Howell County is a county in Missouri, United States, in the south-central Ozarks region along the Arkansas border. It had a population of 39,750 at the 2020 census and covers 928 square miles (2,403 km2) centred near 36°46′N 91°53′W.
West Plains is the county seat; its postal code is 65775. The county contains four incorporated cities, two census-designated places, and dozens of unincorporated communities grouped into 12 civil townships. Howell County is in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Howell County
Howell County has four incorporated cities — West Plains, Mountain View, Willow Springs, and Brandsville — plus two census-designated places (Pomona and South Fork) and a large number of unincorporated communities and crossroads that never took on city government. Type key: CDP = census-designated place; Unincorp. = unincorporated community with no municipal government.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Plains | City · seat | 12,184 | 65775 |
| Mountain View | City | 2,533 | 65548 |
| Willow Springs | City | 2,164 | 65793 |
| Brandsville | City | — | 65688 |
| Pomona | CDP | — | 65789 |
| South Fork | CDP | — | — |
| Pottersville | Unincorp. | — | 65790 |
| Peace Valley | Unincorp. | — | 65788 |
| Caulfield | Unincorp. | — | 65626 |
| Siloam Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hutton Valley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Moody | Unincorp. | — | 65777 |
| Olden | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Amy | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Arditta | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Burnham | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Chapel | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Chapin | Unincorp. | — | — |
| China | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cornertown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cottbus | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Crider | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cull | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cureall | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Egypt Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fanchon | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Frankville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fruitville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Globe | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Grimmet | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hocomo | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Homeland | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Horton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lanton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lebo | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Leota | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sterling | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Summers Addition | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Trask | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Turnerville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| White Church | Unincorp. | — | — |
One name from the old list, “Pocohontas Crossing,” could not be independently verified as a current Howell County place name and has been dropped rather than published unverified.
ZIP Codes
- 65775 — West Plains (also serves the surrounding rural southeast of the county)
- 65548 — Mountain View
- 65793 — Willow Springs
- 65688 — Brandsville
- 65789 — Pomona
- 65790 — Pottersville
- 65788 — Peace Valley
- 65626 — Caulfield
- 65777 — Moody
Most of the county’s smaller unincorporated communities have no post office of their own and are served by the West Plains ZIP.
Geography
Howell County sits in the Springfield Plateau of the Missouri Ozarks, a landscape of oak-hickory forest, spring-fed creeks, and karst sinkholes. It is Missouri’s third-largest county by land area. The county has 927 square miles of land and 1.1 square miles of water, drained mainly by the North Fork of the White River and tributaries of the Eleven Point River, both prized for float-fishing and canoeing.
Howell County borders Texas County to the north, Shannon County to the northeast, Oregon County to the southeast, Fulton County, Arkansas to the south, Ozark County to the southwest, and Douglas County to the west.
Demographics
The 2020 census counted 39,750 residents, a density of about 42.9 people per square mile. West Plains, the county seat, is by far the largest community at 12,184 residents; Mountain View is a distant second at 2,533. Howell County’s median household income runs well below the Missouri median of $68,545, reflecting the county’s rural, largely agricultural and service-sector economy.
Economy & Local Life
West Plains anchors the county economy as a regional hub for southern Missouri and northern Arkansas, with healthcare (Ozarks Healthcare), retail, and Missouri State University–West Plains all based there. Outside the city, cattle ranching, poultry production, and timber remain the backbone of the rural economy. The county’s spring-fed rivers draw seasonal tourism for float trips and fishing.
History
Howell County was organized on March 2, 1857, and named for Josiah Howell, an early pioneer settler of the Howell Valley. The original county courthouse was destroyed during the Civil War in 1862, and the replacement records were lost to a second fire in 1866; the current courthouse in West Plains was built in 1869. The county forms the core of the West Plains, Missouri Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Getting There
U.S. Routes 60, 63, and 160 and Missouri Routes 14, 17, 76, and 142 cross the county, with West Plains at their hub.
- Springfield, Missouri — about 75 miles northwest
- Mountain Home, Arkansas — about 45 miles south
- Poplar Bluff, Missouri — about 70 miles east
- Rolla, Missouri — about 90 miles north
The nearest commercial airport is West Plains Municipal Airport for general aviation; the nearest airline service is Springfield-Branson National Airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Howell County, Missouri?
It is in south-central Missouri’s Ozark region, bordering Arkansas to the south.
What is the population of Howell County?
39,750 people at the 2020 census.
How big is Howell County?
928 square miles (2,403 km2) in total, of which 927 square miles is land.
What is the county seat of Howell County?
West Plains is the county seat.
How many towns are in Howell County?
Four incorporated cities — West Plains, Mountain View, Willow Springs, and Brandsville — plus two census-designated places and many unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Howell County?
West Plains uses 65775; other towns include Mountain View (65548), Willow Springs (65793), and Brandsville (65688).
What river runs through Howell County?
The North Fork of the White River and tributaries of the Eleven Point River drain the county.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Missouri.