Most diverse counties in Missouri

The United States has a longstanding reputation as being a melting pot (or salad bowl), with its diversity manifesting itself across many different demographics. However, some places across the country are notably more heterogeneous than others.

Stacker compiled a list of the most diverse counties in Missouri using data from using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest Simpson's diversity index score. Simpson's diversity index measures community diversity on a scale of 0 (least diverse) to 1 (most diverse), more on the calculation can be read here.

Think you know which counties in your home state might be the most diverse? Keep reading to see if your predictions are correct.

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#50. Lawrence County

- Index: 0.100
- Total population: 38,204
- White: 94.8% (36,225)
- Black or African American: 0.5% (184)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.8% (313)
- Asian: 0.0% (14)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.2% (60)
- 2 or more races: 2.0% (779)
- Some other Race: 1.6% (629)

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#49. Monroe County

- Index: 0.105
- Total population: 8,629
- White: 94.5% (8,156)
- Black or African American: 3.4% (293)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.6% (54)
- Asian: 0.5% (41)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (4)
- 2 or more races: 0.9% (81)
- Some other Race: 0.0% (0)

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#48. Reynolds County

- Index: 0.107
- Total population: 6,290
- White: 94.4% (5,939)
- Black or African American: 2.0% (128)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.4% (25)
- Asian: 0.3% (19)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.2% (13)
- 2 or more races: 2.6% (162)
- Some other Race: 0.1% (4)

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#47. Macon County

- Index: 0.108
- Total population: 15,199
- White: 94.4% (14,346)
- Black or African American: 2.0% (297)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.7% (101)
- Asian: 0.6% (94)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (3)
- 2 or more races: 2.1% (325)
- Some other Race: 0.2% (33)

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#46. Lafayette County

- Index: 0.119
- Total population: 32,597
- White: 93.8% (30,578)
- Black or African American: 2.2% (717)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (90)
- Asian: 0.5% (174)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.2% (75)
- 2 or more races: 2.0% (663)
- Some other Race: 0.9% (300)

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#45. Nodaway County

- Index: 0.121
- Total population: 22,359
- White: 93.7% (20,946)
- Black or African American: 2.8% (617)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (49)
- Asian: 1.4% (306)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (28)
- 2 or more races: 1.5% (325)
- Some other Race: 0.4% (88)

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#44. Livingston County

- Index: 0.124
- Total population: 15,126
- White: 93.5% (14,146)
- Black or African American: 2.6% (388)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.6% (85)
- Asian: 0.6% (94)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (16)
- 2 or more races: 2.1% (324)
- Some other Race: 0.5% (73)

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#43. Lewis County

- Index: 0.134
- Total population: 9,955
- White: 93.0% (9,255)
- Black or African American: 4.2% (419)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.8% (77)
- Asian: 0.0% (0)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.2% (24)
- 2 or more races: 1.8% (180)
- Some other Race: 0.0% (0)

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#42. Barton County

- Index: 0.135
- Total population: 11,797
- White: 92.9% (10,959)
- Black or African American: 0.3% (35)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 2.5% (291)
- Asian: 0.0% (4)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (9)
- 2 or more races: 4.0% (476)
- Some other Race: 0.2% (23)

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#41. St. Francois County

- Index: 0.135
- Total population: 66,643
- White: 92.9% (61,886)
- Black or African American: 4.4% (2,960)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.4% (265)
- Asian: 0.5% (344)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (13)
- 2 or more races: 1.5% (1,015)
- Some other Race: 0.2% (160)

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#40. Texas County

- Index: 0.137
- Total population: 25,604
- White: 92.8% (23,769)
- Black or African American: 2.2% (559)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 1.7% (438)
- Asian: 0.7% (190)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (7)
- 2 or more races: 2.2% (564)
- Some other Race: 0.3% (77)

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#39. Warren County

- Index: 0.139
- Total population: 34,453
- White: 92.7% (31,950)
- Black or African American: 2.0% (700)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.9% (295)
- Asian: 0.6% (213)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (16)
- 2 or more races: 2.1% (707)
- Some other Race: 1.7% (572)

