Linn County

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 621 square miles (1,610 km2), of which 616 square miles (1,600 km2) is land and 5.8 square miles (15 km2) (0.9%) is water.

Adjacent counties

Sullivan County (north)

Adair County (northeast)

Macon County (east)

Chariton County (south)

Livingston County (west)

Grundy County (northwest)

Major highways

Future I-72 / US 36 / Route 110 (CKC)

US 36 Bus. (Brookfield)

Route 5

Route 11

Route 129

Route 130

Route 139

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 11,874. The median age was 43.1 years, 23.3% of residents were under the age of 18, and 22.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.6 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 93.8% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.8% from some other race, and 4.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.4% of the population.

32.6% of residents lived in urban areas, while 67.4% lived in rural areas.

There were 5,065 households in the county, of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 26.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 5,999 housing units, of which 15.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 73.4% were owner-occupied and 26.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.4%.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 13,754 people, 5,697 households and 3,760 families residing in the county. The population density was 22 people per square mile (8.5 people/km2). There were 6,554 housing units at an average density of 11 units per square mile (4.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.98% White, 0.60% Black or African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.15% from other races and 0.76% from two or more races. Approximately 0.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,697 households, out of which 29.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.60% were married couples living together, 8.90% had a female householder with no husband present and 34.00% were non-families. 30.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.40% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 24.40% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64 and 20.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 89.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,242, and the median income for a family was $36,134. Males had a median income of $25,635 versus $18,820 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,378. About 11.30% of families and 14.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.20% of those under age 18 and 14.10% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Public schools

School districts include:

Brookfield R-III School District – Brookfield

Brookfield Elementary School (PK-04)

Brookfield Middle School (05-08)

Brookfield High School (09-12)

Bucklin R-II School District – Bucklin

Bucklin Elementary School (PK-06)

Bucklin High School (07-12)

Linn County R-1 School District – Purdin

Linn County Elementary School (PK-05)

Linn County High School (06-12)

Marceline R-V School District – Marceline

Walt Disney Elementary School (K-05)

Marceline Middle School (06-08)

Marceline High School (09-12)

Meadville R-IV School District – Meadville

Meadville Elementary School (K-06)

Meadville High School (07-12)

Private schools

Father McCartan Memorial School – Marceline (PK-08) – Roman Catholic

Locust Creek Mennonite School – Laclede (02-09) – Mennonite

Public libraries

Brookfield Public Library

Marceline Carnegie Library

Communities

Cities and towns

Brookfield

Browning (partly in Sullivan County)

Bucklin

Laclede

Linneus (county seat)

Marceline

Meadville

Purdin

Census-designated place

St. Catherine

Townships

Baker

Benton

Brookfield

Bucklin

Clay

Enterprise

Grantsville

Jackson

Jefferson

Locust Creek

Marceline

North Salem

Parson Creek

Yellow Creek

Notable people

Doris Akers, gospel singer and composer, was born in Brookfield and resided there until age five.

Gene Bartow, Hall of Fame college basketball coach and NBA executive.

Walt Disney, lived on a farm near Marceline as a young boy.

John J. Pershing, four-star General of the Armies, was born in Laclede.

Politics

State

Linn County is split between two districts in Missouri's House of Representatives, both of which are represented by Republicans.

District 6 — Tim Remole (R-Excello). Consists of a thin slice of the eastern part of the county.

District 7 — Rusty Black (R-Chillicothe). Consists of the central and western parts of the county.

All of Linn County is a part of Missouri's 18th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Brian Munzingler (R-Williamstown).

Federal

All of Linn 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.