MOCountydata

County Overviews

Capital of Missouri is Jefferson City.

ADAIR
Established: Jan. 29, 1841
Parent County: Macon County
County Seat: Kirksville
Named After: John Adair, governor of Kentucky.

ANDREW

Established: Jan. 29, 1841
From the Platte Purchase
County Seat: Savannah
Named After: Andrew Jackson Davis

ATCHISON

Established: Feb. 14, 1845
Parent County: Holt County
The boundaries for Allen County were defined in 1843 and attached to Holt County in 1845.
Atchison County was organized out of this territory and Allen County repealed.
County Seat: Rock Port
Named After: David Rice Atchison, United States senator

AUDRAIN
Established: Dec. 17, 1836
Parent County: Callaway, Monroe and Ralls
County Seat: Mexico
Named After: James H. Audrain, Missouri legislator

BARRY

Established: Jan. 5, 1835
Parent County: Greene
County Seat: Cassville
Named After: William T. Barry, U.S. Postmaster General

BARTON

Established: Dec. 12, 1855
Parent County: Jasper
County Seat: Lamar, Named in Honor of Mirabeau Lamar, a military governor of Texas
Named After: David Barton, first elected Senator from Missouri after statehood was granted in 1821.

BATES

Established: Jan. 29, 1841
Parent County: Van Buren (now Cass)
County Seat: Bulter
Named After: Frederick Bates, governor of Missouri

BENTON

Established: Jan. 3, 1835
Parent County: Pettis and Greene
County Seat: Warsaw
Named After: Thomas Hart Benton, U.S. senator

BOLLINGER

Established: March 1, 1851
Parent County: Cape Girardeau, Madison, Stoddard and Wayne
County Seat: Marble Hill
Named After: George F. Bollinger, pioneer settler and Missouri Legislator

BOONE

Established: Nov. 16, 1820,effective Jan.1, 1821
Parent County: Howard
County Seat: Columbia
Named After: Daniel Boone

BUCHANAN

Established: Dec. 31, 1838
From the Platte Purchase
County Seat: St. Joseph
Named After: James Buchanan, senator from Pennsylvania and later U.S. Presdient

BUTLER

Established: Feb. 27, 1849
Parent County: Wayne
County Seat: Poplar Bluff
Named After: William O. Butler, KY Congressman

CALDWELL

Established: Dec. 29, 1836
Parent County: Ray
County Seat: Kingston
Named After: John Caldwell, Indian scout
- Alexander Doniphan is credited with naming Caldwell County in honor of an Indian fighter his father, Joseph Doniphan, had known in Kentucky. According to Floyd C. Shoemaker, Doniphan probably referred to Colonel John Caldwell, the famous soldier for whom Caldwell County, Kentucky was named. Mathew Caldwell has also been cited as the person the Missouri county was named after.

CALLAWAY

Established: Nov. 25, 1820,effective Jan.1, 1821
Parent County: Boone, Howard and Montgomery
County Seat: Fulton
Named After: James Callaway a Missouri ranger killed by Indians in the War of 1812

CAMDEN

Established: Jan. 29, 1841
First organized in 1841 as Kinderhook County in honor of President Martin Van Buren's New York home.
On Feb. 23, 1843 name was changed to Camden.
Parent County: Benton, Morgan and Pulaski
County Seat: Camdenton
Named After: Charles Pratt, Earl of Camden

CAPE GIRARDEAU

Established: Oct. 1, 1812
One of the five original counties
County Seat: Jackson
Named After: Sieur de Girardot, a French officer.

CARROLL

Established: Jan. 2, 1833
Parent County: Ray
County Seat: Carrollton
Named After: Charles Carroll of Carrollton

CARTER

Established: March 10, 1859
Parent County: Oregon, Reynolds, Ripley and Shannon
County Seat: Van Buren
Named After: Zimri A. Carter, pioneer settler

CASS

Established: March 3, 1835
First organized as Van Buren County, honor of Martin Van Buren, the Democratic legislature.
Feb. 19, 1849 name changed to Cass.
Parent County: Jackson
County Seat: Harrisonville
Named After: Lewis Cass, Michigan senator and presidential candidate

CEDAR

Established: Feb. 14, 1845
Parent County: Dade and St. Clair
County Seat: Stockton
Named After: Its abundance of Cedar Trees

CHARITON

Established: Nov. 16, 1820, effective Jan. 1, 1821
Parent County: Howard
County Seat: Keytesville
Named After: Chariton River

CHRISTIAN

Established: March 8, 1859
Parent County: Greene, Taney and Webster
County Seat: Ozark
Named After: William Christian, Kentucky Revolutionary War soldier

CLARK

Established: Dec. 16, 1836
Parent County: Lewis
County Seat: Kahoka
Named After: William Clark,governor of the Missouri Territory.

