Wright County is a county in Missouri, United States, on the northern edge of the Ozark Plateau. It had a population of 18,188 at the 2020 census and covers 682 square miles (1,766 km2) of land centred near 37°16′N 92°28′W.
Hartville is the county seat, and its postal code is 65667. The county has four incorporated cities and roughly a dozen smaller unincorporated communities, sits in the Central time zone, and is best known nationally as the location of the mean center of the United States population as determined by the 2020 census.
Towns & Villages in Wright County
Wright County has four incorporated cities — Hartville, Mansfield, Mountain Grove and Norwood — and a scatter of unincorporated crossroads communities across its rural townships. Mountain Grove straddles the Wright–Texas county line, with most of the city on the Wright County side. Places marked Unincorp. have no municipal government of their own.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain Grove | City · largest | — | 65711 |
| Hartville | City · seat | — | 65667 |
| Mansfield | City | — | 65704 |
| Norwood | City | — | 65717 |
| Grovespring | Unincorp. | — | 65662 |
| Macomb | Unincorp. | — | 65702 |
| Graff | Unincorp. | — | 65660 |
| Astoria | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Boyer | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cedar Gap | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dawson | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Duggan | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Duncan | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fuson | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Jerktail | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Manes | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Odin | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Owens | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rayborn | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Smittle | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Saint George | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Talmage | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Umpire | Unincorp. | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 65711 — Mountain Grove (also serves the county’s southeastern corner)
- 65704 — Mansfield
- 65667 — Hartville (also serves Owens and Rayborn)
- 65717 — Norwood
- 65662 — Grovespring
- 65702 — Macomb
- 65660 — Graff
The remaining small communities have no post office of their own and use the ZIP code of the nearest listed town.
Geography
Wright County sits on the northern edge of the Ozark Plateau, a landscape of rolling timbered hills, spring-fed creeks and pasture. The Gasconade River’s upper tributaries drain the northern part of the county, and part of the Mark Twain National Forest lies within its borders. The county covers 682 square miles of land and 1.4 square miles of water.
Wright County borders Laclede County to the north, Texas County to the east, Douglas County to the south, and Webster County to the west.
Demographics
Wright County had 18,188 residents at the 2020 census. Mountain Grove is the largest community, followed by Mansfield. The county’s median household income runs well below the Missouri median of $68,545, typical for this rural Ozark region. Population density is roughly 27 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture anchors the local economy, with cattle, dairy and poultry operations spread across the county’s pasture land. Mountain Grove, the county’s commercial center, is home to Missouri State University’s Mountain Grove campus and the William H. Darr Agricultural Research and Education Center. Timber and small manufacturing also support local employment.
History
Wright County was organized on January 29, 1841, carved from Pulaski County. It is named for Silas Wright, a U.S. Senator and later Governor of New York who was a prominent Democrat of the era — he never lived in Missouri. In 2020 the U.S. Census Bureau determined that the mean center of the U.S. population fell within the county, near Hartville, a milestone the county has marked with local signage and events.
Getting There
U.S. Route 60 crosses the county east–west through Mountain Grove and Norwood, and Missouri Routes 5, 38 and 95 connect the smaller towns.
- Springfield — 45 miles northwest
- Lebanon — 30 miles north
- West Plains — 35 miles southeast
- Ava — 25 miles south
The nearest commercial airport is Springfield-Branson National Airport (SGF).
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Wright County, Missouri?
It is in south-central Missouri, on the northern edge of the Ozarks, between Springfield and West Plains.
What is the population of Wright County?
18,188 at the 2020 census.
How big is Wright County?
682 square miles of land (1,770 km2), plus 1.4 square miles of water.
What is the county seat of Wright County?
Hartville is the county seat.
How many towns are in Wright County?
Four incorporated cities — Hartville, Mansfield, Mountain Grove and Norwood — plus about 18 unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Wright County?
65667 (Hartville), 65704 (Mansfield), 65711 (Mountain Grove), 65717 (Norwood), 65662 (Grovespring), 65702 (Macomb) and 65660 (Graff).
Why is Wright County significant to the U.S. Census Bureau?
The 2020 census placed the mean center of the U.S. population within the county, near Hartville.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Missouri.