Maries County, Missouri

Maries County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, its population was 8,432. Its county seat is Vienna. The county was organized March 2, 1855, and named for the Maries River and Little Maries River. The word "Maries" is derived from the French word marais, which means "marsh, lake, or pond".

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 530 sqmi, of which 527 sqmi is land and 2.9 sqmi (0.6%) is water.

Adjacent counties

 * Osage County (north)
 * Gasconade County (northeast)
 * Phelps County (southeast)
 * Pulaski County (southwest)
 * Miller County (west)

Major highways

 * [[Image:US 63.svg|20px]] U.S. Route 63
 * [[Image:MO-28.svg|20px]] Route 28
 * [[Image:MO-42.svg|20px]] Route 42
 * [[Image:MO-52.svg|20px]] Route 52
 * [[Image:MO-68.svg|20px]] Route 68
 * [[Image:MO-133.svg|20px]] Route 133

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 8,903 people, 3,519 households, and 2,502 families residing in the county. The population density was 17 /mi2. There were 4,149 housing units at an average density of 8 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 97.43% White, 0.33% Black or African American, 0.55% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.35% from other races, and 1.24% from two or more races. Approximately 1.16% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,519 households, out of which 31.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.00% were married couples living together, 7.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.90% were non-families. 25.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.30% 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 3.00.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.00% under the age of 18, 7.30% from 18 to 24, 26.50% from 25 to 44, 24.50% from 45 to 64, and 15.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 101.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,925, and the median income for a family was $39,187. Males had a median income of $28,524 versus $20,705 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,662. About 10.10% of families and 13.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.30% of those under age 18 and 13.20% of those age 65 or over.

Public schools

 * Maries County R-I School District – Vienna
 * Vienna Elementary School (PK-06)
 * Vienna High School (07-12)
 * Maries County R-II School District – Belle
 * Belle Elementary School (PK-05)
 * Maries County Middle School (06-08)
 * Belle High School (09-12)

Private schools

 * Visitation Inter-Parish School – Vienna (K-08) – Roman Catholic

Public libraries

 * Heartland Regional Library System

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

State
All of Maries County is a part of Missouri's 62nd District in the Missouri House of Representatives and is represented by Tom Hurst (R-Meta).

All of Maries County is a part of Missouri's 6th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Mike Kehoe (R-Jefferson City).

Federal
All of Maries County is included in Missouri's 3rd Congressional District and is currently represented by Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-St. Elizabeth) in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Missouri presidential preference primary (2008)
Former U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York) received more votes, a total of 844, than any candidate from either party in Maries County during the 2008 presidential primary.

Cities and towns

 * Argyle (also in Osage County)
 * Belle (a small portion extends into Osage County)
 * Vienna (county seat)

Unincorporated communities

 * Bend
 * Brinktown
 * Hayden
 * High Gate
 * Lanes Prairie
 * Light
 * Lindell
 * Lois
 * Paydown
 * Safe
 * Stickney
 * Sudheimer
 * Summerfield
 * Tavern
 * Van Cleve
 * Venus
 * Vichy