Lewis County, Missouri | |
|---|---|
 Lewis County Courthouse in Monticello | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofMissouri | |
| Coordinates:40°05′N91°44′W / 40.09°N 91.73°W /40.09; -91.73 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Missouri |
| Founded | January 2, 1833 |
| Named after | Meriwether Lewis |
| Seat | Monticello |
| Largest city | Canton |
| Area | |
• Total | 511 sq mi (1,320 km2) |
| • Land | 505 sq mi (1,310 km2) |
| • Water | 5.8 sq mi (15 km2) 1.1% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 10,032 |
• Estimate (2024)[1] | 9,852 |
| • Density | 19.5/sq mi (7.5/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Codes | 63435, 63438, 63440, 63447, 63448, 63452, 63454, 63457, 63471 |
| Area code | 660,573, 235 |
| Congressional district | 6th |
| Website | lewiscountymo |
Lewis County is acounty located in the northeastern portion of theU.S. state ofMissouri. As of the2020 census, the population was 10,032.[2] Itscounty seat isMonticello.[3] The county was organized January 2, 1833, and named forMeriwether Lewis, the explorer and Governor of theLouisiana Territory.[4]
Lewis County is part of theQuincy,IL–MOMicropolitan Statistical Area.
What is now Lewis County was once (like much of the Midwest) home to theMound Builders, a general term for a group ofPre-Columbian peoples that established complex mound earthworks and existed roughly 2-3 millennia ago. The area eventually fell under control of theMissouria tribe. Lewis County was first scouted by Europeans in 1673, when aFrench expedition led by FatherJacques Marquette came across the region. Several French expeditions followed, and small numbers of settlers would occasionally settle in the area, though never permanently. The Missouria and European settlers were joined in the early 19th century by theSauk people, with who they engaged in frequent skirmishes.[5]
Following the acquisition of theLouisiana Territory, the area was calmed when the United States established a peace treaty with the Sauk. The Sauk, however, fought against the United States during theWar of 1812, after which a series of treaties were established, culminating in a final treaty in 1824 where the Native Americans of the area renounced their territorial claims. Following several failed attempts at settlement, the town ofLa Grange was founded in 1832.[5]
During the early 19th century, Lewis County was part of the District of St. Charles. After several county reorganizations, Lewis County was established in 1833 fromMarion County and named afterMeriwether Lewis of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.[6] The county was largely settled by farmers fromVirginia andKentucky. They brought slaves and were attracted to the fertile land and easy river transportation. The economy was based on subsistence agriculture, timber harvesting, and lead mining. In 1845, Knox County was split off, leaving Lewis County with its present boundaries. The county continued to prosper through the 1850s, withhemp emerging as the main crop.[5] A major flood came through in 1851, destroying the once significant town of Tully, but the county continued to prosper into the 1860s.
Following the election ofAbraham Lincoln, the county became split between secessionists and unionists. Despite significant disputes, unionism was more popular in the county, and 500 men were raised for the Union Army during theAmerican Civil War.[5][7] Secessionists remained popular, however, and the county was split for much of the war between Unionists at La Grange and Secessionists at Canton, although the county was spared from open conflict aside from occasional partisan attacks and skirmishes.[5]
After the Civil War, the slaves were emancipated and the county's economy shifted towards commercial agriculture, with the production of corn, wheat and timber that were shipped through Canton, a port on the Mississippi River. Having emerged from the war mostly unscathed, Lewis County continued to prosper even after emancipation.[5] TheChicago and North Western Railway arrived in 1869, leading to even greater prosperity for the county.
Mark Twain lived in the county briefly and was inspired by the natural beauty of the river region for his writing.[8]
Today, Lewis County is all rural, with a few small towns under 2500 population, and Canton at 2800. The economy is built on soybeans, corn and timber, as well as higher education. Canton is the home ofCulver–Stockton College. TheNational Register of Historic Places celebrates 12 historic locations in the county.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 511 square miles (1,320 km2), of which 505 square miles (1,310 km2) is land and 5.8 square miles (15 km2) (1.1%) is water.[9]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1840 | 6,040 | — | |
| 1850 | 6,578 | 8.9% | |
| 1860 | 12,286 | 86.8% | |
| 1870 | 15,114 | 23.0% | |
| 1880 | 15,925 | 5.4% | |
| 1890 | 15,935 | 0.1% | |
| 1900 | 16,724 | 5.0% | |
| 1910 | 15,514 | −7.2% | |
| 1920 | 13,465 | −13.2% | |
| 1930 | 12,093 | −10.2% | |
| 1940 | 11,490 | −5.0% | |
| 1950 | 10,733 | −6.6% | |
| 1960 | 10,984 | 2.3% | |
| 1970 | 10,993 | 0.1% | |
| 1980 | 10,901 | −0.8% | |
| 1990 | 10,233 | −6.1% | |
| 2000 | 10,494 | 2.6% | |
| 2010 | 10,211 | −2.7% | |
| 2020 | 10,032 | −1.8% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 9,852 | −1.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[10] 1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12] 1990-2000[13] 2010-2015[14] 2024[1] | |||
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 10,032 and a median age of 39.3 years; 21.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.1% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 101.3 males, and there were 98.5 males for every 100 females age 18 and over.[15]
The racial makeup of the county was 93.3% White, 1.8%Black or African American, 0.3%American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Asian, 0.0%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 0.9% from some other race, and 3.4% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.6% of the population.[16]
There were 3,789 households in the county, of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 23.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[15]
There were 4,312 housing units, of which 12.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 73.3% were owner-occupied and 26.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.4%.[15]
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[17]
As of the2010 census, there were 10,211 people, 3,956 households, and 2,709 families residing in the county.[18] Thepopulation density was 21 people per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 95.92%White, 2.53%Black orAfrican American, 0.16%Native American, 0.20%Asian, 0.02%Pacific Islander, 0.44% fromother races, and 0.73% from two or more races. Approximately 0.73% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 34.9% were ofGerman, 18.3%American, 11.2%English and 10.8%Irish ancestry.
