View source for Howell County, Missouri

{{short description|County in Missouri, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Howell County
 | state                = Missouri
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = 1857
 | founded date         = March 2
 | seat wl              = West Plains
 | largest city wl      = West Plains
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 928
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 927
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 1.1
 | area percentage      = 0.1
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 39750
 | pop_est_as_of        = 
 | population_est       = 
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto
 | time zone            = Central
 | footnotes            = 
 | web                  = https://howellcounty.net/
 | named for            = Josiah Howell
 | district             = 8th
 | ex image             = Howell County MO Courthouse 20151021-023.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Howell County Courthouse in West Plains
}}

'''Howell County''' is in southern [[Missouri]]. As of the 2020 census, the population was 39,750.<ref>{{cite web|title=Howell County, Missouri|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Howell_County,_Missouri?g=050XX00US29091|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=June 13, 2023}}</ref> The largest city and [[county seat]] is [[West Plains, Missouri|West Plains]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> The county was officially organized on March 2, 1857, and is named after Josiah Howell, a pioneer settler in the Howell Valley.

Howell County comprises the West Plains, MO, [[Micropolitan Statistical Area]].

==History==
{{Unreferenced section|date=October 2022}}
Howell County was organized on March 2, 1857, from [[Oregon County, Missouri|Oregon County]], and is named for Josiah Howell, who made the first settlement in Howell Valley.

The first [[Missouri Circuit Courts|circuit court]] met in a log cabin one mile east of West Plains, according to an 1876 account. A small, wooden courthouse was built on the square in West Plains in 1859. It was damaged during the Civil War in 1862. The county was reorganized three years later, but all of the county records were destroyed in an 1866 fire. A second courthouse was built in West Plains in 1869. It was a small, three-room, frame building, about 24 by 30 feet.

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|928|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|927|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|1.1|sqmi}} (0.1%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_29.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021170230/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_29.txt |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 21, 2013 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=November 16, 2014 |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files }}</ref> It is the third-largest county in Missouri by land area and fourth-largest by total area.

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Texas County, Missouri|Texas County]] (north)
*[[Shannon County, Missouri|Shannon County]] (northeast)
*[[Oregon County, Missouri|Oregon County]] (east)
*[[Fulton County, Arkansas]] (south)
*[[Ozark County, Missouri|Ozark County]] (southwest)
*[[Douglas County, Missouri|Douglas County]] (northwest)

===Major highways===
*[[Image:US 60.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 60 (Missouri)|U.S. Route 60]]
*[[Image:US 63.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 63 (Missouri)|U.S. Route 63]]
*[[Image:US 160.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 160 (Missouri)|U.S. Route 160]]
*[[Image:MO-14.svg|20px]] [[Missouri Route 14|Route 14]]
*[[Image:MO-17.svg|20px]] [[Missouri Route 17|Route 17]]
*[[Image:MO-76.svg|20px]] [[Missouri Route 76|Route 76]]
*[[Image:MO-142.svg|20px]] [[Missouri Route 142|Route 142]]

===National protected area===
*[[Mark Twain National Forest]] (part)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 3169
|1870= 4218
|1880= 8814
|1890= 18618
|1900= 21834
|1910= 21065
|1920= 21102
|1930= 19672
|1940= 22270
|1950= 22725
|1960= 22027
|1970= 23521
|1980= 28807
|1990= 31447
|2000= 37238
|2010= 40400
|2020= 39750
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 16, 2014}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=November 16, 2014}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mo190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 16, 2014}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 16, 2014}}</ref> 2010<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/29/29091.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 9, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607041945/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/29/29091.html|archive-date=June 7, 2011}}</ref>
}}

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 37,238 people, 14,762 households, and 10,613 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|40|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 16,340 housing units at an average density of {{convert|18|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units&nbsp;}}. The racial makeup of the county was 96.41% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.31% [[Black (U.S. Census)|Black]] or [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.97% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.36% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.04% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.28% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.63% from two or more races. Approximately 1.21% of the population were [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race. Among the major first ancestries reported in Howell County were 28.3% [[United States|American]], 16.4% [[German people|German]], 12.2% [[Irish people|Irish]], and 12.1% [[English people|English]].

There were 14,762 households, out of which 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.8% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county, the population consisted of 26.0% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.5 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,761, and the median income for a family was $38,047. Males had a median income of $22,960 versus $16,968 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $17,184. About 14.00% of families and 18.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 26.3% of those under age 18 and 14.0% of those age 65 or over.

