# Henry County, Missouri

Henry County is a county located in the western portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 21,946. Its county seat is Clinton. The county was organized December 13, 1834, as Rives County but was renamed in 1841 for Revolutionary War patriot Patrick Henry. The county originally had been named after William Cabell Rives, who was then serving as a U.S. Senator from Virginia. However, Rives lost popularity in Missouri after he joined the Whig Party.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 732 square miles (1,900 km$^2$), of which 697 square miles (1,810 km$^2$) is land and 35 square miles (91 km$^2$) (4.8%) is water.

### Adjacent counties

* Johnson County (north)
* Pettis County (northeast)
* Benton County (east)
* St. Clair County (south)
* Bates County (west)
* Cass County (northwest)

### Major highways

* Route 7
* Route 13
* Route 18
* Route 52

### Transit

* Jefferson Lines

## Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 21,997 people, 9,133 households, and 6,246 families residing in the county. The population density was 31 people per square mile (12 people/km$^2$). There were 10,261 housing units at an average density of 15 units per square mile (5.8/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 96.61% White, 1.02% Black or African American, 0.70% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races, and 1.05% from two or more races. Approximately 0.91% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 9,133 households, out of which 28.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.30% were married couples living together, 9.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.60% were non-families. 27.70% 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 2.37 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.70% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 25.80% from 25 to 44, 24.40% from 45 to 64, and 18.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 95.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,949, and the median income for a family was $36,328. Males had a median income of $27,932 versus $19,201 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,468. About 11.40% of families and 14.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.40% of those under age 18 and 13.90% of those age 65 or over.

### 2020 Census

Henry County Racial Composition :
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
| White (NH) | 19,800 | 90.22% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 177 | 0.8% |
| Native American (NH) | 89 | 0.4% |
| Asian (NH) | 91 | 0.41% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 6 | 0.03% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 1,210 | 5.51% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 573 | 2.61% |

## Education
### Public schools

* Calhoun R-VIII School District– Calhoun
** Calhoun Elementary School (K-06)
** Calhoun High School (07–12)
* Clinton School District – Clinton
** Clinton Early Childhood Center (PK)
** Henry Elementary School (K-02)
** Clinton Intermediate School (03–05)
** Clinton Middle School (06–08)
** Clinton High School (09–12)
* Davis R-XII School District – Clinton
** Davis Elementary School (K-08)
* Henry County R-I School District – Windsor
** Windsor Elementary School (PK-06)
** Windsor High School (07–12)
* Lakeland R-III School District – Deepwater/Lowry City
** Actually located in St. Clair County
** Lakeland Elementary School (PK-06)
** Lakeland High School (07–12)
* Leesville R-IX School District – Clinton
** Leesville Elementary School (K-08)
* Montrose R-XIV School District – Montrose
** Montrose Elementary School (K-08)
** Montrose High School (09–12)
* Shawnee R-III School District – Chilhowee
** Shawnee Elementary School (K-08)

### Private schools

* Windsor Amish Schools – Windsor (01–08) – Amish
* St. Mary's School – Montrose (01–08) – Roman Catholic
* Holy Rosary Catholic School – Clinton (PK-08) – Roman Catholic
* Clinton Christian Academy – Clinton (K4-12) – Nondenominational Christian

### Public libraries

* Henry County Library
* Lenora Blackmore Branch of Henry County Library

## Politics
### Local

The Democratic Party historically controls politics at the local level in Henry County. However, recent gains by Republicans have made Henry County a swing county.

### State

Past Gubernatorial Elections Results :
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third Parties |
| 2016 | 59.40% 5,582 | 37.51% 3,695 | 3.09% 304 |
| 2012 | 42.14% 4,277 | 53.85% 5,430 | 3.74% 377 |
| 2008 | 35.70% 3,935 | 61.79% 6,810 | 2.51% 277 |
| 2004 | 50.47% 5,471 | 48.29% 5,235 | 1.23% 134 |
| 2000 | 45.63% 4,420 | 52.36% 5,072 | 2.01% 194 |
| 1996 | 34.41% 3,135 | 62.70% 5,712 | 2.89% 263 |
All of Henry County is a part of Missouri's 57th District in the Missouri House of Representatives and is represented by Rodger Reedy (R-Windsor), who was elected in 2018.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 57 — Henry County (2016) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Wanda Brown | 6,237 | 64.30% | +1.92 |
| | Democratic | William A. Grimes | 3,463 | 35.70% | +2.03 |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 57 — Henry County (2014) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | Wanda Brown | 3,348 | 62.38% | +10.58 |
| Democratic | William A. Grimes | 1,807 | 33.67% | −14.53 |
| Constitution | Butch Page | 212 | 3.95% | +3.95 |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 57 — Henry County (2012) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Wanda Brown | 5,012 | 51.80% | |
| | Democratic | Don Bullock | 4,664 | 48.20% | |
All of Henry County is a part of Missouri's 31st District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Ed Emery (R-Lamar).
Missouri Senate — District 31 — Henry County (2016) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | Ed Emery | 6,916 | 73.97% | +14.28 |
| Libertarian | Lora Young | 1,132 | 12.11% | +12.11 |
| Independent | Tim Wells | 1,302 | 13.92% | +13.92 |
Missouri Senate — District 31 — Henry County (2012) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Ed Emery | 5,812 | 59.69% | |
| | Constitution | Charles A. Burton | 3,925 | 40.31% | |

