# Carroll County, Missouri

Carroll County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 8,495. Its county seat is Carrollton. The county was organized on January 2, 1833, from part of Ray County and named for Charles Carroll of Carrollton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 701 square miles (1,820 km$^2$), of which 695 square miles (1,800 km$^2$) is land and 6.8 square miles (18 km$^2$) (1.0%) is water.

### Adjacent counties

* Livingston County (north)
* Chariton County (east)
* Saline County (southeast)
* Lafayette County (southwest)
* Ray County (west)
* Caldwell County (northwest)

### Major highways

* U.S. Route 24
* U.S. Route 65
* Route 10
* Route 139

## Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 10,285 people, 4,169 households, and 2,880 families residing in the county. The population density was 15 people per square mile (5.8 people/km$^2$). There were 4,897 housing units at an average density of 7 units per square mile (2.7/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 96.95% white, 1.72% Black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.14% from other races, and 0.79% from two or more races. Approximately 0.71% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 32.7% were of German, 25.3% American, 11.8% English and 9.2% Irish ancestry.
There were 4,169 households, out of which 30.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.40% were married couples living together, 8.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.90% were non-families. 27.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.20% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 24.50% from 25 to 44, 22.90% from 45 to 64, and 20.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 94.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,643, and the median income for a family was $36,773. Males had a median income of $26,135 versus $17,468 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,522. About 9.70% of families and 13.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.00% of those under age 18 and 12.80% of those age 65 or over.

### Religion

According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2010), Carroll County is sometimes regarded as being on the northern edge of the Bible Belt, with evangelical Protestantism being the most predominant religion. The most predominant denominations among residents in Carroll County who adhere to a religion are Southern Baptists (55.73%), United Methodists (11.01%), and Lutherans (LCMS) (9.69%).

### 2020 Census

Carroll County Racial Composition :
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
| White (NH) | 7,906 | 93.1% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 97 | 1.14% |
| Native American (NH) | 15 | 0.2% |
| Asian (NH) | 15 | 0.2% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 0 | 0% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 330 | 3.9% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 132 | 1.6% |

## Education

School districts include:
* Bosworth R-V School District
* Braymer C-4 School District
* Brunswick R-II School District
* Carrollton R-VII School District
* Hale R-I School District
* Norborne R-VIII School District
* Tina-Avalon R-II School District

### Public schools

* Bosworth R-V School District – Bosworth
** Bosworth Elementary School (PK-06)
** Bosworth High School (07-12)
* Carrollton R-VII School District – Carrollton
** Adams-Dieterich Elementary School (K-04)
** Adams Primary School (PK-01)
** Carrollton Elementary School (02-04)
** Carrollton Middle School (05-08)
** Carrollton High School (09-12)
* Hale R-I School District – Hale
** Hale Elementary School (PK-06)
** Hale High School (07-12)
* Norborne R-VIII School District – Norborne
** Norborne Elementary School (K-05)
** Norborne High School (06-12)
* Tina-Avalon R-II School District – Tina
** Tina-Avalon Elementary School (PK-06)
** Tina-Avalon High School (07-12)

### Public libraries

* Carrollton Public Library
* Norborne Public Library

## Communities
### Cities

* Bogard
* Bosworth
* Carrollton (county seat)
* De Witt
* Hale
* Norborne

### Village

* Tina

### Unincorporated communities

* Bridge Creek
* Coloma
* Grace
* Little Compton
* Mandeville
* Miami Station
* Miles Point
* Plymouth
* Roads
* Standish
* Stet
* Sugartree
* Wakenda
* White Rock

### Townships

* Carrollton Township
* Cherry Valley Township
* Combs Township
* De Witt Township
* Egypt Township
* Eugene Township
* Fairfield Township
* Hill Township
* Hurricane Township
* Leslie Township
* Moss Creek Township
* Prairie Township
* Ridge Township
* Rockford Township
* Stokes Mound Township
* Sugartree Township
* Trotter Township
* Van Horn Township
* Wakenda Township
* Washington Township