===Religion===
According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2000), Howell County is a part of the [[Bible Belt]] with evangelical Protestantism being the majority religion. The most predominant denominations among residents in Howell County who adhere to a religion are [[Southern Baptist Convention|Southern Baptists]] (47.70%), [[Churches of Christ]] (8.81%), and [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholics]] (6.99%).

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Howell County racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title =P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Howell County, Missouri|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Howell%20County,%20Missouri&t=Race%20and%20Ethnicity&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (NH)
|35,972
|90.5%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (NH)
|180
|0.45%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]] (NH)
|265
|0.67%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]] (NH)
|217
|0.55%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]] (NH)
|17
|0.04%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]] (NH)
|2,203
|5.54%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|896
|2.25%
|}

==Education==
Of adults 25 years of age and older in Howell County, 73.4% possesses a [[High School Diploma (United States)|high school diploma]] or higher while 10.9% holds a [[bachelor's degree]] or higher as their highest educational attainment.

===Public schools===
*Mountain View-Birch Tree R-III School District - [[Mountain View, Missouri|Mountain View]]
**Birch Tree Elementary School - [[Birch Tree, Missouri|Birch Tree]] - (PK-06) - Located in [[Shannon County, Missouri|Shannon County]]
**Mountain View Elementary School - (PK-06)
**Liberty Middle School - (07-08)
**Liberty High School - (09-12)
*West Plains R-VII School District - [[West Plains, Missouri|West Plains]]
**South Fork Elementary School (K-06)
**West Plains Elementary School (K-04)
**West Plains Middle School (05-08)
**West Plains High School (09-12)
*Willow Springs R-IV School District - [[Willow Springs, Missouri|Willow Springs]]
**Willow Springs Elementary School (PK-04)
**Willow Springs Middle School (05-08)
**Willow Springs High School (09-12)
*Fairview R-XI School District - [[West Plains, Missouri|West Plains]]
**Fairview Elementary School (K-08)
*Glenwood R-VIII School District - [[West Plains, Missouri|West Plains]]
**Glenwood Elementary School - (PK-08)
*Howell Valley R-I School District - [[West Plains, Missouri|West Plains]]
**Howell Valley Elementary School (K-08)
*Junction Hill C-12 School District - [[West Plains, Missouri|West Plains]]
**Junction Hill Elementary School - (K-08)
*Richards R-V School District - [[West Plains, Missouri|West Plains]]
**Richards Elementary School - (K-08)

===Private schools===
*Faith Assembly Christian School - [[West Plains, Missouri|West Plains]] - (PK-12) - [[Assemblies of God]]/[[Pentecostal]]
*Ozarks Christian Academy - [[West Plains, Missouri|West Plains]] - (K-10) - [[non denominational]]/[[Protestant]] - [[Classical Christian education|Classical Christian Education]]
*Trinity Christian Academy - [[Mountain View, Missouri|Mountain View]] - (K-12) - [[Pentecostal]] - Wade St., Mountain View.

===Alternative and vocational schools===
*Ozark Horizon State School - [[West Plains, Missouri|West Plains]] - (K-12) - A school for handicapped students and those with other special needs.
*South Central Career Center - [[West Plains, Missouri|West Plains]] - (09-12) - Vocational/technical

===Colleges and universities===
*Missouri State University-West Plains - A satellite campus of [[Missouri State University]]

===Public libraries===
*Mountain View Public Library<ref>{{cite web | last = Breeding | first = Marshall | title = Mountain View Public Library | publisher = Libraries.org | url = https://librarytechnology.org/library/20171 | access-date = May 8, 2017}}</ref>  
*West Plains Public Library<ref>{{cite web | last = Breeding | first = Marshall | title = West Plains Public Library | publisher = Libraries.org | url = https://librarytechnology.org/library/20347 | access-date = May 8, 2017}}</ref>  
*Willow Springs Public Library<ref>{{cite web | last = Breeding | first = Marshall | title = Willow Springs Public Library | publisher = Libraries.org | url = https://librarytechnology.org/library/20346 | access-date = May 8, 2017}}</ref>

==Politics==
{{Unreferenced section|date=June 2014}}
{{update|section|date=July 2021}}

