Barry County

The town of Barry, also named after the postmaster-general, was located just north of Kansas City, not in Barry County.

• County — Barry County • State — Missouri • Founded — January 5, 1835 • Seat Wl — Cassville • Largest City Wl — Monett • Area Total Sq Mi — 791 • Area Land Sq Mi — 778 • Area Water Sq Mi — 13 • Area Water Percent — 1.6 • Population As Of — 2020 • Population Total — 34534 • Pop Est As Of — 2025 • Population Est — 36200 • Population Density Sq Mi — auto • Time Zone — Central • Website — https: www.barrycountymo.gov/ • Named For — William Taylor Barry • District — 7th • Illustration — William Taylor Barry

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 791 sqmi, of which 778 sqmi is land and 13 sqmi (1.6%) is water. Roaring River State Park is located in the southern part of the county, amid the Mark Twain National Forest.

• Lawrence County (north) • Stone County (east) • Carroll County, Arkansas (southeast) • Benton County, Arkansas (south) • McDonald County (southwest) • Newton County (northwest)

• U.S. Route 60 • Route 37 • Route 39 • Route 76 • Route 86 • Route 97 • Route 248

• Mark Twain National Forest (part)

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 34,534. The median age was 43.1 years. 23.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 101.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.3 males age 18 and over. 17.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 82.5% lived in rural areas. The racial makeup of the county was 83.0% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 1.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.3% Asian, 0.2% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 4.9% from some other race, and 7.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 9.7% of the population. There were 13,720 households in the county, of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 22.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 26.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 16,990 housing units, of which 19.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 73.7% were owner-occupied and 26.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.0%. Barry County Racial Composition • Race — Num. — Perc. • White (NH) — 28,058 — 81.3% • Black or African American (NH) — 102 — 0.3% • Native American (NH) — 316 — 1% • Asian (NH) — 808 — 2.34% • Pacific Islander (NH) — 70 — 0.2% • Other/Mixed (NH) — 1,847 — 5.4% • Hispanic or Latino — 3,333 — 9.7%

As of the 2000 census, there were 34,010 people, 13,398 households, and 9,579 families residing in the county. The population density was 44 /mi2. There were 15,964 housing units at an average density of 20 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 94.09% White, 0.11% Black or African American, 0.86% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 3.25% from other races, and 1.38% from two or more races. Approximately 5.04% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 26.5% were of American, 15.5% German, 11.7% English and 10.4% Irish ancestry. There were 13,398 households, out of which 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.30% were married couples living together, 8.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.50% were non-families. 24.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.98. In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.10% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 26.10% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 16.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 98.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.60 males. The median income for a household in the county was $28,906, and the median income for a family was $34,043. Males had a median income of $25,381 versus $18,631 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,980. About 11.80% of families and 16.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.50% of those under age 18 and 11.90% of those age 65 or over.

According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2010), Barry County is regarded as being a part of the Bible Belt, with evangelical Protestantism being the most predominant religion. The most predominant denominations among residents in Barry County who adhere to a religion are Southern Baptists (50.27%), Roman Catholics (19.26%), and United Methodists (4.67%).

• Cassville R-IV School District – Cassville • Eunice Thomas Elementary School (PK-02) • Cassville Intermediate School (03-05) • Cassville Middle School (06-08) • Cassville High School (09-12) • Exeter R-VI School District – Exeter • Exeter Elementary School (K-08) • Exeter High School (09-12) • Monett R-I School District – Monett • Monett Elementary School (PK-02) • Central Park Elementary School (03-04) • Monett Intermediate School (05-06) • Monett Middle School (07-08) • Monett High School (09-12) • Purdy R-II School District Purdy • Purdy Elementary School (K-04) • Purdy Middle School (05-08) • Purdy High School (09-12) • Shell Knob School District No. 78 – Shell Knob • Shell Knob Elementary School (K-08) • Southwest R-V School District Washburn • Southwest Elementary School (PK-04) • Southwest Middle School (05-08) • Southwest High School (09-12) • Wheaton R-III School District – Wheaton • Wheaton Elementary School (PK-06) • Wheaton High School (07-12)

• St. Lawrence Catholic School – Monett (K-06) – Roman Catholic

• Barry-Lawrence Regional Library

• Cassville (county seat) • Exeter • Monett • Pierce City • Purdy • Seligman • Washburn • Wheaton

• Arrow Point • Butterfield • Chain-O-Lakes • Emerald Beach

• Eagle Rock • Golden • Shell Knob (partly in Stone County)

