Stoddard County
County
The Stoddard County Courthouse in Bloomfield
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
Missouri's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 36°52′N 89°57′W / 36.86°N 89.95°W / 36.86; -89.95
Country	United States
State	Missouri
Founded	January 2, 1835
Named for	Amos Stoddard
Seat	Bloomfield
Largest city	Dexter
Area
• Total	829 sq mi (2,150 km2)
• Land	823 sq mi (2,130 km2)
• Water	5.8 sq mi (15 km2)  0.7%
Population  (2020)
• Total	28,672
• Density	35/sq mi (13/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	8th

Stoddard County is a county located in the southeastern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 28,672.^[1] The county seat is Bloomfield.^[2] The county was officially organized on January 2, 1835, and is named for Amos Stoddard, the first American commandant (an early term for "governor") of Upper Louisiana.^[3]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 829 square miles (2,150 km²), of which 823 square miles (2,130 km²) is land and 5.8 square miles (15 km²) (0.7%) is water.^[4]

Adjacent counties

• Bollinger County (north)
• Cape Girardeau County (northeast)
• Scott County (northeast)
• New Madrid County (southeast)
• Dunklin County (south)
• Butler County (southwest)
• Wayne County (northwest)

Major highways

• Future Interstate 57
• U.S. Route 60
• Route 25
• Route 51
• Route 153

National protected area

• Mingo National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Demographics

As of the census^[10] of 2000, there 29,705 people, 12,064 households, and 8,480 families residing in the county. The population density was 36 people per square mile (14 people/km²). There were 13,221 housing units at an average density of 16 units per square mile (6.2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.34% White, 0.91% Black or African American, 0.40% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.24% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. Approximately 0.78% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 38.4% were of American, 15.4% German, 12.4% Irish and 8.5% English ancestry.

There were 12,064 households, out of which 30.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.40% were married couples living together, 9.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.70% were non-families. 26.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.90% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 26.30% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 17.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 92.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,120, and the median income for a family was $41,072. Males had a median income of $26,514 versus $17,778 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,003. About 12.80% of families and 16.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.20% of those under age 18 and 17.60% of those age 65 or over.

Religion

According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2000), Stoddard County is a part of the Bible Belt with evangelical Protestantism being the majority religion. The most predominant denominations among residents in Stoddard County who adhere to a religion are Southern Baptists (41.4%), Methodists (12.9%), and Pentecostal (8.3%).^[11]

2020 Census

Politics

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Local

The Republican Party predominately controls politics at the local level in Stoddard County. Republicans hold ten of the elected positions in the county. In the 2016 election, Sheriff Carl Hefner, who originally ran as a Democrat, switched parties and ran as a Republican.

State

Stoddard County is divided among three legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives.

• District 159 – Currently represented by Herman Morse (R-Dexter) and consists of most of the county, including Advance, Bell City, Bloomfield, Dexter, Dudley, and Puxico.

• District 161 – Currently represented by Steve Hodges (D-East Prairie) and consists of some of the southeastern portions of the county along the New Madrid County border including Baker, Essex, and Penermon.

• District 163 – Currently represented by Kent Hampton (R-Malden) and consists of the southwestern corner along the Dunklin and Butler county lines, including Bernie. Democratic incumbent Tom Todd was defeated by Republican challenger Kent Hampton in 2010.

All of Stoddard County is a part of Missouri's 25th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by State Senator Rob Mayer (R-Dexter). In 2008, Mayer defeated Democrat M. Shane Stoelting 65.32%-34.68% in the district. The 25th Senatorial District consists of Butler, Dunklin, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Ripley, Stoddard, and Wayne counties.

Federal

Stoddard County is included in Missouri's 8th Congressional District and is currently represented by Jason T. Smith (R-Salem) in the U.S. House of Representatives. Smith won a special election on Tuesday, June 4, 2013, to finish out the remaining term of U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson (R-Cape Girardeau). Emerson announced her resignation a month after being reelected with over 70 percent of the vote in the district. She resigned to become CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative.