Ray County, Missouri

County in Missouri, United States

U.S. county in Missouri

Ray County

U.S. county

Ray County Courthouse

Ray County Courthouse

Map of Missouri highlighting Ray County

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| John Ray, Missouri state legislator
Seat| Richmond
Largest city| Richmond
Area

• Total| 574 sq mi (1,490 km2)
• Land| 569 sq mi (1,470 km2)
• Water| 5.1 sq mi (13 km2)  0.9%
Population

(2020)

• Total| 23,158
• Estimate

(2018)

| 22,883
• Density| 40/sq mi (16/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 5th
Website| www.raycountymo.com

Ray County is a county located in the northwestern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri and is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, the population was 23,158.[1] Its county seat is Richmond.[2] The county was organized November 16, 1820 and named for John Ray, a Missouri state legislator and member of the first state Constitutional Convention.[3]

## Contents

* 1 Geography
* 1.1 Adjacent counties
* 1.2 Major highways
* 1.3 National protected area
* 2 Demographics
* 2.1 2020 Census
* 3 Education
* 3.1 Public schools
* 3.2 Public libraries
* 4 Politics
* 4.1 Local
* 4.2 State
* 4.3 Federal
* 5 Communities
* 5.1 Cities
* 5.2 Villages
* 5.3 Census-designated place
* 5.4 Other unincorporated communities
* 5.5 Townships
* 6 Notable people
* 7 See also
* 8 References
* 9 External links

## Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 574 square miles (1,490 km2), of which 569 square miles (1,470 km2) is land and 5.4 square miles (14 km2) (0.9%) is water.[4]

### Adjacent counties

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* Caldwell County (north)
* Carroll County (east)
* Lafayette County (south)
* Jackson County (southwest)
* Clay County (west)
* Clinton County (northwest)

### Major highways

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* Route 10
* Route 13
* File:MO-210.svg Route 210

### National protected area

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* Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge (part)

## Demographics

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Historical population

Census | Pop. |  | %±
1830| 2,657| | —
1840| 6,553| | 146.6%
1850| 10,373| | 58.3%
1860| 14,092| | 35.9%
1870| 18,700| | 32.7%
1880| 20,190| | 8.0%
1890| 24,215| | 19.9%
1900| 24,805| | 2.4%
1910| 21,451| | −13.5%
1920| 20,508| | −4.4%
1930| 19,846| | −3.2%
1940| 18,584| | −6.4%
1950| 15,932| | −14.3%
1960| 16,075| | 0.9%
1970| 17,599| | 9.5%
1980| 21,378| | 21.5%
1990| 21,971| | 2.8%
2000| 23,354| | 6.3%
2010| 23,494| | 0.6%
2020| 23,158| | −1.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2015[9]

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 23,354 people, 8,743 households, and 6,539 families residing in the county. The population density was 16/km2 (41/mi2). There were 9,371 housing units at an average density of 6/km2 (16/mi2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.50% White, 1.46% Black or African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.36% from other races, and 1.13% from two or more races. Approximately 1.08% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 29.6% were of American, 23.3% German, 11.5% English and 10.3% Irish ancestry.

There were 8,743 households, out of which 35.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.10% were married couples living together, 8.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.20% were non-families. 22.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.50% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 28.30% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 12.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 100.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $41,886, and the median income for a family was $49,192. Males had a median income of $36,815 versus $21,684 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,685. About 5.30% of families and 6.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.00% of those under age 18 and 7.80% of those age 65 or over.

### 2020 Census

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Ray County Racial Composition[11] Race  | Num.  | Perc.

|
|

White (NH)  | 20,893  | 90.22%
Black or African American (NH)  | 227  | 1%
Native American (NH)  | 133  | 0.57%
Asian (NH)  | 76  | 0.33%
Pacific Islander (NH)  | 8  | 0.04%
Other/Mixed (NH)  | 1,241  | 5.4%
Hispanic or Latino | 580  | 2.5%

## Education

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### Public schools

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* Hardin-Central C-2 School District – Hardin
* Hardin-Central Elementary School (PK-06)
* Hardin-Central High School (07-12)
* Lawson R-XIV School District – Lawson
* Southwest Elementary School (PK-04)
* Lawson Middle School (05-08)
* Lawson High School (09-12)
* Orrick R-XI School District – Orrick
* Orrick Elementary School (PK-06)
* Orrick High School (07-12)
* Richmond R-XVI School District – Richmond
* Dear Elementary School (PK-01)
* Sunrise Elementary School (02-05)
* Richmond Middle School (06-08)
* Richmond High School (09-12)

### Public libraries

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* Ray County Library[12]

## Politics

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### Local

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Politics at the local level in Ray County are now evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats, with Republicans making major gains in the past four election cycles, going from no representation before 2011 to now holding half of the county offices.