CLAY

Established: Jan. 2, 1822
Parent County: Ray
County Seat: Liberty
Named After: Henry Clay, Kentucky congressman

CLINTON

Established: Jan. 2, 1833
Parent County: Clay
County Seat: Plattsburg
Named After: DeWitt Clinton, governor of New York

COLE

Established: Nov. 16, 1820,effective Jan. 1, 1821
Parent County: Cooper
County Seat: Jefferson City
Named After: Stephen Cole, pioneer settler and Indian fighter

COOPER

Established: Dec.17, 1818, effective Feb. 1, 1819
Parent County: Howard
County Seat: Boonville
Named After: Sarshel (Benjamin) Cooper, pioneer settler

CRAWFORD

Established: Jan. 23, 1829
Parent County: Gasconade
County Seat: Steelville
Named After: William H. Crawford, Georgia senator

DADE

Established: Jan. 29, 1841
Parent County: Barry and Polk
County Seat: Greenfield
Named After: Francis L. Dade, pioneer settler

DALLAS

Established: Jan. 29, 1841
First named Niangua in 1841. On Dec. 16, 1844 named changed to Dallas
Parent County: Polk
County Seat: Buffalo
Named After: George M. Dallas, diplomat and later vice-president

DAVIESS

Established: Dec. 29, 1836
Parent County: Ray
County Seat: Gallatin
Named After: Joseph H. Daviess, Kentucky soldier in the War of 1812

DeKALB

Established: Feb. 25, 1845
Parent County: Clinton
County Seat: Maysville
Named After: Johann Kalb, Baron deKalb

DENT

Established: Feb. 10, 1851
Parent County: Crawford and Shannon
County Seat: Denton
Named After: Lewis Dent, pioneer settler

DOUGLAS

Established: Oct. 29, 1857
Parent County: Ozark
County Seat: Ava
Named After: Stephen A. Douglas, Illinois senator and later presidential candidate

DUNKLIN

Established: Feb. 14, 1845
Parent County: Stoddard
County Seat: Kennett
Named After: Daniel Dunklin, governor of Missouri

FRANKLIN

Established: Dec.11, 1818,effective January 1, 1819
Parent County: St. Louis
County Seat: Union
Named After: Benjamin Franklin

GASCONADE

Established: Nov. 25, 1820, effective January 1, 1821
Parent County: Franklin
County Seat: Hermann
Named After: Gasconade River

GENTRY

Established: Feb. 14, 1845
Parent County: Clinton
County Seat: Albany
Named After: Richard Gentry, Seminole War general

GREENE

Established: Jan. 2, 1833
Parent County: Crawford and Wayne
County Seat: Springfield
Named After: Nathaniel Greene, Revolutionary War general

GRUNDY

Established: Jan. 29, 1841
Parent County: Livingston
County Seat: Trenton
Named After: Felix Grundy, Tennessee senator and United States attorney general

HARRISON

Established: Feb.14, 1845
Parent County: Daviess
County Seat: Bethany
Named After: Albert G. Harrison, Missouri congressman

HENRY

Established: Dec. 13, 1834
First organized as Rines. Oct. 15, 1841 name changed to Henry.
Parent County: Lillard (now Lafayette)
County Seat: Clinton
Named After: Patrick Henry, Revolutionary patriot

HICKORY

Established: Feb.14, 1845
Parent County: Benton and Polk
County Seat: Hermitage
Named After: President Andrew Jackson, "Old Hickory"

HOLT

Established: Jan. 29, 1841
- First named Nodaway, 17days name was changed to Holt
From the Platte Purchase
County Seat: Oregon
Named After: David Rice Holt, Missouri legislator from Platte County

HOWARD

Established: Jan. 23, 1816,effective March 1, 1816
Parent County: St. Charles and St. Louis
County Seat: Fayette
Named After: Benjamin Howard, governor of the Missouri Territory

HOWELL

Established: March 2, 1857
Parent County: Oregon
County Seat: West Plains
Named After: James Howell, pioneer settler

IRON

Established: Feb. 17, 1857
Parent County: Madison, Reynolds, St. Francois, Washington and Wayne counties
County Seat: Ironton
Named After: Presence of Iron ore.

JACKSON

Established: Dec. 15, 1826
Parent County: Lillard, now Lafayette.
County Seat: Independence
Named After: Andrew Jackson, U.S. Senator, later President, from Tennessee.
This county has historically been a major traveling point for river travel.

JASPER

Established: Jan. 29, 1841
Parent County: Barry
County Seat: Carthage
Named After: Sgt. William Jasper, hero of the American Revolutionary War.

JEFFERSON

Established: Dec. 8, 1818
Parent County: St. Louis and Ste. Genevieve
County Seat: Hillsboro
Named After: Former President Thomas Jefferson.

JOHNSON

Established: Dec. 13, 1834
Parent County: Lillard,now Lafayette
County Seat: Warrensburg
Named After: Vice President Richard M. Johnson.

KNOX

Established: Feb. 14, 1845
Parent County: Scotland
County Seat: Edina
Named After: Secretary of War, Gen. Henry Knox.

LACLEDE

Established: Feb. 24, 1849
Parent County: Camden, Pulaski and Wright
County Seat: Lebanon
Named After: Pierre Laclede, founder of St. Louis, Missouri.

LAFAYETTE

Established: Nov. 16, 1820
Parent County: Cooper
County Seat: Lexington
Named After: Marquis de La Fayette

LAWRENCE

Established: Feb. 14, 1845
Parent County: Barry and Dade
County Seat: Mt. Vernon
Named After: James Lawrence, naval hero of the War of 1812.
The previous Lawrence County, est. in 1815 and dissolved in 1818,
being divided into Wayne County, Madison County, and later into others, including this one.

LEWIS

Established: Jan. 2, 1833
Parent County: Marion
County Seat: Monticello
Named After: Explorer and governor of the Louisiana Territory, Meriwether Lewis.

