Laclede County is a county in Missouri, United States, on the northern edge of the Ozark Plateau along Interstate 44. It had a population of 36,039 at the 2020 census and covers 768 square miles (1,990 km2), centred near 37°40′N 92°35′W.
Lebanon is the county seat, and its postal code is 65536. The county has three incorporated cities, three villages, and roughly forty unincorporated communities spread across nine townships. It observes Central time.
Towns & Villages in Laclede County
Laclede County has three incorporated cities — Lebanon, Conway, and Richland (Richland straddles the Laclede, Pulaski, and Camden county lines, with most of its population in Pulaski County) — plus three villages and about forty unincorporated communities, many of them former rail sidings, post-office stops, or mill sites along the Gasconade and Niangua drainages. CDP denotes a Census-designated place; Unincorp. marks a place with no municipal government.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lebanon | City · seat | Lebanon | — | 65536 |
| Conway | City | — | — | 65632 |
| Richland | City | — | — | — |
| Evergreen | Village | — | — | — |
| Phillipsburg | Village | Phillipsburg | — | 65722 |
| Stoutland | Village | — | — | 65567 |
| Abo | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Adam Ford | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Agnes | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Bennett Springs | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Bidwell | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Brownfield | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Brush Creek | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Caffeyville | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Carroll Junction | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Case | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Casey Ford | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Clark Ford | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Competition | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Delmar | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Dove | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Drew | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Drynob | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Eldridge | Unincorp. | Eldridge | — | 65463 |
| Falcon | Unincorp. | — | — | 65470 |
| Garnsey | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Grace | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Harrill Ford | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Hazelgreen | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Ira | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Jacksonville | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Lynchburg | Unincorp. | — | — | 65543 |
| Lyons | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Morgan | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Nebo | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Oakland | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Origanna | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Orla | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Pease | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Prosperine | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Russ | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Russell | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Saint Annie | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Sleeper | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Southard | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| West Lebanon | Unincorp. | Lebanon | — | — |
| Winnipeg | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
Richland deserves a note: the city’s boundary crosses three counties, so most of its households and its municipal government sit in neighboring Pulaski County, with a smaller share in Laclede and a sliver in Camden. It is listed here because a portion of the city, and the ZIP-code area it anchors, lies within Laclede County.
Townships
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Lebanon | — | Lebanon, West Lebanon |
| Eldridge | — | Eldridge |
| Phillipsburg | — | Phillipsburg |
| Auglaize | — | — |
| Franklin | — | — |
| Gasconade | — | — |
| Osage | — | — |
| Spring Hollow | — | — |
| Washington | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 65536 — Lebanon (also serves the county’s central townships)
- 65632 — Conway
- 65567 — Stoutland
- 65722 — Phillipsburg
- 65463 — Eldridge
- 65470 — Falcon
- 65543 — Lynchburg
Seven ZIP codes serve the county in total. Most of the small unincorporated communities listed above receive mail through the nearest of these post offices rather than having a ZIP of their own.
Geography
Laclede County sits on the northern rim of the Ozark Plateau, a landscape of rolling, spring-fed hills cut by the Niangua and Gasconade rivers, both of which drain the county toward the Osage River system. Of the county’s 768 square miles, 765 square miles are land and about 3.3 square miles are water, mostly farm ponds and stream impoundments rather than a single large lake. Bennett Springs, one of Missouri’s largest springs, rises in the county’s east and feeds Bennett Spring State Park, a trout-fishing destination that draws visitors well beyond the county line.
Laclede County borders Camden County to the north, Pulaski County to the northeast, Texas County to the southeast, Wright County to the south, Webster County to the southwest, and Dallas County to the west.
Demographics
The county’s population was 36,039 at the 2020 census. Lebanon, the county seat, is by far the largest community, holding roughly three-quarters of the county’s residents; Conway is a distant second. Median household income in Laclede County runs below the Missouri median of $68,545, consistent with other rural Ozark counties outside the St. Louis and Kansas City metro areas. Population density works out to about 47 people per square mile, spread thinly outside Lebanon’s city limits.
Economy & Local Life
Lebanon anchors the county’s economy as a regional trade and healthcare hub along I-44, home to Mercy Hospital Lebanon and a cluster of manufacturing and distribution employers that serve the wider Lebanon Micropolitan Statistical Area. Tourism and outdoor recreation contribute significantly outside town, centred on Bennett Spring State Park’s trout season and the Niangua and Gasconade rivers for float trips and fishing. Agriculture, mainly cattle grazing and hay production on the county’s rolling pastureland, remains the backbone of the rural townships.
History
Laclede County was organized on February 24, 1849, and named for Pierre Laclède, the French fur trader credited with founding St. Louis in 1764. Lebanon was platted as the county seat soon after organization and grew through the late 19th century as a stop on the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad, later the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway (the “Frisco”), which shaped the town’s early economy as a rail and shipping point for Ozark livestock and produce. The later routing of U.S. Route 66, and then Interstate 44, through Lebanon reinforced the town’s role as a highway stop for travelers crossing the Ozarks.
Getting There
Interstate 44 runs the length of the county, connecting Lebanon to Springfield to the west and Rolla and St. Louis to the east. Missouri Routes 5, 7, 17, 32, and 64 provide the main north-south and secondary connections between the county’s towns.
- Springfield — 45 miles west
- Rolla — 45 miles east
- Camdenton — 25 miles north
- Buffalo — 20 miles west
The nearest commercial airport is Springfield-Branson National Airport, about an hour’s drive west via I-44.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Laclede County, Missouri?
It sits in south-central Missouri on the northern edge of the Ozarks, along Interstate 44 between Springfield and Rolla.
What is the population of Laclede County?
36,039 people, according to the 2020 census.
How big is Laclede County?
768 square miles in total, 765 of which are land.
What is the county seat of Laclede County?
Lebanon is the county seat.
How many towns and villages are in Laclede County?
Three incorporated cities (Lebanon, Conway, and part of Richland), three villages, and roughly forty unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Laclede County?
Seven ZIP codes serve the county: 65536 (Lebanon), 65632 (Conway), 65567 (Stoutland), 65722 (Phillipsburg), 65463 (Eldridge), 65470 (Falcon), and 65543 (Lynchburg).
What is Bennett Spring known for?
Bennett Spring, one of Missouri’s largest springs, feeds Bennett Spring State Park, a well-known trout-fishing destination in the county’s east.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Missouri.