County facts · Population growth · October 23, 2026
Fastest Growing Counties in Missouri, 2020 to 2025
Missouri's fastest growing counties by percent and by people added, April 2020 to July 2025 Census estimates, with each official parcel map.
Looking for the fastest growing counties in Missouri? From the Census Bureau's April 1, 2020 estimates base to its July 1, 2025 estimate, Missouri went from about 6,154,913 to 6,270,541 residents, a change of +115,628 (+1.9%). The fastest growing county by percentage was Lincoln County (+11.9%), while St. Charles County added the most people (+21,233, +5.2%).
City of St. Louis is an independent city that the Census Bureau counts as a county equivalent, so it is ranked alongside the counties.
Every row below links to the county's Platbookmapper page and straight to its official parcel viewer, handy if growth is why you are looking at land there.
Missouri growth at a glance
- Counties and county equivalents: 115
- Statewide, April 2020 to July 2025: +115,628 residents (+1.9%); July 2024 to July 2025 alone: +26,997 (+0.4%)
- Grew: 77 of 115 · Lost residents: 38
- Fastest growing by percent: Lincoln County (+11.9%); most people added: St. Charles County (+21,233)
- Counties with more deaths than births over the period: 89 of 115
The 10 fastest growing Missouri counties by percent
| # | County or city | Apr 2020 | Jul 2025 | Change | % change | Parcel viewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lincoln County | 59,564 | 66,676 | +7,112 | +11.9% | CAMAvision Maps |
| 2 | Webster County | 39,087 | 43,054 | +3,967 | +10.1% | IntegrityGIS |
| 3 | Warren County | 35,533 | 39,016 | +3,483 | +9.8% | IntegrityGIS |
| 4 | Hickory County | 8,279 | 9,044 | +765 | +9.2% | BreezeMaps |
| 5 | Christian County | 88,841 | 96,725 | +7,884 | +8.9% | IntegrityGIS |
| 6 | Wright County | 18,184 | 19,671 | +1,487 | +8.2% | BreezeMaps |
| 7 | Cass County | 107,824 | 115,859 | +8,035 | +7.5% | CAMAvision Maps |
| 8 | St. Clair County | 9,285 | 9,976 | +691 | +7.4% | ArcGIS Experience Builder |
| 9 | Ozark County | 8,553 | 9,172 | +619 | +7.2% | no verified public viewer listed yet |
| 10 | Platte County | 106,724 | 114,400 | +7,676 | +7.2% | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
These 10 added about 41,719 people combined. The median county changed by +1.4%.
The 10 counties that added the most people
| # | County or city | People added | % change | Jul 2025 | Parcel viewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Charles County | +21,233 | +5.2% | 426,499 | county web map |
| 2 | Jackson County | +15,787 | +2.2% | 732,994 | county web map |
| 3 | Clay County | +11,714 | +4.6% | 265,032 | county web map |
| 4 | Greene County | +10,370 | +3.5% | 309,286 | county web map |
| 5 | Boone County | +8,132 | +4.4% | 191,746 | county web map |
| 6 | Cass County | +8,035 | +7.5% | 115,859 | CAMAvision Maps |
| 7 | Christian County | +7,884 | +8.9% | 96,725 | IntegrityGIS |
| 8 | Platte County | +7,676 | +7.2% | 114,400 | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
| 9 | Lincoln County | +7,112 | +11.9% | 66,676 | CAMAvision Maps |
| 10 | Jefferson County | +6,559 | +2.9% | 233,132 | ArcGIS Experience Builder |
The top 10 account for about 64% of all the gains in the counties that grew.
Where the new residents came from
The Census Bureau splits each change into natural change (births minus deaths), net domestic migration (moves from other parts of the US) and net international migration. Totals for April 2020 to July 2025 in the five fastest growing counties:
| County or city | Births minus deaths | Net domestic moves | Net international moves | Total change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln County | +862 | +6,075 | +158 | +7,112 |
| Webster County | +924 | +3,037 | +9 | +3,967 |
| Warren County | +67 | +3,378 | +37 | +3,483 |
| Hickory County | −341 | +1,117 | +4 | +765 |
| Christian County | +815 | +6,715 | +426 | +7,884 |
In all 5, moves from elsewhere in the US were the biggest source of growth. The three parts do not add up exactly to the total because the Census Bureau also carries a small residual.
The last year alone: July 2024 to July 2025
- Scotland County: +2.6% (+120)
- Webster County: +2.3% (+970)
- Dade County: +2.2% (+165)
- Hickory County: +1.7% (+155)
- Cass County: +1.7% (+1,915)
3 of these 5 are also in the 2020–2025 top 10, so the growth is not a one-year blip.
Counties losing residents
38 of Missouri's 115 counties had fewer residents in July 2025 than in April 2020. The steepest declines:
- DeKalb County: −11.2% (−1,234, now about 9,795)
- New Madrid County: −8.2% (−1,344, now about 15,086)
- City of St. Louis: −7.7% (−23,205, now about 278,144)
- Pemiscot County: −7.6% (−1,193, now about 14,465)
- Dunklin County: −5.1% (−1,437, now about 26,855)
What fast growth means on a parcel map
- New lots show up as plats first. When land is subdivided, the plat is recorded with the county and the parcel layer catches up on its own schedule, so a brand-new lot may not appear on the map for a while. Check the recorder's recent plats if a parcel looks missing.
- Parcel numbers change after splits. A tract that was one parcel last year can be several today. Search by owner name or address as well as by an old parcel number.
- City limits move. Growing cities annex land, which changes who handles zoning and permits even though the county still keeps the deed and the tax map.
- Percent is not the same as people. A small county can post a big percentage on a modest number of new residents, so read the people-added column too.
Related guides
- Largest counties in Missouri
- Missouri county GIS websites by viewer
- Missouri landowner maps for hunting
- Fastest growing counties in the US
- US counties losing population
More: All Missouri counties on Platbookmapper
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, county totals, Vintage 2025 (April 1, 2020 estimates base and July 1, 2020–2025 estimates, with components of change). Percent change is from the April 1, 2020 estimates base to the July 1, 2025 estimate.
- Platbookmapper county GIS directory (live data file behind our county pages, pulled October 23, 2026) for each official parcel viewer.