LINCOLN

Established: Dec. 14, 1818
Parent County: St. Charles
County Seat: Troy
Named After: Benjamin Lincoln, Revolutionary War general

LINN

Established: Jan. 6, 1837
Parent County: Chariton
County Seat: Linneus
Named After: Lewis F. Linn, U.S. senator from Missouri.

LIVINGSTON

Established: Jan. 6, 1837
Parent County: Carroll
County Seat: Chillicothe
Named After: Secretary of State Edward Livingston.

McDONALD

Established: March 3, 1849, First named Seneca County
Parent County: Newton
County Seat: Pineville
Named After: Sgt. Alexander McDonald, soldier in the American Revolutionary War.

MACON

Established: Jan. 6, 1837
Parent County: Chariton and Randolph
County Seat: Macon
Named After: Nathaniel Macon, congressman and U.S. senator from North Carolina.

MADISON

Established: Dec. 14, 1818
Parent County: Cape Girardeau and Ste. Genevieve
County Seat: Fredericktown
Named After: President James Madison.
This County is recorded as having the oldest lead mine west of the Mississippi River.

MARIES

Established: March 2, 1855
Parent County: Osage and Pulaski
County Seat: Vienna
Named After: The Maries River and Little Maries River.
Maries comes from the French marais, meaning marsh, lake or pond.

MARION

Established: Dec.23,1826
Parent County: Ralls
County Seat: Palmyra
Named After: Gen. Francis Marion, the "Swamp Fox", who served in the American Revolutionary War.
Also known as the "Two Rivers Country" before organization.

MERCER

Established: Feb. 14, 1845
Parent County: Grundy
County Seat: Princeton
Named After: John F. Mercer, a Revolutionary War general.

MILLER

Established: Feb. 6, 1837
Parent County: Cole and Pulaski
County Seat: Tuscumbia
Named After: John Miller, governor and congressman

MISSISSIPPI

Established: Feb. 14, 1845
Parent County: Scott
County Seat: Charleston (The town was laid out in 1837.)
Named After: Mississippi River

MONITEAU

Established: Feb. 14, 1845
Parent County: Cole and Morgan
County Seat: California
Named After: Moniteau Creek. 'Moniteau' is a French spelling of Manitou, Algonquian for the Great Spirit.

MONROE

Established: Jan. 6, 1831
Parent County: Ralls
County Seat: Paris
Named After: U.S. President James Monroe.

MONTGOMERY

Established: Dec. 14, 1818, effective Jan. 1, 1819
Parent County: St. Charles
County Seat: Montgomery City
Named After: Richard Montgomery, a Revolutionary War general, killed in 1775

MORGAN

Established: Jan. 5, 1833
Parent County: Cooper
County Seat:
Named After: Daniel Morgan, a Revolutionary War general.

NEW MADRID

Established: Oct. 1, 1812, one of the five original counties
County Seat: New Madrid
Named After: Madrid, Spain

NEWTON

Established: Dec. 31, 1838
Parent County: Barry
County Seat: Neosho
Named After: John Newton, a Revolutionary War soldier.

NODAWAY

Established: Feb. 14, 1845
Parent County: Andrew
County Seat: Maryville
Named After: Nodaway River

OREGON

Established: Feb. 14, 1845
Parent County: Ripley
County Seat: Alton
Named After: Territory of Oregon

OSAGE

Established: Jan. 29, 1841
Parent County: Gasconade
County Seat: Linn
Named After: Osage River

OZARK

Established: Jan. 29, 1841
Parent County: Taney
County Seat: Gainsville
Named After:Ozark Mountains
First organized Jan. 29, 1841, as Ozark County, then Feb. 22, 1843 name changed to Decatur.
Then March 24, 1845, the name was changed back to Ozark.

PEMISCOT

Established: Feb. 19, 1851
Parent County: New Madrid
County Seat: Carutherville
Named After: Indian word meaning "liquid mud."

PERRY

Established: Nov. 16, 1820, effective January 1, 1821
Parent County: Ste. Genevieve
County Seat: Perryville
Named After:Oliver H. Perry, naval hero of the War of 1812

PETTIS

Established: Jan. 26, 1833
Parent County: Cooper and Saline
County Seat: Sedalia
Named After: Spencer Pettis, Missouri congressman.

PHELPS

Established: Nov. 3, 1857
Parent County: Crawford
County Seat: Rolla
Named After: John S. Phelps, U.S. congressman and governor of Missouri

PIKE

Established: Dec. 14, 1818
Parent County: St. Charles
County Seat: Bowling Green
Named After: Zebulon M. Pike, explorer

PLATTE

Established: dec. 13,1838
County Seat: Platte City
Named After: Platte purchase, Platte is a French name for a low, shallow, or intermittent stream.

POLK

Established: Jan. 5, 1835
Parent County: Greene
County Seat: Bolivar (This town named for Bolivar, Tennessee, home to many of the original settlers.)
Named After: United States President James K. Polk.

PULASKI

Established: Jan. 19, 1833
Parent County: Crawford
County Seat: Waynesville
Named After: Kazimierz PuBaski, Polish patriot who died fighting in the American Revolution.

PUTNAM

Established: Feb. 28, 1845
Parent County: Adair and Sullivan
County Seat: Unionville
Named After: Israel Putnam, a French and Indian War hero and a general in the American Revolutionary War.

