Iron County, Missouri | |
|---|---|
 County courthouse in Ironton | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofMissouri | |
 Missouri's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:37°33′N90°46′W / 37.55°N 90.76°W /37.55; -90.76 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Missouri |
| Founded | February 17, 1857 |
| Named after | Iron ore |
| Seat | Ironton |
| Largest city | Ironton |
| Area | |
• Total | 552 sq mi (1,430 km2) |
| • Land | 550 sq mi (1,400 km2) |
| • Water | 1.8 sq mi (4.7 km2) 0.3% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 9,537 |
| • Density | 17/sq mi (6.7/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 8th |
| Website | https://ironcountymo.gov/ |
Iron County is acounty located in theLead Belt region in theU.S. state ofMissouri. As of the2020 census, the population was 9,537.[1] The largest city andcounty seat isIronton.[2] Iron County was officially organized on February 17, 1857, and was named after the abundance ofiron ore found within its borders.[3][4]
Iron County includes the 6-mile (9.7 km)-long, 2-mile (3.2 km)-wideArcadia Valley, the site ofPilot Knob,Ironton, andArcadia, communities established by immigrants in the 19th Century.[5] The valley is surrounded by theSaint Francois Mountains ofthe Ozarks Plateau. Iron County is also home to dozens of mountains,[6] including the 1,772-foot (540 m)Taum Sauk Mountain, thehighest point in Missouri.
The county is home to a number of state parks and historical sites includingTaum Sauk Mountain State Park,Elephant Rocks State Park andFort Davidson State Historic Site as well as 96,047 acres (390 km2) ofMark Twain National Forest.[7]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 552 square miles (1,430 km2), of which 550 square miles (1,400 km2) is land and 1.8 square miles (4.7 km2) (0.3%) is water.[8]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 5,842 | — | |
| 1870 | 6,278 | 7.5% | |
| 1880 | 8,183 | 30.3% | |
| 1890 | 9,119 | 11.4% | |
| 1900 | 8,716 | −4.4% | |
| 1910 | 8,563 | −1.8% | |
| 1920 | 9,458 | 10.5% | |
| 1930 | 9,642 | 1.9% | |
| 1940 | 10,440 | 8.3% | |
| 1950 | 9,458 | −9.4% | |
| 1960 | 8,041 | −15.0% | |
| 1970 | 9,529 | 18.5% | |
| 1980 | 11,084 | 16.3% | |
| 1990 | 10,726 | −3.2% | |
| 2000 | 10,697 | −0.3% | |
| 2010 | 10,630 | −0.6% | |
| 2020 | 9,537 | −10.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[9] 1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11] 1990-2000[12] 2010-2015[13] 2020[14] | |||
As of thecensus[16] of 2000, there were 10,697 people, 4,197 households, and 2,963 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 7/km2 (18/sq mi). There were 4,907 housing units at an average density of 3/km2 (7.8/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 96.74%White, 1.56%Black orAfrican American, 0.34%Native American, 0.09%Asian, 0.22% fromother races, and 1.05% from two or more races. Approximately 0.58% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 4,197 households, out of which 32.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.80% weremarried couples living together, 9.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.40% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.00% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 25.30% from 25 to 44, 24.80% from 45 to 64, and 17.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 94.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,276, and the median income for a family was $38,037. Males had a median income of $28,603 versus $16,615 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $16,717. About 13.80% of families and 19.00% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 27.60% of those under age 18 and 13.20% of those age 65 or over.
According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2000), Iron County is a part of theBible Belt with evangelical Protestantism being the majority religion. The most predominant denominations among residents in Iron County who adhere to a religion areSouthern Baptists (56.62%),Methodists (10.60%), andRoman Catholics (7.82%).
