# Boone County, Missouri

Boone County is located in the U.S. state of Missouri. Centrally located the state's Mid-Missouri region, its county seat is in Columbia, which is Missouri's fourth-largest city and location of the University of Missouri. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, the county's population was listed as 183,610, making it the state's eighth-most populous county. The county was organized November 16, 1820, removed from the former larger Howard County (now to the northwest) of the old federal Missouri Territory of 1812-1821, and named for the famous Western explorer and settler of Kentucky, then recently deceased Daniel Boone (1734-1820), whose kin largely populated the Boonslick area, having arrived in the 1810s on the Boone's Lick Road.
Boone County comprises the Columbia Metropolitan Area. The towns of Ashland and Centralia are the second and third most populous towns in the county.

## History

Boone County was organized November 16, 1820, from a separated portion of the larger territorial Howard County, first designated under the former federal Louisiana Territory (1804-1812) and subsequent successor Missouri Territory (1812-1821). The central region of the state is known as Mid-Missouri and is also known as the cultural area of Boonslick or Boone's Lick Country, because of a nearby salt spring or "lick" which famed Western American frontier explorer, pioneer, settler Daniel Boone's (1734-1820) sons, Daniel Morgan Boone (1769-1839), and younger Nathan Boone (1780-1856), used for their animals stock.
Boone County was settled primarily from the Upper South states of Kentucky, Tennessee and further east of Virginia. The settlers brought slaves and idea of slave-holding with them, and quickly started cultivating crops similar to those in Middle Tennessee and the bluegrass state of Kentucky: hemp and tobacco. Boone was one of several counties to the north and south of the diagonal flowing southwestward Missouri River that was settled by mostly Southerners. Because of its culture and traditions, the area became known as Little Dixie, and Boone County was at its heart. In 1860 slaves made up 25 percent or more of the county's population, Boone County was strongly pro-Confederacy during the American Civil War (1861-1865).
Shortly after the assassination / murder in April 1865, of 16th President Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865, served 1861-1865), the leading citizens of the county and its county seat town denounced the killing. They also directed that all public buildings including the county courthouse and the nearby state university be draped in black mourning for thirty days.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 691 square miles (1,790 km$^2$), of which 685 square miles (1,770 km$^2$) is land and 5.6 square miles (15 km$^2$) (0.8%) is water. The Missouri River makes up the southern border of the county.

### National protected areas

* Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge
* Mark Twain National Forest (part)

### Adjacent counties

* Audrain County (northeast)
* Callaway County (east)
* Cole County (south)
* Cooper County (west)
* Howard County (northwest)
* Moniteau County (southwest)
* Randolph County (north)

### Major highways

* Interstate 70
* Interstate 70 Business Loop
* U.S. Route 40
* U.S. Route 63
* US 63 Conn.
* Route 22
* Route 124
* Route 163
* Route 740
* Route 763

## Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 135,454 people, 53,094 households, and 31,378 families residing in the county. The population density was 198 inhabitants per square mile (76/km$^2$). There were 56,678 housing units at an average density of 83 units per square mile (32/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 85.43% White, 8.54% Black or African American, 0.42% Native American, 2.96% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.69% from other races, and 1.93% from two or more races. Approximately 1.78% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 24.6% claimed German, 12.3% American, 11.2% English and 9.8% Irish ancestry.
There were 53,094 households, out of which 30.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.50% were married couples living together, 10.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.90% were non-families. 28.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.80% under the age of 18, 19.90% from 18 to 24, 29.90% from 25 to 44, 18.80% from 45 to 64, and 8.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $37,485, and the median income for a family was $51,210. Males had a median income of $33,304 versus $25,990 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,844. About 7.60% of families and 14.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.10% of those under age 18 and 5.90% of those age 65 or over.
There are 127,433 registered voters as of 2022.

### Religion

According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2010), Boone County is sometimes regarded as being on the northern edge of the so-called Bible Belt, with evangelical Protestantism being the most predominant religious faith represented. The most predominant denominations among residents in Boone County who adhere to a religion are the Baptists with the largest being from the conservative Southern Baptist Convention (20.81%), Roman Catholics (16.71%), and smaller / minor nondenominational or evangelical groups (13.23%).