The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.00. In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.00% under the age of 18, 12.90% from 18 to 24, 24.60% from 25 to 44, 21.40% from 45 to 64, and 16.10% who were 65 years of age or older. Females comprised 51% of the population. The median age was 36 years.[18]
Median income for a household in the county was $30,651, and the median income for a family was $35,740. Males had a median income of $27,778 versus $19,679 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $14,746. 16.10% of the population and 10.70% of families were below thepoverty line.[18]
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[19] | Pop 1990[20] | Pop 2000[21] | Pop 2010[22] | Pop 2020[23] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 10,480 | 9,823 | 10,032 | 9,546 | 9,315 | 96.14% | 95.99% | 95.60% | 93.49% | 92.85% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 356 | 342 | 264 | 321 | 185 | 3.27% | 3.34% | 2.52% | 3.14% | 1.84% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 4 | 19 | 16 | 25 | 30 | 0.04% | 0.19% | 0.15% | 0.24% | 0.30% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 20 | 16 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 0.18% | 0.16% | 0.20% | 0.22% | 0.22% |
| Native Hawaiian orPacific Islander alone (NH) | x[24] | x[25] | 2 | 7 | 0 | x | x | 0.02% | 0.07% | 0.00% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 5 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 10 | 0.05% | 0.07% | 0.06% | 0.03% | 0.10% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x[26] | x[27] | 76 | 128 | 305 | x | x | 0.72% | 1.25% | 3.04% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 36 | 26 | 77 | 159 | 165 | 0.33% | 0.25% | 0.73% | 1.56% | 1.64% |
| Total | 10,901 | 10,233 | 10,494 | 10,211 | 10,032 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Today's Lewis County has a small but relatively diversified economy based primarily on agriculture, government services, and higher education.[28] Despite low unemployment rates, Lewis County, like many rural counties, suffers from a rapidly aging population. A sizable number of residents commute to larger job centers in neighboringMarion County andQuincy, Illinois.[28]
| Sector | Employment numbers |
|---|---|
| Government | 550 |
| Retail | 380 |
| Agriculture | 340 |
| Healthcare and Social Services | 315 |
| Construction | 210 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 190 |
| Manufacturing | 190 |
| Education | 185 |
| Logistics | 170 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 145 |
| Finance | 115 |
| Other | 100 |
| Lewis County, Missouri | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Elected countywide officials | |||
| Assessor | Tammy Logsdon | Republican | |
| Circuit Clerk | Julie George | Republican | |
| County Clerk | Shannon Sapp | Republican | |
| Collector | Lindsey Lay | Republican | |
| Commissioner (presiding) | Wayne Murphy, Jr. | Republican | |
| Commissioner (district 1) | Deanne Whiston | Republican | |
| Commissioner (district 2) | Travis Fleer | Republican | |
| Coroner | Larry Arnold | Democratic | |
| Prosecuting Attorney | Chelsea L. Fellinger | Republican | |
| Public Administrator | Luke Barton | Republican | |
| Recorder | Amy Parrish | Democratic | |
| Sheriff | David T. Parrish | Democratic | |
| Surveyor | Carson W. Lay | Republican | |
| Treasurer | Bonnie Roberson | Republican | |
Lewis County is represented in theUnited States Senate byJosh Hawley andEric Schmitt, both Republicans. It is represented in theUnited States House of Representatives as part ofMissouri's 6th congressional district by RepublicanSam Graves. At the state level, Lewis County is part ofMissouri's 18th Senate district, represented by RepublicanCindy O'Laughlin, and Missouri's 4thHouse of Representatives district, represented by RepublicanGreg Sharpe. Locally, the county has a three-member board of commissioners and several elected county officials. Judicially, the county is in theMissouri Court of Appeals' Eastern District and the state's 2nd Judicial Circuit Court, presided over by Republican Matthew Wilson.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1888 | 1,412 | 38.13% | 2,268 | 61.25% | 23 | 0.62% |