## Notable people

* Lewis Eldon Atherton, historian at the University of Missouri
* Amanda Austin, painter and sculptor
* Leon E. Bates, UAW leader
* James Johnson Duderstadt, President of the University of Michigan (1988-1996)
* James Fergason, inventor and business leader in electronics known for work with LCD
* Francis Doyle Gleeson, Roman Catholic bishop
* Don Martin, NFL player and coach
* John C. McQueen, Major general, USMC, decorated veteran of World War II
* James Shields, only person in U.S. history to serve in the United States Senate representing three different states: Illinois (1849-1849; 1849–1855), Minnesota (1858-1859), and Missouri (1879-1879)
* Robert Simpson, athlete
* Barbara Sinatra, wife of Zeppo Marx and later Frank Sinatra
* Claude T. Smith, American band conductor, composer, and educator

## Politics
### Local

The Republican Party predominantly controls politics at the local level in Carroll County. Republicans hold all but three of the elected positions in the county.

### State

Past Gubernatorial Elections Results :
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third Parties |
| 2020 | 81.61% 3,671 | 17.12% 770 | 1.27% 57 |
| 2016 | 65.31% 2,837 | 32.04% 1,392 | 2.65% 115 |
| 2012 | 52.91% 2,256 | 44.61% 1,902 | 2.48% 106 |
| 2008 | 49.48% 2,233 | 48.77% 2,201 | 1.75% 79 |
| 2004 | 60.13% 2,828 | 38.91% 1,830 | 0.96% 45 |
| 2000 | 57.71% 2,643 | 40.87% 1,872 | 1.42% 65 |
| 1996 | 36.21% 1,625 | 62.25% 2,794 | 1.54% 69 |
All of Carroll County is a part of Missouri's 39th District in the Missouri House of Representatives and is currently represented by Peggy McGaugh (R-Carrollton).
Missouri House of Representatives — District 39 — Carroll County (2020) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Peggy McGaugh | 4,138 | 100.00% | +22.08 |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 39 — Carroll County (2018) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Peggy McGaugh | 2,872 | 77.92% | +1.60 |
| | Democratic | Rick Mellon | 814 | 22.08% | −1.60 |
All of Carroll 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 — Carroll County (2020) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Denny Hoskins | 3,809 | 88.50% | +8.61 |
| | Libertarian | Mark Bliss | 495 | 11.50% | +7.88 |
Missouri Senate — District 21 — Carroll County (2016) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | Denny Hoskins | 3,353 | 79.89% | +7.21 |
| Democratic | ElGene Ver Dught | 692 | 16.49% | −6.95 |
| Libertarian | Bill Wayne | 152 | 3.62% | −0.26 |

### Federal

All of Carroll 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. Graves was elected to an eleventh term in 2020 over Democratic challenger Gena Ross.
U.S. House of Representatives – Missouri’s 6th Congressional District – Carroll County (2020) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Sam Graves | 3,772 | 84.46% |
| Democratic | Gena L. Ross | 639 | 14.31% |
| Libertarian | Jim Higgins | 55 | 1.23% |
U.S. House of Representatives – Missouri's 6th Congressional District – Carroll County (2018) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Sam Graves | 3,064 | 82.37% |
| Democratic | Henry Robert Martin | 569 | 15.30% |
| Libertarian | Dan Hogan | 87 | 2.34% |
Carroll County, along with the rest of the state of Missouri, is represented in the U.S. Senate by Josh Hawley (R-Columbia) and Roy Blunt (R-Strafford).
U.S. Senate – Class I – Carroll County (2018) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | Josh Hawley | 2,761 | 73.75% | +27.99 |
| Democratic | Claire McCaskill | 870 | 23.24% | −22.04 |
| Independent | Craig O'Dear | 58 | 1.55% | |
| Libertarian | Japheth Campbell | 34 | 0.91% | −8.02 |
| Green | Jo Crain | 21 | 0.56% | +0.56 |
Blunt was elected to a second term in 2016 over then-Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander.
U.S. Senate — Missouri — Carroll County (2016) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | Roy Blunt | 2,875 | 66.20% | +20.43 |
| Democratic | Jason Kander | 1,290 | 29.70% | −15.59 |
| Libertarian | Jonathan Dine | 100 | 2.30% | −6.64 |
| Green | Johnathan McFarland | 38 | 0.87% | +0.87 |
| Constitution | Fred Ryman | 40 | 0.92% | +0.92 |

