# Howell County, Missouri

Howell County is in southern Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 39,750. The largest city and county seat is West Plains. The county was officially organized on March 2, 1851, and is named after Josiah Howell, a pioneer settler in the Howell Valley.
Howell County comprises the West Plains, MO, Micropolitan Statistical Area.

## History

Howell County was organized on March 2, 1857, from Oregon County, and is named for Josiah Howell, who made the first settlement in Howell Valley.
The first circuit court met in a log cabin one mile east of West Plains, according to an 1876 account. A small, wooden courthouse was built on the square in West Plains in 1859. It was damaged during the Civil War in 1862. The county was reorganized three years later, but all of the county records were destroyed in an 1866 fire. A second courthouse was built in West Plains in 1869. It was a small, three-room, frame building, about 24 by 30 feet.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 928 square miles (2,400 km$^2$), of which 927 square miles (2,400 km$^2$) is land and 1.1 square miles (2.8 km$^2$) (0.1%) is water. It is the third-largest county in Missouri by land area and fourth-largest by total area.

### Adjacent counties

* Texas County (north)
* Shannon County (northeast)
* Oregon County (east)
* Fulton County, Arkansas (south)
* Ozark County (southwest)
* Douglas County (northwest)

### Major highways

* U.S. Route 60
* U.S. Route 63
* U.S. Route 160
* Route 14
* Route 17
* Route 76
* Route 142

### National protected area

* Mark Twain National Forest (part)

## Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 37,238 people, 14,762 households, and 10,613 families residing in the county. The population density was 40 people per square mile (15 people/km$^2$). There were 16,340 housing units at an average density of 18 units per square mile (6.9/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 96.41% White, 0.31% Black or African American, 0.97% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.28% from other races, and 1.63% from two or more races. Approximately 1.21% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Among the major first ancestries reported in Howell County were 28.3% American, 16.4% German, 12.2% Irish, and 12.1% English.
There were 14,762 households, out of which 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.8% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the county, the population consisted of 26.0% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.5 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,761, and the median income for a family was $38,047. Males had a median income of $22,960 versus $16,968 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,184. About 14.00% of families and 18.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.3% of those under age 18 and 14.0% of those age 65 or over.

### Religion

According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2000), Howell County is a part of the Bible Belt with evangelical Protestantism being the majority religion. The most predominant denominations among residents in Howell County who adhere to a religion are Southern Baptists (47.70%), Churches of Christ (8.81%), and Roman Catholics (6.99%).

### 2020 census

Howell County racial composition :
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
| White (NH) | 35,972 | 90.5% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 180 | 0.45% |
| Native American (NH) | 265 | 0.67% |
| Asian (NH) | 217 | 0.55% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 17 | 0.04% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 2,203 | 5.54% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 896 | 2.25% |

## Education

Of adults 25 years of age and older in Howell County, 73.4% possesses a high school diploma or higher while 10.9% holds a bachelor's degree or higher as their highest educational attainment.

### Public schools

* Mountain View-Birch Tree R-III School District - Mountain View
** Birch Tree Elementary School - Birch Tree - (PK-06) - Located in Shannon County
** Mountain View Elementary School - (PK-06)
** Liberty Middle School - (07-08)
** Liberty High School - (09-12)
* West Plains R-VII School District - West Plains
** South Fork Elementary School (K-06)
** West Plains Elementary School (K-04)
** West Plains Middle School (05-08)
** West Plains High School (09-12)
* Willow Springs R-IV School District - Willow Springs
** Willow Springs Elementary School (PK-04)
** Willow Springs Middle School (05-08)
** Willow Springs High School (09-12)
* Fairview R-XI School District - West Plains
** Fairview Elementary School (K-08)
* Glenwood R-VIII School District - West Plains
** Glenwood Elementary School - (PK-08)
* Howell Valley R-I School District - West Plains
** Howell Valley Elementary School (K-08)
* Junction Hill C-12 School District - West Plains
** Junction Hill Elementary School - (K-08)
* Richards R-V School District - West Plains
** Richards Elementary School - (K-08)

### Private schools

* Faith Assembly Christian School - West Plains - (PK-12) - Assemblies of God/Pentecostal
* Ozarks Christian Academy - West Plains - (K-10) - non denominational/Protestant - Classical Christian Education
* Trinity Christian Academy - Mountain View - (K-12) - Pentecostal - Wade St., Mountain View.

