Newton County, Missouri
CountyNewton County
StateMissouri
Founded year1838
Founded dateDecember 15
Seat wlNeosho
Largest city wlNeosho
Area total627 sq mi
Area land625 sq mi
Area water1.8 sq mi
Area percentage0.3
Population as of2020
Population total58648
Pop est as of2025
Population est62263
Time zoneCentral
Webwww.newtoncountymo.com/
Ex imageNewton County MO Courthouse 20151022-113.jpg
Ex image capNewton County Courthouse in Neosho
District7th

Newton County is a county located in the southwest portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 58,648.[1] Its county seat is Neosho.[2] The county was organized in 1838 and is named in honor of John Newton, a hero who fought in the Revolutionary War.[3] Newton County is part of the Joplin metropolitan area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 627 square miles (1,620 km2), of which 625 square miles (1,620 km2) is land and 1.8 square miles (4.7 km2) (0.3%) is water.[4]

Adjacent counties

Rivers and creeks

Total river area: 361 acres (1.5 km2); length: 70 miles (110 km)[citation needed]

Major highways

Transit

National protected area

Demographics

Racial and ethnic composition

Newton County, Missouri – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980[5]Pop 1990[6]Pop 2000[7]Pop 2010[8]Pop 2020[9]% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020
White alone (NH)39,62542,75748,64250,967style='background: #ffffe6; |47,55197.71%96.20%92.41%87.70%style='background: #ffffe6; |81.08%
Black or African American alone (NH)132173298429style='background: #ffffe6; |5230.33%0.39%0.57%0.74%style='background: #ffffe6; |0.89%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)4529371,1431,286style='background: #ffffe6; |1,3511.11%2.11%2.17%2.21%style='background: #ffffe6; |2.30%
Asian alone (NH)87223166758style='background: #ffffe6; |7980.21%0.50%0.32%1.30%style='background: #ffffe6; |1.36%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x [10]x [11]144488style='background: #ffffe6; |790xx0.27%0.84%style='background: #ffffe6; |1.35%
Other race alone (NH)3723340style='background: #ffffe6; |1380.09%0.00%0.06%0.07%style='background: #ffffe6; |0.24%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x [12]x [13]1,0631,609style='background: #ffffe6; |3,890xx2.02%2.77%style='background: #ffffe6; |6.63%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)2223531,1472,537style='background: #ffffe6; |3,6070.55%0.79%2.18%4.37%style='background: #ffffe6; |6.15%
Total40,55544,44552,63658,114style='background: #ffffe6; |58,648 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%style='background: #ffffe6; |100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 58,648. The median age was 40.4 years. 23.7% 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 98.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.9 males age 18 and over.[14][15]

The racial makeup of the county was 82.5% White, 0.9% Black or African American, 2.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4% Asian, 1.4% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 3.1% from some other race, and 8.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 6.2% of the population.[15]

36.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 63.2% lived in rural areas.[16]

There were 22,399 households in the county, of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 23.2% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[14]

There were 24,570 housing units, of which 8.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 73.1% were owner-occupied and 26.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.4%.[14]

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 52,636 people, 20,140 households, and 14,742 families residing in the county. The population density was 84 /mi2. There were 21,897 housing units at an average density of 35 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 93.26% White, 0.59% Black or African American, 2.23% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.28% Pacific Islander, 1.12% from other races, and 2.20% from two or more races. 2.18% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 20,140 households, out of which 33.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.50% were married couples living together, 8.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.80% were non-families. 22.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.30% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 27.10% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 14.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,041, and the median income for a family was $40,616. Males had a median income of $30,057 versus $21,380 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,502. About 8.10% of families and 11.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.20% of those under age 18 and 9.50% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Unified K-12 school districts covering parts of the county, no matter how small, including those which have offices and/or schools in other counties, include:[17]

There is also a single elementary school district, Westview C-6 School District.[17]

