The second Chariton County Courthouse 1867–1973. It replaced one destroyed by Confederate raiders in September 1864.
Chariton County was settled primarily from the states of theUpper South, especiallyKentucky andTennessee. They broughtslaves and slaveholding traditions with them, and they quickly started cultivating crops similar to those inMiddle Tennessee and Kentucky:hemp andtobacco. Chariton was one of several counties settled mostly by southerners to the north and south of theMissouri River. Given their culture and traditions, this area became known asLittle Dixie and Chariton County was at its heart. It was heavily pro-Confederate during theAmerican Civil War.[3]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 767 square miles (1,990 km2), of which 751 square miles (1,950 km2) is land and 16 square miles (41 km2) (2.0%) is water.[4]
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 7,408 and a median age of 46.0 years; 22.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 24.2% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 102.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.9 males age 18 and over.[10][11]
The 2020 Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) show that 94.1% of residents identified as White, 2.0% as Black or African American, 0.3% as American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% as Asian, 0.0% as Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.1% as some other race, and 3.4% as two or more races; 1.4% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[11]
No residents lived in urban areas while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[12]
There were 3,067 households in the county, of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 22.4% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present; 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[10]
There were 3,792 housing units, of which 19.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 80.0% were owner-occupied and 20.0% were renter-occupied, the homeowner vacancy rate was 0.8%, and the rental vacancy rate was 13.0%.[10]
Chariton 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.
As of thecensus[22] of 2000, there were 8,438 people, 3,469 households, and 2,345 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 11 people per square mile (4.2 people/km2). There were 4,250 housing units at an average density of 6 units per square mile (2.3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.99%White, 3.19%Black orAfrican American, 0.17%Native American, 0.13%Asian, 0.11% fromother races, and 0.41% from two or more races. Approximately 0.56% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 38.8% were ofGerman, 25.5%American, 9.7%English and 7.8%Irish ancestry.
There were 3,469 households, out of which 28.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.30% weremarried couples living together, 6.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.40% were non-families. 29.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.30% 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 2.94.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.70% under the age of 18, 6.50% from 18 to 24, 23.70% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 22.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 91.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $32,285, and the median income for a family was $39,176. Males had a median income of $25,263 versus $19,068 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $15,515. About 8.80% of families and 11.60% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 11.40% of those under age 18 and 14.00% of those age 65 or over.
Vern Kennedy—Former Major League Baseball pitcher. (Mendon)
Darold Knowles—FormerMLB relief pitcher. First pitcher to ever appear in all seven games of a World Series. The baseball field at Brunswick R-II school is named in his honor. (Brunswick)
Wayne E. Meyer—U.S. Navy admiral, "Father of the Aegis weapons system". (Brunswick)
FormerU.S. SenatorHillary Clinton (D-New York) received more votes, a total of 786, than any candidate from either party in Chariton County during the 2008 presidential primary. She also received more votes than the total number of votes cast in the entire Republican primary in Chariton County.