Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri, and included the mean center of U.S. population in 1980. Jefferson County is part of the St. Louis Metro Area. As of 2000, the population was 198,099. Its county seat is Hillsboro. The county was organized in 1818 and named in honor of former President Thomas Jefferson.

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,720 km² (664 mi²). 1,701 km² (657 mi²) of it is land and 19 km² (7 mi²) of it (1.10%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• St. Louis County (north)
• Monroe County, Illinois, across the Mississippi River (east)
• Ste. Genevieve County (southeast)
• St. Francois County (south)
• Washington County (southwest)
• Franklin County (west)

Major highways

• Interstate 55
• U.S. Route 61
• U.S. Route 67
• Missouri State Highway 21
• Missouri State Highway 30

Demographics

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As of the census² of 2000, there were 198,099 people, 71,499 households, and 54,553 families residing in the county. The population density was 116/km² (302/mi²). There were 75,586 housing units at an average density of 44/km² (115/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.48% White, 0.68% Black or African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.24% from other races, and 0.93% from two or more races. 1.01% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 71,499 households out of which 38.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.00% were married couples living together, 10.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.70% were non-families. 18.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the county the population was spread out with 27.90% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 31.80% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 9.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 98.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $46,338, and the median income for a family was $51,787. Males had a median income of $37,822 versus $25,440 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,435. About 4.90% of families and 6.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.10% of those under age 18 and 6.30% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

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Arnold † Barnhart Byrnes Mill † Cedar Hill Cedar Hill Lakes † Crystal City †

Dittmer De Soto † Festus † Fletcher Grubville Herculaneum †

Hematite High Ridge Hillsboro † Horine House Springs Imperial

Kimmswick † Liguori Mapaville Morse Mill Murphy Olympian Village †

Parkdale † Pevely † Scotsdale † Sulphur Springs Valles Mines *

† incorporated

Special Areas

Two unincorporated areas exist along the outskirts of Pacific and Eureka which are called by the names of these cities even though neither city is officially incorporated in Jefferson County. The Jefferson County Planning Division Boards and Commission calls these areas by the city names. Taxes and fees are paid to theses cities or districts for water and sewer, school districts, fire districts, and ambulance districts.

In the case of Pacific some newer maps show a 55 acre City Park/Fairground residing in Jefferson County. The area south of Pacific along County road F from Pacific to FF, as of 2000, also has an estimated population over 2,800 as high as 6,887 ^* .

School Districts

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Crystal City School District 47 De Soto School District 73 Dunklin School District R-5 Festus School District R-6 Fox School District C-6 Grandview School District R-2

Hillsboro School District R-3 Jefferson School District R-7 Northwest School District R-1 Sunrise School District R-9 Windsor School District C-1

County Government

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The county commission is charged with running the county. There are three members; As of April 2005, the commission members are Edward L. Kemp (1st District Commissioner), Pat Lamping (2nd District Commissioner), and Mark Mertens (Presiding Commissioner).

In addition to standard elected positions, The commissioners appoint leaders of the following Boards/Commissions:

Arnold Crossroads Tax Increment Financing Redevelopment Area Arnold Triangle Development Tax Increment Financing Development Board of Adjustment Board of Equalization Building Commission Building Commission Board of Appeals Community Action Corporation (Jefferson-Franklin) Comtrea (Corporate Board)(Mental Health) Custodian of Records - County Commission

Developmental Disabilities Resource Board East-West Gateway Executive Committee - Advisory Board - Regional Citizen Economic Development Corporation - Board Members & General Membership Industrial Development Authority Jefferson County Public Sewer District Library Board Mental Health Board Metropolitan Airport Authority Mid-East Area Agency on Aging Advisory Board

Northeast Public Sewer District Park Board Planning & Zoning Commission Port Authority Rock Creek Public Sewer District Selma Village Sewer District Special Transportation Management Authority St. Louis - Jefferson Management Solid Waste District Board Transportation Advisory Committee University of Missouri Extension Council Water and Sanitary Sewer Advisory Commission Workforce Investment Board Members - Jefferson/Franklin County

County Parks and Recreation

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Big River Saddle Club Brown's Ford Cedar Hill Fletcher House High Ridge Civic Center

Rockford Beach Jefferson Winter Park Morse Mill Pleasant Valley Sunridge NW Jefferson County Sports Complex

External links

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• Jefferson County Online
• Jefferson County Sherriff's Department
• Jefferson County portion of Goodspeed's History (1888)

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Missouri counties | Jefferson County, Missouri

Jefferson County (Missouri) | Condado de Jefferson (Missouri)