Schuyler County ( ) is a county located in the northeastern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, its population was 4,032, making it the fourth-least populous county in Missouri. Its county seat is Lancaster. The county was organized February 14, 1845, from Adair County, and named for General Philip Schuyler, delegate to the Continental Congress and U.S. Senator from New York.

Schuyler County is part of the Kirksville, MO Micropolitan Statistical Area.

, a World War II-era cargo ship, was named in part for Schuyler County, Missouri.

Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.3%) is water. It is the second-smallest county in Missouri by area. Schuyler County borders Iowa to the north.

Adjacent counties Appanoose County, Iowa (northwest) Davis County, Iowa (northeast) Scotland County (east) Adair County (south) Putnam County (west)

Major highways U.S. Route 63 U.S. Route 136 Route 202

Demographics

2020 census As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 4,032. The median age was 41.3 years, with 25.8% of residents under the age of 18 and 21.8% aged 65 years or older. For every 100 females there were 97.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.0 males.

The racial makeup of the county was 96.2% White, 0.0% Black or African American, 0.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.6% from some other race, and 2.8% from two or more races, while Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.2% of the population; the accompanying table details the counts and percentages dating back to 1980.

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 1,603 households in the county, of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 23.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present; about 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 1,887 housing units, of which 15.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 74.8% were owner-occupied and 25.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.0%.

Racial and ethnic composition +Schuyler County, Missouri – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010 Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)4,9334,2074,0864,3533,86499.08%99.32%97.99%98.24%95.83%Black or African American alone (NH)302100.06%0.00%0.05%0.02%0.00%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)3813710.06%0.19%0.31%0.16%0.02%Asian alone (NH)33710150.06%0.07%0.17%0.23%0.37%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x included in the Asian category in the 1980 Censusx included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census101xx0.02%0.00%0.02%Other race alone (NH)100090.02%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.22%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x not an option in the 1980 Censusx not an option in the 1990 Census343195xx0.82%0.70%2.36%Hispanic or Latino (any race)36182729470.72%0.42%0.65%0.65%1.17%Total4,9794,2364,1704,4314,032 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

2010 census As of the census of 2010, there were 4,431 people, 1,725 households, and 1,193 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 2,027 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 98.44% White, 0.05% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races, and 0.84% from two or more races. Approximately 0.65% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,725 households, out of which 29.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.10% were married couples living together, 7.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.80% were non-families. 28.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.60% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 24.80% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 19.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,385, and the median income for a family was $34,564. Males had a median income of $25,625 versus $18,728 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,850. About 13.20% of families and 17.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.10% of those under age 18 and 17.60% of those age 65 or over.

Education There is one school district covering the county: Schuyler County R-I School District. - Text list

Public schools

Schuyler County R-1 School District – Queen City Schuyler County Elementary School (K-06) Schuyler County Middle School (07–08) Schuyler County High School (09–12)

Public libraries Schuyler County Library

Politics

Local The Democratic Party predominantly controls politics at the local level in Schuyler County. Democrats hold all but four of the elected positions in the county.

State + Past Gubernatorial Elections Results Year Republican Democratic Third Parties202482.51% 1,55215.10% 2842.39% 45202079.81% 1,57718.22% 3601.97% 39201666.30% 1,25931.28% 5942.42% 46201250.53% 96145.58% 8673.89% 74200851.64% 1,00845.49% 8882.87% 56200463.80% 1,27834.80% 6971.40% 28200050.68% 1,00647.66% 9461.66% 34199633.10% 62264.77% 1,2172.13% 40

All of Schuyler County is included in Missouri's 4th District in the Missouri House of Representatives and is represented by Craig Redmon (R-Canton).

All of Schuyler County is a part of Missouri's 18th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Brian Munzlinger (R-Williamstown).

Federal

All of Schuyler County is included in Missouri's 6th Congressional District and is currently represented by Sam Graves (R-Tarkio) in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Communities Cities Downing Greentop (small part in Adair County) Lancaster (county seat) Queen City

Village Glenwood

Unincorporated community Clifton Coatsville Julesburg

Townships The county was partitioned into seven townships.Schuyler County, Missouri. 1910. Accessed 19 June 2025. There are no townships with separate governing bodies in Schuyler County; instead, the county commission directly manages all unincorporated areas.

Notable people

Farrell Dobbs, American Trotskyist, trade unionist, and presidential candidate for the Socialist Workers Party. William Preston Hall (aka "The Colonel," "Diamond Billy," "Horse King of the World") (February 29, 1864 – June 29, 1932) Exotic animal dealer, horse and mule breeder, circus impresario. Howard R. Hughes Sr., co-founder of the Hughes Tool Company and father of Howard Robard Hughes Jr., the multimillionaire. Rupert Hughes, novelist and screenwriter, brother of Howard Hughes Sr. and uncle of Howard Hughes Jr. Darrin Vincent, bluegrass producer and Grammy-nominated performer (Kentucky Thunder, Dailey & Vincent) Rhonda Vincent, Award-winning Bluegrass performer.

See also National Register of Historic Places listings in Schuyler County, Missouri

References

External links

Digitized 1930 Plat Book of Schuyler County from University of Missouri Division of Special Collections, Archives, and Rare Books