Ripley County is a county in Missouri, United States, on the Arkansas border in the south-central Ozarks. It had a population of 10,679 at the 2020 census and covers 632 square miles (1,640 km2) centred near 36°40′N 90°52′W.
Doniphan is the county seat and largest city; its postal code is 63935. The county has 2 incorporated cities and about 31 unincorporated communities, and it observes Central Time.
Towns & Villages in Ripley County
Ripley County has only two incorporated places — Doniphan and Naylor — alongside roughly three dozen unincorporated communities scattered through the Current River hills. Many of the smaller names on the list below are crossroads hamlets or former post-office stops rather than towns with services; a few have no current ZIP of their own and are served by a neighboring post office.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doniphan | City · seat | — | 63935 |
| Naylor | City | — | 63953 |
| Bardley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Beaverdam | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bennett | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Briar | Unincorp. | — | 63931 |
| Budapest | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Burr | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Carie | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Current View | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Doyle | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fairdealing | Unincorp. | — | 63939 |
| Flatwoods | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Gamburg | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Gatewood | Unincorp. | — | 63942 |
| Glenn | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Greenville Ford | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Handy | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hemenway | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hill Top | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Leibig | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Owenmont | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Oxly | Unincorp. | — | 63955 |
| Paterson Ford | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pleasant Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ponder | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Poynor | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pratt | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pulaski | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Purman | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sinsabaugh | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Steeles | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Torch | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Tucker | Unincorp. | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 63935 — Doniphan (also serves the county courthouse area)
- 63939 — Fairdealing
- 63942 — Gatewood
- 63953 — Naylor
- 63955 — Oxly
- 63931 — Briar
Six standard delivery ZIP codes serve Ripley County; most of the smaller unincorporated communities on the list above have no post office of their own and are served by mail from one of these six towns.
Geography
Ripley County lies in the Ozark foothills along the Current River, most of which flows through the Ozark National Scenic Riverways corridor before crossing into Arkansas. Much of the county’s land is forested, including large tracts of the Mark Twain National Forest, and the terrain is characterized by hills, spring-fed streams, and karst topography typical of the region. Of the county’s 632 square miles, 630 are land and 2.1 are water.
Ripley County borders Carter County to the north, Butler County to the east, Clay County, Arkansas to the southeast, Randolph County, Arkansas to the southwest, and Oregon County to the west.
Demographics
Ripley County had a population of 10,679 at the 2020 census, spread across roughly 17 people per square mile. Doniphan and Naylor are the county’s two largest communities; nearly all other residents live in unincorporated rural areas or small crossroads communities. The county’s median household income runs well below the Missouri median of $68,545, consistent with other rural Ozark counties in southeastern Missouri.
Economy & Local Life
Ripley County’s economy centers on timber and forest products, agriculture, and tourism tied to the Current River and Ozark National Scenic Riverways, which draws canoeists and anglers through Doniphan each summer. Ripley County R-III School District serves most of the county from Doniphan, and county government and health-care services in Doniphan are among the area’s larger employers.
History
Ripley County was established on January 5, 1833, and named for Brigadier General Eleazer Wheelock Ripley, who served with distinction in the War of 1812. Its original boundaries were far larger than today’s, encompassing land that later became Oregon, Howell, Shannon, and Carter counties as Missouri’s Ozark region was subdivided through the 19th century. During the Civil War the county was strongly pro-Southern and supplied several colonels to the Confederate Army, and it saw irregular fighting and guerrilla activity typical of the divided Ozark border counties.
Getting There
U.S. Route 160 and Missouri Routes 21 and 142 are the county’s main highways, with Route 160 linking Doniphan east toward Poplar Bluff and west toward West Plains.
- Poplar Bluff, Missouri — about 30 miles east
- West Plains, Missouri — about 35 miles west
- Corning, Arkansas — about 25 miles south
The nearest commercial airport is Southeast Missouri Regional Airport in Cape Girardeau; Poplar Bluff also has a smaller municipal airport with limited service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Ripley County, Missouri?
It is in the south-central Ozarks of southeastern Missouri, on the Arkansas border, roughly 30 miles east of West Plains.
What is the population of Ripley County?
10,679 people, according to the 2020 census.
How big is Ripley County?
632 square miles (1,640 km2), of which 630 square miles is land.
What is the county seat of Ripley County?
Doniphan is the county seat and the county’s largest city.
How many towns are in Ripley County?
Two incorporated cities, Doniphan and Naylor, plus roughly three dozen unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Ripley County?
63935 (Doniphan), 63939 (Fairdealing), 63942 (Gatewood), 63953 (Naylor), 63955 (Oxly), and 63931 (Briar).
What river runs through Ripley County?
The Current River, part of the federally protected Ozark National Scenic Riverways.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Missouri.