DeKalb County is a county located in the northwest portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,029. Its county seat is Maysville. The county was organized February 25, 1845 and named for General Johann de Kalb, Baron de Kalb, of the Revolutionary War.
DeKalb County is part of the St. Joseph, MO-KS Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS Combined Statistical Area.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.0%) is water.
Adjacent counties
Gentry County (north) Daviess County (east) Caldwell County (southeast) Clinton County (south) Buchanan County (southwest) Andrew County (west)
Major highways
Interstate 35
U.S. Route 36
U.S. Route 69
U.S. Route 169
Route 6
Route 31
Route 33
Transit
Jefferson Lines
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,597 people, 3,528 households and 2,473 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 3,839 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 89.09% White, 8.86% Black or African American, 0.66% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races and 0.93% from two or more races. Approximately 1.08% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 3,528 households, out of which 32.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 9.60% were married couples living together, 7.40% had a female householder with no husband present and 29.90% were non-families. 26.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 20.70% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 36.30% from 25 to 44, 20.90% from 45 to 64 and 13.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 152.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 168.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,654 and the median income for a family was $37,329. Males had a median income of $28,434 versus $20,207 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,687. About 7.20% of families and 10.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.80% of those under age 18 and 75.20% of those age 65 or over.
Religion
According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2010), DeKalb County is sometimes regarded as being on the northern edge of the Bible Belt, with evangelical Protestantism being the most predominant religion. The most predominant denominations among residents in DeKalb County who adhere to a religion are Southern Baptists (37.63%), United Methodists (19.88%) and Community of Christ (14.82%).
2020 Census
Education
Public Schools
Maysville R-I School District – Maysville
Maysville Elementary School (K-06) Maysville Junior/Senior High School (07-12) Osborn R-0 School District – Osborn Osborn Elementary School (K-06) Osborn Senior High School (07-12) Stewartsville C-2 School District – Stewartsville Stewartsville Elementary School (K-06) Stewartsville Senior High School (07-12) Union Star R-II School District – Union Star Union Star Elementary School (K-06) Union Star Senior High School (07-12)
Public libraries
Cameron Public Library
DeKalb County Public Library
Communities
Alta Vista
Amity
Cameron
Clarksdale
Fairport
Fordham
Maysville (county seat) Oak Orchid Osborn Santa Rosa Stewartsville Union Star Weatherby Wood
Politics
Local
The Republican Party controls politics at the local level in DeKalb County.
State
DeKalb County is a part of Missouri's 2nd District in the Missouri House of Representatives and is represented by Mazzie Boyd (R-Hamilton).
DeKalb County is a part of Missouri's 12th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Rusty Black (R-Chillicothe).
Federal
All of DeKalb 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. Graves was elected to an eleventh term in 2020 over Democratic challenger Gena Ross.