Boone County is located in the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its so ...

Missouri Missouri (''see #Etymology and pronunciation, pronunciation'') is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it border ...

. Centrally located the state's

Mid-Missouri Mid-Missouri is a loosely-defined region comprising the central area of the U.S. state of Missouri. The region's largest city is Columbia, Missouri, Columbia (population 121,717); the Missouri state capital, Jefferson City, Missouri, Jefferson C ...

region, its

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or parish (administrative division), civil parish. The term is in use in five countries: Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, and the United States. An equiva ...

is in Columbia, which is Missouri's fourth-largest city and location of the

University of Missouri The University of Missouri (Mizzou or MU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Columbia, Missouri, United States. It is Missouri's largest university and the flagship of the four-campus Univers ...

. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, the county's population was listed as 183,610, making it the state's eighth-most populous county or

county equivalent In the United States, a county or county equivalent is an administrative subdivision of a state or territory, typically with defined geographic boundaries and some level of governmental authority. The term "county" is used in 48 states, whil ...

. The county was organized November 16, 1820, removed from the former larger Howard County (now to the northwest) of the old federal

Missouri Territory The Territory of Missouri was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from June 4, 1812, until August 10, 1821. In 1819, the Territory of Arkansas was created from a portion of its southern area. In 1821, a southe ...

of 1812-1821, and named for the famous Western explorer and settler of

Kentucky Kentucky (, ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north, West Virginia to the ...

, then recently deceased

Daniel Boone Daniel Boone (, 1734September 26, 1820) was an American pioneer and frontiersman whose exploits made him one of the first folk heroes of the United States. He became famous for his exploration and settlement of Kentucky, which was then beyo ...

(1734-1820), whose kin largely populated the Boonslick area, having arrived in the 1810s on the

Boone's Lick Road The Boone's Lick Road or Boonslick Trail was an early 1800s transportation route from eastern to central Missouri in the United States. Running east–west on the north side and roughly parallel to the Missouri River the trail began in the river ...

. Boone County comprises the Columbia Metropolitan Area. The towns of Ashland and Centralia are the second and third most populous towns in the county.

History

Boone County was organized November 16, 1820, from a separated portion of the larger territorial Howard County, first designated under the former federal

Louisiana Territory The Territory of Louisiana or Louisiana Territory was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 4, 1805, until June 4, 1812, when it was renamed the Missouri Territory. The territory was formed out of t ...

(1804-1812) and subsequent successor

(1812-1821). The central region of the state is known as

and is also known as the cultural area of Boonslick or Boone's Lick Country, because of a nearby salt spring or "lick" which famed

Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

American frontier The American frontier, also known as the Old West, and popularly known as the Wild West, encompasses the Geography of the United States, geography, History of the United States, history, Folklore of the United States, folklore, and Cultur ...

explorer, pioneer, settler

's (1734-1820) sons,

Daniel Morgan Boone Daniel Morgan Boone (December 23, 1769 July 13, 1839) was the son of Daniel Boone and a significant American pioneer, explorer, and frontiersman in his own right. He was a particularly key player in the early American exploration and settlement ...

(1769-1839), and younger

Nathan Boone Nathan Boone (1780–1856) was a veteran of the War of 1812, a delegate to the Missouri constitutional convention in 1820, and a captain in the 1st United States Regiment of Dragoons at the time of its founding, eventually rising to the rank of li ...

(1780-1856), used for their animals stock. Boone County was settled primarily from the

Upper South The Upland South and Upper South are two overlapping cultural and geographic subregions in the inland part of the Southern United States. They differ from the Deep South and Atlantic coastal plain by terrain, history, economics, demographics, ...

states of

Tennessee Tennessee (, ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Kentucky to the north, Virginia to the northeast, North Carolina t ...

and further east of

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...

