Ripley County, Missouri

Infobox U.S. County
county = Ripley County
state = Missouri


founded year = 1833
founded date =
seat wl = Doniphan
largest city wl = Doniphan
area_total_sq_mi = 632
area_total_km2 = 1636
area_land_sq_mi = 629
area_land_km2 = 1630
area_water_sq_mi = 2
area_water_km2 = 6
area percentage = 0.35%
census yr = 2000
pop = 13509
density_sq_mi = 22
density_km2 = 8
time zone = Central
UTC offset = -6
DST offset = -5
footnotes =
web =
named for = Eleazer Wheelock Ripley, Brigadier General in the War of 1812

Ripley County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of 2000, the population is 13,509. Its county seat is DoniphanGR|6. The county was organized in 1833 and named for Gen. Eleazar Wheelock Ripley, hero of the War of 1812. Its area encompassed what would later become Oregon, Howell, Shannon and Carter counties. The historic Natchitoches Trail passes through Ripley County. It was an Indian trail and an early route to the Southwest, used by pioneers like Stephen Austin. Although a no-man's land during the American Civil War, the county was pro-south and provided four colonels for the Confederate cause. Today's tourist areas include Current River and the Mark Twain National Forest.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 632 square miles (1,636 km²), of which, 629 square miles (1,630 km²) of it is land and 2 square miles (6 km²) of it (0.35%) is water.

Adjacent counties

*Carter County (north)
*Butler County (east)
*Clay County, Arkansas (southeast)
*Randolph County, Arkansas (southwest)
*Oregon County (west)

Major highways

*U.S. Route 160
*Route 21
*Route 142

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 13,509 people, 5,416 households, and 3,845 families residing in the county. The population density was 22 people per square mile (8/km²). There were 6,392 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.17% White, 0.04% Black or African American, 1.33% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.05% from other races, and 1.17% from two or more races. 0.98% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 34.1% were of American, 14.0% Irish, 11.6% German and 10.7% English ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 5,416 households out of which 30.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.40% were married couples living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.00% were non-families. 25.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.30% 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 2.95.

In the county the population was spread out with 24.80% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 25.30% from 25 to 44, 24.70% from 45 to 64, and 17.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 94.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $22,761, and the median income for a family was $27,799. Males had a median income of $22,056 versus $17,823 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,889. About 16.90% of families and 22.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.00% of those under age 18 and 20.40% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

References