Montgomery County, Missouri

Montgomery County, Missouri
Location in the state of Missouri
Missouri's location in the U.S.
Founded	December 14, 1818
Named for	Richard Montgomery
Seat	Montgomery City
Largest city	Montgomery City
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	540.34 sq mi (1,399 km²) 537.46 sq mi (1,392 km²) 2.88 sq mi (7 km²), 0.53%
Population  - (2000)  - Density	12,136 23/sq mi (9/km²)
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5

Montgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. It lies in East Central Missouri, approximately halfway between Columbia and St. Louis. As of 2000, the population was 12,136. It was named in honor of Richard Montgomery, an American Revolutionary War general killed in 1775 while attempting to capture Quebec, Canada. Its county seat is Montgomery City.

With a branch of Stone Hill Winery in New Florence, the county is part of the Missouri Rhineland.

History

The county has evidence of human habitation from 10,000 years ago, the Archaic period of indigenous Americans. An ancient site was found during archaeological excavations at Graham Cave on the Loutre River.

In the early 19th century, European settlement started at a greater pace, after exploration during previous decades by French trappers and British and American fur traders.

The Loutre Island area is commonly associated with the German-founded towns of Rhineland and Starkenburg, established by immigrants of the mid-19th century and later. Starkenburg has several historically significant Catholic churches built in the German architectural tradition. These were originally German-language congregations.

The first house of worship was a log church, still maintained as a chapel. Also in Starkenburg is St. Martin's Church, built in 1873 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Above its entrance is the text: "This is the House Of God and the Gate Of Heaven." (This text also appears over the entrance of the Rennes-le-Château in France, traditionally believed to be the secret home of the Holy Grail.)

Starkenburg is also the site of the Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic church, built in the early 20th century and listed on the NRHP. For further devotions and pilgrimage, the community created an outdoor area for representations of the Stations of the Cross, Mount Calvary and Holy Sepulchre. Starkenburg is located inland from the Missouri River. After the destructive Great Flood of 1993, Rhineland citizens used federal funds to relocate their houses 1½ miles inland away from the river.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 540.34 square miles (1,399.5 km²), of which 537.46 square miles (1,392.0 km²) (or 99.47%) is land and 2.88 square miles (7.5 km²) (or 0.53%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Audrain County (northwest)
• Pike County (northeast)
• Lincoln County (east)
• Warren County (southeast)
• Gasconade County (south)
• Callaway County (west)
• Osage County (southwest at a point in the Missouri River)

Major highways

• Interstate 70
• U.S. Route 40
• Route 19
• Route 94
• Route 161

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1900	16,571		—
1910	15,604		−5.8%
1920	15,233		−2.4%
1930	13,011		−14.6%
1940	12,442		−4.4%
1950	11,555		−7.1%
1960	11,097		−4.0%
1970	11,000		−0.9%
1980	11,537		4.9%
1990	11,355		−1.6%
2000	12,136		6.9%

As of the census of 2000, there were 12,136 people, 4,775 households, and 3,337 families residing in the county. The population density was 23 people per square mile (9/km²). There were 5,726 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.97% White, 2.04% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races, and 1.28% from two or more races. 0.77% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 39.1% were of German, 18.4% American, 10.2% English and 9.2% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 4,775 households out of which 31.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.90% were married couples living together, 8.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.10% were non-families. 26.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.40% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 26.10% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 17.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 98.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,772, and the median income for a family was $38,632. Males had a median income of $27,933 versus $19,809 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,092. About 8.40% of families and 11.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.60% of those under age 18 and 10.60% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

Bellflower Bluffton Buell

High Hill Jonesburg McKittrick

Middletown Mineola Montgomery City

New Florence Rhineland Wellsville

Community Groups

• Montgomery County Human Resource Board
• Montgomery County Citizens for Health Improvement Project

See also

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

External links

• St. Martin's Church
• Digitized 1930 Plat Book of Montgomery County from University of Missouri Division of Special Collections, Archives, and Rare Books