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#38. Barry County

- Index: 0.150
- Total population: 35,530
- White: 92.1% (32,723)
- Black or African American: 0.2% (80)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.7% (260)
- Asian: 1.4% (497)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 3.3% (1,157)
- Some other Race: 2.3% (813)

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#37. Callaway County

- Index: 0.151
- Total population: 44,889
- White: 92.0% (41,309)
- Black or African American: 4.4% (1,969)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.5% (243)
- Asian: 0.8% (366)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.3% (148)
- 2 or more races: 1.8% (828)
- Some other Race: 0.1% (26)

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#36. Howard County

- Index: 0.157
- Total population: 10,058
- White: 91.6% (9,214)
- Black or African American: 5.9% (598)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.9% (86)
- Asian: 0.4% (36)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 0.9% (87)
- Some other Race: 0.4% (37)

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#35. Taney County

- Index: 0.158
- Total population: 55,114
- White: 91.7% (50,517)
- Black or African American: 1.5% (839)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 1.0% (552)
- Asian: 1.0% (546)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (12)
- 2 or more races: 2.2% (1,212)
- Some other Race: 2.6% (1,436)

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#34. Adair County

- Index: 0.159
- Total population: 25,369
- White: 91.6% (23,240)
- Black or African American: 2.7% (680)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1% (29)
- Asian: 2.5% (638)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.2% (56)
- 2 or more races: 2.5% (643)
- Some other Race: 0.3% (83)

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#33. Marion County

- Index: 0.159
- Total population: 28,608
- White: 91.6% (26,193)
- Black or African American: 3.7% (1,070)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.4% (122)
- Asian: 0.6% (185)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (32)
- 2 or more races: 3.2% (917)
- Some other Race: 0.3% (89)

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#32. Pettis County

- Index: 0.163
- Total population: 42,355
- White: 91.4% (38,705)
- Black or African American: 3.5% (1,483)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1% (52)
- Asian: 0.7% (279)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (12)
- 2 or more races: 2.2% (917)
- Some other Race: 2.1% (907)

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#31. Cass County

- Index: 0.165
- Total population: 103,597
- White: 91.2% (94,521)
- Black or African American: 4.1% (4,238)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.6% (604)
- Asian: 0.8% (796)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (143)
- 2 or more races: 2.5% (2,600)
- Some other Race: 0.7% (695)

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#30. Sullivan County

- Index: 0.177
- Total population: 6,247
- White: 90.6% (5,658)
- Black or African American: 2.3% (142)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 1.4% (90)
- Asian: 0.1% (6)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (9)
- 2 or more races: 2.0% (122)
- Some other Race: 3.5% (220)

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#29. Phelps County

- Index: 0.178
- Total population: 44,630
- White: 90.5% (40,391)
- Black or African American: 2.4% (1,079)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.8% (346)
- Asian: 3.6% (1,620)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 2.4% (1,077)
- Some other Race: 0.3% (117)

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#28. Butler County

- Index: 0.179
- Total population: 42,656
- White: 90.4% (38,560)
- Black or African American: 5.5% (2,367)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.6% (239)
- Asian: 0.8% (325)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (28)
- 2 or more races: 2.5% (1,053)
- Some other Race: 0.2% (84)

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#27. Jasper County

- Index: 0.181
- Total population: 119,920
- White: 90.4% (108,371)
- Black or African American: 1.9% (2,283)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 1.5% (1,767)
- Asian: 1.1% (1,364)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (150)
- 2 or more races: 3.5% (4,217)
- Some other Race: 1.5% (1,768)

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#26. Newton County

- Index: 0.182
- Total population: 58,180
- White: 90.3% (52,559)
- Black or African American: 0.9% (549)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 2.4% (1,398)
- Asian: 1.4% (831)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 1.0% (586)
- 2 or more races: 3.3% (1,944)
- Some other Race: 0.5% (313)

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#25. Randolph County

- Index: 0.186
- Total population: 24,878
- White: 90.0% (22,388)
- Black or African American: 5.9% (1,463)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.7% (178)
- Asian: 0.6% (158)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (6)
- 2 or more races: 2.3% (577)
- Some other Race: 0.4% (108)

