List of counties in Missouri

There are 114 counties and one independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri.

In Missouri, the county level of government level comes between those of the city and the state. Its main responsibilities include maintaining roads, providing security, prosecuting criminals, and collecting taxes. Elected officials at this level include a sheriff, prosecuting attorney, and assessor.

The city of St. Louis is an independent city, and is not within the limits of a county. Its residents voted to secede from Saint Louis County in 1876. Throughout the United States, St. Louis is one of three independent cities outside the state of Virginia (the other two are Baltimore, Maryland and Carson City, Nevada).

Counties

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Former county names
CountyMeaning of nameChanged toAllen CountyUnknownAtchison County in 1845Ashley CountyWilliam Henry Ashley (1778–1838), early settlerTexas County in 1845 upon organizationDecatur CountyStephen Decatur (1779–1820), American naval officerOzark County in 1845Highland CountyUnknownSullivan County in 1845 upon organizationKinderhook CountyKinderhook, New York, birthplace of Martin Van BurenCamden County in 1843Lillard CountyJames Lillard of Tennessee, who served in the first state legislature of MissouriLafayette County in 1825Niangua CountyNiangua River, a tributary of the Osage River – "niangua" comes from the Native American word nehemgar, which means "a river of numerous springs or sources"Dallas County in 1844 because of the difficulty in pronouncing and spelling NianguaSeneca CountySeneca Nation, a group of Native Americans from New YorkMcDonald County in 1847 upon organizationVan Buren CountyMartin Van Buren (1782–1862), eighth President of the United States and also Vice President under Andrew JacksonCass County in 1849 in honor of Van Buren's opponent in the presidential election of 1848

References

Missouri
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