### Alternative and vocational schools

* Ozark Horizon State School - West Plains - (K-12) - A school for handicapped students and those with other special needs.
* South Central Career Center - West Plains - (09-12) - Vocational/technical

### Colleges and universities

* Missouri State University-West Plains - A satellite campus of Missouri State University

### Public libraries

* Mountain View Public Library
* West Plains Public Library
* Willow Springs Public Library

## Politics
### Local

The Republican Party predominantly controls politics at the local level in Howell County. Republicans hold all elected positions in the county. District 2 (Southern) Commissioner Billy Sexton took office as a Democrat but announced in 2014 he was changing parties and sought re-election as a Republican.

### State

Past Gubernatorial Elections Results :
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third Parties |
| 2020 | 81.04% 14,947 | 17.40% 3,210 | 1.56% 287 |
| 2016 | 70.65% 12,266 | 25.68% 4,459 | 3.67% 637 |
| 2012 | 54.23% 8,849 | 42.59% 6,950 | 3.19% 520 |
| 2008 | 45.33% 7,659 | 52.11% 8,804 | 2.56% 432 |
| 2004 | 64.89% 10,595 | 33.48% 5,466 | 1.63% 267 |
| 2000 | 53.51% 7,537 | 44.77% 6,306 | 1.72% 242 |
| 1996 | 51.71% 7,030 | 44.78% 6,087 | 3.51% 477 |
| 1992 | 48.26% 6,401 | 51.74% 6,862 | 0.00% 0 |
| 1988 | 71.70% 8,321 | 27.69% 3,214 | 0.61% 71 |
| 1984 | 70.90% 8,476 | 29.10% 3,479 | 0.00% 0 |
| 1980 | 59.53% 6,956 | 40.32% 4,711 | 0.15% 18 |
| 1976 | 57.07% 5,673 | 42.77% 4,251 | 0.16% 16 |
| 1972 | 61.53% 6,296 | 38.40% 3,929 | 0.07% 7 |
| 1968 | 48.33% 4,605 | 51.67% 4,923 | 0.00% 0 |
| 1964 | 47.58% 4,453 | 52.42% 4,905 | 0.00% 0 |
| 1960 | 64.55% 6,166 | 35.45% 3,386 | 0.00% 0 |
In the Missouri House of Representatives, Howell County is divided into two legislative districts, both of which are represented by Republicans.
* District 154 — Shawn Rhoads (R-West Plains. Consists of most of the entire county.
Missouri House of Representatives — Missouri House of Representatives — District 154 — Howell County (2016) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Shaun Rhoads | 11,563 | 74.93% | −25.07 |
| | Independent | Terry Hampton | 3,868 | 25.07% | +25.07 |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 154 — Howell County (2014) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Shaun Rhoads | 5,933 | 100.00% | +31.47 |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 154 — Howell County (2012) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Shaun Rhoads | 9,950 | 68.53% | |
| | Democratic | R.A. Pendergrass | 4,570 | 31.47% | |
* District 142 — Robert Ross (R-Yukon). Consists of the city of Mountain View.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 142 — Howell County (2016) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Robert Ross | 1,196 | 82.43% | −17.57 |
| | Democratic | Bobby Johnston, Jr. | 255 | 17.57% | +17.57 |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 142 — Howell County (2014) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Robert Ross | 589 | 100.00% | |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 142 — Howell County (2012) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Robert Ross | 1,173 | 100.00% | |
All of Howell County is a part of Missouri's 33rd District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Mike Cunningham of Rogersville.
Missouri Senate — District 33 — Howell County (2016) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Mike Cunningham | 14,995 | 100.00% | |
Missouri Senate — District 33 — Howell County (2012) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Mike Cunningham | 13,700 | 100.00% | |

