Schuyler County is a county in Missouri, United States, on the Iowa state line in the north-central part of the state. It had a population of 4,032 at the 2020 census and covers 308 square miles (798 km2), of which 307 square miles (795 km2) are land and 0.9 square miles (2 km2) are water, centred near 40°28′N 92°31′W.
Lancaster is the county seat and its postal code is 63548. The county has three incorporated cities (Downing, Greentop, Lancaster and Queen City), one village (Glenwood) and several unincorporated communities, and it observes Central time.
Towns & Villages in Schuyler County
Schuyler County has four incorporated cities, one village and a handful of unincorporated crossroads communities. CDPs and unincorporated places carry no municipal government of their own.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster | City · seat | 675 | 63548 |
| Queen City | City | — | 63561 |
| Downing | City | — | 63536 |
| Greentop | City | — | — |
| Glenwood | Village | — | 63541 |
| Coatsville | Unincorp. | — | 63535 |
| Clifton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Julesburg | Unincorp. | — | — |
Greentop straddles the Schuyler–Adair county line; its post office ZIP is centred in Adair County, so no dedicated Schuyler ZIP is listed for it here. Bunker Hill, Germania, Glenwood Junction, Guinn and Vinita, sometimes listed as Schuyler County place names, could not be confirmed against current gazetteer records and are omitted.
ZIP Codes
- 63548 — Lancaster
- 63561 — Queen City
- 63536 — Downing
- 63541 — Glenwood
- 63535 — Coatsville
Clifton and Julesburg have no post office of their own and are served by neighboring ZIPs.
Geography
Schuyler County sits on the rolling, glaciated plain of Missouri’s northern tier, drained by the Chariton River and its forks, with the North Fork Salt River rising in the county’s southeast. Farmland and pasture cover most of the county, with wooded stream valleys along the Chariton.
Schuyler County borders Appanoose County, Iowa, to the north and Davis County, Iowa, to the northwest (no linked page), Scotland County, Missouri, to the east, Adair County, Missouri, to the south, and Putnam County, Missouri, to the west.
Demographics
Schuyler County had 4,032 residents at the 2020 census, a density of about 13 people per square mile. Lancaster and Queen City are the two largest communities. Median household income in the county runs well below the Missouri median of $68,545, reflecting the county’s small population and agricultural economic base.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture, particularly cattle and row-crop farming, anchors the county’s economy, alongside local government, the school district based in Queen City and Lancaster, and small manufacturing and trade businesses along U.S. Route 63. Downing hosts an annual community homecoming; Queen City holds an annual fall festival.
History
Schuyler County was organized on February 14, 1845, carved from Adair County, and named for General Philip Schuyler, a Continental Congress delegate and U.S. senator from New York who never set foot in Missouri — a common practice in naming counties for Revolutionary-era statesmen. Lancaster was platted as the county seat soon after organization.
Getting There
U.S. Route 63 runs north–south through Lancaster and Greentop, connecting the county to Kirksville to the south and the Iowa border to the north.
- Kirksville, Missouri — 20 miles south
- Centerville, Iowa — 25 miles north
- Memphis, Missouri (Scotland County seat) — 15 miles east
- Milan, Missouri (Sullivan County) — 25 miles west
The nearest commercial airport is Kirksville Regional Airport, about 20 miles south of Lancaster.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Schuyler County, Missouri?
It is in the north-central part of the state, on the Iowa border, roughly 20 miles north of Kirksville.
What is the population of Schuyler County?
4,032 residents at the 2020 census.
How big is Schuyler County?
308 square miles (798 km2), including 0.9 square miles of water.
What is the county seat of Schuyler County?
Lancaster is the county seat.
How many towns are in Schuyler County?
Four incorporated cities (Lancaster, Queen City, Downing and Greentop) and one village (Glenwood), plus several unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Schuyler County?
63548 (Lancaster), 63561 (Queen City), 63536 (Downing), 63541 (Glenwood) and 63535 (Coatsville).
Who is Schuyler County named after?
General Philip Schuyler, a Revolutionary War general and U.S. senator from New York.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Missouri.