Ray County, Missouri

Elected countywide officials
Assessor|  Kent Wollard|  Democratic
Circuit Clerk|  Carolyne Conner|  Democratic
County Clerk|  Glenda Powell|  Republican
Collector|  Julie Chowning|  Democratic
Commissioner
(Presiding)|  Gary Wilhite|  Republican
Commissioner
(District 1)|  Allen Dale|  Democratic
Commissioner
(District 2)|  Jerry Bishop|  Republican
Coroner|  Bart Willem|  Republican
Prosecuting Attorney|  Camille Johnston|  Republican
Public Administrator|  Shannon Wollard|  Republican
Recorder|  Shirley O’Dell|  Democratic
Sheriff|  Scott Childers|  Republican
Surveyor|  Thomas Sisco|  Democratic
Treasurer|  Melissa Holloway|  Independent

### State

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

|
|
|

2020 | 68.93% 7,964 | 28.38% 3,279 | 2.68% 310
2016 | 52.51% 5,686 | 43.58% 4,719 | 3.91% 423
2012 | 41.26% 4,252 | 55.53% 5,722 | 3.21% 331
2008 | 35.73% 3,899 | 61.13% 6,670 | 3.14% 343
2004 | 47.08% 5,073 | 51.33% 5,531 | 1.59% 172
2000 | 41.75% 4,045 | 55.81% 5,407 | 2.44% 237
1996 | 28.31% 2,475 | 69.26% 6,055 | 2.43% 212
1992 | 37.6% 3,578 | 62.4% 5,937 | N/A
1988 | 56.26% 4,859 | 43.01% 3,714 | 0.73% 63

The northwest corner of Ray County is a part of Missouri's 8th District in the Missouri House of Representatives and is currently represented by Jim Neely (R-Cameron).

Missouri House of Representatives — District 8 — Ray County (2016)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Republican | James W. (Jim) Neely | 1,294 | 100.00% | +32.60
Missouri House of Representatives — District 8 — Ray County (2014)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Republican | James W. (Jim) Neely | 548 | 67.40% | +12.22
| Democratic | Ted Rights  | 265  | 32.60%  | -12.22
Missouri House of Representatives — District 8 — Ray County (2012)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Republican | James W. (Jim) Neely | 788 | 55.18% |
| Democratic | James T. (Jim) Crenshaw  | 640  | 44.82%  |

Most of Ray County is a part of Missouri's 39th District in the Missouri House of Representatives and is currently represented by Joe Don McGaugh (R-Carrollton).

Missouri House of Representatives — District 39 — Ray County (2016)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Republican | Joe Don McGaugh | 7,741 | 100.00% |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 39 — Ray County (2014)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Republican | Joe Don McGaugh | 4,583 | 100.00% | +50.64
Missouri House of Representatives — District 39 — Ray County (2012)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Republican | Joe Don McGaugh | 4,176 | 49.36% |
| Democratic | Will Talbert  | 4,285  | 50.64%  |

All of Ray County is a part of Missouri's 21st District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Denny Hoskins (R-Warrensburg).

Missouri Senate — District 21 — Ray County (2016)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Republican | Denny Hoskins | 6,408 | 61.80% | +4.37
| Democratic | ElGene Ver Dught  | 3,346  | 32.27%  | -4.99
| Libertarian | Bill Wayne  | 615  | 5.93%  | +0.62
Missouri Senate — District 21 — Ray County (2012)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Republican | David Pearce | 5,679 | 57.43% |
| Democratic | ElGene Ver Dught  | 3,684  | 37.26%  |
| Libertarian | Steven Hedrick  | 525  | 5.31%  |

### Federal

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

|
|
|
|

| Republican | Roy Blunt | 5,415 | 50.10% | +11.60
| Democratic | Jason Kander  | 4,725  | 43.71%  | -9.16
| Libertarian | Jonathan Dine  | 390  | 3.61%  | -5.02
| Green | Johnathan McFarland  | 119  | 1.10%  | +1.10
| Constitution | Fred Ryman  | 159  | 1.47%  | +1.47
U.S. Senate — Missouri — Ray County (2012)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Republican | Todd Akin  | 3,960  | 38.50%  |
| Democratic | Claire McCaskill | 5,439 | 52.87% |
| Libertarian | Jonathan Dine  | 888  | 8.63%  |

All of Ray County is included in Missouri's 5th Congressional District, which is currently represented by Emanuel Cleaver (D-Kansas City) in the United States House of Representatives.