### Federal

U.S. Senate — Missouri — Henry County (2016) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | Roy Blunt | 5,500 | 55.82% | +15.28 |
| Democratic | Jason Kander | 3,785 | 38.41% | −12.63 |
| Libertarian | Jonathan Dine | 310 | 3.15% | −5.27 |
| Green | Johnathan McFarland | 144 | 1.46% | +1.46 |
| Constitution | Fred Ryman | 114 | 1.16% | +1.16 |
U.S. Senate — Missouri — Henry County (2012) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Todd Akin | 4,066 | 40.54% |
| Democratic | Claire McCaskill | 5,119 | 51.04% |
| Libertarian | Jonathan Dine | 844 | 8.42% |
All of Henry County is included in Missouri's 4th Congressional District and is currently represented by Vicky Hartzler (R-Harrisonville) in the U.S. House of Representatives.
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 4th Congressional District — Henry County (2016) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | Vicky Hartzler | 6,927 | 71.30% | +3.40 |
| Democratic | Gordon Christensen | 2,399 | 24.69% | −2.47 |
| Libertarian | Mark Bliss | 389 | 4.00% | −0.94 |
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 4th Congressional District — Henry County (2014) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | Vicky Hartzler | 3,630 | 67.90% | +7.82 |
| Democratic | Nate Irvin | 1,452 | 27.16% | −8.39 |
| Libertarian | Herschel L. Young | 264 | 4.94% | +1.77 |
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri’s 4th Congressional District — Henry County (2012) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Vicky Hartzler | 5,970 | 60.08% |
| Democratic | Teresa Hensley | 3,532 | 35.55% |
| Libertarian | Thomas Holbrook | 315 | 3.17% |
| Constitution | Greg Cowan | 119 | 1.20% |

### Political culture

United States presidential election results for Henry County, Missouri :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 8,286 | 75.80% | 2,535 | 23.19% | 111 | 1.02% |
| 2020 | 8,027 | 74.29% | 2,619 | 24.24% | 159 | 1.47% |
| 2016 | 7,075 | 71.38% | 2,357 | 23.78% | 480 | 4.84% |
| 2012 | 6,229 | 61.18% | 3,606 | 35.42% | 347 | 3.41% |
| 2008 | 6,095 | 54.62% | 4,869 | 43.63% | 195 | 1.75% |
| 2004 | 6,361 | 58.48% | 4,461 | 41.01% | 55 | 0.51% |
| 2000 | 5,120 | 52.36% | 4,459 | 45.60% | 199 | 2.04% |
| 1996 | 3,260 | 35.68% | 4,579 | 50.11% | 1,298 | 14.21% |
| 1992 | 2,681 | 27.53% | 4,232 | 43.45% | 2,827 | 29.02% |
| 1988 | 4,167 | 50.04% | 4,135 | 49.65% | 26 | 0.31% |
| 1984 | 5,419 | 59.16% | 3,741 | 40.84% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1980 | 4,807 | 49.19% | 4,648 | 47.56% | 317 | 3.24% |
| 1976 | 4,168 | 43.89% | 5,282 | 55.62% | 47 | 0.49% |
| 1972 | 5,802 | 64.99% | 3,125 | 35.01% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 3,824 | 47.68% | 3,514 | 43.82% | 682 | 8.50% |
| 1964 | 3,083 | 34.86% | 5,761 | 65.14% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 6,012 | 56.65% | 4,601 | 43.35% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 5,789 | 54.16% | 4,900 | 45.84% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 6,628 | 59.07% | 4,576 | 40.78% | 16 | 0.14% |
| 1948 | 4,619 | 45.40% | 5,551 | 54.56% | 4 | 0.04% |
| 1944 | 5,564 | 54.69% | 4,587 | 45.09% | 23 | 0.23% |
| 1940 | 6,332 | 50.97% | 6,069 | 48.85% | 22 | 0.18% |
| 1936 | 4,927 | 40.68% | 7,145 | 59.00% | 39 | 0.32% |
| 1932 | 3,631 | 34.58% | 6,809 | 64.85% | 60 | 0.57% |
| 1928 | 6,263 | 59.07% | 4,319 | 40.73% | 21 | 0.20% |
| 1924 | 4,616 | 46.76% | 4,706 | 47.68% | 549 | 5.56% |
| 1920 | 5,313 | 49.14% | 5,367 | 49.63% | 133 | 1.23% |
| 1916 | 2,727 | 41.90% | 3,653 | 56.12% | 129 | 1.98% |
| 1912 | 1,162 | 18.40% | 3,396 | 53.78% | 1,757 | 27.82% |
| 1908 | 2,854 | 43.30% | 3,577 | 54.27% | 160 | 2.43% |
| 1904 | 2,799 | 44.49% | 3,222 | 51.22% | 270 | 4.29% |
| 1900 | 2,626 | 39.49% | 3,777 | 56.81% | 246 | 3.70% |
| 1896 | 3,234 | 41.79% | 4,442 | 57.41% | 62 | 0.80% |
| 1892 | 2,563 | 39.19% | 3,475 | 53.13% | 502 | 7.68% |
| 1888 | 2,634 | 42.44% | 3,289 | 52.99% | 284 | 4.58% |

## Communities
### Cities

* Blairstown
* Brownington
* Calhoun
* Clinton (county seat)
* Deepwater
* Montrose
* Urich
* Windsor

### Villages

* La Due
* Tightwad

### Census-designated place

* Hartwell

### Unincorporated communities

* Bowen
* Coal
* Finey
* Garland
* Germantown
* Huntingdale
* Leesville
* Lewis
* Lucas
* Maurine
* Mount Zion
* Petersburg
* Piper
* Quarles
* Roseland
* Shawnee Mound