. The settlers brought

slaves Slavery is the ownership of a person as property, especially in regards to their labour. Slavery typically involves compulsory work, with the slave's location of work and residence dictated by the party that holds them in bondage. Enslavemen ...

and idea of slave-holding with them, and quickly started cultivating crops similar to those in

Middle Tennessee Middle Tennessee is one of the three Grand Divisions of Tennessee that composes roughly the central portion of the state. It is delineated according to state law as 41 of the state's 95 counties. Middle Tennessee contains the state's capital an ...

and the bluegrass state of Kentucky: hemp and tobacco. Boone was one of several counties to the north and south of the diagonal flowing southwestward

Missouri River The Missouri River is a river in the Central United States, Central and Mountain states, Mountain West regions of the United States. The nation's longest, it rises in the eastern Centennial Mountains of the Bitterroot Range of the Rocky Moun ...

that was settled by mostly Southerners. Because of its culture and traditions, the area became known as Little Dixie, and Boone County was at its heart. In 1860 slaves made up 25 percent or more of the county's population, Boone County was strongly pro-

Confederacy A confederation (also known as a confederacy or league) is a political union of sovereign states united for purposes of common action. Usually created by a treaty, confederations of states tend to be established for dealing with critical issu ...

during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

(1861-1865). Shortly after the assassination / murder in April 1865, of 16th President

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was the 16th president of the United States, serving from 1861 until Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, his assassination in 1865. He led the United States through the American Civil War ...

(1809-1865, served 1861-1865), the leading citizens of the county and its county seat town denounced the killing. They also directed that all public buildings including the county courthouse and the nearby state university be draped in black mourning for thirty days.

Geography

According to the

U.S. Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The U.S. Census Bureau is part of the U ...

, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.8%) is water. The

makes up the southern border of the county.

National protected areas

* Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge *

Mark Twain National Forest Mark Twain National Forest (MTNF) is a U.S. National Forest located in the southern half of Missouri, composed of nine disconnected parcels. MTNF was established on September 11, 1939. It is named for author Mark Twain, a Missouri native. The ...

(part)

Adjacent counties

* Audrain County (northeast) *

Callaway County Callaway County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 United States census, the county's population was 44,283. Its county seat is Fulton. With a border formed by the Missouri River, the county was organized Novemb ...

(east) * Cole County (south) * Cooper County (west) * Howard County (northwest) *

Moniteau County 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. Its county seat is California. The county was organized February 14, 1845, and named for the Moniteau Creek ...

(southwest) * Randolph County (north)

Major highways

Interstate 70 Interstate 70 (I-70) is a major east–west Interstate Highway in the United States that runs from Interstate 15, I-15 near Cove Fort, Utah, to Interstate 695 (Maryland), I-695 and Maryland Route 570 (MD 570) in Woodlawn, Baltimo ...

Interstate 70 Business Loop *

U.S. Route 40 U.S. Route 40 or U.S. Highway 40 (US 40), also known as the Main Street of America (a nickname shared with U.S. Route 66), is a major east–west United States Highway traveling across the United States from the Mountain States to the Mid- ...

U.S. Route 63 U.S. Route 63 (US 63) is a , north–south United States Highway primarily in the Midwestern and Southern United States. The southern terminus of the route is at Interstate 20 (I-20) in Ruston, Louisiana; the northern terminus is at US&nbs ...

* * Route 22 * Route 124 * Route 163 * Route 740 * Route 763

Demographics

As of the

census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...

of 2000, there were 135,454 people, 53,094 households, and 31,378 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 56,678 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 85.43%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

, 8.54%

Black Black is a color that results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without chroma, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness.Eva Heller, ''P ...

African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...

, 0.42%

Native American Native Americans or Native American usually refers to Native Americans in the United States. Related terms and peoples include: Ethnic groups * Indigenous peoples of the Americas, the pre-Columbian peoples of North, South, and Central America ...

, 2.96% Asian, 0.03%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...

, 0.69% from

other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), ...

, and 1.93% from two or more races. Approximately 1.78% of the population were

Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...

or Latino of any race. 24.6% claimed

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...

, 12.3%

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, p ...

, 11.2%

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Culture, language and peoples * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England * ''English'', an Amish ter ...

and 9.8% Irish ancestry. There were 53,094 households, out of which 30.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.50% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...

living together, 10.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.90% were non-families. 28.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.97. In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.80% under the age of 18, 19.90% from 18 to 24, 29.90% from 25 to 44, 18.80% from 45 to 64, and 8.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.90 males. The median income for a household in the county was $37,485, and the median income for a family was $51,210. Males had a median income of $33,304 versus $25,990 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

for the county was $19,844. About 7.60% of families and 14.50% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, including 12.10% of those under age 18 and 5.90% of those age 65 or over. There are 127,433 registered voters as of 2022.

Religion

According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2010), Boone County is sometimes regarded as being on the northern edge of the so-called

Bible Belt The Bible Belt is a region of the Southern United States and the Midwestern state of Missouri (which also has significant Southern influence), where evangelical Protestantism exerts a strong social and cultural influence. The region has been de ...

