Holt County is a county located in the northwestern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 4,223. Its county seat is Oregon. The county was organized February 15, 1841. Originally named Nodaway County, it was soon renamed for David Rice Holt (1803–1840), a Missouri state legislator from Platte County.

History The original area of Holt County was much larger than its present area. When it was first organized it comprised the current Holt County boundary, all of Atchison County, that part of Nodaway County west of the Nodaway River, and the aforementioned claim extended ten miles north into southwestern Iowa; an area more than 1,350 square miles in all.

The first Post Office in Holt County opened in 1839 and was located on Thorp's Creek near Oregon. It was known as Thorp's Mill and closed in 1841.

In 1972, the Holt County Historical Society was established.

Holt County was impacted by the 2019 Midwestern U.S. floods. About of the that flooded in spring 2019 were still underwater in late October. Some of the floodwater was expected to freeze in place over the winter.

Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.6%) is water.

Adjacent counties Atchison County (north) Nodaway County (northeast) Andrew County (southeast) Doniphan County, Kansas (south) Brown County, Kansas (southwest) Richardson County, Nebraska (west) Nemaha County, Nebraska (northwest)

Major highways The following highways travel through the county: Interstate 29 U.S. Route 59 U.S. Route 159 Route 111 Route 113 Route 118 Route 120

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 4,223. The median age was 48.4 years. 21.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 25.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.6 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 94.8% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 0.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.0% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.8% from some other race, and 3.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.6% of the population.

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 1,795 households in the county, of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 21.5% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

Racial and ethnic composition +Holt County, Missouri – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010 Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)6,8065,9825,2554,7753,99298.90%99.14%98.21%97.21%94.53%Black or African American alone (NH)575740.07%0.12%0.09%0.14%0.09%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)28222548300.41%0.36%0.47%0.98%0.71%Asian alone (NH)11541520.16%0.08%0.07%0.31%0.05%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x included in the Asian category in the 1980 Censusx included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census110xx0.02%0.02%0.00%Other race alone (NH)11203180.16%0.03%0.00%0.06%0.43%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x not an option in the 1980 Censusx not an option in the 1990 Census4024110xx0.75%0.49%2.60%Hispanic or Latino (any race)21162139670.31%0.27%0.39%0.79%1.59%Total6,8826,0345,3514,9124,223 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

2000 census As of the census of 2000, there were 5,351 people, 2,237 households, and 1,503 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 2,931 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 98.47% White, 0.11% Black or African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.11% from other races, and 0.75% from two or more races. Approximately 0.39% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,237 households, out of which 28.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.30% were married couples living together, 6.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.80% were non-families. 29.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.80% under the age of 18, 6.50% from 18 to 24, 24.40% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 21.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 97.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,461, and the median income for a family was $35,685. Males had a median income of $26,966 versus $17,846 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,876. About 10.50% of families and 13.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.90% of those under age 18 and 11.90% of those age 65 or over. Education School districts include: - Text list

Craig R-III School District Mound City R-II School District Nodaway-Holt R-VII School District South Holt County R-I School District

Public schools Craig R-III School District – Craig Craig Elementary School (K-06) Craig High School (07-12) Mound City R-II School District – Mound City Mound City Elementary School (PK-04) Mound City Middle School (05-08) Mound City High School (09-12) Nodaway-Holt R-VII School District – Maitland and Graham Nodaway-Holt Elementary School (K-06) Nodaway-Holt High School (07-12) South Holt County R-I School District – Oregon South Holt County Elementary School (K-06) South Holt County High School (07-12)

Public libraries Mound City Public Library Oregon Public Library

Points of interest Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge (formerly Squaw Creek) Big Lake State Park on Big Lake St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Corning, Missouri

Communities Cities

Craig Forest City Maitland Mound City Oregon (county seat)

Villages Big Lake Bigelow Fortescue

Townships

Benton Bigelow Clay Forbes Forest Hickory Lewis Liberty Lincoln Minton Nodaway Union

Unincorporated communities Forbes New Point

Extinct communities

Corning Curzon Kings Grove Napier Nichols Grove Richville Whig Valley

Population ranking The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Holt County.

† county seat

RankNameMunicipal TypePopulation 1Mound City 4th Class City 1,004 2Oregon † 4th Class City 837 3Maitland 4th Class City 276 4Forest City 4th Class City 243 5Craig 4th Class City 105 6Big Lake Village 65 7Fortescue Village 21 8Bigelow Village 5 9Corning Village 3

Notable people Frank McGrath - actor, born in Mound City in 1903 Charles C. Moore - 13th governor of Idaho; born in Holt County. Roger Wehrli - NFL athlete inducted into the Hall of Fame, born in New Point

Politics

Local The Republican Party predominantly controls politics at the local level in Holt County. Republicans hold all but one of the elected positions in the county.

State + Past Gubernatorial Elections Results Year Republican Democratic Third Parties202483.16% 1,92114.81% 3422.04% 47202082.64% 1,92815.47% 3611.89% 44201664.66% 1,51532.14% 7533.20% 75201256.40% 1,29641.60% 9562.00% 46200855.75% 1,44040.53% 1,0473.72% 96200466.34% 1,77632.61% 8731.05% 28200059.14% 1,56339.01% 1,0311.85% 49199636.65% 1,04061.63% 1,7491.73% 49

All of Holt County is a part of Missouri's 1st District in the Missouri House of Representatives and is represented by Allen Andrews (R-Grant City).

All of Holt County is a part of Missouri's 12th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Dan Hegeman (R-Cosby).

Federal

All of Holt 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.

Political culture

Missouri presidential preference primary (2008)

U.S. Senator and former First Lady Hillary Clinton (D-New York) received more votes, a total of 283, than any candidate from either party in Holt County during the 2008 presidential primary.

See also National Register of Historic Places listings in Holt County, Missouri

References

External links

Digitized 1930 Plat Book of Holt County from University of Missouri Division of Special Collections, Archives, and Rare Books

Digital Public Library of America. Items related to Holt County, Missouri, various dates