Wayne County is a county in Missouri, United States, in the Ozark foothills along the upper Black River. It had a population of 10,974 at the 2020 census and covers 774 square miles (2,000 km2) centred near 37°07′N 90°28′W.
Greenville is the county seat, and its postal code is 63944. The county has 2 incorporated cities, 1 village, and more than 20 unincorporated communities spread across 10 civil townships. Wayne County observes Central time and carries FIPS code 29223.
Towns & Villages in Wayne County
Wayne County has 3 incorporated places — two cities and a village — plus more than 20 unincorporated communities and hamlets. Unincorp. below covers places with no municipal government of their own; several are little more than a crossroads, a church, and a cemetery.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville | City · seat | Black River | 563 | 63944 |
| Piedmont | City | Lost Creek | 2,401 | 63957 |
| Williamsville | Village | Williams | 386 | 63967 |
| Arab | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Beckville | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Bounds | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Browns Crossing | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Brunot | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Bull Run Camp | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Burbank | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Burch | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Cascade | Unincorp. | — | — | 63632 |
| Clubb | Unincorp. | — | — | 63934 |
| Coldwater | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Dees Town | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Gads Hill | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Gaylor | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Gravelton | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Hiram | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Holliday Landing | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Keener Cave | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Kime | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Ladero | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Leeper | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Lodi | Unincorp. | — | — | 63950 |
| Lost Creek Landing | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Lowndes | Unincorp. | — | — | 63951 |
| McGee | Unincorp. | — | — | 63763 |
| Mill Spring | Unincorp. | Mill Spring | — | 63952 |
| Missionary Acres | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Platow | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Rings | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Shook | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Silva | Unincorp. | — | — | 63964 |
| Upalika | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Virginia Settlement | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Wappapello | Unincorp. | — | — | 63966 |
| Patterson | Unincorp. | — | — | 63956 |
Wappapello, on the Black River just south of the Wayne–Butler line, gives its name to Lake Wappapello upstream — the reservoir and the community are distinct, and both sit inside Wayne County.
Townships
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Black River | — | Greenville |
| Lost Creek | — | Piedmont |
| Mill Spring | — | Mill Spring |
| Williams | — | Williamsville |
| Benton | — | — |
| Cedar Creek | — | — |
| Cowan | — | — |
| Jefferson | — | — |
| Logan | — | — |
| Saint Francois | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 63944 — Greenville
- 63957 — Piedmont
- 63967 — Williamsville
- 63952 — Mill Spring
- 63956 — Patterson
- 63964 — Silva (also serves nearby farm settlements)
- 63966 — Wappapello
- 63951 — Lowndes
- 63763 — McGee
- 63934 — Clubb
- 63950 — Lodi
- 63632 — Cascade (PO Box delivery only)
The remaining hamlets on the county’s settlement list have no post office of their own and are served by the nearest town ZIP above.
Geography
Wayne County sits in the Ozark foothills of southeastern Missouri, a hill-and-hollow landscape of oak-hickory forest cut by the Black River and its tributaries. Land makes up 759 square miles (1,970 km2) of the county’s 774 square miles (2,000 km2), with the remaining 15 square miles (39 km2) of water concentrated in Lake Wappapello, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir on the Black River in the county’s south.
Wayne County borders Madison County to the north, Bollinger County to the northeast, Stoddard County to the southeast, Butler County to the south, Carter County to the southwest, Reynolds County to the west, and Iron County to the northwest.
Demographics
Wayne County had 10,974 residents at the 2020 census. Piedmont is the largest community with 2,401 people, followed by the county seat, Greenville, at 563. Median household income runs well below the Missouri median of $68,545, reflecting the county’s rural, timber- and agriculture-based economy. Population density is roughly 14 people per square mile, among the lower rates in the eastern Ozarks.
Economy & Local Life
Timber and forest products, small-scale farming and cattle grazing, and outdoor recreation around Lake Wappapello anchor the local economy. Piedmont, the county’s commercial center, hosts the county’s schools and most of its retail and services; Greenville, the seat, is home to the Wayne County courthouse. Lake Wappapello State Park draws boaters, anglers, and campers from across southeast Missouri each summer.
History
Wayne County was organized on December 11, 1818, and named for General “Mad” Anthony Wayne of the American Revolution. In its earliest years, before later counties were carved from its territory, Wayne County covered more ground than Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Delaware combined. The original county seat, Greenville, was relocated in the 20th century when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built Lake Wappapello, and the modern town of Greenville was rebuilt on higher ground above the original townsite.
Getting There
U.S. Route 67 and Missouri Route 34 cross the county and meet at Piedmont, the main commercial hub.
- Poplar Bluff — 30 miles south
- Farmington — 45 miles north
- Cape Girardeau — 55 miles east
- Rolla — 65 miles northwest
The nearest commercial airport is Cape Girardeau Regional Airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Wayne County, Missouri?
It is in the Ozark foothills of southeastern Missouri, centred near 37°07′N 90°28′W.
What is the population of Wayne County?
It had a population of 10,974 at the 2020 census.
How big is Wayne County?
It covers 774 square miles (2,000 km2), of which 759 square miles is land.
What is the county seat of Wayne County?
Greenville is the county seat.
How many towns are in Wayne County?
The county has 2 cities and 1 village — Piedmont, Greenville, and Williamsville — plus more than 20 unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Wayne County?
The main ZIP codes are 63944 (Greenville), 63957 (Piedmont), 63967 (Williamsville), 63952 (Mill Spring), and 63966 (Wappapello), among others.
What is Lake Wappapello?
It is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir on the Black River in southern Wayne County, the centerpiece of Lake Wappapello State Park.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Missouri.