Maries County is a county in Missouri, United States, in the south-central part of the state along the Maries and Little Maries rivers. It had a population of 8,432 at the 2020 census and covers 530 square miles (1,400 km2), of which 527 square miles (1,360 km2) are land, centred near 38°11′N 91°55′W.
Vienna is the county seat, and its postal code is 65582. The county has 2 incorporated cities (Belle and Vienna) and about two dozen smaller unincorporated communities. Maries County is in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Maries County
Only Belle and Vienna are incorporated; the rest of the county’s places are unincorporated communities, crossroads, and former post-office settlements. The table below lists every place carried forward from the county’s records.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vienna | City · seat | — | 65582 |
| Belle | City | — | 65013 |
| Argyle | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bend | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Big Bend | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Brinktown | Unincorp. | — | 65443 |
| Davis Ford | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hayden | Unincorp. | — | — |
| High Gate | Unincorp. | — | — |
| James Brothers | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lanes Prairie | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Light | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lindell | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lois | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Meyerstown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ozark Junction | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Paydown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Safe | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Shantytown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Stickney | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sudheimer | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Summerfield | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Tavern | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Van Cleve | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Venus | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Vichy | Unincorp. | — | 65580 |
Argyle straddles the Maries–Osage county line, with part of the community lying in neighboring Osage County.
ZIP Codes
- 65582 — Vienna (also serves Bend, Van Cleve, and surrounding rural addresses)
- 65013 — Belle (also serves Lanes Prairie, Meyerstown, and the county’s northeast corner; the town itself sits mostly in Osage County)
- 65580 — Vichy (also serves Davis Ford and nearby crossroads)
- 65443 — Brinktown (also serves High Gate and the county’s southeast)
Argyle, Hayden, Lindell, Lois, Paydown, Safe, Stickney, Sudheimer, Summerfield, Tavern, and Venus have no dedicated ZIP code and are served by one of the four post-office towns above depending on location.
Geography
Maries County sits on the rolling, wooded terrain of the Ozark Plateau, drained by the Maries River, Little Maries River, and Gasconade River, which forms part of the county’s eastern border. Most of the county is forested or in pasture, with few large open floodplains. Maries County borders five other counties: Osage County to the north, Gasconade County to the northeast, Phelps County to the east, Pulaski County to the south, and Miller County to the west. Osage, Gasconade, and Phelps counties do not currently have a rewritten profile page on this site.
Demographics
Maries County had 8,432 residents at the 2020 census, down 8.1% from 9,176 in 2010. Belle and Vienna are the county’s two largest communities. The county’s median household income runs below the Missouri median of $68,545, consistent with its rural, largely agricultural economic base. At 530 square miles, the county’s population density works out to roughly 16 people per square mile, well below the statewide average.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture, timber, and small manufacturing anchor the local economy, with cattle farming and row crops common on the county’s bottomland and pasture. Belle and Vienna both function as local trade centers for surrounding farms, with schools, churches, and small businesses serving as the county’s institutional core. Maries County R-1 and Belle schools are the county’s public school districts.
History
Maries County was organized on March 2, 1855, carved from parts of Gasconade, Osage, and Pulaski counties. It takes its name from the Maries River and Little Maries River, themselves named from the French word marais, meaning marsh, lake, or pond — a reference to the low, swampy ground the rivers pass through in places. Vienna was platted as the county seat soon after organization and has held that role continuously since.
Getting There
U.S. Route 63 runs north–south through the county, with Missouri Routes 28, 42, 52, 68, and 133 providing secondary access to its smaller communities.
- Rolla — 20 miles southeast
- Jefferson City — 35 miles north
- Waynesville — 30 miles south
- Fort Leonard Wood — 35 miles south
The nearest commercial airport is Columbia Regional Airport, roughly 65 miles north.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Maries County?
Maries County is in south-central Missouri, on the Ozark Plateau between Jefferson City and Rolla.
What is the population of Maries County?
8,432 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Maries County?
530 square miles (1,400 km2), of which 527 square miles is land.
What is the county seat of Maries County?
Vienna is the county seat.
How many towns are in Maries County?
Two incorporated cities, Belle and Vienna, plus roughly two dozen unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Maries County?
65582 (Vienna), 65013 (Belle), 65580 (Vichy), and 65443 (Brinktown).
Where does the name Maries County come from?
From the Maries River and Little Maries River, named with the French word for marsh or pond.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Missouri.