#### Political culture

United States presidential election results for Carroll County, Missouri :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 3,708 | 81.76% | 789 | 17.40% | 38 | 0.84% |
| 2020 | 3,706 | 81.77% | 786 | 17.34% | 40 | 0.88% |
| 2016 | 3,480 | 79.80% | 745 | 17.08% | 136 | 3.12% |
| 2012 | 3,072 | 71.38% | 1,154 | 26.81% | 78 | 1.81% |
| 2008 | 2,955 | 65.12% | 1,535 | 33.83% | 48 | 1.06% |
| 2004 | 3,155 | 66.55% | 1,568 | 33.07% | 18 | 0.38% |
| 2000 | 2,880 | 62.87% | 1,620 | 35.36% | 81 | 1.77% |
| 1996 | 1,839 | 40.73% | 2,080 | 46.07% | 596 | 13.20% |
| 1992 | 1,774 | 32.99% | 2,100 | 39.05% | 1,504 | 27.97% |
| 1988 | 2,811 | 54.59% | 2,330 | 45.25% | 8 | 0.16% |
| 1984 | 3,495 | 63.84% | 1,980 | 36.16% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1980 | 3,291 | 58.95% | 2,130 | 38.15% | 162 | 2.90% |
| 1976 | 2,936 | 48.31% | 3,114 | 51.24% | 27 | 0.44% |
| 1972 | 4,100 | 68.03% | 1,927 | 31.97% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 3,680 | 54.13% | 2,473 | 36.38% | 645 | 9.49% |
| 1964 | 2,994 | 42.39% | 4,069 | 57.61% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 4,555 | 58.02% | 3,296 | 41.98% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 4,751 | 58.06% | 3,432 | 41.94% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 5,410 | 63.14% | 3,146 | 36.72% | 12 | 0.14% |
| 1948 | 4,212 | 55.29% | 3,401 | 44.64% | 5 | 0.07% |
| 1944 | 5,127 | 60.82% | 3,283 | 38.94% | 20 | 0.24% |
| 1940 | 6,000 | 57.38% | 4,446 | 42.52% | 11 | 0.11% |
| 1936 | 5,432 | 51.22% | 5,141 | 48.48% | 32 | 0.30% |
| 1932 | 3,894 | 43.25% | 5,072 | 56.34% | 37 | 0.41% |
| 1928 | 5,875 | 61.05% | 3,735 | 38.81% | 14 | 0.15% |
| 1924 | 4,907 | 51.05% | 4,502 | 46.83% | 204 | 2.12% |
| 1920 | 5,609 | 57.35% | 4,075 | 41.67% | 96 | 0.98% |
| 1916 | 2,978 | 50.65% | 2,822 | 48.00% | 79 | 1.34% |
| 1912 | 1,519 | 26.85% | 2,648 | 46.80% | 1,491 | 26.35% |
| 1908 | 3,015 | 51.55% | 2,753 | 47.07% | 81 | 1.38% |
| 1904 | 3,032 | 51.67% | 2,673 | 45.55% | 163 | 2.78% |
| 1900 | 3,192 | 48.33% | 3,300 | 49.96% | 113 | 1.71% |
| 1896 | 3,363 | 48.16% | 3,555 | 50.91% | 65 | 0.93% |
| 1892 | 2,896 | 46.51% | 2,969 | 47.68% | 362 | 5.81% |
| 1888 | 2,929 | 47.71% | 2,906 | 47.34% | 304 | 4.95% |
At the presidential level, Carroll County has become solidly Republican in recent years. Carroll County strongly favored Donald Trump in both 2016 and 2020. Bill Clinton was the last Democratic presidential nominee to carry Carroll County in 1996 with a plurality of the vote, and a Democrat hasn't won majority support from the county's voters in a presidential election since Jimmy Carter in 1976.
Like most rural areas throughout Missouri, voters in Carroll County generally adhere to socially and culturally conservative principles which tend to influence their Republican leanings. Despite Carroll County's longstanding tradition of supporting socially conservative platforms, voters in the county have a penchant for advancing populist causes. In 2018, Missourians voted on a proposition (Proposition A) concerning right to work, the outcome of which ultimately reversed the right to work legislation passed in the state the previous year. 63.63% of Carroll County voters cast their ballots to overturn the law.

