Randolph County, Missouri

Randolph County is a county in the northern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 24,716. Its county seat is Huntsville. The county was organized January 22, 1829, and named for U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator John Randolph of Roanoke, Virginia.

Randolph County comprises the Moberly, Missouri Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Columbia-Moberly-Mexico, Missouri Combined Statistical Area.

History

Randolph County was primarily settled by migrants from the Upper Southern states, especially Kentucky and Tennessee. They brought slaves and slaveholding traditions with them, and quickly started cultivating crops similar to those in Middle Tennessee and Kentucky: hemp and tobacco. Randolph was one of several counties settled mostly by Southerners to the north and south of the Missouri River. Given their culture and traditions, this area became known as Little Dixie, and Randolph County was at its heart.

Randolph County was home to Omar Bradley, the last of nine 5-star generals of the American military.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 488 square miles (1,260 km2), of which 483 square miles (1,250 km2) is land and 5.1 square miles (13 km2) (1.1%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Macon County (north)
• Monroe County (east)
• Shelby County (northeast)
• Audrain County (southeast)
• Boone County (southeast)
• Howard County (south)
• Chariton County (west)

Major highways

• U.S. Route 24
• U.S. Route 63
• Route 3

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 24,716 and a median age of 40.5 years; 21.4% of residents were under the age of 18, and 17.7% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 110.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 112.3 males.

The racial makeup of the county was 87.1% White, 5.5% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.6% from some other race, and 5.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.3% of the population.

49.2% of residents lived in urban areas, while 50.8% lived in rural areas.

There were 9,424 households in the county, of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 26.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 10,773 housing units, of which 12.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 69.4% were owner-occupied and 30.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.7%.

Racial and ethnic composition

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 24,663 people, 9,199 households, and 6,236 families residing in the county. The population density was 51 inhabitants per square mile (20/km2). There were 10,740 housing units at an average density of 22 units per square mile (8.5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 90.58% White, 7.03% Black or African American, 0.48% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.24% from other races, and 1.26% from two or more races. Approximately 1.14% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 24.1% were of German, 21.4% American, 10.9% English and 9.1% Irish ancestry.

There were 9,199 households, out of which 31.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.70% were married couples living together, 11.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.20% were non-families. 27.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.80% under the age of 18, 9.60% from 18 to 24, 29.30% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 14.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 107.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 108.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,464, and the median income for a family was $39,268. Males had a median income of $26,878 versus $20,366 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,010. About 9.20% of families and 12.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.10% of those under age 18 and 13.20% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Public schools

• Higbee R-VIII School District – Higbee Higbee Elementary School (K–6) Higbee High School (7–12)
• Moberly School District – Moberly North Park Elementary School (K–2) South Park Elementary School (PK–2) Gratz Brown Elementary School (3–5) Moberly Middle School (6–8) Moberly High School (9–12)
• Northeast Randolph County R-IV School District – Cairo Northeast Randolph County Elementary School (PK–5) Northeast Randolph County High School (6–12)
• Renick R-V School District – Renick Renick Elementary School (PK–8)
• Westran R-I School District – Huntsville Westran Elementary School (PK–5) Westran Middle School (6–8) Westran High School (9–12)

Private schools

• St. Pius X Elementary School – Moberly (PK–8) – Roman Catholic
• Maranatha Seventh-day Adventist School – Moberly (K–9) – Seventh-day Adventist

Post-secondary

• Central Christian College of the Bible – Moberly– A private, four-year Christian Churches and Churches of Christ university.
• Moberly Area Community College – Moberly – A public, two-year community college.

Public libraries

• Little Dixie Regional Libraries

Communities

Cities

• Clark
• Clifton Hill
• Higbee
• Huntsville (county seat)
• Moberly

Villages

• Cairo
• Jacksonville
• Renick

Unincorporated communities

• Darksville
• Fort Henry
• Harkes
• Hubbard
• Kimberly
• Levick Mill
• Milton
• Mount Airy
• Randolph Springs
• Roanoke
• Ryder
• Thomas Hill
• Yates

Politics

Local

The Republican Party mostly controls politics at the local level in Randolph County.

State

Most of Randolph County is a part of Missouri's 6th District in the Missouri House of Representatives. The southern portions of the county are in the 44th, 47th, and 48th Districts.

• District 6 — Ed Lewis (R-Moberly).

• District 44 — John Martin (R).

• District 47 — Adrian Plank (D).

• District 48 — Tim Taylor (R-Booneville).

All of Randolph County is a part of Missouri's 18th District in the Missouri Senate, represented by Cindy O'Laughlin (R)

Federal

All of Randolph County is included in Missouri's 4th congressional district and is currently represented by Sam Graves (R-Tarkio, Missouri) in the U.S. House of Representatives.

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Randolph County, Missouri

External links

• August 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine from University of Missouri Division of Special Collections, Archives, and Rare Books

39°26′N 92°30′W/39.43°N 92.50°W/ 39.43; -92.50