# Knox County, Missouri

Knox County is a county located in the northeast portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, its population was 3,744, making it the third-least populous county in Missouri. Its county seat is Edina. The county was organized February 14, 1845, and named for U.S. Secretary of War General Henry Knox.

## Civil War

A battle was fought during the American Civil War at Newark, involving Joseph C. Porter on August 1, 1862.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 507 square miles (1,310 km$^2$), of which 504 square miles (1,310 km$^2$) is land and 2.8 square miles (7.3 km$^2$) (0.6%) is water.

### Adjacent counties

* Scotland County (north)
* Clark County (northeast)
* Lewis County (east)
* Shelby County (south)
* Macon County (southwest)
* Adair County (west)

### Major highways

* Route 6
* Route 11
* Route 15
* Route 151
* Route 156

## Demographics

As of the census of 2010, there were 4,131 people in the county, organized into 1,791 households and 1,217 families. The population density was 9 people per square mile (3.5 people/km$^2$). There were 2,317 housing units at an average density of 5 units per square mile (1.9/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 98.51% White, 0.09% Black or African American, 0.09% Asian, 0.02% Native American, 0.16% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. Approximately 0.60% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 1,791 households, out of which 27.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.50% were married couples living together, 6.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.00% were non-families. 29.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.00% 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 2.93.
24.90% of the county's population was under the age of 18, 6.20% from 18 to 24, 23.70% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 21.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 92.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.6 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $27,124, and the median income for a family was $31,741. Males had a median income of $22,636 versus $18,902 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,075. 18.00% of the population and 12.90% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 24.10% of those under the age of 18 and 16.50% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
The TFR for Knox County in 2004 was relatively high at 2.64, despite the population being 98% white.

### 2020 Census

Knox County Racial Composition :
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
| White (NH) | 3,573 | 95.43% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 20 | 0.53% |
| Native American (NH) | 5 | 0.13% |
| Asian (NH) | 18 | 0.48% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 0 | 0% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 105 | 2.8% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 23 | 0.61% |

## Education
### Public schools

* Knox County R-I School District – Edina
** Knox County Elementary School (PK-06)
** Knox County High School (07-12)

### Public libraries

* Northeast Missouri Library Service

## Politics
### Local

The Democratic Party mostly controls politics at the local level in Knox County. Democrats hold all but five of the elected positions in the county.

### State

Past Gubernatorial Elections Results :
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third Parties |
| 2020 | 82.66% 1,516 | 16.03% 294 | 1.31% 24 |
| 2016 | 61.61% 1,125 | 36.80% 672 | 1.59% 29 |
| 2012 | 47.35% 912 | 50.16% 966 | 2.49% 49 |
| 2008 | 58.88% 1,180 | 39.57% 793 | 1.55% 31 |
| 2004 | 67.41% 1,328 | 31.62% 623 | 0.96% 19 |
| 2000 | 55.48% 1,124 | 43.34% 878 | 1.19% 24 |
| 1996 | 30.52% 623 | 67.71% 1,382 | 1.76% 36 |
All of Knox County is included in Missouri's 4th District in the Missouri House of Representatives and is represented by Craig Redmon (R-Canton).
Missouri House of Representatives — District 4 — Knox County (2016) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Craig Redmon | 1,612 | 100.00% | |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 4 — Knox County (2014) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Craig Redmon | 1,144 | 100.00% | |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 4 — Knox County (2012) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Craig Redmon | 1,587 | 100.00% | |
All of Knox County is a part of Missouri's 18th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Brian Munzlinger (R-Williamstown).
Missouri Senate — District 18 — Knox County (2014) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Brian Munzlinger | 1,174 | 100.00% | |

