According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 569 square miles (1,470 km2), of which 565 square miles (1,460 km2) is land and 4.4 square miles (11 km2) (0.8%) is water.[5]
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 17,103. The median age was 40.7 years; 22.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 106.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 106.3 males age 18 and over.[12]
There were 6,584 households in the county, of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 26.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 7,281 housing units, of which 9.6% were vacant; among occupied housing units, 71.3% were owner-occupied and 28.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.2%.[12]
As of the 2020 census, 47.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 53.0% lived in rural areas.[13]
As of the 2020 census, the racial makeup of the county was 86.8% White, 5.4% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.7% from some other race, and 6.3% from two or more races; Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.9% of the population.[14]
Cooper County, Missouri – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
As of the 2000 census,[24] there were 16,670 people, 5,932 households and 4,140 families residing in the county. The population density was 30 inhabitants per square mile (12/km2). There were 6,676 housing units at an average density of 12 units per square mile (4.6/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 89.05% White, 8.96% Black or African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.28% from other races, and 1.11% from two or more races. Approximately 0.86% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 5,932 households, of which 31.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.40% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.20% were non-families. 26.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.60% 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 2.97.
Age distribution was 22.80% under the age of 18, 14.00% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 20.60% from 45 to 64, and 15.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 117.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 120.00 males.
The median household income was $35,313, and the median family income was $41,526. Males had a median income of $28,513 versus $20,965 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,648. About 8.30% of families and 10.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.80% of those under age 18 and 8.30% of those age 65 or over.
Cooper County is divided into three legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives, all of which elected Republicans, but one is currently vacant.
District 47 — Chuck Basye (R-Rocheport). Consists of areas east of the city of Boonville.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 47 — Cooper County (2020)[26]
United States
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