RALLS

Established: Nov. 16, 1820
Parent County: Pike
County Seat: New London
Named After: Daniel Ralls,a Missouri legislator

RANDOLPH

Established: Jan. 22, 1829
Parent County: Chariton and Ralls
County Seat: Huntsville
Named After: John Randolph of Virginia.

RAY

Established: Nov. 16,1820
Parent County: Howard
County Seat: Richmaond
Named After: John Ray, member of the first state legislator

REYNOLDS

Established: Feb. 25, 1845
Parent County: Shannon
County Seat: Centerville
Named After: Missouri governor Thomas Reynolds

RIPLEY

Established: Jan. 5, 1833
Parent County: Wayne
County Seat: Doniphan
Named After: Eleazar W. Ripley, soldier in the War of 1812.

SAINT CHARLES

Established: Oct. 1, 1812, one of the five original counties
County Seat: St. Charles (had a significant role in the United States' westward expansion.)
2nd oldest city west of the Mississippi, founded in 1765 as Les Petites Cotes, "The Little Hills", by Louis Blanchette.
It also served as the first Missouri capital, from 1821 to 1826.
Named After: Spanish district once located here, San Carlos, from Italian Cardinal Saint Charles Borromeo.

SAINT CLAIR

Established: Jan. 29, 1841
Parent County: Rives, later Henry, County
County Seat: Osceola
Named After: Arthur St. Clair, a Revolutionary War general.

SAINT FRANCOIS
French: St-François

Established: Dec. 19, 1821
Parent County: Ste. Genevieve and Washington
County Seat: Farmington
Named After: Saint Francis of Assisi, founded the Franciscan Order or "Friars Minor".

SAINT LOUIS CITY

Established: Aug. 22, 1876, under the 1875 Constitution of the State of Missouri.
Separated itself from St. Louis County creating an independent city.
Parent County: St. Louis County
Named After: Louis IX of France

SAINT LOUIS

Established: Oct. 1, 1812, one of the five original counties
County Seat: Clayton
Named After: Saint Louis, King Louis IX of France, patron saint of King Louis XV.

SAINTE GENEVIEVE
French: Ste-Geneviève

Established: Oct. 1, 1812, one of the five original counties
County Seat: Ste. Genevieve (French: Ville de Ste-Geneviève)oldest permanent settlement in the State of Missouri.
Named After: The Spanish district once located in the region, after Saint Genevieve, patroness of Paris, France.

SALINE

Established: Nov. 25, 1820, effective January 1, 1821
Parent County: Cooper County
County Seat: Marshall
Named After: Its numerous salt springs

SCHUYLER

Established: Feb. 14, 1845
Parent County: Adair
County Seat: Lancaster
Named After: Gen. Philip Schuyler, of the Revolutionary War.

SCOTLAND

Established: Jan. 29, 1841
Parent County: Clark, Lewis, and Shelby
County Seat: Memphis
Named After: Scotland

SCOTT

Established: Dec. 28, 1821, effective March 1, 1822
Parent County: New Madrid
County Seat: Benton
Named After: Missouri Congressman, John Scott

SHANNON

Established: Jan. 29, 1841
Parent County: Ripley
County Seat: Eminence
Named After: George Shannon, a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

SHELBY

Established: January 2, 1835,
Parent County: Marion
County Seat: Shelbyville
Named After: Kentucky Governor Isaac Shelby

STODDARD

Established: Jan. 2, 1835
Parent County: New Madrid
County Seat: Bloomfield
Named After: Capt. Amos Stoddard, officer killed in the War of 1812.

STONE

Established: Feb.10, 1851
Parent County: Taney
County Seat: Galena
Named After: William Stone, pioneer judge

SULLIVAN

Established: February 14, 1845
First orgainzed as Highland County on February 17, 1843, name changed upon actual organization.
Parent County: Linn
County Seat: Milan
Named After: American Revolutionary War general John Sullivan.

TANEY

Established: Jan. 6, 1837
Parent County: Greene
County Seat: Forsyth
Named After: Roger B. Taney, Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.

TEXAS

Established: Feb. 14, 1845
Parent County: Shannon and Wright
County Seat: Houston
Named After: Republic of Texas
First orginzed in Feb. 1843 as Ashley County. When established the name was changed to Texas.

VERNON

Established: Feb. 27, 1855
Parent County: Bates
County Seat: Nevada
Named After: for Miles Vernon, Missouri
Originally on Feb. 17, 1851 the law establishing Vernon County was approved, but was later declared to be unconstitutional in that the boundaries described were identical to those of Bates County.

WARREN

Established: Jan. 5,1833
Parent County: Montgomery
County Seat: Warrenton
Named After: Gen. Joseph Warren, who died in the Battle of Bunker Hill.

WASHINGTON

Established: Aug. 21, 1813, effective Nov. 1, 1813
Parent County: Ste. Genevieve
County Seat: Potosi
Named After: George Washington.

WAYNE

Established: Dec. 11, 1818, effective Feb.1, 1819
Parent County: Cape Girardeau and Lawrence
County Seat: Greenville
Named After: Anthony Wayne, a Revolutionary War general

WEBSTER

Established: March 3, 1855
Parent County: Greene County
County Seat: Marshfield
Named After: Senator and Secretary of State Daniel Webster.

WORTH

Established: Feb. 8, 1861,effective Feb. 25, 1861
Parent County: Gentry
County Seat: Grant City
Named After: Gen. William J. Worth, who served in the Mexican-American War.