===Local===
{{Missouri county elected officials
| name              =Howell County, Missouri
| assessor          =Daniel Franks
| assessorparty     =Republican
| circuitclerk      =Cindy Weeks
| circuitclerkparty =Republican
| countyclerk       =Dennis K. Von Allmen
| countyclerkparty  =Republican
| presiding         =Mark B. Collins
| presidingparty    =Republican
| district1         =Bill Lovelace
| district1party    =Republican
| district2         =Billy D. Sexton
| district2party    =Republican
| collector         =Larry Spence
| collectorparty    =Republican
| coroner           =James T. "Tim" Cherry
| coronerparty      =Republican
| prosecutor        =Michael P. Hutchings
| prosecutorparty   =Republican
| administrator     =Charm L. Eagleman
| administratorparty=Republican
| recorder          =Sharon Trowbridge
| recorderparty     =Republican
| sheriff           =Matt Roberts
| sheriffparty      =Republican
| surveyor          =Ralph Riggs
| surveyorparty     =Republican
| treasurer         =Ernestine Doss
| treasurerparty    =Republican
}}
The [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] predominantly controls politics at the local level in Howell County. Republicans hold all elected positions in the county. District 2 (Southern) Commissioner Billy Sexton took office as a Democrat but announced in 2014 he was changing parties and sought re-election as a Republican.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.westplainsdailyquill.net/opinion/letters_to_editor/article_10f86f40-5949-11e4-bb64-0017a43b2370.html|title=Changing political party affiliation|work=West Plains Daily Quill|access-date=October 4, 2018|language=en}}</ref>
{{clear}}

===State===
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; font-size:95%;"
|+ Past Gubernatorial Elections Results
|- bgcolor=lightgrey
! Year
! [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
! [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
! [[Third Party (United States)|Third Parties]]
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[2024 Missouri gubernatorial election|2024]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''81.42%''' ''15,231''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|16.67% ''3,118''
|align="center" |1.91% ''358''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 2020|2020]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''81.04%''' ''14,947''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|17.40% ''3,210''
|align="center" |1.56% ''287''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 2016|2016]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''70.65%''' ''12,266''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|25.68% ''4,459''
|align="center" |3.67% ''637''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 2012|2012]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''54.23%''' ''8,849''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|42.59% ''6,950''
|align="center" |3.19% ''520''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 2008|2008]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|45.33% ''7,659''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|'''52.11%''' ''8,804''
|align="center" |2.56% ''432''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 2004|2004]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''64.89%''' ''10,595''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|33.48% ''5,466''
|align="center" |1.63% ''267''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 2000|2000]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''53.51%''' ''7,537''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|44.77% ''6,306''
|align="center" |1.72% ''242''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 1996|1996]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''51.71%''' ''7,030''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|44.78% ''6,087''
|align="center" |3.51% ''477''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 1992|1992]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|48.26% ''6,401''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|'''51.74%''' ''6,862''
|align="center" |0.00% ''0''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 1988|1988]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''71.70%''' ''8,321''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|27.69% ''3,214''
|align="center" |0.61% ''71''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 1984|1984]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''70.90%''' ''8,476''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|29.10% ''3,479''
|align="center" |0.00% ''0''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 1980|1980]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''59.53%''' ''6,956''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|40.32% ''4,711''
|align="center" |0.15% ''18''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 1976|1976]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''57.07%''' ''5,673''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|42.77% ''4,251''
|align="center" |0.16% ''16''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 1972|1972]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''61.53%''' ''6,296''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|38.40% ''3,929''
|align="center" |0.07% ''7''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 1968|1968]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|48.33% ''4,605''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|'''51.67%''' ''4,923''
|align="center" |0.00% ''0''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 1964|1964]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|47.58% ''4,453''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|'''52.42%''' ''4,905''
|align="center" |0.00% ''0''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 1960|1960]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''64.55%''' ''6,166''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|35.45% ''3,386''
|align="center" |0.00% ''0''
|}

In the [[Missouri House of Representatives]], Howell County is divided into two legislative districts, both of which are represented by [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]].