, with evangelical

Protestantism Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes Justification (theology), justification of sinners Sola fide, through faith alone, the teaching that Salvation in Christianity, salvation comes by unmerited Grace in Christianity, divin ...

being the most predominant religious faith represented. The most predominant denominations among residents in Boone County who adhere to a religion are the

Baptists Baptists are a Christian denomination, denomination within Protestant Christianity distinguished by baptizing only professing Christian believers (believer's baptism) and doing so by complete Immersion baptism, immersion. Baptist churches ge ...

with the largest being from the conservative

Southern Baptist Convention The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), alternatively the Great Commission Baptists (GCB), is a Christian denomination based in the United States. It is the world's largest Baptist organization, the largest Protestant, and the second-largest Chr ...

(20.81%),

Roman Catholics The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...

(16.71%), and smaller / minor

nondenominational A non-denominational person or organization is one that does not follow (or is not restricted to) any particular or specific religious denomination. The term has been used in the context of various faiths, including Jainism, Baháʼí Faith, Zoro ...

evangelical Evangelicalism (), also called evangelical Christianity or evangelical Protestantism, is a worldwide, interdenominational movement within Protestantism, Protestant Christianity that emphasizes evangelism, or the preaching and spreading of th ...

groups (13.23%).

2020 Census

Education

Public schools

*Southern Boone (Ashland) R-I School District **Southern Boone Primary School **Southern Boone Elementary **Southern Boone Middle School **Southern Boone High School *Centralia R-VI School District – Centralia **Chance Elementary School (PK-02) **Centralia Intermediate School (03-05) **Chester Boren Middle School (06-08) **Centralia High School (09-12) *Columbia School District No. 93 – Columbia **Center for Gifted Education (01-05) **Cedar Ridge Elementary School (PK-05) **Thomas Benton Elementary School (PK-05) **John Ridgeway Elementary School (K-05) **Eugene Field/ Alpha Hart Lewis Elementary School (PK-05) **Midway Heights Elementary School (PK-05) **Ulysses S. Grant Elementary School (PK-05) **Two Mile Prairie Elementary School (PK-05) **New Haven Elementary School (PK-05) **West Boulevard Elementary School (PK-05) **Locust Street Expressive Arts Elementary School **Parkade Elementary School (PK-05) **Blue Ridge Elementary School (PK-05) **Fairview Elementary School (PK-05) **Russell Boulevard Elementary School (PK-05) **Shepard Boulevard Elementary School (PK-05) **Mary Paxton Keeley Elementary School (PK-05) **Beulah Ralph Elementary School (PK-05) **Eliot Battle Elementary School (PK-05) **Derby Ridge Elementary School (PK-05) **Mill Creek Elementary School (PK-05) **John B. Lange Middle School (06-08) **Ann Hawkins Gentry Middle School (06-08) **Smithton Middle School (06-08) **Oakland Middle School (06-08) **Jefferson Middle School (06-08) **West Middle School (06-08) **Warner Middle School (06-08) **

David H. Hickman High School David Henry Hickman High School (commonly Hickman or HHS) is a Public high school, public secondary school in Columbia, Missouri, United States, serving students in Educational stages, grades Ninth grade, 9–Twelfth grade, 12. Built in 1927, it ...

(09-12) ** Muriel Battle High School (09-12) ** Frederick Douglass High School (09-12) – Alternative School **

Rock Bridge High School Rock Bridge High School is a public high school located in southern Columbia, Missouri, United States. The school serves grades 9 through 12 and is one of four High Schools in Columbia Public Schools. It is located next to the Columbia Area Career ...

(09-12) *Hallsville R-IV School District – Hallsville **Hallsville Primary School (PK-01) **Hallsville Intermediate School (02-05) **Hallsville Middle School (06-08) **Hallsville High School (09-12) *Harrisburg R-VIII School District –

Harrisburg Harrisburg ( ; ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), U.S. commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat, seat of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, Dauphin County. With a population of 50, ...

**Harrisburg Elementary School (PK-06) **Harrisburg Middle School (07-08) **Harrisburg High School (09-12) *Sturgeon R-V School District –

Sturgeon Sturgeon (from Old English ultimately from Proto-Indo-European language, Proto-Indo-European *''str̥(Hx)yón''-) is the common name for the 27 species of fish belonging to the family Acipenseridae. The earliest sturgeon fossils date to the ...

