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Pike County, Missouri facts for kids

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Pike County
The Pike County Courthouse in Bowling Green
The Pike County Courthouse in Bowling Green
Map of Missouri highlighting Pike County
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
Map of the United States highlighting Missouri
Missouri's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Missouri
Founded December 14, 1818
Named for Zebulon M. Pike
Seat Bowling Green
Largest city Bowling Green
Area
 • Total 685 sq mi (1,770 km2)
 • Land 670 sq mi (1,700 km2)
 • Water 14 sq mi (40 km2)  2.1%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 18,516
 • Estimate 
(2018)
18,504
 • Density 27.031/sq mi (10.437/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 6th

Pike County is a county on the eastern border of the U.S. state of Missouri, bounded by the Mississippi River. As of the 2010 census, the population was 18,516. Its county seat is Bowling Green. Its namesake was a city in middle Kentucky, a region from where many early migrants came. The county was organized December 14, 1818, and named for explorer Zebulon Pike. The folksong "Sweet Betsy from Pike" is generally thought to be associated with Pike County, Missouri.

Pike County is said to be the home of Momo (The Missouri Monster). The first reported sightings in the 1970s were traced to various locations throughout the county.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 685 square miles (1,770 km2), of which 670 square miles (1,700 km2) is land and 14 square miles (36 km2) (2.1%) is water.

Adjacent counties

Pike County in Missouri and Illinois are two of twenty-two counties or parishes in the United States with the same name to border each other across state lines. The others are Union Parish, Louisiana and Union County, Arkansas, Big Horn County, Montana and Big Horn County, Wyoming, Sabine County, Texas and Sabine Parish, Louisiana, Bristol County, Massachusetts and Bristol County, Rhode Island, Kent County, Delaware and Kent County, Maryland, Escambia County, Alabama and Escambia County, Florida, Teton County, Idaho and Teton County, Wyoming, Park County, Montana and Park County, Wyoming, San Juan County, New Mexico and San Juan County, Utah, and Vermilion County, Illinois and Vermillion County, Indiana. respectively. (Note, despite the different spellings, the source of the name is the same for Vermilion County, Illinois and Vermillion County, Indiana—the Vermillion River which flows through both counties.)

Major highways

  • US 54.svg U.S. Route 54
  • US 61.svg U.S. Route 61
  • MO-79.svg Route 79
  • MO-161.svg Route 161

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1820 3,747
1830 6,129 63.6%
1840 10,646 73.7%
1850 13,609 27.8%
1860 18,417 35.3%
1870 23,076 25.3%
1880 26,715 15.8%
1890 26,321 −1.5%
1900 25,744 −2.2%
1910 22,556 −12.4%
1920 20,345 −9.8%
1930 18,001 −11.5%
1940 18,327 1.8%
1950 16,844 −8.1%
1960 16,706 −0.8%
1970 16,928 1.3%
1980 17,568 3.8%
1990 15,969 −9.1%
2000 18,351 14.9%
2010 18,516 0.9%
2020 17,587 −5.0%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2015

As of the census of 2010, there were 18,516 people, 6,451 households, and 4,476 families residing in the county. The population density was 27 people per square mile (11/km2). There were 7,493 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 88.44% White, 9.17% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.92% from other races, and 1.04% from two or more races. Approximately 1.61% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 24.6% were of American, 24.5% German, 8.9% English and 8.5% Irish ancestry.

There were 6,451 households, out of which 31.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.70% were married couples living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.60% were non-families. 26.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.40% under the age of 18, 9.10% from 18 to 24, 29.80% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 15.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 119.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 123.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,373, and the median income for a family was $39,059. Males had a median income of $28,528 versus $19,426 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,462. 15.50% of the population and 11.90% of families were below the poverty line. 20.20% of those under the age of 18 and 15.20% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Communities

Cities

Villages

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated place

Education

Public schools

  • Boncl R-X School District – Louisiana
    • Boncl Elementary School (PK-08)
  • Bowling Green R-I School District – Bowling Green
    • Bowling Green Elementary School (PK-05)
    • Frankford Elementary School (K-05)
    • Bowling Green Middle School (06-08)
    • Bowling Green High School (09-12)
  • Louisiana R-II School District – Louisiana
    • Louisiana Elementary School (PK-05)
    • Louisiana Middle School (06-08)
    • Louisiana High School (09-12)
  • Pike County R-III School District – Clarksville
    • Clopton Elementary School (PK-06)
    • Clopton High School (07-12)

Private schools

Public libraries

  • Bowling Green Free Public Library
  • Clarksville Public Library
  • Louisiana Public Library

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Pike (Misuri) para niños

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