### Federal

Missouri's two U.S. senators are Republicans Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt.
U.S. Senate — Missouri — Howell County (2016) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | Roy Blunt | 12,070 | 69.61% | +18.26 |
| Democratic | Jason Kander | 4,375 | 25.23% | −15.97 |
| Libertarian | Jonathan Dine | 433 | 2.50% | −4.95 |
| Green | Johnathan McFarland | 218 | 1.26% | +1.26 |
| Constitution | Fred Ryman | 243 | 1.40% | +1.40 |
U.S. Senate — Missouri — Howell County (2012) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Todd Akin | 8,340 | 51.35% |
| Democratic | Claire McCaskill | 6,692 | 41.20% |
| Libertarian | Jonathan Dine | 1,210 | 7.45% |
All of Howell County is included in Missouri's 8th congressional district and is currently represented by Jason T. Smith of Salem in the U.S. House of Representatives. Smith won a special election on Tuesday, June 4, 2013, to complete the remaining term of former U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson of Cape Girardeau. Emerson announced her resignation a month after being reelected with over 70 percent of the vote in the district. She resigned to become CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative.
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 8th Congressional District — Howell County (2016) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | Jason T. Smith | 13,655 | 80.64% | +19.51 |
| Democratic | Dave Cowell | 2,776 | 16.38% | +5.05 |
| Libertarian | Jonathan Shell | 505 | 2.98% | +1.45 |
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 8th Congressional District — Howell County (2014) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | Jason T. Smith | 4,742 | 61.13% | −7.91 |
| Democratic | Barbara Stocker | 879 | 11.33% | −7.36 |
| Libertarian | Rick Vandeven | 119 | 1.53% | −0.39 |
| Constitution | Doug Enyart | 163 | 2.10% | −8.25 |
| Independent | Terry Hampton | 1,854 | 23.90% | +23.90 |
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 8th Congressional District — Special Election — Howell County (2013) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | Jason T. Smith | 2,268 | 69.04% | −8.16 |
| Democratic | Steven Hodges | 614 | 18.69% | +0.75 |
| Libertarian | Bill Slantz | 63 | 1.92% | −2.94 |
| Constitution | Doug Enyart | 340 | 10.35% | +10.35 |
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 8th Congressional District — Howell County (2012) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Jo Ann Emerson | 12,456 | 77.20% |
| Democratic | Jack Rushin | 2,895 | 17.94% |
| Libertarian | Rick Vandeven | 784 | 4.86% |