**Sturgeon Elementary School (K-04) **Sturgeon Middle School (05-08) **Sturgeon High School (09-12)

Private schools

*Apple School – Columbia (PK-K) – Nonsectarian *Children's House And Windsor Street Montessori – Columbia (PK-06) – Nonsectarian – Coed *Christian Chapel Academy – Columbia (K-08) –

Pentecostal Pentecostalism or classical Pentecostalism is a movement within the broader Evangelical wing of Protestantism, Protestant Christianity that emphasizes direct personal experience of God in Christianity, God through Baptism with the Holy Spirit#Cl ...

*Christian Fellowship School – Columbia (PK-12) –

Nondenominational Christian Non-denominational Christianity (or nondenominational Christianity) consists of churches, and individual Christians, which typically distance themselves from the confessionalism or creedalism of other Christian communities by not formally aligni ...

*College Park Christian Academy – Columbia (K-09) –

Seventh-day Adventist The Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA) is an Adventist Protestant Christian denomination which is distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the seventh day of the week in the Christian (Gregorian) and the Hebrew calendar, as the Sabbat ...

*Our Lady of Lourdes Interparish School– Columbia (K-08) –

Roman Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...

*Columbia Independent School – Columbia (PK-12) – Nonsectarian *Columbia KinderCare – Columbia (NS-PK) – Nonsectarian *Columbia Montessori School – Columbia (PK-K) – Nonsectarian *Father Tolton Regional High School- Columbia (09-12) –

*Good Shepherd Lutheran School – Columbia (K-08) –

Lutheran Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestantism that emerged under the work of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German friar and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practices of the Catholic Church launched ...

*Heritage Academy – Columbia (03-12) –

– Alternative School *Islamic School of Columbia, Missouri – Columbia (K-05) –

Muslim Muslims () are people who adhere to Islam, a Monotheism, monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God ...

*Morningside Community School – Columbia (05-07) – Nonsectarian *Shalom Christian Academy – Columbia (PK-12) – Nonsectarian *Harrisburg Early Learning Center –

(NS/PK-06) *Sunnydale Adventist Academy – Centralia (09-12) –

Post-secondary (colleges / University / community college)

at Columbia, A public, nationally-renowned four-year flagship state university, established 1839. * Columbia College – Columbia A private, four-year university, founded 1851. *

Stephens College Stephens College is a Private college, private Women's colleges in the United States, women's college in Columbia, Missouri, United States. It is Timeline of women's colleges in the United States#First and oldest, the second-oldest women's educa ...

– ( Columbia), A private, four-year all-women university, founded 1833. *

Moberly Area Community College Moberly Area Community College (MACC) is a public community college based in Moberly, Missouri. In addition to the Moberly campus, MACC has four campuses across a large portion of Northeastern and central Mid-Missouri regions of the state of Miss ...

(MACC), in

Moberly, Missouri Moberly is a city in Randolph County, Missouri, United States. The population was 13,783 as of the 2020 census. It is part of the Columbia metropolitan area and the 9-county Columbia–Jefferson City–Moberly combined statistical area that h ...

, established 1927, a two-year public

community college A community college is a type of undergraduate higher education institution, generally leading to an associate degree, certificate, or diploma. The term can have different meanings in different countries: many community colleges have an open enr ...

, operates four satellite campuses, including one in Columbia.

Public libraries

* Centralia Public Library * Southern Boone County Public Library * Columbia Public Library

Communities

Cities

* Ashland * Centralia * Columbia (county seat) * Hallsville * Rocheport *

Villages

* Hartsburg * Huntsdale * McBaine * Pierpont

Unincorporated communities

Bourbon Bourbon may refer to: Food and drink * Bourbon whiskey, an American whiskey made using a corn-based mash * Bourbon, a beer produced by Brasseries de Bourbon * Bourbon biscuit, a chocolate sandwich biscuit * Bourbon coffee, a type of coffee ma ...

* Browns * Claysville * Deer Park * Easley * Englewood * Ginlet * Harg * Hinton *

Oldham Oldham is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amongst the Pennines on elevated ground between the rivers River Irk, Irk and River Medlock, Medlock, southeast of Rochdale, and northeast of Manchester. It is the administrative cent ...

* Midway * Prathersville *

Providence Providence often refers to: * Providentia, the divine personification of foresight in ancient Roman religion * Divine providence, divinely ordained events and outcomes in some religions * Providence, Rhode Island, the capital of Rhode Island in the ...

