Ripley County

As of the 2020 census, Ripley County, Missouri, had a population of 10,679. The racial composition was approximately 94.5% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 1.2% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 2.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino individuals made up about 1.6% of the population. The median age was around 43 years. The county had 4,542 households with an average household size of 2.34 and a median household income of approximately $34,404. About 23.3% of the population lived below the poverty line.

Ripley County, MO has a median home value of approximately $88,000. The median rent is around $600 per month. Homeownership stands at about 70%, while 30% of residents rent. The county has a low housing density with about 13 housing units per square mile. The housing market shows a mix of single-family homes and mobile homes. The average household size is 2.5 people.

Ripley County, MO, conducts elections for a variety of local, state, and federal positions. The County Clerk's office oversees the electoral process. In recent elections (e.g., 2022), voter turnout in Ripley County was around 54%, with roughly 4,000 out of 7,400 registered voters participating.

Key local positions include County Commissioner, Sheriff, and Assessor. For example, in the 2022 election:

• For County Commissioner, candidates were Mark Long (Republican, incumbent) and Joe Smith (Democrat).
• For Sheriff, candidates were Mike Barton (Republican, incumbent) and Jennifer Murray (Independent).

Additionally, Ripley County residents vote in state and federal elections:

• State Representative candidates for District 153 included Darrell Atchison (Republican) and Cindy Bunch (Democrat).
• For U.S. Senate, the candidates included Eric Schmitt (Republican), Trudy Busch Valentine (Democrat), and Jonathan Dine (Libertarian).

Elections typically include ballots for local measures and propositions impacting the community. Detailed and updated information can be found on the County Clerk's official website.

Ripley County, MO has relatively low educational attainment compared to national and state averages. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, about 76% of Ripley County residents aged 25 and older have completed high school, compared to the national average of around 88% and the Missouri state average of approximately 90%. For higher education, around 10% of Ripley County residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher, significantly lower than the national average of about 33% and the Missouri state average of roughly 30%. These statistics highlight a marked disparity in educational levels between Ripley County and broader benchmarks, suggesting potential areas for development in local educational opportunities and attainment.

As of the most recent data available, Ripley County, MO, has an employment figure of approximately 6,000 workers. The unemployment rate stands at around 4.9%, relatively higher than the national average of 3.7% but close to Missouri's rate of 3.5%.

Top industries in Ripley County include:

1. Manufacturing
2. Retail Trade
3. Healthcare and Social Assistance
4. Educational Services
5. Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting

Compared to national and state averages, Ripley County has a higher emphasis on Agriculture and Manufacturing, reflecting its rural setting and lower average wage scales relative to urban areas. The Retail Trade and Healthcare sectors are also prominent, aligning with state trends but representing a smaller share of total employment compared to national averages where industries like Information Technology and Financial Services are more prevalent.

Ripley County, MO, has an average household income of approximately $35,000. This is significantly lower than the national average of around $68,700 and Missouri's state average of $57,409.

The data highlights a substantial income disparity when comparing Ripley County to both state and national levels.

As of the latest available data, Ripley County, MO has a crime rate that is generally lower than the national average. The rate of violent crime in Ripley County stands at approximately 3.7 incidents per 1,000 residents, while property crime occurs at a rate of 9.5 incidents per 1,000 residents. These rates are lower than the U.S. averages of 4.0 for violent crime and 24.0 for property crime.

Ripley County, MO Crime Statistics

These statistics provide a snapshot of the crime situation in Ripley County as compared to broader national statistics.