WRIGHT

Established: Jan. 29, 1841
Parent County: Pulaski
County Seat: Hartville
Named After: Silas Wright, congressman, U.S. senator and governor of New York.

:Sources:
Circuit Clerk Listing pdf file http://www.sos.mo.gov/MOroster/county_officials.pdf
Missouri Sectary of State http://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/history/counties.asp
Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

ADAIR	Established: Jan. 29, 1841 Parent County: Macon County County Seat: Kirksville Named After: John Adair, governor of Kentucky.
ANDREW	Established: Jan. 29, 1841 From the Platte Purchase County Seat: Savannah Named After: Andrew Jackson Davis
ATCHISON	Established: Feb. 14, 1845 Parent County: Holt County The boundaries for Allen County were defined in 1843 and attached to Holt County in 1845. Atchison County was organized out of this territory and Allen County repealed. County Seat: Rock Port Named After: David Rice Atchison, United States senator
AUDRAIN	Established: Dec. 17, 1836 Parent County: Callaway, Monroe and Ralls County Seat: Mexico Named After: James H. Audrain, Missouri legislator
BARRY	Established: Jan. 5, 1835 Parent County: Greene County Seat: Cassville Named After: William T. Barry, U.S. Postmaster General
BARTON	Established: Dec. 12, 1855 Parent County: Jasper County Seat: Lamar, Named in Honor of Mirabeau Lamar, a military governor of Texas Named After: David Barton, first elected Senator from Missouri after statehood was granted in 1821.
BATES	Established: Jan. 29, 1841 Parent County: Van Buren (now Cass) County Seat: Bulter Named After: Frederick Bates, governor of Missouri
BENTON	Established: Jan. 3, 1835 Parent County: Pettis and Greene County Seat: Warsaw Named After: Thomas Hart Benton, U.S. senator
BOLLINGER	Established: March 1, 1851 Parent County: Cape Girardeau, Madison, Stoddard and Wayne County Seat: Marble Hill Named After: George F. Bollinger, pioneer settler and Missouri Legislator
BOONE	Established: Nov. 16, 1820,effective Jan.1, 1821 Parent County: Howard County Seat: Columbia Named After: Daniel Boone
BUCHANAN	Established: Dec. 31, 1838 From the Platte Purchase County Seat: St. Joseph Named After: James Buchanan, senator from Pennsylvania and later U.S. Presdient
BUTLER	Established: Feb. 27, 1849 Parent County: Wayne County Seat: Poplar Bluff Named After: William O. Butler, KY Congressman
CALDWELL	Established: Dec. 29, 1836 Parent County: Ray County Seat: Kingston Named After: John Caldwell, Indian scout - Alexander Doniphan is credited with naming Caldwell County in honor of an Indian fighter his father, Joseph Doniphan, had known in Kentucky. According to Floyd C. Shoemaker, Doniphan probably referred to Colonel John Caldwell, the famous soldier for whom Caldwell County, Kentucky was named. Mathew Caldwell has also been cited as the person the Missouri county was named after.
CALLAWAY	Established: Nov. 25, 1820,effective Jan.1, 1821 Parent County: Boone, Howard and Montgomery County Seat: Fulton Named After: James Callaway a Missouri ranger killed by Indians in the War of 1812
CAMDEN	Established: Jan. 29, 1841 First organized in 1841 as Kinderhook County in honor of President Martin Van Buren's New York home. On Feb. 23, 1843 name was changed to Camden. Parent County: Benton, Morgan and Pulaski County Seat: Camdenton Named After: Charles Pratt, Earl of Camden
CAPE GIRARDEAU	Established: Oct. 1, 1812 One of the five original counties County Seat: Jackson Named After: Sieur de Girardot, a French officer.
CARROLL	Established: Jan. 2, 1833 Parent County: Ray County Seat: Carrollton Named After: Charles Carroll of Carrollton
CARTER	Established: March 10, 1859 Parent County: Oregon, Reynolds, Ripley and Shannon County Seat: Van Buren Named After: Zimri A. Carter, pioneer settler
CASS	Established: March 3, 1835 First organized as Van Buren County, honor of Martin Van Buren, the Democratic legislature. Feb. 19, 1849 name changed to Cass. Parent County: Jackson County Seat: Harrisonville Named After: Lewis Cass, Michigan senator and presidential candidate
CEDAR	Established: Feb. 14, 1845 Parent County: Dade and St. Clair County Seat: Stockton Named After: Its abundance of Cedar Trees
CHARITON	Established: Nov. 16, 1820, effective Jan. 1, 1821 Parent County: Howard County Seat: Keytesville Named After: Chariton River
CHRISTIAN	Established: March 8, 1859 Parent County: Greene, Taney and Webster County Seat: Ozark Named After: William Christian, Kentucky Revolutionary War soldier
CLARK	Established: Dec. 16, 1836 Parent County: Lewis County Seat: Kahoka Named After: William Clark,governor of the Missouri Territory.
CLAY	Established: Jan. 2, 1822 Parent County: Ray County Seat: Liberty Named After: Henry Clay, Kentucky congressman
CLINTON	Established: Jan. 2, 1833 Parent County: Clay County Seat: Plattsburg Named After: DeWitt Clinton, governor of New York