### 2020 Census

Boone County Racial Composition :
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
| White (NH) | 137,771 | 75% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 17,882 | 9.7% |
| Native American (NH) | 452 | 0.3% |
| Asian (NH) | 7,772 | 4.23% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 120 | 0.07% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 11,561 | 6.3% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 8,052 | 4.4% |

## Education
### Public schools

* Southern Boone (Ashland) R-I School District
** Southern Boone Primary School
** Southern Boone Elementary
** Southern Boone Middle School
** Southern Boone High School
* Centralia R-VI School District – Centralia
** Chance Elementary School (PK-02)
** Centralia Intermediate School (03-05)
** Chester Boren Middle School (06-08)
** Centralia High School (09-12)
* Columbia School District No. 93 – Columbia
** Center for Gifted Education (01-05)
** Cedar Ridge Elementary School (PK-05)
** Thomas Benton Elementary School (PK-05)
** John Ridgeway Elementary School (K-05)
** Eugene Field/ Alpha Hart Lewis Elementary School (PK-05)
** Midway Heights Elementary School (PK-05)
** Ulysses S. Grant Elementary School (PK-05)
** Two Mile Prairie Elementary School (PK-05)
** New Haven Elementary School (PK-05)
** West Boulevard Elementary School (PK-05)
** Locust Street Expressive Arts Elementary School
** Parkade Elementary School (PK-05)
** Blue Ridge Elementary School (PK-05)
** Fairview Elementary School (PK-05)
** Russell Boulevard Elementary School (PK-05)
** Shepard Boulevard Elementary School (PK-05)
** Mary Paxton Keeley Elementary School (PK-05)
** Beulah Ralph Elementary School (PK-05)
** Eliot Battle Elementary School (PK-05)
** Derby Ridge Elementary School (PK-05)
** Mill Creek Elementary School (PK-05)
** John B. Lange Middle School (06-08)
** Ann Hawkins Gentry Middle School (06-08)
** Smithton Middle School (06-08)
** Oakland Middle School (06-08)
** Jefferson Middle School (06-08)
** West Middle School (06-08)
** Warner Middle School (06-08)
** David H. Hickman High School (09-12)
** Muriel Battle High School (09-12)
** Frederick Douglass High School (09-12) – Alternative School
** Rock Bridge High School (09-12)
* Hallsville R-IV School District – Hallsville
** Hallsville Primary School (PK-01)
** Hallsville Intermediate School (02-05)
** Hallsville Middle School (06-08)
** Hallsville High School (09-12)
* Harrisburg R-VIII School District – Harrisburg
** Harrisburg Elementary School (PK-06)
** Harrisburg Middle School (07-08)
** Harrisburg High School (09-12)
* Sturgeon R-V School District – Sturgeon
** Sturgeon Elementary School (K-04)
** Sturgeon Middle School (05-08)
** Sturgeon High School (09-12)

### Private schools

* Apple School – Columbia (PK-K) – Nonsectarian
* Children's House And Windsor Street Montessori – Columbia (PK-06) – Nonsectarian – Coed
* Christian Chapel Academy – Columbia (K-08) – Pentecostal
* Christian Fellowship School – Columbia (PK-12) – Nondenominational Christian
* College Park Christian Academy – Columbia (K-09) – Seventh-day Adventist
* Our Lady of Lourdes Interparish School– Columbia (K-08) – Roman Catholic
* Columbia Independent School – Columbia (PK-12) – Nonsectarian
* Columbia KinderCare – Columbia (NS-PK) – Nonsectarian
* Columbia Montessori School – Columbia (PK-K) – Nonsectarian
* Father Tolton Regional High School- Columbia (09-12) – Roman Catholic
* Good Shepherd Lutheran School – Columbia (K-08) – Lutheran
* Heritage Academy – Columbia (03-12) – Nondenominational Christian – Alternative School
* Islamic School of Columbia, Missouri – Columbia (K-05) – Muslim
* Morningside Community School – Columbia (05-07) – Nonsectarian
* Shalom Christian Academy – Columbia (PK-12) – Nonsectarian
* Harrisburg Early Learning Center – Harrisburg (NS/PK-06)
* Sunnydale Adventist Academy – Centralia (09-12) – Seventh-day Adventist

### Post-secondary (colleges / University / community college)

* University of Missouri at Columbia, A public, nationally-renowned four-year flagship state university, established 1839.
* Columbia College – Columbia A private, four-year university, founded 1851.
* Stephens College – (Columbia), A private, four-year all-women university, founded 1833.
* Moberly Area Community College (MACC), in Moberly, Missouri, established 1927, a two-year public community college, operates four satellite campuses, including one in Columbia.

