Ralls County, Missouri

County in Missouri, United States

U.S. county in Missouri

Ralls County

U.S. county

Ralls County Courthouse in New London

Location within the U.S. state of Missouri

Missouri's location within the U.S.

Country|  United States
State|  Missouri
Founded| November 16, 1820
Named for| Daniel Ralls
Seat| New London
Largest city| Hannibal
Area

• Total| 484 sq mi (1,250 km2)
• Land| 470 sq mi (1,200 km2)
• Water| 14 sq mi (40 km2)  2.65%
Population

(2020)

• Total| 10,355
• Estimate

(2018)

| 10,212
• Density| 21/sq mi (8.3/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 6th
Website| www.rallscounty.org

Ralls County is a county located in the northeastern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 10,355.[1] Its county seat is New London.[2] The county was organized November 16, 1820 and named for Daniel Ralls, Missouri state legislator.[3]

Ralls County is part of the Hannibal, MO Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Quincy-Hannibal, IL-MO Combined Statistical Area.

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Geography
* 2.1 Adjacent counties
* 2.2 Major highways
* 3 Demographics
* 3.1 2020 Census
* 4 Education
* 4.1 Public schools
* 4.2 Public libraries
* 5 Politics
* 5.1 Local
* 5.2 State
* 5.3 Federal
* 5.4 Missouri presidential preference primary (2008)
* 6 Communities
* 6.1 Cities
* 6.2 Village
* 6.3 Unincorporated communities
* 7 See also
* 8 References
* 9 External links

## History

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Ralls County was one of several along the Mississippi River settled in the early years primarily by European-American migrants from the Upper South, 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. They also brought characteristic antebellum architecture and culture. Ralls is considered one of the counties in the outer ring of what is called the Little Dixie region. Most of the Little Dixie counties are located further west along the Missouri River, from Callaway County west.[4]

## Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 484 square miles (1,250 km2), of which 470 square miles (1,200 km2) is land and 14 square miles (36 km2) (2.9%) is water.[5]

### Adjacent counties

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* Marion County (north)
* Pike County, Illinois (northeast)
* Pike County (southeast)
* Audrain County (south)
* Monroe County (west)

### Major highways

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* Interstate 72 (proposed)
* U.S. Route 24
* U.S. Route 36
* U.S. Route 54
* U.S. Route 61

U.S. Route 61 Business
* Route 19
* Route 79
* Route 154
* Great River Road

## Demographics

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Historical population

Census | Pop. |  | %±
1830| 4,375| | —
1840| 5,670| | 29.6%
1850| 6,151| | 8.5%
1860| 8,592| | 39.7%
1870| 10,510| | 22.3%
1880| 11,838| | 12.6%
1890| 12,294| | 3.9%
1900| 12,287| | −0.1%
1910| 12,913| | 5.1%
1920| 10,412| | −19.4%
1930| 10,704| | 2.8%
1940| 10,040| | −6.2%
1950| 8,686| | −13.5%
1960| 8,078| | −7.0%
1970| 7,764| | −3.9%
1980| 8,984| | 15.7%
1990| 8,476| | −5.7%
2000| 9,626| | 13.6%
2010| 10,167| | 5.6%
2020| 10,355| | 1.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2015[10]

As of the census[11] of 2010, there were 10,167 people, 3,736 households, and 2,783 families residing in the county. The population density was 20 people per square mile (8/km2). There were 4,564 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile (4/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.93% White, 1.11% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.04% from other races, and 0.62% from two or more races. Approximately 0.44% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 30.1% were of American, 27.3% German, 10.5% English and 10.4% Irish ancestry.

There were 3,736 households, out of which 34.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.20% were married couples living together, 6.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.50% were non-families. 21.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.20% under the age of 18, 7.10% from 18 to 24, 26.90% from 25 to 44, 26.50% from 45 to 64, and 14.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,094, and the median income for a family was $41,955. Males had a median income of $28,139 versus $20,238 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,456. About 6.60% of families and 8.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.70% of those under age 18 and 10.70% of those age 65 or over.

### 2020 Census

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Ralls County Racial Composition[12] Race  | Num.  | Perc.

|
|

White (NH)  | 9,713  | 94%
Black or African American (NH)  | 114  | 1.1%
Native American (NH)  | 26  | 0.25%
Asian (NH)  | 17  | 0.16%
Pacific Islander (NH)  | 4  | 0.04%
Other/Mixed (NH)  | 385  | 3.72%
Hispanic or Latino | 96  | 1%

## Education

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### Public schools

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* Ralls County R-II School District – Center
* Ralls County Elementary School (PK-05)
* Mark Twain Junior High School (06-08)
* Mark Twain High School (09-12)

### Public libraries

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* Ralls County Library[13]

## Politics

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### Local

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Historically, the Democratic Party predominantly controlled politics at the local level in Ralls County. However, all local seats up for election with a Republican candidate during the November 2016 election cycle were won by Republicans. Republicans now hold the office of Sheriff, Coroner, and Western District Commissioner.