COLE	Established: Nov. 16, 1820,effective Jan. 1, 1821 Parent County: Cooper County Seat: Jefferson City Named After: Stephen Cole, pioneer settler and Indian fighter
COOPER	Established: Dec.17, 1818, effective Feb. 1, 1819 Parent County: Howard County Seat: Boonville Named After: Sarshel (Benjamin) Cooper, pioneer settler
CRAWFORD	Established: Jan. 23, 1829 Parent County: Gasconade County Seat: Steelville Named After: William H. Crawford, Georgia senator
DADE	Established: Jan. 29, 1841 Parent County: Barry and Polk County Seat: Greenfield Named After: Francis L. Dade, pioneer settler
DALLAS	Established: Jan. 29, 1841 First named Niangua in 1841. On Dec. 16, 1844 named changed to Dallas Parent County: Polk County Seat: Buffalo Named After: George M. Dallas, diplomat and later vice-president
DAVIESS	Established: Dec. 29, 1836 Parent County: Ray County Seat: Gallatin Named After: Joseph H. Daviess, Kentucky soldier in the War of 1812
DeKALB	Established: Feb. 25, 1845 Parent County: Clinton County Seat: Maysville Named After: Johann Kalb, Baron deKalb
DENT	Established: Feb. 10, 1851 Parent County: Crawford and Shannon County Seat: Denton Named After: Lewis Dent, pioneer settler
DOUGLAS	Established: Oct. 29, 1857 Parent County: Ozark County Seat: Ava Named After: Stephen A. Douglas, Illinois senator and later presidential candidate
DUNKLIN	Established: Feb. 14, 1845 Parent County: Stoddard County Seat: Kennett Named After: Daniel Dunklin, governor of Missouri
FRANKLIN	Established: Dec.11, 1818,effective January 1, 1819 Parent County: St. Louis County Seat: Union Named After: Benjamin Franklin
GASCONADE	Established: Nov. 25, 1820, effective January 1, 1821 Parent County: Franklin County Seat: Hermann Named After: Gasconade River
GENTRY	Established: Feb. 14, 1845 Parent County: Clinton County Seat: Albany Named After: Richard Gentry, Seminole War general
GREENE	Established: Jan. 2, 1833 Parent County: Crawford and Wayne County Seat: Springfield Named After: Nathaniel Greene, Revolutionary War general
GRUNDY	Established: Jan. 29, 1841 Parent County: Livingston County Seat: Trenton Named After: Felix Grundy, Tennessee senator and United States attorney general
HARRISON	Established: Feb.14, 1845 Parent County: Daviess County Seat: Bethany Named After: Albert G. Harrison, Missouri congressman
HENRY	Established: Dec. 13, 1834 First organized as Rines. Oct. 15, 1841 name changed to Henry. Parent County: Lillard (now Lafayette) County Seat: Clinton Named After: Patrick Henry, Revolutionary patriot
HICKORY	Established: Feb.14, 1845 Parent County: Benton and Polk County Seat: Hermitage Named After: President Andrew Jackson, "Old Hickory"
HOLT	Established: Jan. 29, 1841 - First named Nodaway, 17days name was changed to Holt From the Platte Purchase County Seat: Oregon Named After: David Rice Holt, Missouri legislator from Platte County
HOWARD	Established: Jan. 23, 1816,effective March 1, 1816 Parent County: St. Charles and St. Louis County Seat: Fayette Named After: Benjamin Howard, governor of the Missouri Territory
HOWELL	Established: March 2, 1857 Parent County: Oregon County Seat: West Plains Named After: James Howell, pioneer settler
IRON	Established: Feb. 17, 1857 Parent County: Madison, Reynolds, St. Francois, Washington and Wayne counties County Seat: Ironton Named After: Presence of Iron ore.
JACKSON	Established: Dec. 15, 1826 Parent County: Lillard, now Lafayette. County Seat: Independence Named After: Andrew Jackson, U.S. Senator, later President, from Tennessee. This county has historically been a major traveling point for river travel.
JASPER	Established: Jan. 29, 1841 Parent County: Barry County Seat: Carthage Named After: Sgt. William Jasper, hero of the American Revolutionary War.
JEFFERSON	Established: Dec. 8, 1818 Parent County: St. Louis and Ste. Genevieve County Seat: Hillsboro Named After: Former President Thomas Jefferson.
JOHNSON	Established: Dec. 13, 1834 Parent County: Lillard,now Lafayette County Seat: Warrensburg Named After: Vice President Richard M. Johnson.
KNOX	Established: Feb. 14, 1845 Parent County: Scotland County Seat: Edina Named After: Secretary of War, Gen. Henry Knox.
LACLEDE	Established: Feb. 24, 1849 Parent County: Camden, Pulaski and Wright County Seat: Lebanon Named After: Pierre Laclede, founder of St. Louis, Missouri.
LAFAYETTE	Established: Nov. 16, 1820 Parent County: Cooper County Seat: Lexington Named After: Marquis de La Fayette
LAWRENCE	Established: Feb. 14, 1845 Parent County: Barry and Dade County Seat: Mt. Vernon Named After: James Lawrence, naval hero of the War of 1812. The previous Lawrence County, est. in 1815 and dissolved in 1818, being divided into Wayne County, Madison County, and later into others, including this one.
LEWIS	Established: Jan. 2, 1833 Parent County: Marion County Seat: Monticello Named After: Explorer and governor of the Louisiana Territory, Meriwether Lewis.
LINCOLN	Established: Dec. 14, 1818 Parent County: St. Charles County Seat: Troy Named After: Benjamin Lincoln, Revolutionary War general