### Public libraries

* Centralia Public Library
* Southern Boone County Public Library
* Columbia Public Library

## Communities
### Cities

* Ashland
* Centralia
* Columbia (county seat)
* Hallsville
* Rocheport
* Sturgeon

### Villages

* Harrisburg
* Hartsburg
* Huntsdale
* McBaine
* Pierpont

### Unincorporated communities

* Bourbon
* Browns
* Claysville
* Deer Park
* Easley
* Englewood
* Ginlet
* Harg
* Hinton
* Oldham
* Midway
* Prathersville
* Providence
* Riggs
* Rucker
* Shaw
* Two Mile Prairie
* Wilton
* Woodlandville

### Townships

Township boundaries have changed over time. See links at end of article for maps of Boone County showing boundaries of different dates. As a rule, older townships were split, with newer townships created from their subdivisions. This is significant for historical and genealogical research. Note that maps show changes in township boundaries between 1898 and 1930 were minimal.
* Bourbon
* Cedar
* Centralia
* Columbia
* Katy
* Missouri
* Perche
* Rock Bridge
* Rocky Fork
* Three Creeks

## Politics
### Political culture

As a county anchored by a college town, Boone holds a Democratic tendency at the local, state, and federal levels. It is the only Democratic stronghold in Missouri outside of Greater St. Louis and the Kansas City metropolitan area.
Boone County is also very progressive on ballot measures, voting for Medicaid expansion in 2020 and legal abortion in 2024, unlike all of its neighboring counties. Both amendments only narrowly passed statewide, making Boone County's votes crucial.
No Republican has won Boone County at the presidential level since George W. Bush very narrowly did in 2004, let alone with a majority since landslide victor Ronald Reagan in 1984; at the U.S. Senate level since Roy Blunt in 2010; nor at the gubernatorial level since the popular John Ashcroft (who won the county both terms) in his 1988 landslide re-election.

### Local

Like nearly all other U.S. counties housing a major university, the Democratic Party predominantly controls politics at the local level in Boone County. Democrats currently hold all of the elected county-wide positions.

### State
#### Gubernatorial

Past Gubernatorial Elections Results :
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third Parties |
| 2020 | 44.63% 40,478 | 52.96% 48,056 | 2.39% 2,171 |
| 2016 | 41.28% 34,106 | 54.95% 45,396 | 3.77% 3,117 |
| 2012 | 37.59% 29,171 | 58.38% 45,302 | 4.03% 3,125 |
| 2008 | 42.71% 35,785 | 55.28% 46,315 | 2.01% 1,688 |
| 2004 | 47.33% 35,666 | 51.08% 38,489 | 1.59% 1,201 |
| 2000 | 43.13% 25,609 | 52.22% 31,007 | 4.65% 2,767 |
| 1996 | 30.51% 15,929 | 65.62% 34,266 | 3.87% 2,021 |