* Riggs *

Rucker Rucker may refer to: Activities * Loaded march, the practicing of which is also called ''rucking'' and the performer a ''rucker''. People * Rucker (surname) * Ruckers, Flemish family of harpsichord makers Places United States * Rucker Park, ...

Shaw Shaw may refer to: Places Australia *Shaw, Queensland Canada *Shaw Street, a street in Toronto England *Shaw, Berkshire, a village *Shaw, Greater Manchester, a location in the parish of Shaw and Crompton * Shaw, Swindon, a suburb of Swindon ** ...

* Two Mile Prairie * Wilton * Woodlandville

Townships

Township boundaries have changed over time. See links at end of article for maps of Boone County showing boundaries of different dates. As a rule, older townships were split, with newer townships created from their subdivisions. This is significant for historical and genealogical research. Note that maps show changes in township boundaries between 1898 and 1930 were minimal. *

Cedar Cedar may refer to: Trees and plants *''Cedrus'', common English name cedar, an Old-World genus of coniferous trees in the plant family Pinaceae * Cedar (plant), a list of trees and plants known as cedar Places United States * Cedar, Arizona ...

* Centralia * Columbia * Katy *

Perche Perche () (French: ''le Perche'') is a former Provinces of France, province of France, known historically for its forests and, for the past two centuries, for the Percheron draft horse, draft horse breed. Until the French Revolution, Perche was ...

* Rock Bridge Township, Boone County, Missouri, Rock Bridge * Rocky Fork Township, Boone County, Missouri, Rocky Fork * Three Creeks Township, Boone County, Missouri, Three Creeks

Politics

Political culture

As a county anchored by a college town, Boone holds a Democratic tendency at the local, state, and federal levels. It is the only Democratic stronghold in Missouri outside of Greater St. Louis and the Kansas City metropolitan area. Boone County is also very progressive on ballot measures, voting for 2020 Missouri Amendment 2, Medicaid expansion in 2020 and 2024 Missouri Amendment 3, legal abortion in 2024, unlike all of its neighboring counties. Both amendments only narrowly passed statewide, making Boone County's votes crucial. No Republican has won Boone County at the presidential level since George W. Bush very narrowly did in 2004 United States presidential election in Missouri, 2004, let alone with a majority since 1984 United States presidential election, landslide victor Ronald Reagan in 1984 United States presidential election in Missouri, 1984; at the U.S. Senate level since Roy Blunt in 2010 United States Senate election in Missouri, 2010; nor at the gubernatorial level since the popular John Ashcroft (who won the county both terms) in his 1988 Missouri gubernatorial election, 1988 landslide re-election.

Local

Like nearly all other U.S. counties housing a major university, the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party predominantly controls politics at the local level in Boone County. Democrats currently hold all of the elected county-wide positions.

State

Gubernatorial

Missouri House of Representatives

Boone County is split between five legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives. Three are held by Republicans, with two held by Democrats. *District 44 — Cheri Toalson Reisch (R- Hallsville). Consists of the communities of Centralia, Hallsville, Sturgeon, and northeastern Columbia. *District 45 — David Smith (D- Columbia). Consists of the north-central part of the city of Columbia. *District 46 – Martha Stevens (D- Columbia). Consists of the southern part of the city of Columbia. *District 47 — Charles Basye (R- Rocheport). Consists of the western part of the city of Columbia and the communities of Harrisburg and Rocheport. *District 50 – Sara Walsh Consists of parts of the city of Columbia and the communities of Ashland, Hartsburg, and McBaine.

Missouri Senate

All of Boone County is a part of Missouri's 19th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Caleb Rowden (R- Columbia), who is the Majority Floor Leader. However, Democrats have carried Boone County in recent elections.

Federal

Presidential

US House of Representatives

Northern Boone County is included in MO-04, Missouri's 4th Congressional District and is currently represented by Mark Alford (politician), Mark Alford (R-Lake Winnebago, Missouri) in the United States House of Representatives, U.S. House of Representatives. On October 27, 2021, Alford Sr. announced his candidacy for the United States House of Representatives in Missouri's 4th congressional district as a Republican in the 2022 elections. He won the Republican nomination in the August 2 primary election and won the November 8 general election. Southern Boone County is included in Missouri's 3rd congressional district and is currently represented by Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-St. Elizabeth, Missouri) in the United States House of Representatives, U.S. House of Representatives. Luetkemeyer has won every election since 2008. On January 4, 2024, he announced he would not run for reelection in 2024.

