Cole County is a county in Missouri, United States, in the central part of the state along the south bank of the Missouri River. It had a population of 77,279 at the 2020 census and covers 402 square miles (1,040 km2), of which 394 square miles are land and 8.2 square miles are water, centred near 38°31′N 92°17′W.
Jefferson City is the county seat — and the capital of Missouri — and its postal code is 65101. The county holds 6 incorporated cities, 2 villages, 1 census-designated place, and 16 unincorporated communities, grouped into 6 civil townships. Cole County sits in the Central time zone and carries FIPS code 29051.
Towns & Villages in Cole County
Cole County has 25 named places on record: six incorporated cities (one of them the state capital), two villages, one census-designated place, and 16 unincorporated crossroads communities. “CDP” below marks a place the Census Bureau tracks but that has no city government; “Unincorp.” marks a rural community with no municipal boundary at all.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson City | City · seat | Jefferson | 43,228 | 65101 |
| St. Martins | City | Jefferson | 1,278 | 65109 |
| Russellville | City | Moreau | 876 | 65074 |
| Lohman | City | Moreau | 202 | 65053 |
| St. Thomas | City | Osage | 313 | 65076 |
| Taos | City | Liberty | 1,124 | — |
| Wardsville | Village | Jefferson | 1,701 | 65101 |
| Centertown | Village | Liberty | 264 | 65023 |
| Eugene | CDP | Osage | 331 | 65032 |
| Apache Flats | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Bass | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Brazito | Unincorp. | Marion | — | — |
| Elston | Unincorp. | Jefferson | — | — |
| Henley | Unincorp. | Osage | — | 65040 |
| Hickory Hill | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Honey Creek | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Marion | Unincorp. | Marion | — | — |
| Millbrook | Unincorp. | Marion | — | — |
| Osage Bend | Unincorp. | Osage | — | — |
| Osage Bluff | Unincorp. | Osage | — | — |
| Osage City | Unincorp. | Osage | — | — |
| Schubert | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Scott | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Scrivner | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Stringtown | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
The old site list also carried “Cole Junction,” “Decatur,” “Payne Ford,” “Plummer,” and “Scruggs” — these could not be confirmed against current gazetteer or Census sources for Cole County and are omitted here pending verification; see Notes.
Townships
Cole County is divided into six civil townships: Clark, Jefferson, Liberty, Marion, Moreau, and Osage. Missouri’s townships have no independent government today — they exist as Census and assessment subdivisions — so populations below are omitted where unverified rather than estimated.
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Jefferson | — | Jefferson City, St. Martins, Wardsville, Elston |
| Moreau | — | Russellville, Lohman |
| Osage | — | St. Thomas, Eugene, Henley, Osage Bend, Osage Bluff, Osage City |
| Liberty | — | Taos, Centertown |
| Marion | — | Marion, Millbrook, Brazito |
| Clark | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 65101 — Jefferson City (also serves Wardsville)
- 65109 — Jefferson City (west side, also serves St. Martins)
- 65074 — Russellville
- 65053 — Lohman
- 65023 — Centertown
- 65032 — Eugene
- 65040 — Henley
- 65076 — Saint Thomas
Several smaller communities, including Taos, Brazito, and Marion, have no post office of their own and use a neighboring town’s ZIP code for mail.
Geography
Cole County lies in the Ozark border country of central Missouri, on rolling hills that step down to the bottomland along the Missouri and Osage rivers. The Missouri River forms much of the county’s northern edge, and the Osage River flows along part of the southeastern boundary before joining the Missouri just outside the county. The terrain rises from broad river bottoms near Jefferson City to wooded ridges in the south around Russellville and St. Thomas.
Cole County borders Callaway County to the northeast (across the Missouri River), Osage County to the southeast, Miller County to the southwest, Moniteau County to the northwest, and Boone County to the north (across the Missouri River).
Demographics
Cole County had 77,279 residents at the 2020 census, a density of about 196 people per square mile. Jefferson City is by far the largest community, followed by Wardsville and St. Martins as its main suburban neighbors. Median household income in Cole County runs above the Missouri median of $68,545, reflecting the concentration of state-government and health-care jobs in and around the capital.
Economy & Local Life
Missouri’s state government is the county’s largest employer by far — Jefferson City is the seat of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, and thousands of residents work in and around the Missouri State Capitol. Health care is the other major sector, anchored by Capital Region Medical Center and SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital. Lincoln University, a public historically Black land-grant university, is based in Jefferson City. Outside the capital, farming and small manufacturing shape the rural townships, with row crops, cattle, and hay dominant on the uplands around Russellville and St. Thomas.
History
Cole County was organized on November 16, 1820, from part of Cooper County, one year before Missouri achieved statehood. It is named for William Temple Cole, an early settler who built a fortified stockade, Cole’s Fort, near present-day Boonville. Jefferson City was chosen soon after as Missouri’s permanent capital, and the county has been the seat of state government ever since; the current Missouri State Capitol, completed in 1917 after a fire destroyed its predecessor, still dominates the riverfront skyline.
Getting There
U.S. Routes 50, 54, and 63 all cross Cole County and meet in Jefferson City, along with Missouri Routes 17 and 179.
- Columbia — 30 miles north
- Fulton — 25 miles northeast
- Osage Beach / Lake of the Ozarks — 35 miles southwest
- Sedalia — 40 miles west
Jefferson City Memorial Airport serves general aviation and regional flights; the nearest major hub airport is St. Louis Lambert International, about 130 miles east.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Cole County?
It is in central Missouri, straddling the Missouri River, roughly 30 miles south of Columbia.
What is the population of Cole County?
77,279 people at the 2020 census.
How big is Cole County?
402 square miles (1,040 km2), of which 394 square miles are land.
What is the county seat of Cole County?
Jefferson City, which is also the capital of Missouri.
How many towns and villages are in Cole County?
Six incorporated cities, two villages, one census-designated place, and around 16 unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Cole County?
Main ZIPs include 65101 and 65109 (Jefferson City), 65074 (Russellville), 65053 (Lohman), 65023 (Centertown), 65032 (Eugene), 65040 (Henley), and 65076 (Saint Thomas).
What is Cole County known for?
Being home to Missouri’s state capital — the Missouri State Capitol and most state-government offices sit in Jefferson City.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Missouri.