#### Missouri House of Representatives

Boone County is split between five legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives. Three are held by Republicans, with two held by Democrats.
* District 44 — Cheri Toalson Reisch (R-Hallsville). Consists of the communities of Centralia, Hallsville, Sturgeon, and northeastern Columbia.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 44 — Boone County (2020) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Cheri Toalson Reisch | 10,470 | 59.00% | +2.99 |
| | Democratic | Jacque Sample | 7,276 | 41.00% | −2.99 |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 44 — Boone County (2018) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Cheri Toalson Reisch | 8,140 | 56.01% | +0.60 |
| | Democratic | Maren Bell Jones | 6,392 | 43.99% | −0.60 |
* District 45 — David Smith (D-Columbia). Consists of the north-central part of the city of Columbia.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 45 Special Election — Boone County (2021) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Democratic | David Tyson Smith | 1,801 | 75.10% | −24.90 |
| Libertarian | Glenn Nielsen | 594 | 24.77% | +24.77 |
| | Write-ins | 3 | 0.13% | |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 45 — Boone County (2020) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Kip Kendrick | 11,627 | 100.00% | ±0.00 |
* District 46 – Martha Stevens (D-Columbia). Consists of the southern part of the city of Columbia.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 46 — Boone County (2020) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Martha Stevens | 16,043 | 100.00% | +33.47 |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 46 — Boone County (2018) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Martha Stevens | 11,548 | 64.91% | +2.26 |
| | Republican | Cathy D. Richards | 5,954 | 33.47% | −2.26 |
* District 47 — Charles Basye (R-Rocheport). Consists of the western part of the city of Columbia and the communities of Harrisburg and Rocheport.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 47 — Boone County (2020) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Charles (Chuck) Basye | 8,507 | 53.50% | +0.12 |
| | Democratic | Adrian Plank | 7,395 | 46.50% | −0.12 |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 47 — Boone County (2018) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Charles (Chuck) Basye | 7,197 | 53.38% | +0.63 |
| | Democratic | Adrian Plank | 6,286 | 46.62% | −0.63 |
* District 50 – Sara Walsh Consists of parts of the city of Columbia and the communities of Ashland, Hartsburg, and McBaine.
Missouri House of Representatives – District 50 – Boone County (2020) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Sara Walsh | 11,268 | 57.63% | +2.93 |
| | Democratic | Kari L. Chesney | 8,283 | 42.37% | −2.93 |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 50 — Boone County (2018) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Sara Walsh | 8,506 | 54.70% | +7.79 |
| | Democratic | Michela Skelton | 7,044 | 45.30% | −7.79 |

#### Missouri Senate

All of Boone County is a part of Missouri's 19th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia), who is the Majority Floor Leader. However, Democrats have carried Boone County in recent elections.
Missouri Senate — District 19 — Boone County (2020) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Democratic | Judy Baker | 45,290 | 50.66% | ±0.00 |
| Republican | Caleb Rowden | 44,046 | 49.27% | −0.07 |
| | Write-ins | 63 | 0.07% | |
Missouri Senate — District 19 — Boone County (2016) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Stephen Webber | 40,858 | 50.66% | +7.14 |
| | Republican | Caleb Rowden | 39,795 | 49.34% | −7.14 |

