| County: | Moniteau County |
| State: | Missouri |
| Founded Year: | 1845 |
| Founded Date: | February 14 |
| Seat Wl: | California |
| Largest City Wl: | California |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 419 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 415 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 3.8 |
| Area Percentage: | 0.9 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 15,473 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | auto |
| Time Zone: | Central |
| Named For: | Moniteau Creek |
| Ex Image: | Moniteau County Courthouse.jpg |
| Ex Image Cap: | The Moniteau County Courthouse in California |
| District: | 3rd |
Moniteau County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 15,473.[1] Its county seat is California.[2] The county was organized February 14, 1845, and named for the Moniteau Creek. 'Moniteau' is a French spelling of Manitou, Algonquian for the Great Spirit.
Moniteau County is part of the Jefferson City, MO Metropolitan Statistical Area.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and (0.9%) is water.[3]
As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 14,827 people, 5,259 households, and 3,728 families residing in the county. The population density was 36sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 5,742 housing units at an average density of 14adj=preNaNadj=pre. The racial makeup of the county was 92.75% White, 3.78% Black or African American, 0.40% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.48% from other races, and 1.27% from two or more races. Approximately 2.93% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 35.8% were of German, 20.5% American, 8.2% English and 7.0% Irish ancestry.
There were 5,259 households, out of which 35.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.00% were married couples living together, 8.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.10% were non-families. 25.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.90% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 31.10% from 25 to 44, 20.90% from 45 to 64, and 13.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 113.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 116.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $37,168, and the median income for a family was $42,487. Males had a median income of $26,807 versus $20,853 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,609. About 7.30% of families and 9.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.10% of those under age 18 and 9.00% of those age 65 or over.
| White (NH) | 13,688 | 88.46% | |
| Black or African American (NH) | 282 | 1.82% | |
| Native American (NH) | 40 | 0.26% | |
| Asian (NH) | 42 | 0.27% | |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 16 | 0.1% | |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 541 | 3.5% | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 864 | 5.6% |
The Republican Party predominantly controls politics at the local level in Moniteau County. Republicans currently hold all but one of the elected positions in the county.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third Parties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 64.06% 4,351 | 33.22% 2,256 | 2.72% 185 | |
| 2012 | 55.65% 3,568 | 41.32% 2,649 | 3.03% 194 | |
| 2008 | 54.25% 3,617 | 44.26% 2,951 | 1.48% 99 | |
| 2004 | 66.81% 4,480 | 32.48% 2,178 | 0.71% 48 | |
| 2000 | 53.09% 3,217 | 44.38% 2,689 | 2.52% 153 | |
| 1996 | 36.16% 1,973 | 61.22% 3,340 | 2.62% 143 |
Moniteau County is split between two of the districts that elect members of the Missouri House of Representatives; both of which elected Republicans, although one seat is currently vacant.
All of Moniteau County is a part of Missouri's 6th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Mike Kehoe (R-Jefferson City).
All of Moniteau County is included in Missouri's 4th Congressional District and is currently represented by Vicky Hartzler (R-Harrisonville) in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The county leans heavily Republican in presidential elections and has not voted for a Democratic candidate since 1948 - when Harry S. Truman (a Missouri native) was elected to a term in his own right.