Public schools

  • East Newton County R-VI School District – Granby
    • Granby Elementary School (K–04)
    • Triway Elementary School (K–04) – Stella
    • Granby Junior High School (05–08)
    • Triway Junior High School (05–08)
    • East Newton County High School (09–12)
  • Diamond R-IV School District – Diamond
    • Diamond Elementary School (PK–04)
    • Diamond Middle School (05–08)
    • Diamond High School (09–12)
  • Neosho R-V School District – Neosho
    • Field Early Childhood Center (PK)
    • Benton Elementary School (K–04)
    • Central Elementary School (K–04)
    • George Washington Carver Elementary School (K–04)
    • Goodman Elementary School (K–04)
    • South Elementary School (K–04)
    • Westview Elementary School (K–07)
    • Neosho Middle School (05–07)
    • Neosho Junior High School (08)
    • Neosho High School (09–12)
    • Central Campus Alternative High School (09-12)
  • Seneca R-VII School District – Seneca
    • Seneca Elementary School (PK–05)
    • Iva E. Wells Middle School (06–08)
    • Seneca High School (09–12)

Private schools

Post-secondary

Public libraries

  • Neosho/Newton County Library[20]

Communities

Cities

Villages

Unincorporated communities

Townships

  • Benton
  • Berwick
  • Buffalo
  • Dayton
  • Five Mile
  • Franklin
  • Granby
  • Marion
  • Neosho
  • Newtonia
  • Seneca
  • Shoal Creek
  • Van Buren
  • West Benton

Politics

Local

The Republican Party completely controls politics at the local level in Newton County. Republicans hold every elected position in the county.

State

Past Gubernatorial Elections Results
YearRepublicanDemocraticThird Parties
202479.07% 22,79518.95% 5,4641.98% 571
202077.89% 22,03120.12% 5,6921.99% 562
201671.92% 19,12324.85% 6,6073.23% 860
201257.88% 14,48339.48% 9,8802.64% 661
200861.85% 15,57036.29% 9,1341.86% 468
200475.23% 17,93523.75% 5,6621.02% 242
200066.05% 13,91732.18% 6,7801.77% 373
199658.15% 10,44539.60% 7,1142.25% 404

Newton County is divided into four districts in the Missouri House of Representatives, all of which are held by Republicans.

  • District 159 — Bill Lant (R)[21] Pineville) Consists of the communities of Fairview, Newtonia, Racine, Ritchey, Seneca, Stark City, and Stella.
  • District 160 — Bill Reiboldt (R-Neosho). Consists of the communities of Diamond, Granby, Loma Linda, Neosho, Wentworth, and part of Silver Creek.
  • District 161 — Bill White (R-Joplin). Consists of the communities of Leawood, Redings Mill, and parts of Joplin and Silver Creek.

All of Newton County is a part of Missouri's 32nd District in the Missouri Senate and is represented by Ron Richard (R-Joplin).

Federal

All of Newton County is included in Missouri's 7th Congressional District and is represented by Eric Burlison(Republican) in the U.S. House of Representatives.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Newton County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Eaton, David Wolfe (1917). How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named. The State Historical Society of Missouri. pp. 335
  4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
  5. ^ "1980 Census of Population - General Social and Economic Characteristics - Missouri- Table 16 - Persons by Spanish Origin, Race, and Sex: 1980". United States Census Bureau. pp. 20–25. Archived November 13, 2025 at the Wayback Machine. – via Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Missouri: Table 5 - Race and Hispanic Origin". United States Census Bureau. pp. 13–63. Archived March 13, 2025 at the Wayback Machine. – via Wayback Machine
  7. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Newton County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau
  8. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Newton County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau
  9. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Newton County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau
  10. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  11. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  12. ^ not an option in the 1980 Census
  13. ^ not an option in the 1990 Census
  14. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  15. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  16. ^ Census2020DHC
  17. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Newton County, MO". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2024-11-22. - Text list
  18. ^ Neosho Christian Schools
  19. ^ Ozark Christian Academy
  20. ^ Breeding, Marshall. "Neosho/Newton County Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  21. ^ 2017 election