#### Political culture

United States presidential election results for Howell County, Missouri :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 15,733 | 82.71% | 3,073 | 16.16% | 215 | 1.13% |
| 2020 | 15,181 | 81.29% | 3,218 | 17.23% | 277 | 1.48% |
| 2016 | 13,893 | 79.59% | 2,881 | 16.51% | 681 | 3.90% |
| 2012 | 11,544 | 70.62% | 4,395 | 26.89% | 407 | 2.49% |
| 2008 | 10,982 | 64.49% | 5,736 | 33.68% | 311 | 1.83% |
| 2004 | 11,097 | 67.75% | 5,118 | 31.25% | 164 | 1.00% |
| 2000 | 9,018 | 64.07% | 4,641 | 32.97% | 416 | 2.96% |
| 1996 | 5,991 | 44.30% | 5,261 | 38.90% | 2,272 | 16.80% |
| 1992 | 5,360 | 39.60% | 5,492 | 40.57% | 2,685 | 19.83% |
| 1988 | 7,277 | 62.49% | 4,324 | 37.13% | 44 | 0.38% |
| 1984 | 8,204 | 68.53% | 3,767 | 31.47% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1980 | 7,149 | 60.06% | 4,472 | 37.57% | 282 | 2.37% |
| 1976 | 4,692 | 46.76% | 5,265 | 52.47% | 78 | 0.78% |
| 1972 | 7,253 | 72.18% | 2,795 | 27.82% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 5,631 | 57.24% | 2,763 | 28.08% | 1,444 | 14.68% |
| 1964 | 4,632 | 48.25% | 4,968 | 51.75% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 7,095 | 72.18% | 2,734 | 27.82% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 5,473 | 64.09% | 3,066 | 35.91% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 6,608 | 66.19% | 3,349 | 33.55% | 26 | 0.26% |
| 1948 | 4,427 | 54.93% | 3,599 | 44.65% | 34 | 0.42% |
| 1944 | 5,151 | 62.93% | 3,020 | 36.90% | 14 | 0.17% |
| 1940 | 6,158 | 59.23% | 4,218 | 40.57% | 21 | 0.20% |
| 1936 | 5,297 | 52.63% | 4,725 | 46.95% | 42 | 0.42% |
| 1932 | 3,660 | 42.86% | 4,775 | 55.91% | 105 | 1.23% |
| 1928 | 4,869 | 65.26% | 2,543 | 34.08% | 49 | 0.66% |
| 1924 | 3,130 | 48.21% | 2,681 | 41.29% | 682 | 10.50% |
| 1920 | 4,344 | 63.24% | 2,323 | 33.82% | 202 | 2.94% |
| 1916 | 2,132 | 50.22% | 1,861 | 43.84% | 252 | 5.94% |
| 1912 | 1,465 | 34.12% | 1,565 | 36.45% | 1,264 | 29.44% |
| 1908 | 2,164 | 51.09% | 1,827 | 43.13% | 245 | 5.78% |
| 1904 | 2,089 | 53.39% | 1,605 | 41.02% | 219 | 5.60% |
| 1900 | 2,059 | 48.84% | 1,975 | 46.85% | 182 | 4.32% |
| 1896 | 1,892 | 44.02% | 2,373 | 55.21% | 33 | 0.77% |
| 1892 | 1,484 | 41.93% | 1,642 | 46.40% | 413 | 11.67% |
| 1888 | 1,370 | 42.71% | 1,506 | 46.95% | 332 | 10.35% |
Howell County is, like several rural counties located in the Ozarks, conservative and strongly Republican at the presidential level. Bill Clinton of neighboring Arkansas was the last Democratic presidential nominee to win Howell County in 1992; he lost the county during his 1996 reelection bid and since then, voters in Howell County have decisively backed Republicans. Controversy occurred during the course of the 2008 presidential campaign over a billboard displayed near West Plains that depicted a picture of then-Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama in a turban. Some were offended by the billboard and deemed it racist.
Like most rural areas throughout Southeast Missouri, voters in Howell County generally adhere to socially and culturally conservative principles which tend to influence their Republican leanings. In 2004, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman—it overwhelmingly won in Howell County with 83.36 percent of the vote. The initiative passed the state with 71 percent of support from voters. In 2006, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to fund and legalize embryonic stem cell research in the state—it failed in Howell County with 57.97 percent voting against the measure. The initiative narrowly passed the state with 51 percent of support from voters as Missouri became one of the first states in the nation to approve embryonic stem cell research. Despite Howell County's longstanding tradition of supporting socially conservative platforms, voters in the county have a penchant for advancing populist causes like increasing the minimum wage. In 2006, Missourians voted on a proposition (Proposition B) to increase the minimum wage in the state to $6.50 an hour—it passed Howell County with 67.79 percent of the vote. The proposition strongly passed every single county in Missouri with 78.99 percent voting in favor. (During the same election, voters in five other states also strongly approved increases in the minimum wage.)

### Missouri presidential preference primary (2008)

In the 2008 Missouri Presidential Primary, voters in Howell County from both political parties supported candidates who finished in second place in the state at large and nationally. Former Governor Mike Huckabee (R-Arkansas) received more votes, a total of 2,882, than any candidate from either party in Howell County during the 2008 Missouri Presidential Preference Primary.

## Communities
### Cities

* Brandsville
* Mountain View
* West Plains (county seat)
* Willow Springs

### Census-designated places

* Pomona
* South Fork

### Other unincorporated places

* Amy
* Arditta
* Burnham
* Caulfield
* Chapel
* Chapin
* China
* Cottbus
* Crider
* Cull
* Cureall
* Egypt Grove
* Fanchon
* Frankville
* Fruitville
* Grimmet
* Horton
* Hocomo
* Hutton Valley
* Lanton
* Lebo
* Leota
* Moody
* Olden
* Peace Valley
* Pottersville
* Siloam Springs
* Sterling
* Trask

### Townships

* Benton
* Chapel
* Dry Creek
* Goldsberry
* Howell
* Hutton Valley
* Myatt
* Siloam Springs
* Sisson
* South Fork
* Spring Creek
* Willow Springs