US Senate

Boone County, along with the rest of the state of Missouri, is represented in the U.S. Senate by Josh Hawley (R- Columbia) and Eric Schmitt (R-Glendale, Missouri, Glendale). However, their Democratic opponents carried Boone County in each of their respective most recent elections. Blunt was elected to a second term in 2016 United States Senate elections, 2016 over then-Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander.

Missouri presidential preference primaries

2020

The 2020 presidential primaries for both the Democratic and Republican parties were held in Missouri on March 10. On the Democratic side, former Vice President of the United States, Vice President Joe Biden (D-Delaware) both won statewide by a wide margin and carried a majority in Boone County. Biden went on to defeat President of the United States, President Donald Trump in the general election. Incumbent President of the United States, President Donald Trump (R-Florida) faced a primary challenge from former Governor of Massachusetts, Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld, but won both Boone County and statewide by overwhelming margins.

2016

The 2016 presidential primaries for both the Republican and Democratic parties were held in Missouri on March 15. Businessman Donald Trump (R-New York (state), New York) narrowly won the state overall, but United States Senate, Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) carried a plurality of the vote in Boone County. Trump went on to win the nomination and the presidency. On the Democratic side, former United States Secretary of State, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D-New York (state), New York) narrowly won statewide, but United States Senate, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) won Boone County by a wide margin.

2012

The 2012 Missouri Republican Presidential Primary's results were nonbinding on the state's national convention delegates. Voters in Boone County supported former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum (R-Pennsylvania), who finished first in the state at large, but eventually lost the nomination to former Governor of Massachusetts, Governor Mitt Romney (R-Massachusetts). Delegates to the congressional district and state conventions were chosen at a county caucus, which selected a delegation favoring United States House of Representatives, Congressman Ron Paul (R-Texas). Incumbent President of the United States, President Barack Obama easily won the Missouri Democratic Primary and renomination. He defeated Romney in the general election.

2008

In 2008, the Missouri Republican Presidential Primary was closely contested, with United States Senator, Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) prevailing and eventually winning the nomination. Former Governor of Massachusetts, Governor Mitt Romney (R-Massachusetts) won a plurality in Boone County. Then-United States Senator, Senator Barack Obama (D-Illinois) received more votes than any candidate from either party in Boone County during the 2008 presidential primary. Despite initial reports that Hillary Clinton (D-New York (state), New York), also a United States Senator, senator at the time, had won Missouri, Obama narrowly defeated her statewide and later became that year's Democratic nominee, going on to win the presidency.

Public safety

The Boone County Sheriff's Department (Missouri), Boone County Sheriff has jurisdiction over the whole county. The Boone County Fire Protection District (BCFPD) provides fire protection and emergency medical services for a large portion of Boone County, Missouri. The BCFPD is the largest volunteer fire department and third largest fire service organization in the state, protecting of residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural property and over 50,000 people. The Boone County Fire District maintains 15 fire stations, a training center, and a headquarters facility.

History

Prior to 1964, there was no organized fire protection in Boone County. This changed after an elderly handicapped woman died in a house fire just west of the city limits of Columbia. A small group of CB radio enthusiasts, known as the Central Missouri Radio Squad, banded together to develop a fire protection system for Boone County.

USAR Task Force

Boone County Fire is the sponsoring agency of Urban Search and Rescue Missouri Task Force 1 (MO-TF1), which is one of 28 FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Task Forces across the United States. The team is made up of 210 members that are qualified in various aspects of urban search and rescue.

Notable people

*James William Abert – soldier and explorer *David W. Alexander, 19th century Los Angeles, California politician and sheriff *Thomas M. Allen (Missouri clergyman), Thomas M. Allen – clergyman *Benjamin Anderson – economist *Gary Anderson (running back), Gary Anderson – football player *Simon Barrett (filmmaker), Simon Barrett – filmmaker *Rob Benedict – actor *Duane Benton – judge *Rebecca Blank – educator; acting U.S. Secretary of Commerce (2011-2011; 2012–2013) *Philemon Bliss – United States House of Representatives, U.S. Representative from Ohio (1855–1859), 1st Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Dakota Territory, and Associate Justice of Missouri Supreme Court (1868–1872) *John William Boone – musician *Stratton D. Brooks – college president *Fleda Brown – poet *Jessica Capshaw – actress *Russ Carnahan – United States House of Representatives, U.S. Representative from