### Federal
#### Presidential

United States presidential election results for Boone County, Missouri :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 39,673 | 43.90% | 48,452 | 53.61% | 2,250 | 2.49% |
| 2020 | 38,646 | 42.32% | 50,064 | 54.82% | 2,616 | 2.86% |
| 2016 | 36,200 | 43.16% | 41,125 | 49.04% | 6,543 | 7.80% |
| 2012 | 37,404 | 47.10% | 39,847 | 50.17% | 2,171 | 2.73% |
| 2008 | 36,849 | 43.22% | 47,062 | 55.20% | 1,340 | 1.57% |
| 2004 | 37,801 | 49.71% | 37,643 | 49.50% | 602 | 0.79% |
| 2000 | 28,426 | 47.69% | 28,811 | 48.33% | 2,372 | 3.98% |
| 1996 | 22,047 | 42.46% | 24,984 | 48.12% | 4,889 | 9.42% |
| 1992 | 19,405 | 33.52% | 26,176 | 45.22% | 12,309 | 21.26% |
| 1988 | 22,948 | 48.35% | 24,370 | 51.35% | 140 | 0.29% |
| 1984 | 26,600 | 57.87% | 19,364 | 42.13% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1980 | 16,313 | 42.00% | 18,527 | 47.70% | 3,997 | 10.29% |
| 1976 | 16,373 | 46.92% | 17,674 | 50.65% | 846 | 2.42% |
| 1972 | 17,488 | 56.13% | 13,666 | 43.87% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 11,917 | 46.36% | 11,771 | 45.80% | 2,015 | 7.84% |
| 1964 | 7,695 | 34.27% | 14,758 | 65.73% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 10,453 | 47.59% | 11,514 | 52.41% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 8,197 | 44.07% | 10,404 | 55.93% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 7,545 | 42.42% | 10,206 | 57.39% | 34 | 0.19% |
| 1948 | 4,289 | 29.27% | 10,200 | 69.61% | 164 | 1.12% |
| 1944 | 4,195 | 30.12% | 9,704 | 69.67% | 30 | 0.22% |
| 1940 | 4,869 | 29.43% | 11,615 | 70.21% | 59 | 0.36% |
| 1936 | 3,624 | 24.28% | 11,241 | 75.31% | 61 | 0.41% |
| 1932 | 3,241 | 21.64% | 11,554 | 77.13% | 184 | 1.23% |
| 1928 | 4,876 | 36.61% | 8,422 | 63.23% | 21 | 0.16% |
| 1924 | 3,547 | 28.67% | 8,657 | 69.97% | 169 | 1.37% |
| 1920 | 4,077 | 31.63% | 8,748 | 67.87% | 65 | 0.50% |
| 1916 | 2,180 | 27.81% | 5,601 | 71.46% | 57 | 0.73% |
| 1912 | 1,350 | 18.86% | 5,027 | 70.23% | 781 | 10.91% |
| 1908 | 2,149 | 29.63% | 5,041 | 69.49% | 64 | 0.88% |
| 1904 | 1,857 | 29.35% | 4,375 | 69.15% | 95 | 1.50% |
| 1900 | 1,672 | 25.38% | 4,793 | 72.74% | 124 | 1.88% |
| 1896 | 1,705 | 24.99% | 5,075 | 74.39% | 42 | 0.62% |
| 1892 | 1,495 | 25.75% | 4,054 | 69.82% | 257 | 4.43% |
| 1888 | 1,512 | 26.79% | 4,068 | 72.08% | 64 | 1.13% |

#### US House of Representatives

Northern Boone County is included in Missouri's 4th Congressional District and is currently represented by Mark Alford (R-Lake Winnebago, Missouri) in the U.S. House of Representatives. On October 27, 2021, Alford Sr. announced his candidacy for the United States House of Representatives in Missouri's 4th congressional district as a Republican in the 2022 elections. He won the Republican nomination in the August 2 primary election and won the November 8 general election.
Southern Boone County is included in Missouri's 3rd congressional district and is currently represented by Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-St. Elizabeth, Missouri) in the U.S. House of Representatives. Luetkemeyer has won every election since 2008. On January 4, 2024, he announced he would not run for reelection in 2024.
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 4th Congressional District — Boone County (2020) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Democratic | Lindsey Simmons | 45,540 | 51.26% | −2.36 |
| Republican | Vicky Hartzler | 40,809 | 45.93% | +1.78 |
| Libertarian | Steven K. Koonse | 2,495 | 2.81% | +0.57 |
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri’s 4th Congressional District — Boone County (2018) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Democratic | Renee Hoagenson | 39,830 | 53.62% | +7.64 |
| Republican | Vicky Hartzler | 32,797 | 44.15% | −5.51 |
| Libertarian | Mark Bliss | 1,661 | 2.24% | −2.12 |

#### US Senate

Boone County, along with the rest of the state of Missouri, is represented in the U.S. Senate by Josh Hawley (R-Columbia) and Eric Schmitt (R-Glendale). However, their Democratic opponents carried Boone County in each of their respective most recent elections.
U.S. Senate – Class I – Boone County (2018) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Democratic | Claire McCaskill | 42,315 | 56.28% | −3.13 |
| Republican | Josh Hawley | 30,710 | 40.84% | +8.23 |
| Libertarian | Japheth Campbell | 924 | 1.23% | −6.74 |
| Independent | Craig O'Dear | 833 | 1.11% | |
| Green | Jo Crain | 410 | 0.55% | +0.55 |
Blunt was elected to a second term in 2016 over then-Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander.
U.S. Senate — Class III — Boone County (2016) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Democratic | Jason Kander | 45,100 | 54.29% | −5.13 |
| Republican | Roy Blunt | 34,171 | 41.13% | +8.52 |
| Libertarian | Jonathan Dine | 2,167 | 2.61% | −5.36 |
| Green | Johnathan McFarland | 919 | 1.11% | +1.11 |
| Constitution | Fred Ryman | 695 | 0.84% | +0.84 |
| Write-In | Write-ins | 19 | 0.02% | |