| 1892 | 1,322 | 35.49% | 2,220 | 59.60% | 183 | 4.91% |
| 1896 | 1,581 | 37.28% | 2,624 | 61.87% | 36 | 0.85% |
| 1900 | 1,442 | 35.07% | 2,583 | 62.82% | 87 | 2.12% |
| 1904 | 1,467 | 39.08% | 2,202 | 58.66% | 85 | 2.26% |
| 1908 | 1,473 | 36.89% | 2,439 | 61.08% | 81 | 2.03% |
| 1912 | 1,004 | 26.72% | 2,340 | 62.27% | 414 | 11.02% |
| 1916 | 1,429 | 37.28% | 2,357 | 61.49% | 47 | 1.23% |
| 1920 | 2,810 | 43.87% | 3,542 | 55.30% | 53 | 0.83% |
| 1924 | 2,416 | 39.48% | 3,481 | 56.88% | 223 | 3.64% |
| 1928 | 2,741 | 48.55% | 2,882 | 51.04% | 23 | 0.41% |
| 1932 | 1,341 | 26.07% | 3,746 | 72.84% | 56 | 1.09% |
| 1936 | 1,994 | 33.78% | 3,859 | 65.37% | 50 | 0.85% |
| 1940 | 2,428 | 40.86% | 3,484 | 58.63% | 30 | 0.50% |
| 1944 | 1,988 | 40.72% | 2,883 | 59.05% | 11 | 0.23% |
| 1948 | 1,564 | 33.06% | 3,155 | 66.69% | 12 | 0.25% |
| 1952 | 2,416 | 45.41% | 2,896 | 54.44% | 8 | 0.15% |
| 1956 | 2,301 | 45.75% | 2,728 | 54.25% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 2,560 | 48.43% | 2,726 | 51.57% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 1,239 | 27.41% | 3,281 | 72.59% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 2,038 | 43.90% | 2,067 | 44.53% | 537 | 11.57% |
| 1972 | 2,738 | 61.76% | 1,695 | 38.24% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1976 | 1,983 | 44.10% | 2,486 | 55.28% | 28 | 0.62% |
| 1980 | 2,350 | 49.07% | 2,314 | 48.32% | 125 | 2.61% |
| 1984 | 2,438 | 55.22% | 1,977 | 44.78% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1988 | 1,803 | 42.20% | 2,460 | 57.57% | 10 | 0.23% |
| 1992 | 1,461 | 32.03% | 2,196 | 48.14% | 905 | 19.84% |
| 1996 | 1,453 | 34.79% | 2,050 | 49.09% | 673 | 16.12% |
| 2000 | 2,388 | 53.26% | 2,023 | 45.12% | 73 | 1.63% |
| 2004 | 2,862 | 61.63% | 1,754 | 37.77% | 28 | 0.60% |
| 2008 | 2,594 | 57.62% | 1,837 | 40.80% | 71 | 1.58% |
| 2012 | 2,677 | 62.56% | 1,508 | 35.24% | 94 | 2.20% |
| 2016 | 3,344 | 74.64% | 934 | 20.85% | 202 | 4.51% |
| 2020 | 3,553 | 76.92% | 984 | 21.30% | 82 | 1.78% |
| 2024 | 3,565 | 79.47% | 872 | 19.44% | 49 | 1.09% |
In its early history, Lewis County stood out from much of northeast Missouri by supporting Democrats, while neighboring counties tended to beWhig strongholds. This support for Democrats was never exceptionally strong, and in 1860 Lewis County joined its neighbors in voting for the moderate, anti-secessionistConstitutional Union Party, then for Lincoln andUlysses S. Grant. In 1872, however, Lewis was caught up in a major Northeastern swing towards Democrats, and it along with the rest of the region remained loyally Democratic until the late 20th century, with its large agricultural and labor base supportingNew Deal policies.[32] Even as the county was occasionally won in Republican landslide elections such asRichard Nixon andRonald Reagan's victories, Republicans never managed to pull away and the county continued to shift between voting for Republican and Democratic presidents. Even during Republican landslides, the county continued to vote for Democratic legislators due to the relative conservatism of regional Democrats, who were pro-unions and opposed issues unpopular amongst moderate Democrats such as gun control andNAFTA.[32] The Democratic Party's support for civil rights in the 1960s led to a backlash that shifted voters to the Republican Party as Missouri became a Republican stronghold in the 1970s. In 2024 Democrats failed to break even 20% for the first time in county history, and today Lewis County is dominated by Republicans at every level except for a handful of Democrats at the local level.
Five school districts cover sections of the county:Canton R-V School District,Lewis County C-1 School District,Clark County R-I School District,Knox County R-I School District, andPalmyra R-I School District.[33]
Two school districts operate schools in the county boundaries:
Places adjacent to Lewis County, Missouri | |
|---|---|
Municipalities and communities ofLewis County, Missouri,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| Village | ||
| Townships | ||
| CDP | ||
| Other communities | ||
| Ghost town | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