* District 154 — Shawn Rhoads (R-[[West Plains, Missouri|West Plains]]. Consists of most of the entire county.
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — Missouri House of Representatives — District 154 — Howell County (2016)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Shaun Rhoads'''
  |votes      = '''11,563'''
  |percentage = '''74.93%'''
  |change     = '''-25.07'''
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Independent (politician)
  |candidate  = Terry Hampton
  |votes      = 3,868
  |percentage = 25.07%
  |change     = +25.07
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 154 — Howell County (2014)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Shaun Rhoads'''
  |votes      = '''5,933'''
  |percentage = '''100.00%'''
  |change     = '''+31.47'''
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 154 — Howell County (2012)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Shaun Rhoads'''
  |votes      = '''9,950'''
  |percentage = '''68.53%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = R.A. Pendergrass
  |votes      = 4,570
  |percentage = 31.47%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}
*District 142 — Robert Ross (R-[[Yukon, Missouri|Yukon]]). Consists of the city of Mountain View.
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 142 — Howell County (2016)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Robert Ross'''
  |votes      = '''1,196'''
  |percentage = '''82.43%'''
  |change     = '''-17.57'''
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Bobby Johnston, Jr.
  |votes      = 255
  |percentage = 17.57%
  |change     = +17.57
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 142 — Howell County (2014)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Robert Ross'''
  |votes      = '''589'''
  |percentage = '''100.00%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 142 — Howell County (2012)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Robert Ross'''
  |votes      = '''1,173'''
  |percentage = '''100.00%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

All of Howell County is a part of Missouri's 33rd District in the [[Missouri Senate]] and is currently represented by Mike Cunningham of [[Rogersville, Missouri|Rogersville]].
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri Senate — District 33 — Howell County (2016)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Mike Cunningham'''
  |votes      = '''14,995'''
  |percentage = '''100.00%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri Senate — District 33 — Howell County (2012)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Mike Cunningham'''
  |votes      = '''13,700'''
  |percentage = '''100.00%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

===Federal===
Missouri's two [[U.S. senator]]s are [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] [[Josh Hawley]] and [[Eric Schmitt]].
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. Senate — Missouri — Howell County (2016)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Roy Blunt'''
  |votes      = '''12,070'''
  |percentage = '''69.61%'''
  |change     = '''+18.26'''
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jason Kander
  |votes      = 4,375
  |percentage = 25.23%
  |change     = -15.97
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jonathan Dine
  |votes      = 433
  |percentage = 2.50%
  |change     = -4.95
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Green Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Johnathan McFarland
  |votes      = 218
  |percentage = 1.26%
  |change     = +1.26
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Constitution Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Fred Ryman
  |votes      = 243
  |percentage = 1.40%
  |change     = +1.40
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. Senate — Missouri — Howell County (2012)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Todd Akin
  |votes      = 8,340
  |percentage = 51.35%
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Claire McCaskill'''
  |votes      = '''6,692'''
  |percentage = '''41.20%'''
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jonathan Dine
  |votes      = 1,210
  |percentage = 7.45%
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box end}}

All of Howell County is included in [[Missouri's 8th congressional district]] and is currently represented by [[Jason T. Smith]] of [[Salem, Missouri|Salem]] in the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]]. Smith won a special election on Tuesday, June 4, 2013, to complete the remaining term of former [[U.S. Representative]] [[Jo Ann Emerson]] of [[Cape Girardeau, Missouri|Cape Girardeau]]. Emerson announced her resignation a month after being reelected with over 70 percent of the vote in the district. She resigned to become CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative.
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 8th Congressional District — Howell County (2016)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Jason T. Smith'''
  |votes      = '''13,655'''
  |percentage = '''80.64%'''
  |change     = '''+19.51'''
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Dave Cowell
  |votes      = 2,776
  |percentage = 16.38%
  |change     = +5.05
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jonathan Shell
  |votes      = 505
  |percentage = 2.98%
  |change     = +1.45
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 8th Congressional District — Howell County (2014)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Jason T. Smith'''
  |votes      = '''4,742'''
  |percentage = '''61.13%'''
  |change     = '''-7.91'''
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Barbara Stocker
  |votes      = 879
  |percentage = 11.33%
  |change     = -7.36
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Rick Vandeven
  |votes      = 119
  |percentage = 1.53%
  |change     = -0.39
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Constitution Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Doug Enyart
  |votes      = 163
  |percentage = 2.10%
  |change     = -8.25
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Independent (politician)
  |candidate  = Terry Hampton
  |votes      = 1,854
  |percentage = 23.90%
  |change     = +23.90
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 8th Congressional District — Special Election — Howell County (2013)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Jason T. Smith'''
  |votes      = '''2,268'''
  |percentage = '''69.04%'''
  |change     = '''-8.16'''
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Steven Hodges
  |votes      = 614
  |percentage = 18.69%
  |change     = +0.75
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Bill Slantz
  |votes      = 63
  |percentage = 1.92%
  |change     = -2.94
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Constitution Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Doug Enyart
  |votes      = 340
  |percentage = 10.35%
  |change     = +10.35
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 8th Congressional District — Howell County (2012)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Jo Ann Emerson'''
  |votes      = '''12,456'''
  |percentage = '''77.20%'''
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jack Rushin
  |votes      = 2,895
  |percentage = 17.94%
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Rick Vandeven
  |votes      = 784
  |percentage = 4.86%
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box end}}