### Missouri presidential preference primaries
#### 2020

The 2020 presidential primaries for both the Democratic and Republican parties were held in Missouri on March 10. On the Democratic side, former Vice President Joe Biden (D-Delaware) both won statewide and carried Carroll County by a wide margin. Biden went on to defeat President Donald Trump in the general election.
Missouri Democratic Presidential Primary – Carroll County (2020) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Democratic | Joe Biden | 306 | 66.09 |
| Democratic | Bernie Sanders | 127 | 27.43 |
| Democratic | Tulsi Gabbard | 7 | 1.51 |
| Democratic | Others/Uncommitted | 23 | 4.97 |
Incumbent President Donald Trump (R-Florida) faced a primary challenge from former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld, but won both Carroll County and statewide by overwhelming margins.
Missouri Republican Presidential Primary – Carroll County (2020) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Donald Trump | 737 | 98.53 |
| Republican | Bill Weld | 3 | 0.40 |
| Republican | Others/Uncommitted | 8 | 1.07 |

#### 2016

The 2016 presidential primaries for both the Republican and Democratic parties were held in Missouri on March 15. Businessman Donald Trump (R-New York) narrowly won the state overall, but carried a majority of the vote in Carroll County. He went on to win the presidency.
Missouri Republican Presidential Primary – Carroll County (2016) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Donald Trump | 1,004 | 51.28 |
| Republican | Ted Cruz | 657 | 33.56 |
| Republican | John Kasich | 150 | 7.66 |
| Republican | Marco Rubio | 90 | 4.60 |
| Republican | Others/Uncommitted | 57 | 2.91 |
On the Democratic side, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D-New York) narrowly won statewide, but Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) carried a majority in Carroll County.
Missouri Democratic Presidential Primary – Carroll County (2016) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Democratic | Bernie Sanders | 255 | 50.70 |
| Democratic | Hillary Clinton | 233 | 46.32 |
| Democratic | Others/Uncommitted | 15 | 2.98 |

#### 2012

The 2012 Missouri Republican Presidential Primary's results were nonbinding on the state's national convention delegates. Voters in Carroll County supported former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum (R-Pennsylvania), who finished first in the state at large, but eventually lost the nomination to former Governor Mitt Romney (R-Massachusetts). Delegates to the congressional district and state conventions were chosen at a county caucus, which selected a delegation favoring Santorum. Incumbent President Barack Obama easily won the Missouri Democratic Primary and renomination. He defeated Romney in the general election.

#### 2008

In 2008, the Missouri Republican Presidential Primary was closely contested, with Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) prevailing and eventually winning the nomination. Carroll County gave McCain his highest vote share of any county in Missouri.
Missouri Republican Presidential Primary – Carroll County (2008) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | John McCain | 437 | 47.81 |
| Republican | Mike Huckabee | 251 | 27.46 |
| Republican | Mitt Romney | 175 | 19.15 |
| Republican | Ron Paul | 28 | 3.06 |
| Republican | Others/Uncommitted | 23 | 2.52 |
Then-Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York) received more votes than any candidate from either party in Carroll County during the 2008 presidential primary. Despite initial reports that Clinton had won Missouri, Barack Obama (D-Illinois), also a Senator at the time, narrowly defeated her statewide and later became that year's Democratic nominee, going on to win the presidency.
Missouri Democratic Presidential Primary – Carroll County (2008) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Democratic | Hillary Clinton | 548 | 62.84 |
| Democratic | Barack Obama | 299 | 34.29 |
| Democratic | Others/Uncommitted | 25 | 2.86 |