| County: | Chariton County |
| State: | Missouri |
| Founded Year: | 1820 |
| Founded Date: | November 16 |
| Seat Wl: | Keytesville |
| Largest City Wl: | Salisbury |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 767 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 751 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 16 |
| Area Percentage: | 2.0 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 7408 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | auto |
| Time Zone: | Central |
| District: | 6th |
| Ex Image: | Chariton County Missouri courthouse 20151004-127.jpg |
| Ex Image Cap: | The Chariton County Courthouse in Keytesville |
Chariton County is a county located in the north-central portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 7,408.[1] Its county seat is Keytesville.[2] The county was organized November 16, 1820, from part of Howard County and is named for the Chariton River.
Chariton County was settled primarily from the states of the Upper South, especially Kentucky and Tennessee. They brought slaves and slaveholding traditions with them, and they quickly started cultivating crops similar to those in Middle Tennessee and Kentucky: hemp and tobacco. Chariton was one of several counties settled mostly by southerners to the north and south of the Missouri River. Given their culture and traditions, this area became known as Little Dixie and Chariton County was at its heart. It was heavily pro-Confederate during the American Civil War.[3]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and (2.0%) is water.[4]
As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 8,438 people, 3,469 households, and 2,345 families residing in the county. The population density was 11/mi2. There were 4,250 housing units at an average density of 6adj=preNaNadj=pre. The racial makeup of the county was 95.99% White, 3.19% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.11% from other races, and 0.41% from two or more races. Approximately 0.56% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 38.8% were of German, 25.5% American, 9.7% English and 7.8% Irish ancestry.
There were 3,469 households, out of which 28.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.30% were married couples living together, 6.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.40% were non-families. 29.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.30% 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 2.94.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.70% under the age of 18, 6.50% from 18 to 24, 23.70% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 22.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 91.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $32,285, and the median income for a family was $39,176. Males had a median income of $25,263 versus $19,068 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,515. About 8.80% of families and 11.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.40% of those under age 18 and 14.00% of those age 65 or over.
| White (NH) | 6,925 | 93.5% | |
| Black or African American (NH) | 144 | 2% | |
| Native American (NH) | 15 | 0.2% | |
| Asian (NH) | 3 | 0.04% | |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 3 | 0.04% | |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 217 | 3% | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 101 | 1.36% |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third Parties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 76.13% 3,100 | 22.35% 910 | 1.52% 62 | |
| 2016 | 59.61% 2,364 | 38.40% 1,523 | 1.99% 79 | |
| 2012 | 46.59% 1,770 | 50.99% 1,937 | 2.42% 92 | |
| 2008 | 46.54% 1,951 | 51.67% 2,166 | 1.79% 75 | |
| 2004 | 54.32% 2,350 | 44.87% 1,941 | 0.81% 35 | |
| 2000 | 48.47% 1,998 | 50.39% 2,077 | 1.14% 47 | |
| 1996 | 33.31% 1,326 | 65.16% 2,594 | 1.53% 61 |
Chariton County is split between two districts in the Missouri House of Representatives, with both electing Republicans.
All of Chariton County is a part of Missouri's 18th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Cindy O'Laughlin (R-Shelbina).
All of Chariton 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.
See main article: 2008 Missouri Democratic presidential primary and 2008 Missouri Republican presidential primary. Former U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York) received more votes, a total of 786, than any candidate from either party in Chariton County during the 2008 presidential primary. She also received more votes than the total number of votes cast in the entire Republican primary in Chariton County.