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 8,602 | 90.2% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 136 | 1.43% |
| Native American (NH) | 60 | 0.63% |
| Asian (NH) | 34 | 0.36% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 2 | 0.02% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 526 | 5.52% |
| Hispanic orLatino | 177 | 1.9% |
Control is evenly split at the local level in Iron County. Democrats hold 7 of the 14 positions in the county, while Republicans control the other 7.
| Iron County, Missouri | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Elected countywide officials | |||
| Assessor | David L. Huff | Democratic | |
| Circuit Clerk | Sammye (Gail) White | Democratic | |
| County Clerk | Stephanie Lebron | Republican | |
| Collector | Crystal Price | Republican | |
| Commissioner (presiding) | Jim Scaggs | Democratic | |
| Commissioner (district 1) | Ben Young | Republican | |
| Commissioner (district 2) | Ronnie Chandler | Republican | |
| Coroner | Tim Harbison | Republican | |
| Prosecuting Attorney | Brian Parker | Democratic | |
| Public Administrator | Lisa Light | Republican | |
| Recorder | Karen K. Reagan | Democratic | |
| Sheriff | Jeff Burkett | Republican | |
| Surveyor | Mark Nations | Democratic | |
| Treasurer | Carol Hardy | Democratic | |
In theMissouri House of Representatives, all of Iron County is a part of Missouri's 144th District and is currently represented byRepublicanPaul Fitzwater ofPotosi. Fitzwater was elected in 2016 to his fourth and final term in the Missouri House.
In theMissouri Senate, all of Iron County is a part of Missouri's 3rd District and is currently represented byRepublicanGary Romine ofFarmington. Romine defeated formerDemocraticState RepresentativeJoseph Fallert, Jr. ofSte. Genevieve in 2012 with 53.84 percent of the vote in the district, which includes most of the Missouri Lead Belt region. The seat was vacated by formerRepublicanState SenatorKevin Engler ofFarmington. Engler successfully served two terms/eight years in the Missouri Senate and was ineligible to seek a third term due to term limits.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third Parties |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 77.30%3,399 | 19.35%851 | 3.24%147 |
| 2020 | 72.08%3,266 | 24.39%1,105 | 3.53%160 |
| 2016 | 60.76%2,600 | 34.99%1,497 | 4.25%182 |
| 2012 | 39.87%1,596 | 56.91%2,278 | 3.22%129 |
| 2008 | 33.45%1,483 | 64.14%2,844 | 2.41%107 |
| 2004 | 50.62%2,359 | 47.53%2,215 | 2.85%86 |
| 2000 | 45.42%2,002 | 51.23%2,258 | 3.35%148 |
| 1996 | 35.54%1,470 | 62.60%2,589 | 1.86%77 |
| 1992 | 37.07%1,653 | 62.93%2,806 | 0.00%0 |
| 1988 | 55.65%2,290 | 44.16%1,817 | 0.19%8 |
| 1984 | 50.01%2,127 | 49.99%2,126 | 0.00%0 |
| 1980 | 51.18%2,322 | 48.62%2,206 | 0.20%9 |
| 1976 | 46.76%2,043 | 52.99%2,315 | 0.25%11 |
| 1972 | 51.80%1,840 | 48.86%1,760 | 0.06%2 |
| 1968 | 33.82%1,246 | 66.18%2,438 | 0.00%0 |
| 1964 | 28.59%1,066 | 71.41%2,662 | 0.00%0 |
| 1960 | 38.41%1,465 | 61.59%2,349 | 0.00%0 |
Missouri's twoU.S. senators areRepublicansJosh Hawley andEric Schmitt.