====Political culture====
{{PresHead|place=Howell County, Missouri|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=February 22, 2021}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|1888|Democratic|1,370|1,506|332|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|1,484|1,642|413|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|1,892|2,373|33|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|2,059|1,975|182|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|2,089|1,605|219|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|2,164|1,827|245|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|1,465|1,565|1,264|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|2,132|1,861|252|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|4,344|2,323|202|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|3,130|2,681|682|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|4,869|2,543|49|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|3,660|4,775|105|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1936|Republican|5,297|4,725|42|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|6,158|4,218|21|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|5,151|3,020|14|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|4,427|3,599|34|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|6,608|3,349|26|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|5,473|3,066|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|7,095|2,734|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|4,632|4,968|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|5,631|2,763|1,444|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|7,253|2,795|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|4,692|5,265|78|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|7,149|4,472|282|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|8,204|3,767|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|7,277|4,324|44|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|5,360|5,492|2,685|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|5,991|5,261|2,272|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|9,018|4,641|416|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|11,097|5,118|164|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|10,982|5,736|311|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|11,544|4,395|407|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|13,893|2,881|681|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|15,181|3,218|277|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|15,733|3,073|215|Missouri}}
{{PresFoot}}
Howell County is, like several [[rural]] counties located in the Ozarks, conservative and strongly [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] at the presidential level. [[Bill Clinton]] of neighboring [[Arkansas]] was the last [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] presidential nominee to win Howell County in 1992; he lost the county during his 1996 reelection bid and since then, voters in Howell County have decisively backed Republicans. Controversy occurred during the [[2008 United States presidential election|course of the 2008 presidential campaign]] over a billboard displayed near [[West Plains, Missouri|West Plains]] that depicted a picture of then-[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] presidential nominee [[Barack Obama]] in a turban. Some were offended by the billboard and deemed it racist.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130727153446/http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2008-10-30/news/36866635_1_west-plains-anti-obama-sign-george-w-bush-s The Washington Post], Retrieved July 27, 2013.</ref>

Like most rural areas throughout Southeast Missouri, voters in Howell County generally adhere to socially and culturally [[Conservatism|conservative]] principles which tend to influence their Republican leanings. In 2004, Missourians voted on [[Missouri Constitutional Amendment 2 (2004)|a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman]]—it overwhelmingly won in Howell County with 83.36 percent of the vote. The initiative passed the state with 71 percent of support from voters. In 2006, Missourians voted on [[Missouri Constitutional Amendment 2 (2006)|a constitutional amendment to fund and legalize embryonic stem cell research in the state]]—it failed in Howell County with 57.97 percent voting against the measure. The initiative narrowly passed the state with 51 percent of support from voters as Missouri became one of the first states in the nation to approve [[Embryonic stem cell|embryonic stem cell research]]. Despite Howell County's longstanding tradition of supporting socially conservative platforms, voters in the county have a penchant for advancing [[Populism|populist]] causes like increasing the [[minimum wage]]. In 2006, Missourians voted on a proposition (Proposition B) to increase the minimum wage in the state to $6.50 an hour—it passed Howell County with 67.79 percent of the vote. The proposition strongly passed every single county in Missouri with 78.99 percent voting in favor. (During the same election, voters in five other states also strongly approved increases in the minimum wage.)

===Missouri presidential preference primary (2008)===
{{main|2008 Missouri Democratic presidential primary|2008 Missouri Republican presidential primary}}
In the 2008 Missouri Presidential Primary, voters in Howell County from both political parties supported candidates who finished in second place in the state at large and nationally. Former [[Governor of Arkansas|Governor]] [[Mike Huckabee]] (R-[[Arkansas]]) received more votes, a total of 2,882, than any candidate from either party in Howell County during the 2008 Missouri Presidential Preference Primary.