### 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 by a wide margin and carried a majority in Boone County. Biden went on to defeat President Donald Trump in the general election.
Missouri Democratic Presidential Primary – Boone County (2020) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Democratic | Joe Biden | 15,290 | 50.49 |
| Democratic | Bernie Sanders | 13,610 | 44.94 |
| Democratic | Tulsi Gabbard | 290 | 0.96 |
| Democratic | Others/Uncommitted | 610 | 2.01 |
Incumbent President Donald Trump (R-Florida) faced a primary challenge from former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld, but won both Boone County and statewide by overwhelming margins.
Missouri Republican Presidential Primary – Boone County (2020) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Donald Trump | 7,818 | 95.54 |
| Republican | Bill Weld | 148 | 1.81 |
| Republican | Others/Uncommitted | 217 | 2.65 |

#### 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 Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) carried a plurality of the vote in Boone County. Trump went on to win the nomination and the presidency.
Missouri Republican Presidential Primary – Boone County (2016) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Ted Cruz | 11,235 | 43.87 |
| Republican | Donald Trump | 7,913 | 30.90 |
| Republican | John Kasich | 3,733 | 14.58 |
| Republican | Marco Rubio | 2,110 | 8.24 |
| Republican | Others/Uncommitted | 618 | 2.41 |
On the Democratic side, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D-New York) narrowly won statewide, but Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) won Boone County by a wide margin.
Missouri Democratic Presidential Primary – Boone County (2016) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Democratic | Bernie Sanders | 15,119 | 60.63 |
| Democratic | Hillary Clinton | 9,643 | 38.67 |
| Democratic | Others/Uncommitted | 175 | 0.70 |

#### 2012

The 2012 Missouri Republican Presidential Primary's results were nonbinding on the state's national convention delegates. Voters in Boone 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 Congressman Ron Paul (R-Texas). 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. Former Governor Mitt Romney (R-Massachusetts) won a plurality in Boone County.
Missouri Republican Presidential Primary – Boone County (2008) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Mitt Romney | 5,688 | 35.94 |
| Republican | John McCain | 4,948 | 31.26 |
| Republican | Mike Huckabee | 3,838 | 24.25 |
| Republican | Ron Paul | 1,047 | 6.62 |
| Republican | Others/Uncommitted | 306 | 1.92 |
Then-Senator Barack Obama (D-Illinois) received more votes than any candidate from either party in Boone County during the 2008 presidential primary. Despite initial reports that Hillary Clinton (D-New York), also a senator at the time, had won Missouri, Obama narrowly defeated her statewide and later became that year's Democratic nominee, going on to win the presidency.
Missouri Democratic Presidential Primary – Boone County (2008) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Democratic | Barack Obama | 15,750 | 60.57 |
| Democratic | Hillary Clinton | 9,601 | 36.92 |
| Democratic | Others/Uncommitted | 652 | 2.50 |

## Public safety

The Boone County Sheriff has jurisdiction over the whole county. The Boone County Fire Protection District (BCFPD) provides fire protection and emergency medical services for a large portion of Boone County, Missouri. The BCFPD is the largest volunteer fire department and third largest fire service organization in the state, protecting 492 square miles (1,270 km$^2$) of residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural property and over 50,000 people. The Boone County Fire District maintains 15 fire stations, a training center, and a headquarters facility.

### History

Prior to 1964, there was no organized fire protection in Boone County. This changed after an elderly handicapped woman died in a house fire just west of the city limits of Columbia. A small group of CB radio enthusiasts, known as the Central Missouri Radio Squad, banded together to develop a fire protection system for Boone County.

### USAR Task Force

Boone County Fire is the sponsoring agency of Urban Search and Rescue Missouri Task Force 1 (MO-TF1), which is one of 28 FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Task Forces across the United States. The team is made up of 210 members that are qualified in various aspects of urban search and rescue.

