Carter County is a county in Missouri, United States, in the Ozark hills along the Current River. It had a population of 5,202 at the 2020 census and covers 509 square miles (1,320 km2) centred near 36°56′N 90°58′W.
Van Buren is the county seat, and its postal code is 63965. The county has 3 incorporated cities, 1 census-designated place, and several unincorporated communities. It lies in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Carter County
Carter County has three incorporated cities, one census-designated place, and a scatter of unincorporated crossroads communities across its forested, sparsely populated territory. The table below uses “City · seat” for the seat of government, “City” for the other incorporated municipalities, “CDP” for the census-designated place, and “Unincorp.” for places with no municipal government.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Van Buren | City · seat | 747 | 63965 |
| Ellsinore | City | — | 63937 |
| Grandin | City | — | 63943 |
| Fremont | CDP | — | 63941 |
| Chicopee | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Chilton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Crites Corner | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Eastwood | Unincorp. | — | — |
| House Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hunter | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Keeney Corner | Unincorp. | — | — |
| South Van Buren | Unincorp. | — | — |
South Van Buren sits just across the Current River from Van Buren itself and is often treated as part of the same community rather than a separate place.
ZIP Codes
- 63965 — Van Buren (also serves South Van Buren, Chicopee, and Eastwood)
- 63937 — Ellsinore (also serves Chilton and Crites Corner)
- 63943 — Grandin (also serves House Creek)
- 63941 — Fremont (also serves Hunter and Keeney Corner)
The county has four standard delivery ZIP codes in total, and every unincorporated community listed above falls within one of these four postal service areas.
Geography
Carter County sits in the Ozark hill country of south-central Missouri, cut by the Current and Jacks Fork rivers, both part of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. The terrain is heavily forested, with much of the county’s land inside the Mark Twain National Forest, and Big Spring — one of the largest freshwater springs in the country — is located just south of Van Buren. Of the county’s 509 square miles, 507 square miles are land and 1.7 square miles are water.
Carter County borders Reynolds County to the north, Wayne County to the northeast, Butler County to the southeast, Ripley County to the south, Oregon County to the southwest, and Shannon County to the west.
Demographics
Carter County had 5,202 residents at the 2020 census. Van Buren, with 747 people, is the largest incorporated place, followed by Ellsinore. The county’s median household income runs well below the Missouri median of $68,545, reflecting its rural, forestry-and-tourism economy. Population density is about 10 people per square mile, among the lowest in the state.
Economy & Local Life
Tourism tied to the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, timber and forestry work, and small-scale agriculture anchor the local economy. Van Buren serves as the gateway town for canoeing and float trips on the Current River, and Big Spring State Park draws visitors through the summer season. County government and local schools are among the largest year-round employers.
History
Carter County was organized on March 10, 1859, and is named for Zimri A. Carter, a pioneer settler who moved to Missouri from South Carolina in 1812. The county’s isolated, heavily forested terrain kept it thinly populated through the 19th century, and logging of its old-growth pine and oak forests became the dominant industry by the early 1900s. The creation of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways in 1964, the first national park unit of its kind protecting a wild river system, reshaped the county’s economy toward river-based tourism in the second half of the 20th century.
Getting There
U.S. Route 60 runs east–west through the county, and Missouri Route 21 and Missouri Route 34 provide the main north–south and secondary connections through Van Buren.
- Poplar Bluff, Missouri — 30 miles southeast
- Doniphan, Missouri — 25 miles south
- Salem, Missouri — 40 miles north
- West Plains, Missouri — 45 miles southwest
The nearest commercial airport is Poplar Bluff Regional Airport, roughly 30 miles southeast of Van Buren.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Carter County, Missouri?
It is in the Ozark hills of south-central Missouri, centred near 36°56′N 90°58′W, along the Current and Jacks Fork rivers.
What is the population of Carter County?
Carter County had a population of 5,202 at the 2020 census.
How big is Carter County?
The county covers 509 square miles (1,320 km2), of which 507 square miles are land.
What is the county seat of Carter County?
Van Buren is the county seat.
How many towns are in Carter County?
The county has three incorporated cities — Van Buren, Ellsinore, and Grandin — one census-designated place, and several unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Carter County?
Carter County has four ZIP codes: 63965 (Van Buren), 63937 (Ellsinore), 63943 (Grandin), and 63941 (Fremont).
What river runs through Carter County?
The Current River, part of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, flows through the county past Van Buren, alongside the Jacks Fork River in its northern reaches.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Missouri.