(2005–2013) *Albert Bishop Chance, inventor of the earth anchor, mayor of Centralia, and founder of the A.B. Chance Company *J'den Cox – wrestler, Olympic medalist *Kevin Croom – UFC Mixed Martial Artist *Jack D. Crouch – hotelier *Deke Dickerson, Derek "Deke" Dickerson – musician *Carl Edwards – retired NASCAR driver *Jane Froman – singer; actress *Nicole Galloway – State Auditor of Missouri, Missouri State Auditor (2015-2023), Democratic nominee for Governor of Missouri (2020 Missouri gubernatorial election, 2020) *Chuck Graham – politician *Kenneth W. Griffin, Ken Griffin – organist *Eugene Jerome Hainer – United States House of Representatives, U.S. Representative from Nebraska (1893–1897) *William Least Heat-Moon – writer *Martin Heinrich – United States Senate, U.S. Senator from New Mexico (2013–present), United States House of Representatives, U.S. Representative from New Mexico (2009–2013) *Peter Hessler – journalist *Darwin Hindman – mayor of Columbia (1995–2010) *Brett James – singer *William Jewell (educator), William Jewell – educator, second mayor of Columbia *Leon W. Johnson – Air Force General *Tyler Johnson (baseball, born 1981), Tyler Johnson – baseball pitcher *Daniel Webster Jones (Mormon), Daniel Webster Jones – Mormon pioneer *John Carleton Jones – president of the

*Lloyd E. Jones – United States Army Major general (United States), major general *Kraig Kann – golf commentator *Henry Kirklin, horticulturalist, first black instructor at the University of Missouri *E. Stanley Kroenke – sports mogul *Sergei Kopeikin – astrophysicist *Ken Lay – chief executive, Enron *Grace Lee (director), Grace Lee – radio and television personality *Guy Sumner Lowman, Jr. – linguist *Jeff Maggert – professional golfer *William Rainey Marshall – 5th Governor of Minnesota (1866–1870) *William L. Nelson (politician), William L. Nelson – United States House of Representatives, U.S. Representative from

(1861–1865) *John Neihardt – poet *Don Nardo – author *Korla Pandit – musician *Carlos Pena Jr. – singer *Michael Porter Jr. – basketball player for Denver Nuggets *William Rainey Marshall – Minnesota Governor *James S. Rollins – 19th-century politician *James S. Rollins (20th-century politician) *Jesse M. Roper – 19th-century naval officer *Charles Griffith Ross – press secretary for U.S. President Harry S. Truman *Felix Sabates – philanthropist *Max Schwabe – United States House of Representatives, U.S. Representative from

(1943–1949) *Jon Scott – television journalist *John F. Shafroth – United States Senate, U.S. Senator from Colorado (1913–1919), Governor of Colorado (1909–1913), United States House of Representatives, U.S. Representative from Colorado (1895–1904) *Clay Shirky – writer *Apollo M. O. Smith – aviation executive *William Smith (actor), William Smith – actor *William J. Stone – United States Senate, U.S. Senator from

(1903–1918), Governor of Missouri (1893–1897), United States House of Representatives, U.S. Representative from

(1885–1891) *Blake Tekotte – baseball player *Malcolm Thomas (basketball, born 1988), Malcolm Thomas – professional basketball player *Nischelle Turner – television personality *Zbylut Twardowski – nephrologist *Charlie Van Dyke – radio personality *Andrew VanWyngarden – musician *James "Bud" Walton – co-founder, Wal-Mart *Sam Walton – co-founder, Wal-Mart *Edwin Moss Watson – editor; publisher *Norbert Wiener – mathematician *Lisa Wilcox – actress *Roger B. Wilson – 52nd Governor of Missouri (2000–2001)

References

External links

from

Division of Special Collections, Archives, and Rare Books *Map of Boone County in 1898, showing township boundaries of that date

*Map of Boone County in 1917, showing township boundaries of that date

*Map of Boone County in 1930, showing township boundaries of that date

*Map Boone County today, showing current township boundaries

{{coord, 38.951561, N, 92.328638, W, display=title, name=Boone County, Missouri Boone County, Missouri, Little Dixie (Missouri) Columbia metropolitan area (Missouri) 1820 establishments in Missouri Territory Populated places established in 1820 Missouri counties on the Missouri River

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