Hawley waselected to his first term in 2018 with 51.4 percent of the statewide vote overDemocraticU.S. SenatorClaire McCaskill; Iron County voters backed Hawley with 62.6 percent of the vote.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Josh Hawley | 2,236 | 62.6 | ||
| Democratic | Claire McCaskill | 1,231 | 34.4 | ||
Roy Blunt wasre-elected in 2016 with 49.3 percent of the statewide vote overDemocraticMissouri Secretary of StateJason Kander,Libertarian Jonathan Dine ofRiverside,Constitutionalist Fred Ryman, andGreen Party candidate Johnathan McFarland; Iron County voters supported Blunt with over 55 percent of the vote.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Roy Blunt | 2,329 | 55.10 | ||
| Democratic | Jason Kander | 1,671 | 39.53 | ||
| Libertarian | Jonathan Dine | 102 | 2.41 | ||
| Green | Johnathan McFarland | 79 | 1.87 | ||
| Constitution | Fred Ryman | 46 | 1.09 | ||
All of Iron County is included inMissouri's 8th Congressional District and is currently represented byRepublicanJason T. Smith ofSalem in theU.S. House of Representatives. Smith won a special election on Tuesday, June 4, 2013, to complete the remaining term of formerRepublicanU.S. RepresentativeJo Ann Emerson ofCape 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.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jo Ann Emerson | 2,741 | 69.01 | +15.84 | |
| Democratic | Jack Rushin | 1,113 | 28.02 | −13.51 | |
| Libertarian | Rick Vandeven | 118 | 2.97 | +0.19 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jason T. Smith | 409 | 52.44 | ||
| Democratic | Steve Hodges | 229 | 43.46 | ||
| Constitution | Doug Enyart | 20 | 2.56 | ||
| Libertarian | Bill Slantz | 6 | 0.77 | ||
| Write-In | Thomas Brown | 6 | 0.77 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jason T. Smith | 3,358 | 75.9 | ||
| Democratic | Kathy Ellis | 985 | 22.3 | ||
| Libertarian | Tom Schmitz | 82 | 1.9 | ||
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1888 | 662 | 37.44% | 1,004 | 56.79% | 102 | 5.77% |
| 1892 | 568 | 38.74% | 880 | 60.03% | 18 | 1.23% |
| 1896 | 607 | 37.24% | 1,016 | 62.33% | 7 | 0.43% |
| 1900 | 642 | 40.20% | 932 | 58.36% | 23 | 1.44% |
| 1904 | 670 | 42.92% | 861 | 55.16% | 30 | 1.92% |
| 1908 | 828 | 46.60% | 931 | 52.39% | 18 | 1.01% |
| 1912 | 666 | 40.22% | 845 | 51.03% | 145 | 8.76% |
| 1916 | 874 | 45.14% | 1,027 | 53.05% | 35 | 1.81% |
| 1920 | 1,463 | 47.64% | 1,554 | 50.60% | 54 | 1.76% |
| 1924 | 1,328 | 43.24% | 1,675 | 54.54% | 68 | 2.21% |
| 1928 | 1,910 | 58.68% | 1,342 | 41.23% | 3 | 0.09% |
| 1932 | 1,439 | 34.49% | 2,689 | 64.45% | 44 | 1.05% |
| 1936 | 1,605 | 39.84% | 2,413 | 59.89% | 11 | 0.27% |
| 1940 | 2,062 | 45.17% | 2,495 | 54.65% | 8 | 0.18% |
| 1944 | 1,649 | 42.79% | 2,205 | 57.21% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 1,435 | 35.93% | 2,552 | 63.90% | 7 | 0.18% |
| 1952 | 1,831 | 44.40% | 2,286 | 55.43% | 7 | 0.17% |
| 1956 | 1,810 | 47.88% | 1,970 | 52.12% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 2,122 | 53.41% | 1,851 | 46.59% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 1,050 | 27.78% | 2,730 | 72.22% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 1,600 | 41.60% | 1,755 | 45.63% | 491 | 12.77% |
| 1972 | 2,203 | 62.07% | 1,346 | 37.93% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1976 | 1,765 | 39.81% | 2,646 | 59.68% | 23 | 0.52% |
| 1980 | 2,205 | 48.45% | 2,226 | 48.91% | 120 | 2.64% |
| 1984 | 2,316 | 53.38% | 2,023 | 46.62% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1988 | 1,877 | 45.01% | 2,283 | 54.75% | 10 | 0.24% |
| 1992 | 1,276 | 27.54% | 2,507 | 54.10% | 851 | 18.36% |
| 1996 | 1,328 | 31.92% | 2,221 | 53.39% | 611 | 14.69% |
| 2000 | 2,237 | 50.68% | 2,044 | 46.31% | 133 | 3.01% |
| 2004 | 2,477 | 52.94% | 2,157 | 46.10% | 45 | 0.96% |
| 2008 | 2,090 | 47.35% | 2,213 | 50.14% | 111 | 2.51% |
| 2012 | 2,252 | 55.87% | 1,669 | 41.40% | 110 | 2.73% |