## Notable people

* James William Abert – soldier and explorer
* David W. Alexander, 19th century Los Angeles, California politician and sheriff
* Thomas M. Allen – clergyman
* Benjamin Anderson – economist
* Gary Anderson – football player
* Simon Barrett – filmmaker
* Rob Benedict – actor
* Duane Benton – judge
* Rebecca Blank – educator; acting U.S. Secretary of Commerce (2011-2011; 2012–2013)
* Philemon Bliss – U.S. Representative from Ohio (1855–1859), 1st Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Dakota Territory, and Associate Justice of Missouri Supreme Court (1868–1872)
* John William Boone – musician
* Stratton D. Brooks – college president
* Fleda Brown – poet
* Jessica Capshaw – actress
* Russ Carnahan – U.S. Representative from Missouri (2005–2013)
* Albert Bishop Chance, inventor of the earth anchor, mayor of Centralia, and founder of the A.B. Chance Company
* J'den Cox – wrestler, Olympic medalist
* Kevin Croom – UFC Mixed Martial Artist
* Jack D. Crouch – hotelier
* Derek "Deke" Dickerson – musician
* Carl Edwards – retired NASCAR driver
* Jane Froman – singer; actress
* Nicole Galloway – Missouri State Auditor (2015-2023), Democratic nominee for Governor of Missouri (2020)
* Chuck Graham – politician
* Ken Griffin – organist
* Eugene Jerome Hainer – U.S. Representative from Nebraska (1893–1897)
* William Least Heat-Moon – writer
* Martin Heinrich – U.S. Senator from New Mexico (2013–present), U.S. Representative from New Mexico (2009–2013)
* Peter Hessler – journalist
* Darwin Hindman – mayor of Columbia (1995–2010)
* Brett James – singer
* William Jewell – educator, second mayor of Columbia
* Leon W. Johnson – Air Force General
* Tyler Johnson – baseball pitcher
* Daniel Webster Jones – Mormon pioneer
* John Carleton Jones – president of the University of Missouri
* Lloyd E. Jones – United States Army major general
* Kraig Kann – golf commentator
* Henry Kirklin, horticulturalist, first black instructor at the University of Missouri
* E. Stanley Kroenke – sports mogul
* Sergei Kopeikin – astrophysicist
* Ken Lay – chief executive, Enron
* Grace Lee – radio and television personality
* Guy Sumner Lowman, Jr. – linguist
* Jeff Maggert – professional golfer
* William Rainey Marshall – 5th Governor of Minnesota (1866–1870)
* William L. Nelson – U.S. Representative from Missouri (1861–1865)
* John Neihardt – poet
* Don Nardo – author
* Korla Pandit – musician
* Carlos Pena Jr. – singer
* Michael Porter Jr. – basketball player for Denver Nuggets
* William Rainey Marshall – Minnesota Governor
* James S. Rollins – 19th-century politician
* James S. Rollins (20th-century politician)
* Jesse M. Roper – 19th-century naval officer
* Charles Griffith Ross – press secretary for U.S. President Harry S. Truman
* Felix Sabates – philanthropist
* Max Schwabe – U.S. Representative from Missouri (1943–1949)
* Jon Scott – television journalist
* John F. Shafroth – U.S. Senator from Colorado (1913–1919), Governor of Colorado (1909–1913), U.S. Representative from Colorado (1895–1904)
* Clay Shirky – writer
* Apollo M. O. Smith – aviation executive
* William Smith – actor
* William J. Stone – U.S. Senator from Missouri (1903–1918), Governor of Missouri (1893–1897), U.S. Representative from Missouri (1885–1891)
* Blake Tekotte – baseball player
* Malcolm Thomas – professional basketball player
* Nischelle Turner – television personality
* Zbylut Twardowski – nephrologist
* Charlie Van Dyke – radio personality
* Andrew VanWyngarden – musician
* James "Bud" Walton – co-founder, Wal-Mart
* Sam Walton – co-founder, Wal-Mart
* Edwin Moss Watson – editor; publisher
* Norbert Wiener – mathematician
* Lisa Wilcox – actress
* Roger B. Wilson – 52nd Governor of Missouri (2000–2001)