Dallas County is a county in Missouri, United States, on the northern edge of the Ozarks near the Springfield metropolitan area. It had a population of 17,071 at the 2020 census and covers 543 square miles (1,410 km2) — 541 square miles of land and 2.1 square miles of water — centred near 37°40′N 93°01′W.
Buffalo is the county seat and its postal code is 65622. The county has 2 incorporated cities, 6 more named communities with their own post offices, and several dozen smaller unincorporated places. Dallas County sits in the Central time zone; its FIPS code is 29059.
Towns & Villages in Dallas County
Dallas County lists 34 named places below. Only Buffalo and Urbana are incorporated cities; everything else is an unincorporated community, hamlet, or crossroads — several are little more than a church, a store, or a cemetery marking an old post office site.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo | City · seat | 3,290 | 65622 |
| Urbana | City | — | 65767 |
| Elkland | Unincorp. | — | 65644 |
| Long Lane | Unincorp. | — | 65590 |
| Louisburg | Unincorp. | — | 65685 |
| Tunas | Unincorp. | — | 65764 |
| Windyville | Unincorp. | — | 65783 |
| Bennett Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Boyd | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Brittain | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cedar Ridge | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Celt | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Charity | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cloverdale | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Corkery | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Earnestville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Elixer | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Foose | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Handley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Herrick Ford | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Leadmine | Unincorp. | — | — |
| March | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mathis | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Olive | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Plad | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pumpkin Center | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Redtop | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Reynolds | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Shady Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Spring Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Thorpe | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Tilden | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wall Street | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Westfield | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wood Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 65622 — Buffalo (also serves most of the county’s eastern half)
- 65767 — Urbana
- 65644 — Elkland
- 65590 — Long Lane
- 65685 — Louisburg
- 65764 — Tunas
- 65783 — Windyville
The remaining unincorporated places have no post office of their own and use the ZIP of the nearest listed town.
Geography
Dallas County sits on the Springfield Plateau at the northern edge of the Ozarks, drained by the Niangua River and the Little Niangua River, with Bennett Spring — one of Missouri’s largest freshwater springs — feeding Bennett Spring State Park in the county’s northeast corner. The terrain is rolling to hilly, mixing pasture with oak-hickory forest; a small share of the county lies within the Mark Twain National Forest. It borders Camden County to the north, Laclede County to the east, Webster County to the south, Greene County to the southwest, Polk County to the west, and Hickory County to the northwest.
Demographics
Dallas County had 17,071 residents at the 2020 census, a density of about 32 people per square mile. Buffalo, the county seat, is by far the largest community at 3,290 residents; Urbana is the only other incorporated city. The county has one of the largest concentrations of Kauffman Amish Mennonites in the country. Median household income runs well below the Missouri median of $68,545, reflecting the county’s rural, agricultural economy.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture — cattle, poultry, and hay — anchors the local economy alongside county government, the Dallas County R-1 school district, and Buffalo’s small-business core, including Wood’s Supermarket, O’Bannon Bank, and Bank of Urbana. Dallas County R-1 Schools serve roughly 1,700 students across four buildings in Buffalo. The county’s biggest annual draw is the Southwest Missouri Celtic Heritage Festival & Highland Games, held in Buffalo alongside the town’s Art Walk and Craft Fair.
History
The county was organized in 1841 as Niangua County, named for the river that crosses it, and renamed Dallas County on December 10, 1844, for George M. Dallas, Vice President under James K. Polk. Buffalo was platted the same era and takes its name from a buffalo-skull marker once used as a landmark at a highway crossroads; its post office has operated continuously since 1846.
Getting There
U.S. Route 65 runs north–south through Buffalo, with Missouri Routes 32, 64, 64A, and 73 crossing the county.
- Springfield — 28 miles south
- Lebanon — 20 miles east
- Camdenton — 25 miles north
- Bolivar — 20 miles west
Springfield–Branson National Airport, about 30 miles south of Buffalo, is the nearest commercial airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Dallas County, Missouri?
It sits on the northern edge of the Ozarks in southwest Missouri, about 28 miles north of Springfield along U.S. Route 65.
What is the population of Dallas County?
17,071 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Dallas County?
543 square miles (1,410 km2), of which 541 square miles are land.
What is the county seat of Dallas County?
Buffalo is the county seat.
How many towns are in Dallas County?
Two incorporated cities, Buffalo and Urbana, plus about 32 unincorporated communities and hamlets.
What ZIP codes are in Dallas County?
65622 (Buffalo), 65767 (Urbana), 65644 (Elkland), 65590 (Long Lane), 65685 (Louisburg), 65764 (Tunas), and 65783 (Windyville).
Why is it called Dallas County?
It was renamed in 1844 for Vice President George M. Dallas, replacing its original name, Niangua County.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Missouri.