Ralls County, Missouri

Elected countywide officials
Assessor|  Josh Ketsenburg|  Democratic
Circuit Clerk|  Gina Jameson|  Democratic
County Clerk|  Sandra Lanier|  Democratic
Collector|  Connie L. Berry|  Democratic
Commissioner
(Presiding)|  Wiley Hibbard|  Democratic
Commissioner
(District 1)|  R.C. Harlow|  Democratic
Commissioner
(District 2)|  John W. Lake|  Republican
Coroner|  Robert VanWinkle|  Republican
Prosecuting Attorney|  Rodney J. Rodenbaugh|  Democratic
Public Administrator|  Paula Evans|  Democratic
Recorder|  Gina Jameson|  Democratic
Sheriff|  Gerry Dinwiddie|  Republican
Surveyor|  Marty Wasson|  Democratic
Treasurer|  Jena L. Epperson|  Democratic

### State

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Past Gubernatorial Elections Results Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third Parties

|
|
|

2020 | 77.24% 4,351 | 21.59% 1,216 | 1.17% 66
2016 | 64.47% 3,371 | 33.72% 1,763 | 1.81% 95
2012 | 52.97% 2,595 | 45.72% 2,279 | 2.21% 110
2008 | 53.74% 2,717 | 44.76% 2,263 | 1.50% 76
2004 | 61.68% 3,090 | 37.25% 1,866 | 1.08% 54
2000 | 47.21% 2,145 | 51.65% 2,347 | 1.14% 52
1996 | 27.05% 1,097 | 71.06% 2,882 | 1.90% 77

Ralls County is a part of Missouri's 40h District in the Missouri House of Representatives and is represented by Jim Hansen (R-Frankford).

Missouri House of Representatives — District 40 — Ralls County (2016)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Republican | Jim Hansen | 4,492 | 100.00% | +30.20
Missouri House of Representatives — District 40 — Ralls County (2014)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Republican | Jim Hansen | 2,223 | 69.80% | +16.40
| Democratic | Lowell Jackson  | 962  | 30.20%  | -16.40
Missouri House of Representatives — District 40 — Ralls County (2012)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Republican | Jim Hansen | 2,642 | 53.40% |
| Democratic | Paul Quinn  | 2,306  | 46.60%  |

Ralls County is a part of Missouri's 18th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Brian Munzlinger (R-Williamstown).

Missouri Senate — District 18 — Ralls County (2014)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Republican | Brian Munzlinger | 2,498 | 100.00% |

### Federal

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U.S. Senate — Missouri — Ralls County (2016)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Republican | Roy Blunt | 3,220 | 61.91% | +10.15
| Democratic | Jason Kander  | 1,763  | 33.90%  | -10.93
| Libertarian | Jonathan Dine  | 115  | 2.21%  | -1.20
| Green | Johnathan McFarland  | 47  | 0.90%  | +0.90
| Constitution | Fred Ryman  | 56  | 1.08%  | +1.08
U.S. Senate — Missouri — Ralls County (2012)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Republican | Todd Akin  | 2,596  | 51.76%  |
| Democratic | Claire McCaskill | 2,248 | 44.83% |
| Libertarian | Jonathan Dine  | 171  | 3.41%  |

Ralls County is included in Missouri's 6th Congressional District and is currently represented by Sam Graves (R-Tarkio) in the U.S. House of Representatives.