U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 5th Congressional District — Ray County (2016)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Democratic | Emanuel Cleaver | 4,394 | 41.10% | +1.71
| Republican | Jacob Turk  | 5,895  | 55.14%  | -0.42
| Libertarian | Roy Welborn  | 402  | 3.76%  | -1.29
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 5th Congressional District — Ray County (2014)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Democratic | Emanuel Cleaver | 2,506 | 39.39% | -7.66
| Republican | Jacob Turk  | 3,535  | 55.56%  | +6.16
| Libertarian | Roy Welborn  | 321  | 5.05%  | +1.50
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri’s 5th Congressional District — Ray County (2012)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Democratic | Emanuel Cleaver | 4,778 | 47.05% |
| Republican | Jacob Turk  | 5,017  | 49.40%  |
| Libertarian | Randy Langkraehr  | 361  | 3.55  |
United States presidential election results for Ray County, Missouri[13] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2020 | 8,345  | 71.48% | 3,109  | 26.63%  | 221  | 1.89%
2016 | 7,104  | 64.91% | 3,090  | 28.23%  | 751  | 6.86%
2012 | 5,815  | 56.09% | 4,275  | 41.24%  | 277  | 2.67%
2008 | 5,593  | 50.60% | 5,241  | 47.42%  | 219  | 1.98%
2004 | 5,673  | 52.59% | 5,034  | 46.66%  | 81  | 0.75%
2000 | 4,517  | 46.34%  | 4,970  | 50.99% | 260  | 2.67%
1996 | 2,884  | 32.82%  | 4,714  | 53.65% | 1,189  | 13.53%
1992 | 2,563  | 26.64%  | 4,457  | 46.33% | 2,600  | 27.03%
1988 | 3,763  | 43.44%  | 4,879  | 56.33% | 20  | 0.23%
1984 | 4,875  | 55.06% | 3,979  | 44.94%  | 0  | 0.00%
1980 | 4,064  | 45.81%  | 4,518  | 50.93% | 289  | 3.26%
1976 | 2,853  | 33.72%  | 5,535  | 65.42% | 73  | 0.86%
1972 | 4,205  | 59.65% | 2,844  | 40.35%  | 0  | 0.00%
1968 | 2,587  | 35.90%  | 3,541  | 49.14% | 1,078  | 14.96%
1964 | 1,734  | 25.05%  | 5,189  | 74.95% | 0  | 0.00%
1960 | 3,542  | 43.69%  | 4,565  | 56.31% | 0  | 0.00%
1956 | 3,041  | 39.61%  | 4,636  | 60.39% | 0  | 0.00%
1952 | 3,349  | 40.64%  | 4,869  | 59.09% | 22  | 0.27%
1948 | 2,102  | 30.30%  | 4,826  | 69.57% | 9  | 0.13%
1944 | 3,094  | 40.57%  | 4,521  | 59.28% | 12  | 0.16%
1940 | 3,399  | 36.94%  | 5,786  | 62.88% | 16  | 0.17%
1936 | 2,805  | 30.74%  | 6,300  | 69.05% | 19  | 0.21%
1932 | 1,706  | 21.74%  | 6,088  | 77.59% | 52  | 0.66%
1928 | 3,280  | 41.70%  | 4,570  | 58.10% | 16  | 0.20%
1924 | 2,753  | 34.24%  | 4,989  | 62.04% | 299  | 3.72%
1920 | 3,228  | 39.53%  | 4,865  | 59.58% | 72  | 0.88%
1916 | 1,718  | 33.28%  | 3,380  | 65.47% | 65  | 1.26%
1912 | 1,192  | 24.18%  | 3,042  | 61.70% | 696  | 14.12%
1908 | 1,914  | 37.74%  | 3,043  | 60.00% | 115  | 2.27%
1904 | 1,792  | 38.86%  | 2,744  | 59.51% | 75  | 1.63%
1900 | 2,004  | 35.02%  | 3,631  | 63.46% | 87  | 1.52%
1896 | 2,003  | 33.31%  | 3,945  | 65.60% | 66  | 1.10%
1892 | 1,643  | 32.29%  | 3,250  | 63.86% | 196  | 3.85%
1888 | 1,796  | 35.17%  | 3,181  | 62.29% | 130  | 2.55%

