Missouri, often called the “Show-Me State,” boasts a complex and fascinating geography defined by its 114 counties and one independent city. 

missouri blank printable county map

Whether you are tracing family genealogy, planning a logistics route across the Midwest, or simply organizing a road trip through the Ozarks, understanding the layout of these counties is essential.

Geographical Overview of Missouri

Understanding the map requires understanding the land itself. 

Missouri is bordered by eight different states, tied with Tennessee for the most neighbors in the U.S. which makes its border counties economically and culturally distinct.

Northern Plains

Counties north of the Missouri River are largely agricultural, characterized by rolling hills and fertile soil.

The Ozarks

The southern half of the state (excluding the Bootheel) is rugged, forested, and karstic, home to counties with lower population densities and tourism-driven economies.

The Bootheel

The southeastern corner is flat and low-lying, distinct from the rest of the state, with an economy heavily rooted in cotton and rice farming.

Historical Overview of County Formation

Missouri’s county map has evolved significantly since the early 19th century. 

Boundaries were set during periods of settlement, often determined by the distance a resident could travel by horse to the county seat and back in a single day.

The St. Louis Anomaly

One of the most confusing aspects of the Missouri map for outsiders is the distinction between St. Louis County and the City of St. Louis.

The Great Divorce (1876)

St. Louis City voted to separate from St. Louis County to avoid financing county infrastructure.

Current Status

Today, they are two entirely separate legal entities. St. Louis City operates as an independent city, functioning at the same administrative level as a county. 

It is the smallest “county equivalent” by area in the state.

How to Use the Interactive Tool on This Page

Interactive Missouri County Map

We have designed an interactive map experience to help you visualize data effectively. Here is how to get the most out of the tool:

1. Hover and Highlight

Move your cursor over any area of the map. The tool will instantly highlight the specific county borders and display a tooltip with the county name. 

This helps distinguish small counties that are clustered together.

2. Zoom Capabilities

Need a closer look? Use the + and – buttons or scroll with your mouse wheel to zoom in on complex areas, particularly around the metropolitan hubs of Kansas City and St. Louis.

3. Dark Mode Toggle

For better visibility in low-light environments, or simply for a sleeker aesthetic, switch the “Dark Mode” toggle. 

4. Reset Button

If you have zoomed in too far or lost your orientation, simply hit the “Reset” button to return the map to its default statewide view.

5. Download Options

We provide high-resolution files suitable for any project:

SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics)

Best for designers and publishers. You can scale this file infinitely without losing quality, making it perfect for large posters or editing in software like Adobe Illustrator.

PNG (Portable Network Graphics)

A high-quality image file with a transparent background, ideal for inserting into PowerPoint presentations, Word documents, or reports.

List of Missouri Counties

Below is a data table featuring key details for Missouri’s counties. Note that Missouri has 114 counties plus one independent city.

