Macon County is a county located in the northern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 15,209. Its county seat is Macon. The county was organized January 6, 1837, and named for Nathaniel Macon, a Revolutionary War hero and North Carolina politician.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.4%) is water.
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 15,209. The median age was 43.6 years. Twenty-three point three percent of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.6% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.3 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the county was 91.1% White, 2.0% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.6% from some other race, and 5.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.8% of the population, with the table below providing counts for each group.
Thirty-five point two percent of residents lived in urban areas, while 64.8% lived in rural areas.
There were 6,309 households in the county, of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 24.8% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 7,398 housing units, of which 14.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 72.2% were owner-occupied and 27.8% were renter-occupied; the homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.2%.
As of the census of 2010, there were 15,556 people, 6,501 households, and 4,381 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 7,502 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 96.18% White, 2.21% Black or African American, 0.39% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. Approximately 0.77% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 22.8% were of German, 21.8% American, 13.9% English and 10.8% Irish ancestry.
There were 6,501 households, out of which 29.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.70% were married couples living together, 8.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.60% were non-families. 29.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.20% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 25.30% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 19.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 95.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,195, and the median income for a family was $36,370. Males had a median income of $26,408 versus $18,275 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,189. About 8.30% of families and 12.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.00% of those under age 18 and 13.10% of those age 65 or over.
The accompanying table (below right) shows the county elected officials and their party affiliation. As is tradition, the majority ran as Republicans.
All of Macon County is in district 6 of the Missouri House of Representatives, represented by Tim Remole (R-Excello).
All of Macon County is a part of Missouri's 18th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Brian Munzingler (R-Williamstown).
All of Macon County is included in Missouri's 6th Congressional District and is currently represented by Sam Graves (R-St. Tarkio) in the U.S. House of Representatives.