Barton County is a county in Missouri, United States, in the southwestern part of the state along the Kansas border. It had a population of 11,637 at the 2020 census and covers 597 square miles (1,550 km2) centred near 37°30′N 94°20′W.
Lamar is the county seat, and its postal code is 64759. The county has 4 cities, 3 villages, 2 census-designated places and about a dozen unincorporated communities, plus 15 civil townships. Barton County is in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Barton County
Barton County has 21 named places on record: 4 incorporated cities, 3 villages, 2 census-designated places (CDPs) and 12 unincorporated communities. Population figures below are shown only where verified; unverified cells are marked with an em dash.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lamar | City · seat | Lamar | — | 64759 |
| Golden City | City | Golden City | — | 64748 |
| Liberal | City | — | — | 64762 |
| Mindenmines | City | — | — | 64769 |
| Burgess | Village | — | — | — |
| Lamar Heights | Village | Lamar | — | — |
| Milford | Village | Milford | — | 64766 |
| Iantha | CDP | — | — | — |
| Irwin | CDP | — | — | — |
| Boston | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Bushnell | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Doylesport | Unincorp. | Doylesport | — | — |
| Dublin | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Esrom | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Hannon | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Kenoma | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Nashville | Unincorp. | Nashville | — | — |
| Newport | Unincorp. | Newport | — | — |
| Oakton | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Oskaloosa | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Verdella | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
Asbury, whose 64832 ZIP touches the county’s southeastern edge, has its post office and most of its built-up area across the line in Jasper County — it is not listed above as a Barton County place.
Townships
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Lamar | — | Lamar, Lamar Heights |
| Golden City | — | Golden City |
| Milford | — | Milford |
| Nashville | — | Nashville |
| Newport | — | Newport |
| Doylesport | — | Doylesport |
| Barton City | — | — |
| Central | — | — |
| City | — | — |
| Leroy | — | — |
| Northfork | — | — |
| Ozark | — | — |
| Richland | — | — |
| South West | — | — |
| Union | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 64759 — Lamar (also serves Lamar Heights)
- 64748 — Golden City
- 64762 — Liberal
- 64766 — Milford
- 64769 — Mindenmines
Burgess, Iantha, Irwin and the county’s smaller unincorporated communities share a ZIP with the nearest post-office town rather than carrying one of their own.
Geography
Barton County sits on the edge of the Osage Plains, a gently rolling prairie-and-cropland landscape crossed by Muddy Creek, Dry Fork and several smaller tributaries of the Spring River. The county covers 597 square miles, of which 592 square miles are land and 4.8 square miles (0.8%) are water.
Barton County borders Cedar County to the northeast, Dade County to the east, Jasper County to the south, and Crawford County, Kansas, to the west. Vernon County lies to the north; townsvillages.com does not yet have a verified page for it.
Demographics
The county’s population was 11,637 at the 2020 census, a density of about 19.7 people per square mile. Lamar is by far the largest community, followed by Golden City. Barton County’s median household income runs well below the Missouri median of $68,545, reflecting its rural, agriculture-based economy.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture anchors the county’s economy — row crops, cattle and poultry operations dominate the land outside Lamar. Lamar itself serves as the county’s retail, healthcare and government hub, and its municipal airport supports local air traffic. Golden City and Liberal function as smaller trade centers for the surrounding farmland.
History
Barton County was organized in 1855 and named for David Barton, one of Missouri’s first two U.S. senators. The county’s best-known native is Harry S. Truman, born near Lamar in 1884, who went on to serve as the 33rd President of the United States starting in 1945; his birthplace is preserved as a state historic site. Barton County was also the birthplace, in 1879, of Jennie “Little Britches” Metcalf, later notorious as one of the “Bandit Queens” of Oklahoma Territory outlaw lore.
Getting There
Interstate 49 runs north–south through the county, alongside U.S. Routes 71 and 160 and Missouri Routes 37, 43 and 126.
- Joplin — 30 miles south
- Nevada — 25 miles north
- Fort Scott, Kansas — 30 miles west
- Springfield — 65 miles east
Lamar Municipal Airport handles general aviation; the nearest commercial airport is Joplin Regional Airport, about 35 miles south.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Barton County, Missouri?
It is in the southwestern part of the state, on the Kansas border, between Nevada to the north and Joplin to the south.
What is the population of Barton County?
Barton County had a population of 11,637 at the 2020 census.
How big is Barton County?
The county covers 597 square miles (1,550 km2), of which 592 square miles are land.
What is the Barton County seat?
Lamar is the county seat.
How many towns are in Barton County?
The county has 4 incorporated cities, 3 villages, 2 census-designated places and a dozen unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Barton County?
The main ZIP codes are 64759 (Lamar), 64748 (Golden City), 64762 (Liberal), 64766 (Milford) and 64769 (Mindenmines).
Who was born in Barton County?
President Harry S. Truman was born near Lamar in 1884.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Missouri.