Ray County is a county located in the northwestern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri and is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, the population was 23,158. Its county seat is Richmond. The county was organized November 16, 1820, and named for John Ray, a Missouri state legislator and member of the first state Constitutional Convention.
Contents
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 574 square miles (1,490 km2), of which 569 square miles (1,470 km2) is land and 5.4 square miles (14 km2) (0.9%) is water.
Adjacent counties
Caldwell County (north)
Carroll County (east)
Lafayette County (south)
Jackson County (southwest)
Clay County (west)
Clinton County (northwest)
Major highways
Route 10
Route 13
Route 210
National protected area
Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge (part)
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 23,158. The median age was 42.3 years. 23.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.3 males.
The racial makeup of the county was 91.2% White, 1.0% Black or African American, 0.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.8% from some other race, and 6.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.5% of the population.
25.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 74.1% lived in rural areas.
There were 9,081 households in the county, of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 22.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 9,842 housing units, of which 7.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 77.1% were owner-occupied and 22.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.3%.
2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 23,354 people, 8,743 households, and 6,539 families residing in the county. The population density was 16 people per square mile (6.2 people/km2). There were 9,371 housing units at an average density of 6 units per square mile (2.3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.50% White, 1.46% Black or African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.36% from other races, and 1.13% from two or more races. Approximately 1.08% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 29.6% were of American, 23.3% German, 11.5% English and 10.3% Irish ancestry.
There were 8,743 households, out of which 35.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.10% were married couples living together, 8.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.20% were non-families. 22.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.50% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 28.30% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 12.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 100.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $41,886, and the median income for a family was $49,192. Males had a median income of $36,815 versus $21,684 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,685. About 5.30% of families and 6.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.00% of those under age 18 and 7.80% of those age 65 or over.
Education
School districts including any part of the county, no matter how slight, include:
Public schools
Hardin-Central C-2 School District – Hardin
Hardin-Central Elementary School (PK-06)
Hardin-Central High School (07-12)
Lawson R-XIV School District – Lawson
Southwest Elementary School (PK-04)
Lawson Middle School (05-08)
Lawson High School (09-12)
Orrick R-XI School District – Orrick
Orrick Elementary School (PK-06)
Orrick High School (07-12)
Richmond R-XVI School District – Richmond
Dear Elementary School (PK-01)
Sunrise Elementary School (02-05)
Richmond Middle School (06-08)
Richmond High School (09-12)
Public libraries
Ray County Library
Communities
Villages
Elmira
Excelsior Estates (small part in Clay County)
Homestead
Census-designated place
Rayville
Vibbard
Notable people
Robert Ford, outlaw, killer of Jesse James
Chad Kilgore, football player
Forrest Smith, Missouri's 42nd Governor
Gordon Young, cowboy, journalist, novelist
Law, government and politics
Government
On January 1, 2025, the Ray County Jail was closed after newly elected Sheriff Gary Blackwell, due to "safety and security concerns." Inmates were sent to facilities in neighboring Harrison and Lafayette counties, as well as the Daviess-Dekalb Regional Jail.
Politics
Politics at the local level in Ray County are now almost all held by Republicans, with Republicans making major gains in the past four election cycles, going from no representation before 2011.
The northwest corner of Ray County is a part of Missouri's 8th District in the Missouri House of Representatives and is currently represented by Jim Neely (R-Cameron).
Most of Ray County is a part of Missouri's 39th District in the Missouri House of Representatives and is currently represented by Joe Don McGaugh (R-Carrollton).
All of Ray County is a part of Missouri's 21st District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Denny Hoskins (R-Warrensburg).
All of Ray County is included in Missouri's 5th Congressional District, which is currently represented by Emanuel Cleaver (D-Kansas City) in the United States House of Representatives.