Carroll County is a county in Missouri, United States, in the north-central part of the state along the Missouri River. It had a population of 8,495 at the 2020 census and covers 701 square miles (1,820 km2) centred near 39°26′N 93°30′W.
Carrollton is the county seat, and its postal code is 64633. The county contains six cities, one village, and more than twenty unincorporated communities, grouped across 20 civil townships. Carroll County lies in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Carroll County
Carroll County has 28 named places on record: six incorporated cities, one village, and 21 unincorporated communities and crossroads. Most of the unincorporated places are farm hamlets or former rail sidings with no current population figures. Legend: CDP = census-designated place; Unincorp. = unincorporated community.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asper | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Bogard | City | — | — | 64622 |
| Bosworth | City | — | — | 64623 |
| Bridge Creek | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Carrollton | City · seat | Carrollton | — | 64633 |
| Coloma | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| De Witt | City | De Witt | — | 64639 |
| Grace | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Hale | City | — | — | 64643 |
| Judd | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Leta | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Little Compton | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Mandeville | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Miami Station | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Miles Point | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Milford | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Norborne | City | — | — | 64668 |
| Palemon | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Plymouth | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Roads | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| South Carrollton | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Standish | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Stet | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Sugartree | Unincorp. | Sugartree | — | — |
| Tina | Village | — | — | 64682 |
| W B Junction | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Wakenda | Unincorp. | Wakenda | — | — |
| White Rock | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
South Carrollton sits directly across the Missouri River from Carrollton itself and is sometimes confused with the county seat on older maps, though the two have never shared a government.
Townships
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Carrollton | — | Carrollton |
| Cherry Valley | — | — |
| Combs | — | — |
| De Witt | — | De Witt |
| Egypt | — | — |
| Eugene | — | — |
| Fairfield | — | — |
| Hill | — | — |
| Hurricane | — | — |
| Leslie | — | — |
| Moss Creek | — | — |
| Prairie | — | — |
| Ridge | — | — |
| Rockford | — | — |
| Stokes Mound | — | — |
| Sugartree | — | Sugartree |
| Trotter | — | — |
| Van Horn | — | — |
| Wakenda | — | Wakenda |
| Washington | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 64633 — Carrollton (also serves South Carrollton and surrounding farmland)
- 64668 — Norborne
- 64623 — Bosworth
- 64643 — Hale
- 64639 — De Witt
- 64622 — Bogard
- 64682 — Tina
The smaller unincorporated communities — Asper, Bridge Creek, Coloma, Grace, Judd, Leta, Little Compton, Mandeville, Miami Station, Miles Point, Milford, Palemon, Plymouth, Roads, Standish, Stet, Sugartree, W B Junction, Wakenda and White Rock — have no ZIP code of their own and are served by the nearest city post office above.
Geography
Carroll County sits on the north bank of the Missouri River in the Glaciated Plains region of northern Missouri, with the county’s southern boundary largely following the river itself. The terrain rises from wide river-bottom farmland along the Missouri to gently rolling upland prairie in the north and east of the county. Wakenda Creek and Big Creek are the main interior streams, both draining south toward the Missouri.
Carroll County borders six other Missouri counties: Livingston County to the north, Chariton County to the east, Saline County to the southeast, Lafayette County to the southwest, Ray County to the west, and Caldwell County to the northwest.
Demographics
Carroll County had a population of 8,495 at the 2020 census, spread across a land area of 695 square miles for a density of about 12.2 people per square mile — among the more sparsely populated counties in northern Missouri. Carrollton and Norborne are the two largest communities in the county. Median household income in the county runs below the Missouri median of $68,545, reflecting the county’s heavily agricultural, low-density economy. The population is almost entirely rural; the U.S. Census Bureau classifies 100% of county residents as living outside any urban area.
Economy & Local Life
Row-crop farming — corn and soybeans on the river-bottom ground, with cattle grazing on the upland pasture — is the backbone of the county economy. Carrollton, the seat, is home to Carroll County government offices, the county’s public school district, and Carroll County Memorial Hospital, the area’s main source of healthcare and one of its larger employers. Grain elevators and farm-supply businesses cluster along the rail lines running through Carrollton, Norborne, and Bosworth.
History
Carroll County was organized on January 2, 1833, from a portion of Ray County and named for Charles Carroll of Carrollton, the last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence. Carrollton, platted the same year as the new county seat, took its name from the same source. The county’s economy and settlement pattern were shaped early by its position on the Missouri River, which brought steamboat trade to river landings before the railroads arrived later in the 19th century and shifted commerce inland to towns like Norborne and Bosworth.
Getting There
U.S. Routes 24 and 65 cross Carroll County, along with Missouri Routes 10, 41, and 139. Carrollton sits roughly:
- Chillicothe — 25 miles north
- Marshall — 30 miles southeast
- Richmond — 30 miles southwest
- Kansas City — about 75 miles southwest
The nearest commercial airport is Kansas City International Airport (MCI), roughly 75 miles southwest of Carrollton.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Carroll County, Missouri?
It’s in north-central Missouri along the north bank of the Missouri River, between Kansas City and Columbia.
What is the population of Carroll County?
8,495 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Carroll County?
701 square miles (1,820 km2) total, including 6.8 square miles of water.
What is the county seat of Carroll County?
Carrollton is the county seat.
How many towns are in Carroll County?
Six incorporated cities (Bogard, Bosworth, Carrollton, De Witt, Hale, and Norborne), one village (Tina), and more than twenty unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Carroll County?
The main ZIP codes are 64633 (Carrollton), 64668 (Norborne), 64623 (Bosworth), 64643 (Hale), 64639 (De Witt), 64622 (Bogard), and 64682 (Tina).
Why is it called Carroll County?
It was named in 1833 for Charles Carroll of Carrollton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, the same source of the county seat’s name.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Missouri.