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#24. Greene County

- Index: 0.190
- Total population: 289,756
- White: 89.9% (260,411)
- Black or African American: 3.3% (9,558)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.5% (1,582)
- Asian: 2.0% (5,930)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (156)
- 2 or more races: 3.1% (8,943)
- Some other Race: 1.1% (3,176)

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#23. St. Charles County

- Index: 0.194
- Total population: 394,290
- White: 89.6% (353,297)
- Black or African American: 4.4% (17,468)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (641)
- Asian: 2.6% (10,183)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (138)
- 2 or more races: 2.6% (10,147)
- Some other Race: 0.6% (2,416)

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#22. Pike County

- Index: 0.202
- Total population: 18,455
- White: 89.0% (16,421)
- Black or African American: 7.3% (1,338)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (56)
- Asian: 0.3% (64)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (15)
- 2 or more races: 2.2% (410)
- Some other Race: 0.8% (151)

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#21. Johnson County

- Index: 0.205
- Total population: 53,682
- White: 89.0% (47,758)
- Black or African American: 4.3% (2,326)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.4% (216)
- Asian: 1.7% (917)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.3% (154)
- 2 or more races: 3.7% (1,961)
- Some other Race: 0.7% (350)

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#20. Audrain County

- Index: 0.205
- Total population: 25,644
- White: 88.9% (22,789)
- Black or African American: 5.7% (1,464)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.4% (91)
- Asian: 0.1% (33)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (24)
- 2 or more races: 4.2% (1,080)
- Some other Race: 0.6% (163)

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#19. Cooper County

- Index: 0.207
- Total population: 17,660
- White: 88.8% (15,675)
- Black or African American: 5.8% (1,029)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.5% (86)
- Asian: 0.5% (80)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.2% (33)
- 2 or more races: 3.7% (645)
- Some other Race: 0.6% (112)

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#18. Cape Girardeau County

- Index: 0.224
- Total population: 78,491
- White: 87.8% (68,877)
- Black or African American: 7.4% (5,788)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1% (104)
- Asian: 1.7% (1,348)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (32)
- 2 or more races: 2.6% (2,049)
- Some other Race: 0.4% (293)

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#17. Buchanan County

- Index: 0.234
- Total population: 88,460
- White: 87.3% (77,199)
- Black or African American: 5.2% (4,588)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.5% (421)
- Asian: 1.1% (962)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.5% (411)
- 2 or more races: 3.9% (3,449)
- Some other Race: 1.6% (1,430)

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#16. McDonald County

- Index: 0.239
- Total population: 22,782
- White: 87.1% (19,833)
- Black or African American: 1.8% (415)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 2.9% (662)
- Asian: 1.5% (343)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 2.2% (509)
- 2 or more races: 2.7% (626)
- Some other Race: 1.7% (394)

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#15. Saline County

- Index: 0.249
- Total population: 22,976
- White: 86.4% (19,851)
- Black or African American: 5.0% (1,150)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (57)
- Asian: 0.8% (187)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 1.1% (244)
- 2 or more races: 2.9% (675)
- Some other Race: 3.5% (812)

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#14. DeKalb County

- Index: 0.253
- Total population: 12,526
- White: 85.9% (10,757)
- Black or African American: 9.0% (1,122)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.8% (102)
- Asian: 0.6% (75)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.3% (35)
- 2 or more races: 3.3% (418)
- Some other Race: 0.1% (17)

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#13. Scott County

- Index: 0.259
- Total population: 38,633
- White: 85.2% (32,934)
- Black or African American: 11.6% (4,494)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.4% (144)
- Asian: 0.4% (160)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.8% (703)
- Some other Race: 0.5% (198)

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#12. Platte County

- Index: 0.265
- Total population: 100,682
- White: 85.3% (85,900)
- Black or African American: 6.8% (6,825)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (285)
- Asian: 2.7% (2,757)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.5% (480)
- 2 or more races: 3.6% (3,668)
- Some other Race: 0.8% (767)

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#11. Clay County

- Index: 0.269
- Total population: 242,516
- White: 85.1% (206,471)
- Black or African American: 6.1% (14,884)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.5% (1,127)
- Asian: 2.2% (5,332)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.2% (561)
- 2 or more races: 4.0% (9,739)
- Some other Race: 1.8% (4,402)

