Pettis County is a county in Missouri, United States, in the west-central part of the state, roughly midway between Kansas City and Jefferson City. It had a population of 42,980 at the 2020 census and covers 682 square miles (1,770 km2) of land, centred near 38°44′N 93°17′W.
Sedalia is the county seat, and its postal code is 65301. The county has 8 incorporated cities, towns and villages plus more than a dozen unincorporated communities, sits in the Central time zone, and forms the Sedalia, MO Micropolitan Statistical Area on its own.
Towns & Villages in Pettis County
Pettis County has 8 incorporated places — one city that serves as county seat, one home-rule village, and six smaller towns and villages — plus a wide scatter of unincorporated crossroads communities. In the table below, “City · seat” marks Sedalia; “Unincorp.” marks places with no municipal government of their own.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sedalia | City · seat | — | 65301 |
| La Monte | City | — | 65337 |
| Green Ridge | City | — | 65332 |
| Smithton | City | — | 65350 |
| Houstonia | City | — | 65333 |
| Hughesville | Village | — | 65334 |
| Ionia | Village | — | — |
| Windsor | City | — | — |
| Bahner | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Beaman | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bryson | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dresden | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dunksburg | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Georgetown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Longwood | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Manila | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Newland | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Postal | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Spring Fork | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Stokley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Tedieville | Unincorp. | — | — |
Windsor sits astride the Pettis–Henry county line, with most of its population and its own ZIP code (65360) falling on the Henry County side; the Pettis County portion is covered here for completeness. La Monte likewise sits close to the Cooper County line but is wholly a Pettis County city.
ZIP Codes
- 65301 — Sedalia (also serves the surrounding rural county)
- 65302 — Sedalia (PO Box only)
- 65337 — La Monte
- 65332 — Green Ridge
- 65350 — Smithton
- 65334 — Hughesville
- 65333 — Houstonia
- 65345 — Mora (a small post office in the county’s north)
Smaller unincorporated places such as Bahner, Beaman, Bryson, Dresden, Georgetown, Longwood, Manila, Newland, Postal, Spring Fork, Stokley and Tedieville have no ZIP code of their own and use the nearest larger town’s code for mail.
Geography
Pettis County lies on the rolling prairie and timbered stream valleys of west-central Missouri. The Lamine River and its branches drain most of the county toward the Missouri River to the north. Of the county’s total area, 4.0 square miles (10 km2), or 0.6%, is water.
Pettis County borders Saline County to the north, Cooper County to the east, Morgan County to the southeast, Benton County to the south, Henry County to the southwest, Johnson County to the west, and Lafayette County to the northwest.
Demographics
The county’s population was 42,980 at the 2020 census, spread across a land area of 682 square miles, for a density of about 63 people per square mile. Sedalia is by far the largest community, followed distantly by La Monte. Median household income in Pettis County runs below the Missouri median of $68,545, reflecting the county’s mix of manufacturing, agriculture and rural employment.
Economy & Local Life
Sedalia anchors the county’s economy as a regional trade and manufacturing center, home to Bothwell Regional Health Center and State Fair Community College. Agriculture, particularly cattle, hogs and row crops, dominates the surrounding countryside. The county’s best-known annual event is the Missouri State Fair, held each August on the fairgrounds in Sedalia, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors from across the state.
History
Pettis County was organized on January 24, 1833, carved from Cooper and Saline counties, and named for Spencer Darwin Pettis, a Missouri congressman killed in an 1831 duel. Sedalia grew rapidly as a 19th-century railroad town, later becoming a shipping point on the Katy (Missouri-Kansas-Texas) Railroad line. The Missouri State Fair has been held in Sedalia since the early 1900s, cementing the county’s identity as the state’s agricultural showcase.
Getting There
US Route 50 crosses the county east–west and US Route 65 runs north–south, meeting at Sedalia; Missouri Routes 52, 127, 135 and 765 serve the smaller towns.
- Sedalia — 0 miles (county seat)
- Warrensburg — 25 miles northwest
- Marshall — 30 miles north
- Clinton — 25 miles southwest
The nearest commercial airport is Columbia Regional Airport, roughly 55 miles east; Kansas City International Airport is about 90 miles northwest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Pettis County, Missouri?
It sits in west-central Missouri, about midway between Kansas City and the state capital, Jefferson City.
What is the population of Pettis County?
The county had 42,980 residents at the 2020 census.
How big is Pettis County?
It covers 682 square miles (1,770 km2) of land.
What is the county seat of Pettis County?
Sedalia is the county seat.
How many towns are in Pettis County?
Eight incorporated cities, towns and villages, plus more than a dozen unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Pettis County?
Sedalia uses 65301 (and PO-Box-only 65302); other towns include La Monte 65337, Green Ridge 65332, Smithton 65350, Hughesville 65334 and Houstonia 65333.
What is Pettis County known for?
It’s best known as home to the Missouri State Fair, held every August in Sedalia.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Missouri.