### Federal

U.S. Senate — Missouri — Knox County (2016) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | Roy Blunt | 1,208 | 66.19% | +19.59 |
| Democratic | Jason Kander | 558 | 30.58% | −19.11 |
| Libertarian | Jonathan Dine | 29 | 1.59% | −2.12 |
| Green | Johnathan McFarland | 16 | 0.88% | +0.88 |
| Constitution | Fred Ryman | 14 | 0.77% | +0.77 |
U.S. Senate — Missouri — Knox County (2012) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Todd Akin | 905 | 46.60% |
| Democratic | Claire McCaskill | 965 | 49.69% |
| Libertarian | Jonathan Dine | 72 | 3.71% |
All of Knox 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.
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 6th Congressional District — Knox County (2016) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | Sam Graves | 1,425 | 80.19% | +4.74 |
| Democratic | David M. Blackwell | 317 | 17.84% | −4.07 |
| Libertarian | Russ Lee Monchil | 24 | 1.35% | −1.29 |
| Green | Mike Diel | 11 | 0.62% | |
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri’s 6th Congressional District — Knox County (2014) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | Sam Graves | 971 | 75.45% | +7.72 |
| Democratic | Bill Hedge | 282 | 21.91% | −8.55 |
| Libertarian | Russ Lee Monchil | 34 | 2.64% | +0.83 |
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 6th Congressional District — Knox County (2012) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Sam Graves | 1,232 | 67.73% |
| Democratic | Kyle Yarber | 554 | 30.46% |
| Libertarian | Russ Lee Monchil | 33 | 1.81% |
United States presidential election results for Knox County, Missouri :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 1,479 | 81.71% | 311 | 17.18% | 20 | 1.10% |
| 2020 | 1,486 | 80.06% | 340 | 18.32% | 30 | 1.62% |
| 2016 | 1,416 | 75.72% | 379 | 20.27% | 75 | 4.01% |
| 2012 | 1,205 | 61.57% | 698 | 35.67% | 54 | 2.76% |
| 2008 | 1,212 | 59.73% | 759 | 37.41% | 58 | 2.86% |
| 2004 | 1,207 | 61.02% | 761 | 38.47% | 10 | 0.51% |
| 2000 | 1,226 | 59.66% | 787 | 38.30% | 42 | 2.04% |
| 1996 | 862 | 42.65% | 891 | 44.09% | 268 | 13.26% |
| 1992 | 724 | 32.01% | 1,010 | 44.65% | 528 | 23.34% |
| 1988 | 1,212 | 49.03% | 1,255 | 50.77% | 5 | 0.20% |
| 1984 | 1,513 | 57.97% | 1,097 | 42.03% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1980 | 1,475 | 54.43% | 1,187 | 43.80% | 48 | 1.77% |
| 1976 | 1,216 | 47.57% | 1,319 | 51.60% | 21 | 0.82% |
| 1972 | 1,896 | 64.78% | 1,031 | 35.22% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 1,562 | 49.29% | 1,257 | 39.67% | 350 | 11.04% |
| 1964 | 1,305 | 38.50% | 2,085 | 61.50% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 1,874 | 51.06% | 1,796 | 48.94% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 1,934 | 51.11% | 1,850 | 48.89% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 2,229 | 52.77% | 1,988 | 47.06% | 7 | 0.17% |
| 1948 | 1,620 | 41.66% | 2,268 | 58.32% | 1 | 0.03% |
| 1944 | 2,057 | 51.32% | 1,943 | 48.48% | 8 | 0.20% |
| 1940 | 2,370 | 47.56% | 2,594 | 52.06% | 19 | 0.38% |
| 1936 | 2,134 | 41.09% | 3,030 | 58.35% | 29 | 0.56% |
| 1932 | 1,465 | 32.11% | 3,045 | 66.75% | 52 | 1.14% |
| 1928 | 2,628 | 54.21% | 2,213 | 45.65% | 7 | 0.14% |
| 1924 | 2,288 | 43.83% | 2,722 | 52.15% | 210 | 4.02% |
| 1920 | 2,749 | 54.32% | 2,250 | 44.46% | 62 | 1.23% |
| 1916 | 1,460 | 45.91% | 1,657 | 52.11% | 63 | 1.98% |
| 1912 | 1,092 | 34.73% | 1,666 | 52.99% | 386 | 12.28% |
| 1908 | 1,339 | 43.72% | 1,652 | 53.93% | 72 | 2.35% |
| 1904 | 1,321 | 45.15% | 1,527 | 52.19% | 78 | 2.67% |
| 1900 | 1,344 | 40.36% | 1,908 | 57.30% | 78 | 2.34% |
| 1896 | 1,246 | 35.95% | 2,185 | 63.04% | 35 | 1.01% |
| 1892 | 968 | 31.70% | 1,472 | 48.20% | 614 | 20.10% |
| 1888 | 1,371 | 44.10% | 1,661 | 53.43% | 77 | 2.48% |

## Communities
### Cities

* Baring
* Edina (county seat)
* Hurdland
* Knox City

### Villages

* Newark
* Novelty

### Census-designated place

* Plevna

### Other unincorporated place

* Colony
* Fabius
* Goodland
* Greensburg
* Hedge City
* Jeddo
* Kenwood
* Locust Hill
* Millport

### Townships

Knox County is divided into 13 townships:
* Bee Ridge Township
* Benton Township
* Bourbon Township
* Center Township
* Colony Township
* Fabius Township
* Greensburg Township
* Jeddo Township
* Liberty Township
* Lyon Township
* Myrtle Township
* Salt River Township
* Shelton Township

## Notable people

* Terry Joyce, collegiate football All-American and professional football player.
* George Turner, U.S. Senator