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#10. Dunklin County

- Index: 0.273
- Total population: 30,027
- White: 84.6% (25,396)
- Black or African American: 10.2% (3,068)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (61)
- Asian: 0.6% (177)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (15)
- 2 or more races: 2.1% (616)
- Some other Race: 2.3% (694)

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#9. Cole County

- Index: 0.281
- Total population: 76,723
- White: 84.0% (64,416)
- Black or African American: 11.7% (8,985)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.4% (301)
- Asian: 1.6% (1,194)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (11)
- 2 or more races: 2.1% (1,632)
- Some other Race: 0.2% (184)

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#8. New Madrid County

- Index: 0.311
- Total population: 17,560
- White: 81.5% (14,313)
- Black or African American: 15.4% (2,703)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.4% (62)
- Asian: 0.0% (0)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 2.7% (466)
- Some other Race: 0.1% (16)

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#7. Boone County

- Index: 0.329
- Total population: 177,651
- White: 81.2% (144,228)
- Black or African American: 9.0% (15,952)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (600)
- Asian: 4.4% (7,880)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (162)
- 2 or more races: 4.0% (7,148)
- Some other Race: 0.9% (1,681)

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#6. Mississippi County

- Index: 0.405
- Total population: 13,574
- White: 73.0% (9,913)
- Black or African American: 24.9% (3,377)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.9% (122)
- Asian: 0.1% (9)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (6)
- 2 or more races: 1.0% (132)
- Some other Race: 0.1% (15)

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#5. Pulaski County

- Index: 0.410
- Total population: 52,425
- White: 75.7% (39,671)
- Black or African American: 11.2% (5,879)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.9% (490)
- Asian: 2.5% (1,316)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.7% (390)
- 2 or more races: 6.0% (3,129)
- Some other Race: 3.0% (1,550)

Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

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#4. Pemiscot County

- Index: 0.440
- Total population: 16,663
- White: 69.5% (11,587)
- Black or African American: 27.5% (4,587)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.0% (0)
- Asian: 0.0% (0)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (2)
- 2 or more races: 1.8% (298)
- Some other Race: 1.1% (189)

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#3. St. Louis County

- Index: 0.477
- Total population: 996,919
- White: 67.9% (677,308)
- Black or African American: 24.2% (240,884)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (1,621)
- Asian: 4.3% (42,911)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (367)
- 2 or more races: 2.5% (24,480)
- Some other Race: 0.9% (9,348)

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#2. Jackson County

- Index: 0.494
- Total population: 696,216
- White: 67.0% (466,132)
- Black or African American: 23.3% (162,382)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.4% (2,458)
- Asian: 1.8% (12,821)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.3% (2,250)
- 2 or more races: 3.3% (22,761)
- Some other Race: 3.9% (27,412)

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#1. St. Louis city

- Index: 0.566
- Total population: 308,174
- White: 46.5% (143,401)
- Black or African American: 46.4% (143,018)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (787)
- Asian: 3.4% (10,365)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (212)
- 2 or more races: 2.4% (7,412)
- Some other Race: 1.0% (2,979)

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Most diverse counties in Missouri

#50. Lawrence County

#49. Monroe County

#48. Reynolds County

#47. Macon County

#46. Lafayette County

#45. Nodaway County

#44. Livingston County

#43. Lewis County

#42. Barton County

#41. St. Francois County

#40. Texas County

#39. Warren County

#38. Barry County

#37. Callaway County

#36. Howard County

#35. Taney County

#34. Adair County

#33. Marion County

#32. Pettis County

#31. Cass County

#30. Sullivan County

#29. Phelps County

#28. Butler County

#27. Jasper County

#26. Newton County

#25. Randolph County

#24. Greene County

#23. St. Charles County

#22. Pike County

#21. Johnson County

#20. Audrain County

#19. Cooper County

#18. Cape Girardeau County

#17. Buchanan County

#16. McDonald County

#15. Saline County

#14. DeKalb County

#13. Scott County

#12. Platte County

#11. Clay County

#10. Dunklin County

#9. Cole County

#8. New Madrid County

#7. Boone County

#6. Mississippi County

#5. Pulaski County

#4. Pemiscot County

#3. St. Louis County

#2. Jackson County

#1. St. Louis city

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