LINN	Established: Jan. 6, 1837 Parent County: Chariton County Seat: Linneus Named After: Lewis F. Linn, U.S. senator from Missouri.
LIVINGSTON	Established: Jan. 6, 1837 Parent County: Carroll County Seat: Chillicothe Named After: Secretary of State Edward Livingston.
McDONALD	Established: March 3, 1849, First named Seneca County Parent County: Newton County Seat: Pineville Named After: Sgt. Alexander McDonald, soldier in the American Revolutionary War.
MACON	Established: Jan. 6, 1837 Parent County: Chariton and Randolph County Seat: Macon Named After: Nathaniel Macon, congressman and U.S. senator from North Carolina.
MADISON	Established: Dec. 14, 1818 Parent County: Cape Girardeau and Ste. Genevieve County Seat: Fredericktown Named After: President James Madison. This County is recorded as having the oldest lead mine west of the Mississippi River.
MARIES	Established: March 2, 1855 Parent County: Osage and Pulaski County Seat: Vienna Named After: The Maries River and Little Maries River. Maries comes from the French marais, meaning marsh, lake or pond.
MARION	Established: Dec.23,1826 Parent County: Ralls County Seat: Palmyra Named After: Gen. Francis Marion, the "Swamp Fox", who served in the American Revolutionary War. Also known as the "Two Rivers Country" before organization.
MERCER	Established: Feb. 14, 1845 Parent County: Grundy County Seat: Princeton Named After: John F. Mercer, a Revolutionary War general.
MILLER	Established: Feb. 6, 1837 Parent County: Cole and Pulaski County Seat: Tuscumbia Named After: John Miller, governor and congressman
MISSISSIPPI	Established: Feb. 14, 1845 Parent County: Scott County Seat: Charleston (The town was laid out in 1837.) Named After: Mississippi River
MONITEAU	Established: Feb. 14, 1845 Parent County: Cole and Morgan County Seat: California Named After: Moniteau Creek. 'Moniteau' is a French spelling of Manitou, Algonquian for the Great Spirit.
MONROE	Established: Jan. 6, 1831 Parent County: Ralls County Seat: Paris Named After: U.S. President James Monroe.
MONTGOMERY	Established: Dec. 14, 1818, effective Jan. 1, 1819 Parent County: St. Charles County Seat: Montgomery City Named After: Richard Montgomery, a Revolutionary War general, killed in 1775
MORGAN	Established: Jan. 5, 1833 Parent County: Cooper County Seat: Named After: Daniel Morgan, a Revolutionary War general.
NEW MADRID	Established: Oct. 1, 1812, one of the five original counties County Seat: New Madrid Named After: Madrid, Spain
NEWTON	Established: Dec. 31, 1838 Parent County: Barry County Seat: Neosho Named After: John Newton, a Revolutionary War soldier.
NODAWAY	Established: Feb. 14, 1845 Parent County: Andrew County Seat: Maryville Named After: Nodaway River
OREGON	Established: Feb. 14, 1845 Parent County: Ripley County Seat: Alton Named After: Territory of Oregon
OSAGE	Established: Jan. 29, 1841 Parent County: Gasconade County Seat: Linn Named After: Osage River
OZARK	Established: Jan. 29, 1841 Parent County: Taney County Seat: Gainsville Named After:Ozark Mountains First organized Jan. 29, 1841, as Ozark County, then Feb. 22, 1843 name changed to Decatur. Then March 24, 1845, the name was changed back to Ozark.
PEMISCOT	Established: Feb. 19, 1851 Parent County: New Madrid County Seat: Carutherville Named After: Indian word meaning "liquid mud."
PERRY	Established: Nov. 16, 1820, effective January 1, 1821 Parent County: Ste. Genevieve County Seat: Perryville Named After:Oliver H. Perry, naval hero of the War of 1812
PETTIS	Established: Jan. 26, 1833 Parent County: Cooper and Saline County Seat: Sedalia Named After: Spencer Pettis, Missouri congressman.
PHELPS	Established: Nov. 3, 1857 Parent County: Crawford County Seat: Rolla Named After: John S. Phelps, U.S. congressman and governor of Missouri
PIKE	Established: Dec. 14, 1818 Parent County: St. Charles County Seat: Bowling Green Named After: Zebulon M. Pike, explorer
PLATTE	Established: dec. 13,1838 County Seat: Platte City Named After: Platte purchase, Platte is a French name for a low, shallow, or intermittent stream.
POLK	Established: Jan. 5, 1835 Parent County: Greene County Seat: Bolivar (This town named for Bolivar, Tennessee, home to many of the original settlers.) Named After: United States President James K. Polk.
PULASKI	Established: Jan. 19, 1833 Parent County: Crawford County Seat: Waynesville Named After: Kazimierz PuBaski, Polish patriot who died fighting in the American Revolution.
PUTNAM	Established: Feb. 28, 1845 Parent County: Adair and Sullivan County Seat: Unionville Named After: Israel Putnam, a French and Indian War hero and a general in the American Revolutionary War.
RALLS	Established: Nov. 16, 1820 Parent County: Pike County Seat: New London Named After: Daniel Ralls,a Missouri legislator
RANDOLPH	Established: Jan. 22, 1829 Parent County: Chariton and Ralls County Seat: Huntsville Named After: John Randolph of Virginia.
