Clinton County is a county in Missouri, United States, part of the Kansas City metropolitan area, in the northwestern part of the state. It had a population of 21,184 at the 2020 census and covers 423 square miles (1,100 km2) centred near 39°36′N 94°24′W.
Plattsburg is the county seat, and its postal code is 64477. The county holds seven incorporated cities, two villages, and around ten unincorporated communities. Clinton County lies in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Clinton County
Clinton County has 19 named places on record: seven incorporated cities, two villages, and ten unincorporated communities. Most of the incorporated places sit along US Route 36 or Interstate 35, which cross the county; the smaller communities are farm crossroads with no local government of their own. CDP = census-designated place; Unincorp. = unincorporated community with no municipal government.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plattsburg | City · seat | — | 64477 |
| Cameron | City | — | 64429 |
| Gower | City | — | 64454 |
| Holt | City | — | — |
| Lathrop | City | — | 64465 |
| Osborn | City | — | — |
| Trimble | City | — | 64492 |
| Grayson | Village | — | — |
| Turney | Village | — | 64493 |
| Barnesville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Braley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Converse | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Haynesville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hemple | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Keystone | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lilly | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mecca | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Perrin | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Starfield | Unincorp. | — | — |
Cameron sits astride the Clinton–DeKalb county line, and roughly half its population and land area lie in DeKalb County; only the Clinton County share is counted here. Holt likewise straddles the Clinton–Clay county boundary.
ZIP Codes
- 64477 — Plattsburg
- 64429 — Cameron
- 64454 — Gower
- 64465 — Lathrop
- 64492 — Trimble
- 64493 — Turney
Holt, Osborn, Grayson, and the county’s unincorporated communities do not carry their own post office and are served by ZIP codes assigned to neighboring towns.
Geography
Clinton County is rolling farm and pasture country typical of northwestern Missouri’s glaciated plains, drained by Shoal Creek and the Second Fork of the Platte River. The terrain rises gently from the creek bottoms to broad upland fields planted mostly in corn and soybeans, with cattle pasture on the rougher ground near the drainages. Interstate 35 and US Route 36 cross near Cameron, the county’s largest city, making the northeastern part of the county the most built-up section; the rest of the county stays sparsely settled farmland dotted with the small unincorporated communities listed above. The county borders DeKalb County to the north, Caldwell County to the east, Ray County to the southeast, Clay County to the south, Platte County to the southwest, and Buchanan County to the west.
Demographics
Clinton County had 21,184 residents at the 2020 census. Cameron and Plattsburg are its two largest communities. The county’s median household income runs below the Missouri median of $68,545, reflecting its largely agricultural economy. Population density is roughly 51 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture — row crops and cattle — anchors the county’s economy outside Cameron, which has grown as a retail and logistics hub at the I-35/US-36 interchange and draws commuters into the Kansas City metro. Cameron is also home to two Missouri Department of Corrections facilities, among the county’s largest employers. Plattsburg and the smaller towns stay oriented around farm supply, schools, and county government rather than heavy industry, and grain elevators remain a fixture of the smaller communities along the county’s rail lines.
History
Clinton County was organized on January 2, 1833, carved from Clay County territory as northwestern Missouri filled in with settlers in the years after statehood, and named for DeWitt Clinton, the former governor of New York and builder of the Erie Canal. Plattsburg, its county seat, takes its own name from Plattsburgh, New York, which was likewise named for Governor Clinton. Cameron grew up later around the railroad, and its position on what became the Interstate 35 corridor eventually made it the county’s largest community, well ahead of the county seat.
Getting There
Interstate 35 and US Route 36 both cross the county, meeting near Cameron.
- Kansas City — 45 miles south
- St. Joseph — 25 miles west
- Chillicothe — 35 miles east
The nearest commercial airport is Kansas City International Airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Clinton County, Missouri?
It sits in the northwestern part of the state, part of the Kansas City metropolitan area, between St. Joseph and Kansas City.
What is the population of Clinton County?
21,184 people at the 2020 census.
How big is Clinton County?
423 square miles (1,100 km2), of which 419 square miles is land.
What is the county seat of Clinton County?
Plattsburg is the county seat.
How many towns are in Clinton County?
Seven incorporated cities and two villages, plus about ten unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Clinton County?
64477 (Plattsburg), 64429 (Cameron), 64454 (Gower), 64465 (Lathrop), 64492 (Trimble), and 64493 (Turney) are the county’s own ZIP codes.
What river runs through Clinton County?
Shoal Creek and the Second Fork of the Platte River both drain the county.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Missouri.