• Cato • Corsicana • Jenkins • Leann • Lohmer • Madry • Mayflower • McDowell • Mineral Spring • Osa • Pasley • Pioneer • Pleasant Ridge • Pulaskifield • Ridgely • Scholten • Travers • Viola • Wheelerville • Yonkerville

Barry County is divided into 25 townships: • Ash • Butterfield • Capps Creek • Corsicana • Crane Creek • Exeter • Flat Creek • Jenkins • Kings Prairie • Liberty • McDonald • McDowell • Mineral • Monett • Mountain • Ozark • Pioneer • Pleasant Ridge • Purdy • Roaring River • Shell Knob • Sugar Creek • Washburn • Wheaton • White River

• Clete Boyer – Major League Baseball player • Scott Fitzpatrick – Missouri State Treasurer (2019–present) • Don Johnson – Actor • Curtis F. Marbut – Director of the Soil Survey Division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (1913–1935)

Republicans control politics at the local level in Barry County, holding every elected position in the county.

Past Gubernatorial Elections Results • Year — Republican — Democratic — Third Parties • 2024 — 79.79% 12,721 — 18.31% 2,920 — 1.91% 303 • 2020 — 79.57% 12,356 — 18.03% 2,841 — 2.13% 331 • 2016 — 68.09% 9,943 — 28.50% 4,161 — 3.41% 498 • 2012 — 56.68% 7,769 — 40.06% 5,491 — 3.25% 446 • 2008 — 49.48% 7,156 — 47.90% 6,928 — 2.62% 379 • 2004 — 68.97% 9,594 — 29.81% 4,147 — 1.22% 170 • 2000 — 59.91% 7,352 — 38.14% 4,681 — 1.95% 239 • 1996 — 55.84% 6,574 — 41.28% 4,859 — 2.88% 339 • 1992 — 52.56% 6,529 — 47.44% 5,893 — 0.00% 0 All of Barry County is a part of Missouri's 158th Legislative District in the Missouri House of Representatives and is represented by Scott Cupps (R-Shell Knob). All of Barry County is a part of Missouri's 29th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Mike Moon (R-Ash Grove).

All of Barry County is included in Missouri's 7th Congressional District and is currently represented by Eric Burlison (R-Ozark) in the U.S. House of Representatives. Barry County, along with the rest of the state of Missouri, is represented in the U.S. Senate by Josh Hawley (R-Columbia) and Eric Schmitt (R-Glendale). Blunt was elected to a second term in 2016 over then-Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander.

At the presidential level, Barry County is solidly Republican. Barry County strongly favored Donald Trump in both 2016 and 2020. No Democrat has carried the county's votes in a presidential election since Lyndon Johnson in 1964. Like most rural areas throughout Missouri, voters in Barry County generally adhere to socially and culturally conservative principles which tend to influence their Republican leanings.

The 2020 presidential primaries for both the Democratic and Republican parties were held in Missouri on March 10. On the Democratic side, former Vice President Joe Biden (D-Delaware) both won statewide and carried Barry County by a wide margin. Biden went on to defeat President Donald Trump in the general election. Incumbent President Donald Trump (R-Florida) faced a primary challenge from former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld, but won both Barry County and statewide by overwhelming margins.

The 2016 presidential primaries for both the Republican and Democratic parties were held in Missouri on March 15. Businessman Donald Trump (R-New York) narrowly won the state overall, but Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) carried a plurality of the vote in Barry County. Trump went on to win the nomination and the presidency. On the Democratic side, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D-New York) both won statewide and carried Barry County by a small margin.

The 2012 Missouri Republican Presidential Primary's results were nonbinding on the state's national convention delegates. Voters in Barry County supported former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum (R-Pennsylvania), who finished first in the state at large, but eventually lost the nomination to former Governor Mitt Romney (R-Massachusetts). Delegates to the congressional district and state conventions were chosen at a county caucus, which selected a delegation favoring Romney. Incumbent President Barack Obama easily won the Missouri Democratic Primary and renomination. He defeated Romney in the general election.

In 2008, the Missouri Republican Presidential Primary was closely contested, with Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) prevailing and eventually winning the nomination. However, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee carried Barry County, receiving more votes than any other candidate of either party. Then-Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York) easily won Barry County during the 2008 presidential primary. Despite initial reports that Clinton had won Missouri, Barack Obama (D-Illinois), also a Senator at the time, narrowly defeated her statewide and later became that year's Democratic nominee, going on to win the presidency.