U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 6th Congressional District — Ralls County (2016)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Republican | Sam Graves | 3,745 | 73.52% | +4.22
| Democratic | David M. Blackwell  | 1,239  | 24.32%  | -4.25
| Libertarian | Russ Lee Monchil  | 76  | 1.49%  | -0.64
| Green | Mike Diel  | 34  | 0.67%  | +0.67
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri’s 6th Congressional District — Ralls County (2014)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Republican | Sam Graves | 2,144 | 69.30% | +8.39
| Democratic | Bill Hedge  | 884  | 28.57%  | -8.72
| Libertarian | Russ Lee Monchil  | 66  | 2.13%  | +0.33
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 6th Congressional District — Ralls County (2012)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Republican | Sam Graves | 2,917 | 60.91% |
| Democratic | Kyle Yarber  | 1,786  | 37.29%  |
| Libertarian | Russ Lee Monchil  | 86  | 1.80%  |
United States presidential election results for Ralls County, Missouri[14] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2020 | 4,396  | 77.64% | 1,205  | 21.28%  | 61  | 1.08%
2016 | 3,969  | 74.97% | 1,138  | 21.50%  | 187  | 3.53%
2012 | 3,231  | 64.16% | 1,736  | 34.47%  | 69  | 1.37%
2008 | 2,987  | 58.75% | 2,041  | 40.15%  | 56  | 1.10%
2004 | 2,986  | 59.32% | 2,031  | 40.35%  | 17  | 0.34%
2000 | 2,446  | 53.85% | 2,033  | 44.76%  | 63  | 1.39%
1996 | 1,513  | 37.34%  | 1,998  | 49.31% | 541  | 13.35%
1992 | 1,349  | 30.71%  | 2,158  | 49.12% | 886  | 20.17%
1988 | 1,494  | 37.44%  | 2,489  | 62.38% | 7  | 0.18%
1984 | 2,067  | 50.69% | 2,011  | 49.31%  | 0  | 0.00%
1980 | 1,968  | 47.51%  | 2,069  | 49.95% | 105  | 2.54%
1976 | 1,334  | 36.23%  | 2,318  | 62.95% | 30  | 0.81%
1972 | 1,827  | 57.13% | 1,371  | 42.87%  | 0  | 0.00%
1968 | 1,175  | 33.07%  | 1,900  | 53.48% | 478  | 13.45%
1964 | 736  | 20.54%  | 2,847  | 79.46% | 0  | 0.00%
1960 | 1,485  | 37.31%  | 2,495  | 62.69% | 0  | 0.00%
1956 | 1,373  | 34.28%  | 2,632  | 65.72% | 0  | 0.00%
1952 | 1,437  | 32.18%  | 3,020  | 67.64% | 8  | 0.18%
1948 | 908  | 23.15%  | 3,013  | 76.82% | 1  | 0.03%
1944 | 1,164  | 29.35%  | 2,799  | 70.57% | 3  | 0.08%
1940 | 1,412  | 28.35%  | 3,562  | 71.53% | 6  | 0.12%
1936 | 1,051  | 21.51%  | 3,822  | 78.24% | 12  | 0.25%
1932 | 761  | 17.67%  | 3,526  | 81.87% | 20  | 0.46%
1928 | 1,794  | 44.07%  | 2,273  | 55.83% | 4  | 0.10%
1924 | 1,365  | 33.52%  | 2,617  | 64.27% | 90  | 2.21%
1920 | 1,362  | 32.45%  | 2,803  | 66.79% | 32  | 0.76%
1916 | 826  | 29.04%  | 1,994  | 70.11% | 24  | 0.84%
1912 | 591  | 22.88%  | 1,734  | 67.13% | 258  | 9.99%
1908 | 900  | 31.35%  | 1,947  | 67.82% | 24  | 0.84%
1904 | 792  | 30.32%  | 1,794  | 68.68% | 26  | 1.00%
1900 | 770  | 26.02%  | 2,161  | 73.03% | 28  | 0.95%
1896 | 814  | 26.08%  | 2,297  | 73.60% | 10  | 0.32%
1892 | 802  | 28.65%  | 1,968  | 70.31% | 29  | 1.04%
1888 | 816  | 29.42%  | 1,942  | 70.01% | 16  | 0.58%

### Missouri presidential preference primary (2008)

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Main articles: 2008 Missouri Democratic presidential primary and 2008 Missouri Republican presidential primary

Former U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York) received more votes, a total of 823, than any candidate from either party in Ralls County during the 2008 presidential primary.

## Communities

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### Cities

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* Center
* Hannibal (mostly in Marion County)
* Monroe City (mostly in Monroe County and partly in Marion County)
* New London (county seat)
* Perry

### Village

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* Rensselaer

### Unincorporated communities

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* Cincinnati
* Flint Hill
* Greenlawn
* Hassard
* Hatch
* Huntington
* Hutchison
* Ilasco
* Madisonville
* Salt River
* Saverton
* Sheil
* Spalding
* West Hartford

## See also

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* National Register of Historic Places listings in Ralls County, Missouri

## References

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1. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ Eaton, David Wolfe (1917). How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named. The State Historical Society of Missouri. pp. 343.
4. ^ The Story of Little Dixie, Missouri, Missouri Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans Archived 2012-07-17 at the Wayback Machine, accessed 3 June 2008
5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
8. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
9. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
10. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 2, 2011. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
12. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Ralls County, Missouri".
13. ^ Breeding, Marshall. "Ralls County Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
14. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 26, 2018.

