Howard County is a county in Missouri, United States, with the Missouri River forming its southern border. It had a population of 10,151 at the 2020 census and covers 472 square miles (1,220 km2) centred near 39°08′N 92°42′W.
Fayette is the county seat, and its postal code is 65248. The county has two incorporated cities, one incorporated village, and a dozen smaller unincorporated communities. It observes Central time. Howard County is nicknamed the “Mother of Counties” because so many later Missouri counties were carved from its original territory, and it sits within the Columbia, Missouri metropolitan area.
Towns & Villages in Howard County
Howard County has fifteen named places on record: two cities, one village, and twelve unincorporated communities. Populations below are city/village totals where verified; CDP and unincorporated figures are marked — where no reliable census count exists.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayette | City · seat | — | 65248 |
| New Franklin | City | — | 65274 |
| Glasgow | City | — | 65254 |
| Armstrong | Village | — | 65230 |
| Franklin | Unincorp. | — | 65250 |
| Boonesboro | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bunker Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Burton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Estill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hilldale | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lisbon | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Petersburg | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Punkin Center | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sebree | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Steinmetz | Unincorp. | — | — |
Franklin listed here is the modern unincorporated community, not the original 1816 river town of the same name that stood nearby before it was abandoned to flooding — see History below.
ZIP Codes
- 65248 — Fayette
- 65274 — New Franklin
- 65254 — Glasgow (also serves the county’s northwest corner toward Chariton County)
- 65230 — Armstrong
- 65250 — Franklin
Boonesboro, Bunker Hill, Burton, Estill, Hilldale, Lisbon, Petersburg, Punkin Center, Sebree, and Steinmetz have no post office of their own and are served by the nearest listed ZIP.
Geography
Howard County lies in central Missouri’s Boonslick region, bounded on the south by the Missouri River. Of its 472 square miles, 464 are land and 7.7 are water. The terrain rises from river bottomland in the south to rolling upland prairie and woodland farther north.
Howard County borders Chariton County to the northwest, Randolph County to the northeast, Boone County to the southeast, Cooper County to the south, and Saline County to the west.
Demographics
Howard County’s population was 10,151 at the 2020 census, giving a density of roughly 22 people per square mile. Fayette and New Franklin are the county’s two largest communities. Median household income in Howard County runs below the Missouri median of $68,545, consistent with the county’s rural, agricultural economy.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture anchors the county economy, with row crops and livestock on the upland farms and river-bottom soils along the Missouri River supporting some of the region’s most productive cropland. Corn, soybeans, and cattle dominate the farm economy, and several wineries operate on the hillsides above the river, a legacy of the German settlers who moved into the county in the mid-1800s. Fayette is home to Central Methodist University, a private liberal arts university founded in 1854 that is the county’s largest employer alongside county government and the local school districts. Glasgow, on the Missouri River, has a long history as a grain-shipping town and still moves agricultural freight by barge.
History
Howard County was organized on January 23, 1816, and named for Benjamin Howard, the first governor of the Missouri Territory. It is part of the region historically known as Little Dixie, settled largely by migrants from Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia who brought slaveholding traditions with them. The original town of Franklin, on the north bank of the Missouri River, was the eastern terminus of the Santa Fe Trail beginning in 1821 and one of the largest towns in the state before repeated flooding forced its abandonment in the 1820s; New Franklin was founded nearby as its successor.
Getting There
U.S. Route 40 crosses the county, along with Missouri Routes 3, 5, 87, 124, and 240.
- Columbia — 20 miles southeast
- Boonville — 15 miles south
- Moberly — 25 miles northeast
- Marshall — 25 miles west
The nearest commercial airport is Columbia Regional Airport (COU) in Boone County.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Howard County, Missouri?
It sits in central Missouri along the north bank of the Missouri River, in the Columbia metropolitan area.
What is the population of Howard County?
10,151 residents at the 2020 census.
How big is Howard County?
472 square miles (1,220 km2), of which 464 square miles is land.
What is the county seat of Howard County?
Fayette is the county seat.
How many towns are in Howard County?
Two incorporated cities (Fayette and New Franklin), one incorporated village (Armstrong), plus Glasgow and about a dozen unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Howard County?
65248 (Fayette), 65274 (New Franklin), 65254 (Glasgow), 65230 (Armstrong), and 65250 (Franklin).
Why is Howard County called the “Mother of Counties”?
Dozens of later Missouri counties were formed, in whole or in part, from Howard County’s original 1816 territory.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Missouri.