RAY	Established: Nov. 16,1820 Parent County: Howard County Seat: Richmaond Named After: John Ray, member of the first state legislator
REYNOLDS	Established: Feb. 25, 1845 Parent County: Shannon County Seat: Centerville Named After: Missouri governor Thomas Reynolds
RIPLEY	Established: Jan. 5, 1833 Parent County: Wayne County Seat: Doniphan Named After: Eleazar W. Ripley, soldier in the War of 1812.
SAINT CHARLES	Established: Oct. 1, 1812, one of the five original counties County Seat: St. Charles (had a significant role in the United States' westward expansion.) 2nd oldest city west of the Mississippi, founded in 1765 as Les Petites Cotes, "The Little Hills", by Louis Blanchette. It also served as the first Missouri capital, from 1821 to 1826. Named After: Spanish district once located here, San Carlos, from Italian Cardinal Saint Charles Borromeo.
SAINT CLAIR	Established: Jan. 29, 1841 Parent County: Rives, later Henry, County County Seat: Osceola Named After: Arthur St. Clair, a Revolutionary War general.
SAINT FRANCOIS French: St-François	Established: Dec. 19, 1821 Parent County: Ste. Genevieve and Washington County Seat: Farmington Named After: Saint Francis of Assisi, founded the Franciscan Order or "Friars Minor".
SAINT LOUIS CITY	Established: Aug. 22, 1876, under the 1875 Constitution of the State of Missouri. Separated itself from St. Louis County creating an independent city. Parent County: St. Louis County Named After: Louis IX of France
SAINT LOUIS	Established: Oct. 1, 1812, one of the five original counties County Seat: Clayton Named After: Saint Louis, King Louis IX of France, patron saint of King Louis XV.
SAINTE GENEVIEVE French: Ste-Geneviève	Established: Oct. 1, 1812, one of the five original counties County Seat: Ste. Genevieve (French: Ville de Ste-Geneviève)oldest permanent settlement in the State of Missouri. Named After: The Spanish district once located in the region, after Saint Genevieve, patroness of Paris, France.
SALINE	Established: Nov. 25, 1820, effective January 1, 1821 Parent County: Cooper County County Seat: Marshall Named After: Its numerous salt springs
SCHUYLER	Established: Feb. 14, 1845 Parent County: Adair County Seat: Lancaster Named After: Gen. Philip Schuyler, of the Revolutionary War.
SCOTLAND	Established: Jan. 29, 1841 Parent County: Clark, Lewis, and Shelby County Seat: Memphis Named After: Scotland
SCOTT	Established: Dec. 28, 1821, effective March 1, 1822 Parent County: New Madrid County Seat: Benton Named After: Missouri Congressman, John Scott
SHANNON	Established: Jan. 29, 1841 Parent County: Ripley County Seat: Eminence Named After: George Shannon, a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
SHELBY	Established: January 2, 1835, Parent County: Marion County Seat: Shelbyville Named After: Kentucky Governor Isaac Shelby
STODDARD	Established: Jan. 2, 1835 Parent County: New Madrid County Seat: Bloomfield Named After: Capt. Amos Stoddard, officer killed in the War of 1812.
STONE	Established: Feb.10, 1851 Parent County: Taney County Seat: Galena Named After: William Stone, pioneer judge
SULLIVAN	Established: February 14, 1845 First orgainzed as Highland County on February 17, 1843, name changed upon actual organization. Parent County: Linn County Seat: Milan Named After: American Revolutionary War general John Sullivan.
TANEY	Established: Jan. 6, 1837 Parent County: Greene County Seat: Forsyth Named After: Roger B. Taney, Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.
TEXAS	Established: Feb. 14, 1845 Parent County: Shannon and Wright County Seat: Houston Named After: Republic of Texas First orginzed in Feb. 1843 as Ashley County. When established the name was changed to Texas.
VERNON	Established: Feb. 27, 1855 Parent County: Bates County Seat: Nevada Named After: for Miles Vernon, Missouri Originally on Feb. 17, 1851 the law establishing Vernon County was approved, but was later declared to be unconstitutional in that the boundaries described were identical to those of Bates County.
WARREN	Established: Jan. 5,1833 Parent County: Montgomery County Seat: Warrenton Named After: Gen. Joseph Warren, who died in the Battle of Bunker Hill.
WASHINGTON	Established: Aug. 21, 1813, effective Nov. 1, 1813 Parent County: Ste. Genevieve County Seat: Potosi Named After: George Washington.
WAYNE	Established: Dec. 11, 1818, effective Feb.1, 1819 Parent County: Cape Girardeau and Lawrence County Seat: Greenville Named After: Anthony Wayne, a Revolutionary War general
WEBSTER	Established: March 3, 1855 Parent County: Greene County County Seat: Marshfield Named After: Senator and Secretary of State Daniel Webster.
WORTH	Established: Feb. 8, 1861,effective Feb. 25, 1861 Parent County: Gentry County Seat: Grant City Named After: Gen. William J. Worth, who served in the Mexican-American War.
WRIGHT	Established: Jan. 29, 1841 Parent County: Pulaski County Seat: Hartville Named After: Silas Wright, congressman, U.S. senator and governor of New York.