Osage County, Missouri

Osage County, Missouri
Location in the state of Missouri
Missouri's location in the U.S.
Founded	January 29, 1841
Named for	Osage River
Seat	Linn
Largest city	Linn
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	613.41 sq mi (1,589 km²) 606.11 sq mi (1,570 km²) 7.30 sq mi (19 km²), 1.19%
Population  - (2000)  - Density	13,062 22/sq mi (8/km²)
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5

Osage County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. The county was named for the Osage River. As of 2000, the population was 13,062. Its county seat is Linn. The center of population of Missouri is located in Osage County, in the city of Westphalia [2].

Osage County is part of the Jefferson City, Missouri, Metropolitan Statistical Area. Its geography and the founding of Westphalia Vineyards links it to the Missouri Rhineland, extending along the Missouri River valley to the western edges of the St. Louis metropolitan area. Although started only in 2005, Westphalia Vineyards won the gold medal in the National Norton Festival Wine Competition in St. Louis in 2007 for the top-rated wine from the Norton grape.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 613.41 square miles (1,588.7 km²), of which 606.11 square miles (1,569.8 km²) (or 98.81%) is land and 7.30 square miles (18.9 km²) (or 1.19%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Callaway County (north)
• Gasconade County (east)
• Maries County (south)
• Miller County (southwest)
• Cole County (west)
• Montgomery County (northeast at a point in the Missouri River)

Major highways

• U.S. Route 50
• U.S. Route 63
• Route 89
• Route 100

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 13,062 people, 4,922 households, and 3,578 families residing in the county. The population density was 22 people per square mile (8/km²). There were 5,904 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.64% White, 0.16% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.07% from other races, and 0.80% from two or more races. 0.59% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,922 households out of which 34.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.70% were married couples living together, 6.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.30% were non-families. 23.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.30% under the age of 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 14.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 103.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,565, and the median income for a family was $46,503. Males had a median income of $29,538 versus $22,353 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,245. About 5.90% of families and 8.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.00% of those under age 18 and 10.40% of those age 65 or over.

Municipalities

Argyle Belle Bonnots Mill

Chamois Folk Frankenstein

Freeburg Koeltztown Linn

Loose Creek Meta Rich Fountain

Westphalia

See also

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

External links

• The Osage County Branch of the Missouri River Regional Library
• Westphalia Vineyards Official Website
• Osage Community Players, Inc.
• Digitized 1930 Plat Book of Osage County from University of Missouri Division of Special Collections, Archives, and Rare Books