County / CityFull FIPS CodeCounty SeatEstablishedArea (sq mi)
Adair29001Kirksville1841569
Andrew29003Savannah1841436
Atchison29005Rock Port1843550
Audrain29007Mexico1831697
Barry29009Cassville1835791
Barton29011Lamar1855597
Bates29013Butler1841851
Benton29015Warsaw1835752
Bollinger29017Marble Hill1851621
Boone29019Columbia1820691
Buchanan29021St. Joseph1838413
Butler29023Poplar Bluff1849699
Caldwell29025Kingston1836430
Callaway29027Fulton1821847
Camden29029Camdenton1841709
Cape Girardeau29031Jackson1812587
Carroll29033Carrollton1833695
Carter29035Van Buren1859508
Cass29037Harrisonville1833699
Cedar29039Stockton1845476
Chariton29041Keytesville1821756
Christian29043Ozark1859563
Clark29045Kahoka1836507
Clay29047Liberty1822396
Clinton29049Plattsburg1833419
Cole29051Jefferson City1820392
Cooper29053Boonville1818565
Crawford29055Steelville1829743
Dade29057Greenfield1841490
Dallas29059Buffalo1841542
Daviess29061Gallatin1836567
DeKalb29063Maysville1843424
Dent29065Salem1851754
Douglas29067Ava1857815
Dunklin29069Kennett1843546
Franklin29071Union1818922
Gasconade29073Hermann1821520
Gentry29075Albany1841492
Greene29077Springfield1833675
Grundy29079Trenton1839436
Harrison29081Bethany1843725
Henry29083Clinton1834702
Hickory29085Hermitage1845399
Holt29087Oregon1841462
Howard29089Fayette1816466
Howell29091West Plains1857928
Iron29093Ironton1857551
Jackson29095Independence1826605
Jasper29097Carthage1841640
Jefferson29099Hillsboro1818657
Johnson29101Warrensburg1834831
Knox29103Edina1843506
Laclede29105Lebanon1849766
Lafayette29107Lexington1821629
Lawrence29109Mount Vernon1843613
Lewis29111Monticello1833505
Lincoln29113Troy1818630
Linn29115Linneus1837620
Livingston29117Chillicothe1837535
McDonald29119Pineville1847540
Macon29121Macon1837804
Madison29123Fredericktown1818497
Maries29125Vienna1855528
Marion29127Palmyra1826438
Mercer29129Princeton1845454
Miller29131Tuscumbia1837592
Mississippi29133Charleston1842413
Moniteau29135California1845417
Monroe29137Paris1831646
Montgomery29139Montgomery City1818539
Morgan29141Versailles1833598
New Madrid29143New Madrid1812678
Newton29145Neosho1838626
Nodaway29147Maryville1843877
Oregon29149Alton1841792
Osage29151Linn1841606
Ozark29153Gainesville1841747
Pemiscot29155Caruthersville1851493
Perry29157Perryville1821475
Pettis29159Sedalia1833685
Phelps29161Rolla1857673
Pike29163Bowling Green1818673
Platte29165Platte City1838420
Polk29167Bolivar1835637
Pulaski29169Waynesville1833547
Putnam29171Unionville1843518
Ralls29173New London1821471
Randolph29175Huntsville1829482
Ray29177Richmond1820570
Reynolds29179Centerville1845811
Ripley29181Doniphan1831630
St. Charles29183St. Charles1812561
St. Clair29185Osceola1841677
Ste. Genevieve29186Ste. Genevieve1812502
St. Francois29187Farmington1821450
St. Louis County29189Clayton1812508
St. Louis City*29510St. Louis187662
Saline29195Marshall1820756
Schuyler29197Lancaster1843308
Scotland29199Memphis1841438
Scott29201Benton1821426
Shannon29203Eminence18411,004
Shelby29205Shelbyville1835502
Stoddard29207Bloomfield1835829
Stone29209Galena1851511
Sullivan29211Milan1843652
Taney29213Forsyth1837632
Texas29215Houston18451,179
Vernon29217Nevada1855837
Warren29219Warrenton1833438
Washington29221Potosi1813762
Wayne29223Greenville1818774
Webster29225Marshfield1855594
Worth29227Grant City1861267
Wright29229Hartville1841683

Practical Tips for Using Missouri County Maps

To maximize the utility of these maps, consider the following best practices:

Cross-Reference with Road Maps

County maps often lack detailed road networks. Overlay your county map with a MoDOT highway map for navigation.

Check the Date

Ensure your map is current. While county lines rarely change in modern times, municipal boundaries within them do.

Understand “County Equivalents”

When working with federal data (like Census data), remember that St. Louis City is treated as a county equivalent with its own FIPS code (29510), distinct from St. Louis County (29189).

Case Studies: Real-World Applications

Case Study 1: The Regional Supply Chain

A mid-sized agricultural distributor based in Columbia needed to restructure their delivery zones. By visualizing client density on a county-level map, they realized their drivers were crisscrossing the Missouri River unnecessarily. 

They reorganized their territories into “North” and “South” clusters based on county lines, reducing fuel costs by 15%.

Case Study 2: Educational Resource Allocation

A non-profit focused on literacy used a heat map overlaid on Missouri counties. They identified that while Greene County had high resources, neighboring Christian and Webster counties had gaps in library access. 

This county-level visualization allowed them to target their mobile library bus routes effectively.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many counties are in Missouri?

Missouri has 114 counties and one independent city (St. Louis), making for 115 county-level administrative units.

What is the largest county in Missouri by area?

Texas County, located in the southern Ozarks, is the largest county by land area, covering approximately 1,179 square miles.

What is the smallest county in Missouri?

Worth County is the smallest by area among the standard counties. However, the independent City of St. Louis is geographically smaller than any county.

Why is St. Louis City not part of St. Louis County?

In 1876, voters approved a separation known as the “Great Divorce.” The city wanted to stop paying for county infrastructure, and the county wanted to distance itself from city politics. They remain separate today.

Which Missouri county has the highest population?

St. Louis County is the most populous. Note that this population count does not include the residents of St. Louis City.

Which county borders the most other states?

This varies by interpretation, but counties in the “Bootheel” (like Pemiscot) and the corners (like McDonald) often border two other states. Missouri itself borders eight different states.

Are detailed road maps included in standard county maps?

Typically, no. A standard county map shows boundaries and seats. For road detail, you need a “General Highway Map” usually provided by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT).

What is a “County Seat”?

The county seat is the administrative center of the county, housing the courthouse and county government offices. For example, the seat of Cole County is Jefferson City, which is also the state capital.

Conclusion

Ready to explore? Use the interactive features on this page to customize your view, or download a high-resolution map to take with you.