1841
Named after	Arthur St. Clair
Seat	Osceola
Largest city	Appleton City
Area
• Total	702 sq mi (1,820 km²)
• Land	670 sq mi (1,700 km²)
• Water	32 sq mi (83 km²) 4.6%
Population (2020)
• Total	9,284
• Estimate (2025)^[1]	9,976
• Density	14.9/sq mi (5.8/km²)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	4th
Website	www.stclaircomo.com

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According to the April 1907 issue of The Century Magazine, for well over 30 years (dating from 1870) St. Clair County was in open rebellion against the U.S. Government, refusing to pay interest on bonds issued to assist in the building of a railroad that was never built.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 702 square miles (1,820 km²), of which 670 square miles (1,700 km²) is land and 32 square miles (83 km²) (4.6%) is water.^[6]

Adjacent counties

Henry County (north)
Benton County (northeast)
Hickory County (east)
Polk County (southeast)
Cedar County (south)
Vernon County (southwest)
Bates County (northwest)

Major highways

Transit

Jefferson Lines

Demographics

More information Census, Pop. ...

Historical population
Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1850	3,556		—
1860	6,812		91.6%
1870	6,742		−1.0%
1880	14,125		109.5%
1890	16,747		18.6%
1900	17,907		6.9%
1910	16,412		−8.3%
1920	15,341		−6.5%
1930	13,289		−13.4%
1940	13,146		−1.1%
1950	10,482		−20.3%
1960	8,421		−19.7%
1970	7,667		−9.0%
1980	8,622		12.5%
1990	8,457		−1.9%
2000	9,652		14.1%
2010	9,805		1.6%
2020	9,284		−5.3%
2025 (est.)	9,976	^[7]	7.5%
U.S. Decennial Census^[8] 1790–1960^[9] 1900–90^[10] 1990–2000^[11] 2010–2015^[12] 2025^[1]

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2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 9,284. The median age was 48.4 years, with 21.3% of residents under the age of 18 and 25.8% aged 65 or older. For every 100 females there were 102.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 101.3 males.^[13]

The racial makeup of the county was 93.1% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.7% from some other race, and 4.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.9% of the population.^[14]

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

**St. Clair 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^[15]	Pop 1990^[16]	Pop 2000^[17]	Pop 2010^[18]	Pop 2020^[19]	% 1980	% 1990	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	8,510	8,356	9,338	9,366	8,567	98.70%	98.81%	96.75%	95.52%	92.28%
Black or African American alone (NH)	17	22	20	47	26	0.20%	0.26%	0.21%	0.48%	0.28%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	58	41	72	58	63	0.67%	0.48%	0.75%	0.59%	0.68%
Asian alone (NH)	5	5	14	12	19	0.06%	0.06%	0.15%	0.12%	0.20%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)	x ^[20]	x ^[21]	2	1	7	x	x	0.02%	0.01%	0.08%
Other race alone (NH)	0	0	4	1	23	0.00%	0.00%	0.04%	0.01%	0.25%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	x ^[22]	x ^[23]	107	150	401	x	x	1.11%	1.53%	4.32%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	32	33	95	170	178	0.37%	0.39%	0.98%	1.73%	1.92%
Total	8,622	8,457	9,652	9,805	9,284	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

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

There were 3,928 households in the county, of which 23.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 23.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[13]

There were 5,288 housing units, of which 25.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 76.0% were owner-occupied and 24.0% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.7%.^[13]

2000 census

As of the census^[25] of 2000, there were 9,652 people, 4,040 households, and 2,791 families residing in the county. The population density was 14 people per square mile (5.4 people/km²). There were 5,205 housing units at an average density of 8 units per square mile (3.1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.36% White, 0.23% Black or African American, 0.75% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.29% from other races, and 1.21% from two or more races. Approximately 0.98% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,040 households, out of which 26.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.60% were married couples living together, 7.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.90% were non-families. 27.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.83.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.00% under the age of 18, 5.60% from 18 to 24, 22.90% from 25 to 44, 27.20% from 45 to 64, and 21.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 98.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $25,321, and the median income for a family was $31,498. Males had a median income of $23,231 versus $18,351 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,025. About 16.20% of families and 19.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.30% of those under age 18 and 17.60% of those age 65 or over.

Education

K-12 school districts with portions in the county, including those with administration buildings and/or schools in other counties, include:^[26]

Appleton City R-II School District
El Dorado Springs R-II School District
Humansville R-IV School District
Lakeland R-III School District
Osceola School District
Weaubleau R-III School District

The county has a single elementary school district, Roscoe C-1 School District.^[26]

Public schools

Appleton City R-II School District – Appleton City
- Appleton City Elementary School (K–5)
- Appleton City High School (06-12)
Osceola Public Schools – Osceola
- Osceola Elementary School (PK–6)
- Osceola High School (7–12)
Roscoe C-1 School District – Roscoe
- Roscoe Elementary School (PK–8)
Lakeland R-III School District – Lowry City and Deepwater
- Lakeland Elementary School

The school of the Hudson R-IX School District, Hudson R-IX Elementary School, has an Appleton City postal address;^[27] that school is in Hudson Township, Bates County,^[28] and the district is entirely in Bates County; the district and school are not in and do not cover the Appleton City city limits nor any portion of St. Clair County.^[29]

Public libraries

Appleton City Public Library
St. Clair County Library-Main Library (Osceola)
St. Clair County Library-Lowry City Branch

Communities

Cities

Villages

Unincorporated communities

Townships

St. Clair County is divided into 16 townships:

Politics

Local

The Republican Party predominantly controls politics at the local level in St. Clair County.

Quick facts Elected countywide officials, Assessor ...

St. Clair County, Missouri
Elected countywide officials
Assessor	George Lysinger	Republican
Circuit Clerk	Karen Hubbard	Democratic
County Clerk	Holly Fletcher	Republican
Collector	Pam Guffey	Republican
Commissioner (presiding)	Robert Salmon	Republican
Commissioner (district 1)	Matt Noakes	Republican
Commissioner (district 2)	Randy Smith	Republican
Coroner	C. Randy Shelton	Republican
Prosecuting Attorney	Daniel Dysart	Republican
Public Administrator	David Knight	Republican
Recorder	Mandy Jackson	Republican
Sheriff	Lee Hilty	Republican
Treasurer	Rhonda Shelby	Republican

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State

More information Year, Republican ...

Past gubernatorial elections results
Year	Republican	Democratic	Third Parties
2024	78.01% 3,887	20.11% 1,002	1.88% 94
2020	78.01% 3,880	20.00% 995	1.99% 99
2016	62.86% 2,927	33.51% 1,560	3.63% 169
2012	50.33% 2,335	45.72% 2,121	3.95% 183
2008	41.90% 2,093	54.73% 2,734	3.36% 168
2004	58.21% 2,888	40.40% 2,004	1.39% 69
2000	50.73% 2,405	47.35% 2,245	1.92% 91
1996	42.91% 1,909	54.37% 2,419	2.72% 121

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All of St. Clair County is a part of Missouri's 125th District in the Missouri House of Representatives and is represented by Warren Love (R-Osceola).