| 2016 | 3,173 | 74.33% | 933 | 21.86% | 163 | 3.82% |
| 2020 | 3,596 | 78.31% | 945 | 20.58% | 51 | 1.11% |
| 2024 | 3,644 | 80.66% | 824 | 18.24% | 50 | 1.11% |
Historically, Iron County has been one of the most reliablyDemocratic counties in Missouri. Located in theLead Belt region of the state, mining has been important to the county's economy. It was one of only three predominantlyrural counties in Missouri to vote forBarack Obama in2008 (nearbyWashington andSte. Genevieve counties being the other two). Like much of the rest of the state's rural areas, the county saw a rapid rightward swing starting in2000, whenGeorge W. Bush became the first Republican since1984 (and the second since1972) to carry it, afterBill Clinton had carried it in1996 by over twenty points. Apart from the interruption in 2008, the Republican vote share has, as of2024, grown in every subsequent election. At the local and state levels, however, Iron County still remains quite Democratic. At the same timeRomney won Iron County by 15 points in 2012, allDemocratic statewide candidatesJay Nixon (Governor),Claire McCaskill (U.S. Senator),Jason Kander (Secretary of State),Chris Koster (Attorney General), andClint Zweifel (State Treasurer) carried Iron County by healthy margins;Peter Kinder (Lieutenant Governor) was the only other statewide Republican to win Iron County alongside Romney, and even then, the margin of victory was smaller than in most other rural counties.
Like most rural areas throughout Southeast Missouri, voters in Iron County generally adhere to socially and culturallyconservative principles but are more moderate orpopulist on economic issues. In 2004, Missourians voted ona constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman—it overwhelmingly passed Iron County with 80.90 percent of the vote. The initiative passed the state with 71 percent of support from voters as Missouri became the first state to bansame-sex marriage. In 2006, Missourians voted ona constitutional amendment to fund and legalize embryonic stem cell research in the state—it failed in Iron County with 56.03 percent voting against the measure. The initiative narrowly passed the state with 51 percent of support from voters as Missouri became one of the first states in the nation to approveembryonic stem cell research. Despite Iron County's longstanding tradition of supporting socially conservative platforms, voters in the county have a penchant for advancingpopulist causes like increasing theminimum wage. In 2006, Missourians voted on a proposition (Proposition B) to increase the minimum wage in the state to $6.50 an hour—it passed Iron County with 78.25 percent of the vote. The proposition strongly passed every single county in Missouri with 75.94 percent voting in favor as the minimum wage was increased to $6.50 an hour in the state. During the same election, voters in five other states also strongly approved increases in the minimum wage.
In the 2008 Missouri Presidential Preference Primary, voters in Iron County from both political parties supported candidates who finished in second place in the state at large and nationally. FormerU.S. SenatorHillary Clinton (D-New York) received more votes, a total of 1,180, than any candidate from either party in Iron County during the 2008 Missouri Presidential Primaries. She also received more votes altogether than the total number of votes cast in the entire Republican Primary in Iron County.
Of adults 25 years of age and older in Iron County, 65.2% possesses ahigh school diploma or higher while 8.4% holds abachelor's degree or higher as their highest educational attainment.
Places adjacent to Iron County, Missouri | |
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Municipalities and communities ofIron County, Missouri,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Village | ||
| Townships | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