## External links

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* Digitized Historical Photos of Ralls County from Digital online collection of public domain photos Photos of historical Hannibal, Mississippi River scenes in Ralls County, historical Saint Paul and Saint Peter's Brush Creek Cemeteries in Ralls County, Missouri
* Digitized 1930 Plat Book of Ralls County Archived 2011-08-16 at the Wayback Machine from University of Missouri Division of Special Collections, Archives, and Rare Books

Places adjacent to Ralls County, Missouri

|  | Marion County | Pike County, Illinois

|
|

|  |
Monroe County |

Ralls County, Missouri

|  |
| Audrain County | Pike County

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Ralls County, Missouri, United States

County seat: New London

Cities|

* Center
* Hannibal‡
* Monroe City‡
* New London
* Perry
* Vandalia‡

Map of Missouri highlighting Ralls County

Village|

* Rensselaer

Townships|

* Center
* Clay
* Jasper
* Saline
* Salt River
* Saverton
* Spencer

CDP|

* Saverton

Other
communities|

* Cincinnati
* Flint Hill
* Greenlawn
* Hassard
* Hatch
* Huntington
* Hutchison
* Ilasco
* Madisonville
* Salt River
* Sheil
* Spalding
* West Hartford

Ghost towns|

* Hydesburg
* Joanna
* Noonan
* Piddletown

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

State of Missouri

Jefferson City (capital)

Topics|

* Index
* Geography
* Government
* Delegations
* History
* Battles
* Civil War
* People
* Symbols
* Tourist attractions
* Transportation

Society|

* Culture
* Crime
* Demographics
* Economy
* Education
* Politics

Regions|

* Boonslick
* Bootheel
* Four State Area
* Honey Lands
* Lead Belt
* Lincoln Hills
* Little Dixie
* Loess Hills
* Mid-Missouri
* Mississippi Embayment
* Missouri Rhineland
* Northern Plains
* Osage Plains
* The Ozarks
* Platte Purchase
* Pony Express
* St. Francois Mountains

Metro areas|

* Columbia
* Jefferson City
* Joplin
* Kansas City
* Springfield
* St. Joseph
* St. Louis

Largest cities|

* Kansas City
* St. Louis
* Springfield
* Columbia
* Independence
* Lee's Summit
* O'Fallon
* St. Joseph
* St. Charles
* Blue Springs
* St. Peters
* Florissant
* Joplin
* Chesterfield
* Wentzville
* Jefferson City
* Cape Girardeau
* Wildwood
* University City
* Ballwin
* Liberty
* Raytown
* Kirkwood
* Maryland Heights
* Gladstone
* Grandview
* Hazelwood

Counties and
independent cities|

* Adair
* Andrew
* Atchison
* Audrain
* Barry
* Barton
* Bates
* Benton
* Bollinger
* Boone
* Buchanan
* Butler
* Caldwell
* Callaway
* Camden
* Cape Girardeau
* Carroll
* Carter
* Cass
* Cedar
* Chariton
* Christian
* Clark
* Clay
* Clinton
* Cole
* Cooper
* Crawford
* Dade
* Dallas
* Daviess
* DeKalb
* Dent
* Douglas
* Dunklin
* Franklin
* Gasconade
* Gentry
* Greene
* Grundy
* Harrison
* Henry
* Hickory
* Holt
* Howard
* Howell
* Iron
* Jackson
* Jasper
* Jefferson
* Johnson
* Knox
* Laclede
* Lafayette
* Lawrence
* Lewis
* Lincoln
* Linn
* Livingston
* Macon
* Madison
* Maries
* Marion
* McDonald
* Mercer
* Miller
* Mississippi
* Moniteau
* Monroe
* Montgomery
* Morgan
* New Madrid
* Newton
* Nodaway
* Oregon
* Osage
* Ozark
* Pemiscot
* Perry
* Pettis
* Phelps
* Pike
* Platte
* Polk
* Pulaski
* Putnam
* Ralls
* Randolph
* Ray
* Reynolds
* Ripley
* St. Charles
* St. Clair
* St. Francois
* St. Louis (City)
* St. Louis (County)
* Ste. Genevieve
* Saline
* Schuyler
* Scotland
* Scott
* Shannon
* Shelby
* Stoddard
* Stone
* Sullivan
* Taney
* Texas
* Vernon
* Warren
* Washington
* Wayne
* Webster
* Worth
* Wright

Coordinates: 39°32′N 91°32′W﻿ / ﻿39.53°N 91.53°W﻿ / 39.53; -91.53
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