## Communities

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### Cities

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* Camden
* Crystal Lakes
* Excelsior Springs (mostly in Clay County)
* Fleming
* Hardin
* Henrietta
* Lawson (partly in Clay County)
* Orrick
* Richmond
* Wood Heights

### Villages

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* Elmira
* Excelsior Estates (small part in Clay County)
* Homestead

### Census-designated place

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* Rayville

### Other unincorporated communities

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* Albany
* Dockery
* Elkhorn
* Floyd
* Georgeville
* Knoxville
* Lakeview
* Millville
* Morton
* New Garden
* Regal
* Rockingham
* Russellville
* Sandals
* St. Cloud
* Stet
* Swanwick
* Taitsville
* Tinney Grove
* Vibbard

### Townships

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* Camden
* Crooked River
* Fishing River
* Grape Grove
* Knoxville
* Orrick
* Polk
* Richmond

## Notable people

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* Forrest Smith, Missouri's 42nd Governor
* Robert Ford, outlaw, killer of Jesse James
* Chad Kilgore, football player
* Gordon Young, cowboy, journalist, novelist

## See also

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* Battle of Crooked River
* Mormon War (1838)
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Ray County, Missouri

## References

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1. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
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. 344.
4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
5. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
6. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
7. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
8. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
9. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 29, 2011. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
10. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
11. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Ray County, Missouri".
12. ^ Breeding, Marshall. "Ray County Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
13. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 26, 2018.

## External links

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* Digitized 1930 Plat Book of Ray County Archived 2011-08-16 at the Wayback Machine from University of Missouri Division of Special Collections, Archives, and Rare Books

Places adjacent to Ray County, Missouri

| Clinton County | Caldwell County |

|
|

|  |
Clay County |

File:Pfeil links.svgRay County, MissouriFile:Pfeil rechts.svg

| Carroll County
|  |
Jackson County | Lafayette County |

* v
* t
* e

Kansas City metropolitan area's cities and counties

Central city|

* Kansas City, Missouri

Largest cities
(over 100,000 in 2000)|

* Independence
* Kansas City, Kansas
* Olathe
* Overland Park

Medium-sized cities
(10,000 to 100,000 in 2000)|

* Blue Springs
* Belton
* Excelsior Springs
* Gladstone
* Grandview
* Lansing
* Leawood
* Leavenworth
* Lee's Summit
* Lenexa
* Liberty
* Merriam
* Ottawa
* Prairie Village
* Raymore
* Raytown
* Shawnee

Smaller Cities
(between 5,000 and 9,900 in 2010)|

* De Soto
* Bonner Springs
* Basehor
* Edgerton
* Odessa
* Paola

Counties|

* Jackson
* Clay
* Cass
* Platte
* Lafayette
* Ray
* Clinton
* Bates
* Caldwell
* Johnson
* Wyandotte
* Leavenworth
* Miami
* Franklin
* Linn

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Ray County, Missouri, United States

County seat: Richmond

Cities|

* Camden
* Crystal Lakes
* Excelsior Springs‡
* Fleming
* Hardin
* Henrietta
* Lawson‡
* Orrick
* Richmond
* Wood Heights

File:Map of Missouri highlighting Ray County.svgMap of Missouri highlighting Ray County

Villages|

* Elmira
* Excelsior Estates‡
* Homestead

Townships|

* Camden
* Crooked River
* Fishing River
* Grape Grove
* Knoxville
* Orrick
* Polk
* Richmond

CDPs|

* Rayville
* Vibbard

Other
communities|

* Albany
* Dockery
* Elkhorn
* Floyd
* Georgeville
* Knoxville
* Lakeview
* Millville
* Morton
* New Garden
* Regal
* Rockingham
* Russellville
* Sandals
* St. Cloud
* Stet‡
* Swanwick
* Taitsville
* Tinney Grove

Ghost town|

* Ovid

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
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Society|

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Regions|

* Boonslick
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Metro areas|

* Columbia
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Largest cities|

* Kansas City
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Counties and
independent cities|

* Adair
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* Ste. Genevieve
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* Stoddard
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* Taney
* Texas
* Vernon
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* Washington
* Wayne
* Webster
* Worth
* Wright

Coordinates: 39°21′N 93°59′W﻿ / ﻿39.35°N 93.99°W﻿ / 39.35; -93.99
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