==Communities==
===Cities===
*[[Brandsville, Missouri|Brandsville]]
*[[Mountain View, Missouri|Mountain View]]
*[[West Plains, Missouri|West Plains]] (county seat)
*[[Willow Springs, Missouri|Willow Springs]]

===Census-designated places===
*[[Pomona, Missouri|Pomona]]
*[[South Fork, Missouri|South Fork]]

===Other unincorporated places===
{{div col|colwidth=12em}}
* [[Amy, Missouri|Amy]]
* [[Arditta, Missouri|Arditta]]
* [[Burnham, Missouri|Burnham]]
* [[Caulfield, Missouri|Caulfield]]
* [[Chapel, Howell County, Missouri|Chapel]]
* [[Chapin, Missouri|Chapin]]
* [[China, Missouri|China]]
* [[Cottbus, Missouri|Cottbus]]
* [[Crider, Missouri|Crider]]
* [[Cull, Missouri|Cull]]
* [[Cureall, Missouri|Cureall]]
* [[Egypt Grove, Missouri|Egypt Grove]]
* [[Fanchon, Missouri|Fanchon]]
* [[Frankville, Missouri|Frankville]]
* [[Fruitville, Missouri|Fruitville]]
* [[Grimmet, Missouri|Grimmet]]
* [[Horton, Howell County, Missouri|Horton]]
* [[Hocomo, Missouri|Hocomo]]
* [[Hutton Valley, Missouri|Hutton Valley]]
* [[Lanton, Missouri|Lanton]]
* [[Lebo, Missouri|Lebo]]
* [[Leota, Missouri|Leota]]
* [[Moody, Missouri|Moody]]
* [[Olden, Missouri|Olden]]
* [[Peace Valley, Missouri|Peace Valley]]
* [[Pottersville, Missouri|Pottersville]]
* [[Siloam Springs, Howell County, Missouri|Siloam Springs]]
* [[Sterling, Missouri|Sterling]]
* [[Trask, Missouri|Trask]]
{{Div col end}}

===Townships===
{{Div col|colwidth=10em|rules=no}}
* [[Benton Township, Howell County, Missouri|Benton]]
* [[Chapel Township, Howell County, Missouri|Chapel]]
* [[Dry Creek Township, Howell County, Missouri|Dry Creek]]
* [[Goldsberry Township, Howell County, Missouri|Goldsberry]]
* [[Howell Township, Howell County, Missouri|Howell]]
* [[Hutton Valley Township, Howell County, Missouri|Hutton Valley]]
* [[Myatt Township, Howell County, Missouri|Myatt]]
* [[Siloam Springs Township, Howell County, Missouri|Siloam Springs]]
* [[Sisson Township, Howell County, Missouri|Sisson]]
* [[South Fork Township, Howell County, Missouri|South Fork]]
* [[Spring Creek Township, Howell County, Missouri|Spring Creek]]
* [[Willow Springs Township, Howell County, Missouri|Willow Springs]]
{{div col end}}

==See also==
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Howell County, Missouri]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.howellcounty.net Howell County, Missouri]
*[http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/uedivis/ue6045.htm Howell County Courthouse, MU Extension] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080519140126/http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/uedivis/ue6045.htm |date=May 19, 2008 }}
* [http://mulibraries.missouri.edu/specialcollections/platbooks.htm Digitized 1930 Plat Book of Howell County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816173126/http://mulibraries.missouri.edu/specialcollections/platbooks.htm |date=August 16, 2011 }} from [[University of Missouri]] Division of Special Collections, Archives, and Rare Books

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Howell County, Missouri
|North     = [[Texas County, Missouri|Texas County]]
|Northeast = [[Shannon County, Missouri|Shannon County]]
|Northwest = [[Texas County, Missouri|Texas County]]
|West      = [[Douglas County, Missouri|Douglas County]] and [[Ozark County, Missouri|Ozark County]]
|South     = [[Fulton County, Arkansas]]
|Southeast = 
|Southwest = 
|East      = [[Oregon County, Missouri|Oregon County]]
}}

{{Howell County, Missouri}}
{{Missouri}}

{{authority control}}

{{coord|36.77|-91.89|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MO_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Howell County, Missouri| ]]
[[Category:1857 establishments in Missouri]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1857]]